The Cumberland Times News reports a West Virginia woman remained jailed Thursday on drug distribution and felony firearm charges stemming from a traffic stop Wednesday on Interstate 68 near Frostburg. According to the Allegany County Sheriff's Office Brittany Claire Guthrie, 28, of Mannington was arrested after deputies allegedly recovered $8,000 in currency, a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and a loaded handgun that were allegedly in her possession. Guthrie was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substances, felony possession of a firearm in commission of a crime and related charges in addition to being issued numerous traffic…

Governor Larry Hogan today encouraged Marylanders to testify during next week’s special session for the fair maps he has transmitted to the Maryland General Assembly on behalf of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. Yesterday, the Princeton Gerrymandering Project published its ‘F’ rating for the gerrymandered maps drawn up in secret by legislative leaders. “Gerrymandering has rightly been called ‘a cancer on our democracy,’” said Governor Hogan. “We finally have the chance to restore fairness to our political system, and the Annapolis party bosses are instead scheming to further erode the public trust with disgracefully gerrymandered maps. It is an embarrassment….

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a house fire in the 500 bock of Fayette Street early this afternoon. The fire apparently began in the kitchen and was quickly contained. No injuries reported.

A Maryland state trooper was struck while conducting a traffic stop on southbound I-270 early this morning in Montgomery County. The trooper is identified as Trooper Brian DeHaven, who grew up in Corriganville. He is assigned to Rockville Barrack.  Trooper DeHaven was transported to Suburban Hospital for the treatment of his injuries sustained in the crash. The vehicle involved in the crash is a 2012 Toyota Venza.  The driver of the Toyota is identified as Jose Ascencio, 44, of Germantown.  Ascencio was uninjured during the incident. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation. At 6:10 a.m. this morning, Trooper…

On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on William Bolton.  The warrant was issued as a result of a private citizen filing for charges against Bolton at the District Court Commissioner’s Office.  Bolton was transported to Central Booking at the Allegany County Detention Center.  He was held without bond. ARRESTED:  William Bryan Bolton      AGE:  61           Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Assault – 1st Degree, Assault-2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment

On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant and two bench warrants on Ricky Lee Bowers II.  The arrest warrant was issued as a result of a private citizen filing for charges against Bowers at the District Court Commissioner’s Office.  The bench warrants were issued as a result of Bowers failing to appear for his court cases at District Court on November 1, 2021 and November 12, 2021.  Bowers was arrested and transported to Central Booking at the Allegany County Detention Center.  He was held without bond. ARRESTED: Ricky Lee Bowers II       AGE: 46                Cumberland,…

Allegany County Emergency services are out this morning working in apartment fire at 14 Pennsylvania Ave.  Officials are calling the situation a mess, Cumberland Police department along with C3I and State Fire Marshal on scene. Preliminary report is that the Cumberland Police department were already on scene prior to the fire taking a subject into custody and transporting him to the hospital. Shortly thereafter the fire started.  Allegany County Emergency services Public Information Officer, Mark Karalewitz " Cumberland fire units have cleared that was Bedford road Bowling Green, Lavale, Cresaptown and then we had 25 and 27 Ridgeway Ford, ambulance 52…

A group of Marylanders are suing Maryland Secretary of Labor Tiffany Robinson for failing to administer unemployment insurance benefits according to federal law. The lawsuit, filed by attorneys with the Public Justice Center, alleges that Maryland is not paying claimants within a timely manner. On the same day the suit was filed, Robinson was subjected to a series of questions on the issue when she appeared before the state’s Board of Public Works. Both Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford and Comptroller Peter Franchot expressed concern with  thousands of Marylanders still apparently not satisfied with how their unemployment claims are being handled….

Governor Larry Hogan is urging Marylanders to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get the booster shot as concern grows over the omicron variant. The governor's update comes as the first confirmed case of the omicron variant in the United States was identified Wednesday in California. While there are no confirmed cases of omicron in Maryland as of Wednesday, there are concerns about it among public health officials and residents..

Maryland students will continue to wear masks for the time being in public schools. The current mask mandate is set to expire in February, but the Maryland State Board of Education wants school officials to give local school systems so-called “off-ramps,” or metrics to meet, to lift those mandates. Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury said the top priority should remain keeping kids in school, but it’s time to consider ways the mask mandate can be lifted. Ultimately the board asked school officials to create metrics local systems can meet to lift the mandate in their district. Choudhury said proof of vaccination in…