On Friday officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 200 block of Maryland Avenue for a report of an unattended child. Upon officers arrival they observed an unsecured residence and entered to check on the well being of the child. Once inside officers observed a young juvenile to be alone inside the residence without any supervision. After an extended period of time Jessica Jones and Kristin August returned to the residence. The officers continued their investigation and determined that the juvenile had been unattended for an extended period of time and that the juvenile was not being properly cared…

The CDC has adopted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation to expand eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to those 12 to 15 years old. CDC now recommends that adolescents age 12 and older should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.  At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 12-17. Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. ACIP reviewed the available safety data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents; COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective….

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is alerting consumers to an emerging jury duty scam with an alarming twist.   The Attorney General’s Office received a report from the West Virginia Fusion Center earlier this week regarding a jury duty fine scam that may include a potential personal safety element.   “Scammers are constantly devising new schemes to scare consumers into giving them their money,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “If you get a suspicious call, even if it comes from a number that looks legitimate, don’t feel pressured to act immediately. Pause and give our office a call — it…

Lamar Jackson will miss a fourth consecutive game for the Baltimore Ravens to end the regular season. Baltimore ruled Jackson out for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh because of his ankle injury. That likely ends the star quarterback's 2021 season. The winner of the Ravens-Steelers game can make the playoffs, but those chances are slim. Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Friday that Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback. Jackson was hurt during a Dec. 12 loss at Cleveland. The Ravens have lost five straight games.

For the week of January 3, 2022, there were no schools identified with a School Wide COVID-19 Outbreak.    Mountain Ridge High School had one cohort that met the definition of a cohort outbreak.   ACPS had 69 staff members and 205 students reported as positive for COVID-19 during this time. ACPS had 51 staff members quarantined as a close contact, and/or symptomatic for COVID-19.  271 students were reported as close contacts to a positive person and required to quarantine.  This includes all staff and students reported as close contacts, whether the close contact occurred in the home, community, or school.

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) in partnership with the Baltimore City NAACP, Casa de Maryland, Jai Medical Systems and WBFF FOX 45, has sponsored a town hall event, Combating Covid in Our Communities, to answer questions, address concerns, correct misinformation and encourage all Marylanders to protect themselves, their families and communities by getting vaccinated against COVID-19.    “We have a strong vaccination rate in Maryland, yet there are still residents who have not vaccinated for a number of reasons. We hope to connect with them through avenues like this town hall to provide accurate information and address concerns,” said…

Governor Larry Hogan today provided an update on the state’s response to this week’s second winter storm. “After heavy snow again blanketed the region, we are able to report no significant road issues or other major impacts from overnight,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank all of the crews, police, and first responders who worked around the clock to keep people safe and keep the roads clear.” Interstates and major routes are in good condition due to State Highway Administration (SHA) crews proactively pre-treating roads, along with residual salt on the pavement from the last storm and clearing of…

An emergency statewide masking policy that was proposed before the latest COVID-19 surge is now in effect in Maryland schools-  however it’s an action that will not change anything for Allegany County schools. After a hearing this week, the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review voted 11-5 to approve a school masking regulation to last for 180 days beginning immediately. The state said it's providing so-called "off ramps" for local school districts to lift mask mandates based on the following guidelines: Students can remove their mask when 80% of a county or the city has been vaccinated, a single school…

As he stood in front of the U.S. Capitol on the one year anniversary of the violent insurrection-  Maryland Governor Larry Hogan told CBS News that  the people who thought they were Patriots trying to defend freedom that day were mentally unbalanced.  Maryland was front and center on January 6th 2021, sending state police and the National Guard to D.C. for protection and to help restore order. Hogan said seeing so many people continue to stand by the narrative that the 2021 election was rife with fraud is astounding to him…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice plans to send a letter  to the CDC asking for permission to begin giving fourth COVID-19 vaccination doses for people 50 years and older, people with compromised immune systems and essential workers. The plan follows Israel’s lead, where officials began administering fourth doses, late last month.  At the very beginning of the pandemic in 2020, West Virginia was viewed as one of the state’s leading the way in combating the spread of COVID-19, and Justice said this call for a fourth shot is another step in that direction. He said he has little or no confidence…