Blind Industries and Services of Maryland will close its textile sewing and manufacturing plant in Cumberland next Friday- and not surprisingly the decision is not sitting well with some long time employees. The decision to close the plant at 322 Paca Street will affect about 46 salaried and hourly employees. No advanced notice of the planned closure was given to employees or local officials. A number of employees declined to comment for fear of reprisal- but a former 8 year plant worker spoke on the record with WCBC News. Rod Lucas pointed to mismanagement at the top leading to a…

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a CDC group of medical and public health experts tasked with developing guidance for the use of vaccines, is meeting Wednesday and Thursday this week to discuss recommendations for booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines.  A decision is expected later this week.  Booster doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine have been available to specific populations since late September.   The COVID-19 case rate in Allegany County continues to exceed the statewide average, hovering at over twice the number of cases per 100,000 people.  Meanwhile, the vaccination rate in the…

Congressman David Trone and Senator Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase funding for automated record expungement processes to help justice-impacted individuals find employment opportunities. Congressman Trone was joined by Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), and Cori Bush (D-MO). Senator Van Hollen was joined by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).   After decades of overcriminalization, between 70 million and 100 million Americans have criminal records that appear in routine background checks, preventing many individuals from…

Governor Larry Hogan awarded citations to 32 Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) employees for their commitment to the health and safety of Marylanders, and for their outstanding customer service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards were presented at today’s meeting of the Maryland Board of Public Works in Annapolis.  Staff from multiple SHA district offices and maintenance shops provided traffic control plans and daily support to guide tens of thousands of Maryland residents to the state’s 11 mass vaccination sites and multiple testing facilities. This included deploying portable display message signs, cones and barrels as well as manufacturing approximately 300 directional signs.  Additionally, a team from three of MDOT SHA’s…

Draft Maryland Legislative Delegate Districts 1A 2A & 3A Draft Maryland Senatorial District 1   Draft Maryland Congressional Districts   Governor Larry Hogan today encouraged Marylanders to comment on the draft legislative and congressional maps published by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission.    This independent commission—the first of its kind in state history—is charged with drawing fair legislative and congressional maps for the 2022 elections. The membership of the Citizens Commission is divided equally between Republicans, Democrats, and individuals not affiliated with either party. None of its members are elected officials or candidates for office, and the governor has no involvement in the commission’s work. The…

On Tuesday, October 19th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department served a fugitive warrant on Shawn Samuel Snoberger.  The warrant was issued by the Magistrate Court of Mineral County, West Virginia for telephone harassment charges.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center held without bond until he can be extradited. Shawn Samuel Snoberger, age; 34, Cumberland, Maryland.

On Tuesday, October 19th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Race Street address for the report of an assault.  An anonymous caller stated that they observed a male being assaulted by another male in this area.  When officers arrived, they spoke with a male that claimed he had been assaulted by Edward Wayne McDaniel.  The male victim did have an injury visible on his chest and neck area.  McDaniel was arrested and charged with assault.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was held at the Allegany County Detention Center on a temporary commitment.   Edward…

During an interview with WBAL Tuesday Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury discussed COVID-19 protocols and vaccine mandates. Choudhury, who came to Maryland from Texas last summer, said that he understands why schools across the state were closed initially- but doesn’t believe it should have taken so long for them to re-open.. When it comes to the debate of whether vaccines for students, teachers and staff should be mandated- Choudhury said while it is something he would like to see explored- that decision would have to come from state health officials and Annapolis…

Delivering his State of the University address this week, West Virginia University President Gordon Gee told faculty and community members that the system has weathered a difficult year and must continue to meet the changing needs of citizens to maintain growth. Gee said the student body and staff has shown remarkable resilience battling the virus, divisive politics and unprecedented financial challenges. Gee said that one of the many highlights from the past year was partnering with building trades and organizations to foster apprenticeship programs at WVU Potomac State College…

The nation and the world are mourning the passing of 4-star General Colin Powell, the first Black secretary of state, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and national security adviser. Despite being vaccinated, Powell died of COVID-19 complications earlier this week. The general, as he liked to be called, was no stranger to Maryland making several  visits to the state throughout his career. He came for the Grand Prix and to the Preakness. He also attended the Star Spangled Spectacular in 2014 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the national anthem. Democratic Maryland Senator Ben Cardin called Powell an incredible…