Comptroller Peter Franchot today hosted the second meeting of the Comptroller's Workgroup on Pandemic Spending.  Representatives from the state's Commerce and Housing and Community Development departments told the panel that the largest chunks of aid supported small businesses and rental assistance initiatives. "These two agencies are the largest disbursers of pandemic relief," Comptroller Franchot said. "Their presentations today provided valuable insights into how state and federal dollars were distributed, which industries and jurisdictions were prioritized, and how far those dollars went as our residents, families and businesses were battered by the pandemic." The Department of Commerce has administered hundreds of…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that he has named Robin Rickard to serve as executive director of the state’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC). Rickard, the center’s deputy director, has served as acting director since April, when Steve Schuh was named Deputy Secretary of Health Care Financing and Medicaid for the Maryland Department of Health. The Opioid Operational Command Center facilitates collaboration between state and local public health, human services, education, and public safety entities to reduce the harmful impacts of opioid addiction on Maryland communities. “Here in Maryland, we have been shining a spotlight on the heroin and opioid crisis, which…

Tom Perez, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee and former Obama Administration official, ended speculation and formally announced his bid to be the next governor of Maryland on Wednesday. Perez served as Maryland Labor Secretary from 2007 to 2009 and as a member of the Montgomery County Council. He served as the nation's labor secretary from 2013 to 2017.  Previously, he worked in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice.  Several other Democrats have launched campaigns for governor, including Comptroller Peter Franchot, former U.S. Education Secretary John B. King, Jr., author and former nonprofit executive Wes Moore, former Montgomery County Council candidate Ashwani…

The Allegany County Health Department reports that26,295Allegany County residents have received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine against COVID-19 (37.3% of the population), with 24,030of those individuals now fully vaccinated with their second dose (34.1% of the population).The number of residents who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is2,846(4.0%).   By comparison, the state reported that 56.2% of all Marylanders had received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine, with 50.0% having had both doses and 4.2% vaccinated with the single-dose vaccine.   Allegany County COVID-19 Case Statistics as of June 22:   New COVID Cases: …

On Tuesday morning at 10:53 am, the Cumberland Police responded to the 200 block of Baltimore Street for a trespassing complaint.  Upon arrival, officers contacted a representative of the property and learned that Jacob Snyder, age 21 of Cumberland, Maryland, had been trespassed from the property.  Officers further learned that Snyder was currently on the premises. Officers were able to locate on Snyder on the property and placed him under arrest.  Snyder was charged on a Criminal Citation for trespassing and released pending trial in District Court.

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland’s COVID-19 case rate has dropped below 1 per 100K, putting the state in the federal ‘green zone’ category for cases.  Maryland is one of only three states nationwide reporting case rates under 1 per 100K—the other two are Vermont and South Dakota.  The statewide case rate is 0.99, and overall, half of the state’s jurisdictions are reporting case rates in the green zone. Official data by jurisdiction is available at coronavirus.maryland.gov. Vaccinations: 73.2% of Adults With At Least One Dose. Maryland is now reporting 6,671,766 COVID-19 vaccinations.  While President Biden set a national goal of…

ACPS summer school bus 161 is running approximately 15-20 minutes late this morning as a result of traffic from an accident.

Francis DeSales 'Jake' Michaels passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, June 19, 2021, surrounded by his family. He worked for CSX for 10 years, as well as the sheet metal industry Local 100. He was also sheriff from 1978 to 1982. Family and friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 15205 McMullen Hwy., SW, Cresaptown, on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. 

With a new executive director now on board and with a tentative summer debut date for steam engine 1309- Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss believes the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad operation is well positioned for a strong revival. Earlier this month the board of directors announced the hire of Wesley Heinz as executive director- with John Garner stepping aside for health and family reasons. According to Morriss, having a fresh set of eyes at the top- combined with the attraction of a completely restored Mountain Thunder steam engine- should help the tourist train operation rebound after losing a year to the…

Over the weekend, West Virginia held its first lottery-style drawing for those who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is designed to boost the state’s vaccination numbers.  Some policy groups supported the governor’s drawing as a means to boost vaccination rates in the state, but other groups criticized it as a waste of taxpayer money and said it would be more effective to use funding on other approaches, such as education about the vaccines and increased availability.  Governor Jim Justice fell short of his June 20 goal of 65% vaccination for the general population with only…