The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) announced applications will be accepted for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) beginning today and will continue until funds are exhausted. This federally funded program assists eligible state residents in paying water or wastewater bills. Eligibility for LIHWAP benefits is based on income, household size and whether the household is responsible for paying water or wastewater bills. To qualify, the household must meet all program guidelines, which includes an applicant’s annual income being at or below 60 percent of the State Median Income. Face-to-face interviews in a local DHHR…

Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones today announced that they have reached a historic bipartisan agreement to provide $1.86 billion in tax relief over five years for Maryland retirees, small businesses, and low-income families. Combined with the recently-enacted gas tax suspension, this legislative session will deliver nearly $2 billion in tax relief. “Today, we are announcing the largest tax cut package in state history with major and long-overdue relief for Maryland’s retirees,” said Governor Hogan. “Cutting our state’s retirement taxes is something we have been trying to accomplish for seven years, and I…

UPDATE:   A Snow Squall Warning has been extended to 3:45 PM. Snow showers expected. Total snow accumulations of two to four inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE…Garrett and Extreme Western Allegany Counties. * WHEN…Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. Visibilities may drop rapidly at times in snow squalls. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Snowfall rates could approach or exceed 1 inch per hour and visibility could be reduced to a quarter mile or less in squalls. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Slow down and use caution while traveling. Rapid changes in visibility and potentially slick roads…

The Cumberland Police arrested Kerri Anne Bohrer, age 48, of Cumberland MD on an arrest warrant.  The warrant charged Bohrer with Obstructing Justice, False Statement to an Officer, Obstructing and Hindering, and Harboring a Felon/Fugitive.  The warrant was a result of an incident that occurred on March 26th, 2022.  The Cumberland Police responded to Bohrer’s residence in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Carl Nelson Bohrer who also resided there.  Kerri Bohrer was advised by police that Carl Bohrer had an active arrest warrant and asked if he was inside.  Kerri provided false information to the officers, stating…

The biggest news in Maryland over the last few weeks has been the 30-day suspension of the gas tax. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel heading into the weekend   was $3.79, nearly 50 cents less than the national average. Senate President Bill Ferguson was asked about extending the gas tax holiday and at this point he is a noncommittal….    

The late Dr. Sean McCagh and his wife Terri have been chosen as the 2022 Humanitarians of the Year by the Community Trust Foundation Board of Trustees.  Leah Shaffer, CTF’s executive director, said the McCaghs’ work would be formally honored at the Humanitarian Leadership Award Dinner on September 14 at Frostburg State University.  The McCaghs created the Hooley Plunge, which features hundreds of people dunking themselves in the icy waters of Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park every year, raises money for Special Olympics of Allegany County and other local organizations that support developmentally disabled individuals. While Sean passed…

It was February of 2020 when the Western Maryland Health System officially merged into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospital network and became UPMC Western Maryland. Now entering year three, UPMC Western Maryland President Michele Martz tells WCBC News that the benefits for the region are continuing to expand. One of the areas that has improved dramatically for the local health system has been the ability to work in collaboration with other regional UPMC systems in neighboring Pennsylvania facilities…

Allegany County Commissioner Jake Shade Thursday proposed a reduction in the income tax known as the piggyback tax. The piggy tax is essentially a local income tax that is  collected by the state and is remitted to the county. However, Commissioner Dave Caporale express some reservations…

There are three open seats up for election this year on the Allegany County Board of Education- and one of those will be wide open as only two of the three incumbents are seeking a return to office. As of today there are seven candidates who have filed headed by incumbents David Bohn and Robert Farrell. Others running include Janet Heavner; Lori Lepley; Keesha Marie McClellan; Meggin Miller and Linda Widmyer. Although Board member Deb Frank has announced that she will not seek another term- she says with the system finally recovering from the pandemic challenges and with unprecedented financial…

Demolition of the old Allegany High School on Sedgwick Street will begin this week, marking the beginning of the end for the structure which was a base for secondary education in Cumberland for 90 years. On Thursday, the county commissioners did a final walkthrough at the facility, which has been stripped of many items of historical significance by officials. One of the problems with an empty building is those entering it unlawfully. On Friday, Cumberland police arrested two 19 year olds and a juvenile, charging them with trespassing. The future of the property remains undetermined, as it sits in the…