West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey warned of a promotion scam Tuesday that deceives consumers and lures them into providing cash or personal information in exchange for fraudulent discounts, upgrades or billing credits.   Those perpetrating the scam often claim to represent an established utility, service provider or other familiar company, such as satellite or cable television providers.   The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has received word of the scam circulating throughout West Virginia, including Berkeley, Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Logan, Raleigh and Wetzel counties. In one instance, a consumer reportedly paid the impostor more than $5,000 in gift cards.  …

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the state has submitted the first recovery plan performance report required by the Department of the Treasury in accordance with the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which directed $3.7 billion in federal aid to Maryland. Following ARPA’s enactment on March 11, 2021, Governor Hogan and legislative leaders announced a bipartisan funding agreement, which took the form of Supplemental Budget #5 to the governor’s FY 2022 state budget proposal. The supplemental budget provided the initial outline for how the State’s ARPA funding would be spent; the report submitted today goes into further…

Due to impending inclement weather from Hurricane Ida, the COVID-19 testing clinic at the Ali Ghan Shrine Club Picnic Grounds will be cancelled on Wednesday, September 1.  Testing will resume at this location on Friday, September 3.

The left lane of Interstate 68 West at the cross town bridge was closed for a brief period Tuesday morning as the result of a vehicle accident. No injuries reported

The Allegany County Health Department reports that the COVID-19 case rate in the county is currently more than double the Maryland case rate.  The COVID case rate in Allegany County is 42.4 cases per 100,000 population compared to the state of Maryland as a whole with 18.98 cases per 100,000 population.  Free COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue every Wednesday on the ground floor of the Willowbrook Office Complex, 12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland.   From 9 a.m. to noon both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines are offered for those age 18 and older.  Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. the…

On Monday the Cumberland City Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Bethany Marie Rafferty. The warrant was issued when Rafferty violated conditions of probation from a previous Controlled Dangerous Substance arrest. Rafferty was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. Arrested – Bethany Marie Rafferty (32) Cumberland, MD Charge – Violation of Probation   On Monday the Cumberland City Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Paige Nicole Zais. The warrant was issued after a Controlled Dangerous Substance investigation. During the investigation Zais was found to be in possession of a large quantity of suspected heroin. Zais…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice conducted another briefing Monday on the state’s response to the pandemic. Justice announced a new incentive program that will provide $150 vouchers for back to school supplies to students who are vaccinated and are residing with grandparents. Retired Major General Jim Hoyer, who heads the West Virginia Pandemic Response Team, reviewed numbers and detailed efforts to get authorization for booster shots for all residents.

We have a Flash Flood Watch in effect beginning late tonight and continuing into early Thursday. Four to six inches of rain is expected to soak not only Mountain Maryland, but a large chunk of West Virginia.  During yesterday’s statewide briefing, WCBC asked Governor Jim Justice about the preparation for the storm, in a region that has seen it’s sharing of flooding…

Today is the last day for American forces to be deployed in Afghanistan. Pennsylvania 13th District Congressman John Joyce, who represents Bedford and Somerset Counties, places the blame for the chaos associated with the withdrawal, solely at the feet of President Joe Biden.