The April 18 deadline to file federal tax returns is fast approaching, and this can be a stressful time, especially for inexperienced tax filers. That’s where nonprofit CASH Campaign of Maryland comes in. CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) and its partners provide free tax prep to anyone who earned $58,000 or less in 2021. Founder and chief operating officer Sara Johnson estimates 1.3 million Maryland taxpayers — or nearly 42% of all Marylanders — are eligible for free tax preparation, but many of them don’t even file, costing them valuable tax credits.

Maryland’s Senate gave preliminary approval this week to a measure that would enable Marylanders to receive up to 24 weeks of paid leave per year following the birth, adoption or guardianship of a child or to take care of themselves or a relative experiencing serious health issues. Depending on their pay, Marylanders — who worked either part-time or full-time for at least 680 hours in the last year — would receive a partial wage replacement of between $50 and $1,000 a week under the Time to Care Act of 2022, sponsored by Sens. Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore City) and Joanne Benson…

In a little over a week, Maryland legislators have passed the gas tax holiday for 30 days that was proposed by comptroller Peter Franchot.  On Friday, Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into effect after it passed both the House and the Senate. "This gas tax holiday returns $100 million to Marylanders’ wallets and should provide economic relief for motorists who have seen prices soar in recent weeks," Franchot said in a statement. "While I continue to believe that a three-month gas tax holiday would have offered more substantial savings and been easily absorbed due to the state's historic surplus,…

The Allegany County Health Department reports that the county’s COVID-19 case rate has dropped below the state average for the first time in more than two months and is the currently the lowest it has been in eight months.  As of March 17, the COVID case rate for Allegany County was 4.46 per 100,000 people, compared to the state average of 5 per 100,000.  This is the lowest the county’s case rate has been since July 2021 when the reported case rate was 4.06 per 100,000.   As a result of improving COVID markers, CDC moved both Allegany and Garrett…

For the 7-day period of  March 11-17, 2022, there were no schools that met the definition of a School Wide or Cohort Outbreak of COVID-19.   ACPS had no staff members and 6 students reported as positive for COVID-19 during this time.  ACPS had no staff members quarantined as a close contact, and 5 students were reported as a close contact to a positive person and required to quarantine. 

The man accused of three homicides last September in Howard and Allegany counties was found incompetent to stand trial by an Allegany County Circuit Court judge this week, court records reflect. The Baltimore Sun reports that Allegany County Circuit Judge Michael O. Twigg signed an order Wednesday afternoon indicating Jeffrey Allen Burnham, 47, was incompetent to stand trial due to a mental disorder and committed him to the Maryland Department of Health. An annual review hearing will be held on Sept. 13, according to the document. In Allegany County, Burnham faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of…

The Cumberland Times News reports a Cumberland resident questioned the appointment Tuesday of a member of the Historic Preservation Commission who was convicted in 2013 of possession, transportation and distribution of child pornography. "How did this happen? What is the process for filling these positions on boards and commissions. Are background checks required? If not, why not?," said Mark Nelson during a City Council meeting. "What is the council going to do about this?" Christopher Andrew Myers was appointed to a four-year seat on the Historic Preservation Commission, a volunteer position, in December 2018. He is also a candidate for…

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bob Walk offically opened the Spring Training Reports for the 2022 season, as WCBC's Garrett Eagan talked to Walk about his off-season, the new CBA, and the Spring opener today against the Yankees: 

The Cumberland Police were called to a business on Queen City Drive for a reported shoplifting.  Upon arrival they contacted store employees who advised that a female had been observed concealing items in her bag and then left the store without paying for them.  Officers contacted the female, identified Taylor Reed Quick, age 30 of Cumberland MD.  Quick was placed under arrest and transported to the Cumberland Police Station where she was issued a Criminal Citation for Theft Less than $100 and released pending trial.   Arrested:  Taylor Reed Quick Age: 30  Cumberland, MD Charges:  Theft Less than $100

The Cumberland Police served an Arrest Warrant on Bryan Lane Kidwell, age 24, of Bloomington MD.  The warrant was issued by the Circuit Court for Allegany County for Failure to Appear for a court date.  His original charges was for First Degree Assault.  He is being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Center.   Arrested:  Bryan Lane Kidwell  Age:  24  Bloomington MD Charges:  Fail to Appear