Maryland’s coronavirus state of emergency has officially ended- and that includes the state’s ban on evictions. The Baltimore City Council is among the groups urging Governor Larry Hogan to delay the eviction moratorium- arguing that tens of thousands of Marylanders are now at risk of being thrown out of their homes. Governor Hogan says he has no plans to extend it- noting that Maryland started a state rental assistant program five months prior to federal money became available. He said that the state has a large amount of funding to help both tenants and landlords allocated to counties across Maryland-…

If the House passes it in the fall and it is signed into law, Maryland would receive billions of dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act . The state would receive $4.1 billion over five years to repair roads and highways. Roughly 2,201 miles of highway are deemed to be in poor condition. An additional $409 million would be awarded to repair or replace the state’s 273 bridges already deemed to be in poor condition. Congressman David Trone, a Democrat who represents Western Maryland, tells WCBC News that approximately $100 million would be allocated for improved broadband coverage across…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it wants to stay ahead of the coronavirus and that's why it's recommending COVID-19 booster shots. COVID-19 numbers have been spiking locally and Allegany County’s vaccination rates remain among the lowest in the state. Joining WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Friday to provide the latest news as well as to address any misinformation that has circulated was Dr. Matthew Simmons, an infectious disease doctor and UPMC Western Maryland’s vice president of medical staff affairs. With far more than half of those eligible for a COVID-19 shot in Allegany County still choosing not too-…

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin calls the situation in Afghanistan “tragic” and a “dire humanitarian crisis” but he says President Biden is not to blame for how this has played out. Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, said mistakes were made in Afghanistan dating back to the George W Bush administration and continued through the Trump presidency…

During his latest COVID-19 brieging, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice one again sounded the alarm reporting that 18 counties are now “red,” with only two green counties left. The governor urged people with compromised immune systems to wear masks, but said that he does not have enough data to reinstate a statewide mask mandate. Justice said that tiered mask mandates, potentially based on the county alert map, are on the table and that more talks on that idea will be taking place…

On Saturday, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 100 block of Somerville Avenue for a reported assault. Upon officer’s arrival they spoke with the victim who advised that Julie Lee Davis had struck them several times and strangled them. Officers observed evidence of the assault and continued their investigation. Officers then spoke with Davis who admitted to the assault and advised her she was under arrest, and at that time she shoved one of the officers. Davis was placed under arrest and taken before a District Court Commissioner where she was held without bond.   Arrest: Julie Lee…

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) along with 43 Senate colleagues, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), in urging the Biden administration to take swift, robust action to protect and support Afghan women leaders facing unparalleled danger following the Taliban’s violent sweep across Afghanistan and seizure of Kabul. In a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators called on the Administration to create a humanitarian parole…

Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response leadership team held another news briefing today to update the public on the State’s latest pandemic response efforts.   "DO IT FOR BABYDOG" VACCINE SWEEPSTAKES ROUND 2 ANNOUNCED  During Fridays’ briefing, Gov. Justice announced a second round of the "Do it for Babydog" vaccination sweepstakes as the state continues to push the importance of vaccination to the younger population.  "We are trying to incentivize more and more West Virginians to get vaccinated, and especially our younger folks," Gov. Justice said. The giveaway will include the following prizes each week: 5…

​The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of August 20, 2021, there have been 3,269,169 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 177,533 total cases and 3,008 deaths.    DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 73-year old male from Harrison County,  an 89-year old male from Ohio County,  a 76-year old male from Wood County, a 74-year old male from Upshur County, a 48-year old male from Jefferson County, a 60-year old male from Wetzel County, and a 53-year old female from Wood County.   “As we send sympathies to these families, I…

The DelFest Organization Saturday released the following statement on protocols for the 2021 Festival, which will be held September 23-26 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. As we made complex decisions about operating DelFest in 2021, the McCoury family followed four principles: • We are committed to staging a safe and successful 2021 festival to support the recovery of America’s live entertainment industry, local Allegany County businesses and non-profit organizations who benefit from our annual DelFest Foundation grants. • We are following rapidly evolving guidance and best practices in our industry to protect the health and safety of performers, their crews,…