Delegate Jason Buckel says while there were some good measures included in the  package of sweeping police reform bills passed by the Maryland General Assembly last month-  there are also some which will create more harm than good. The new laws cover a wide range of policies and include restricting no-knock warrants, mandating body cameras and prohibiting police officers from preventing civilians from recording them. One section creates a new statewide use-of-force policy and says that officers who violate those standards, causing serious injury or death, can be convicted and sent to prison for up to 10 years. Buckel said this bill…

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot tells WCBC News he doesn’t want to see Maryland follow the lead of nearly 20 other states who are cutting off federal unemployment benefits beginning next month. Nearly 2 million Americans could lose at least some — and in many cases all — of their federal unemployment benefits starting in June, as a growing number of Republican governors have announced they will end their states' participation in the federal programs as coronavirus pandemic restrictions ease.  Officials in GOP-led states, including West Virginia,  claim the $300 increased benefits are a disincentive for people to return to work, leading to workforce…

With state and federal departments now reviewing the plans- the latest projection for construction to begin on the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project is spring of next year. The project has been in the talking stages since 2016 and originally the hope had been for a late 2019  groundbreaking.  Changes to the plans and the scope of the project; efforts to secure funding from a variety of sources; and in the past year- the Coronavirus pandemic- have all contributed to project delays.  A major hurdle was cleared just recently when final design plans were submitted to state highway for consideration.  Stu Czapski,…

The Cumberland Barrack will transition all operations to the new barrack location on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.   The newly constructed Cumberland Barrack is located at 1125 National Highway in LaVale, Maryland. There will be a formal commissioning ceremony scheduled for later this summer. The date and time will be forthcoming.   For two and one-half years during the construction phase of the new barrack, state troopers and civilian support staff temporarily relocated to the Allegany County Emergency Operations Center at 11400 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Road, located about 12 miles east of the National Highway location in LaVale. At 10:00…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland small businesses now have one additional week to apply for the state’s successful $10 million Small Business COVID-19 RELIEF Grant Program.  Applications for the program will now be accepted through next Monday, May 24 at 11:59 p.m. New applicants can access the application portal here. “This one relief program has already helped hundreds of businesses keep their operations going as we make our way out of the pandemic,” said Governor Hogan. “By extending the deadline for applications, we are giving even more businesses a chance to take part in this initiative. We are…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland is reporting its lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since March 30, 2020. In addition, the state’s 7-day positivity rate has matched its lowest level on record. “From the very beginning of this crisis, we Marylanders truly have been all in this fight together,” said Governor Hogan. “Today’s key health metrics show that, after a long, hard-fought battle, we are nearing the end of this pandemic as we finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. Those who have not yet been vaccinated are strongly advised to immediately…

Cumberland City Police report  a 15-year-old city youth was charged with second-degree attempted murder after allegedly stabbing another 15-year-old at a Polk Street home early Monday. The male victim suffered a wound to the torso and was in stable condition Monday afternoon at UPMC Western Maryland, police said. He was initially admitted in critical condition. Cumberland Police Chief Chuck Ternent said the male suspect was taken into custody in a wooded area along Willowbrook Road after officers responded to the area upon receiving a tip from a citizen who reportedly saw two youths in that area. The victim reportedly told…

Today marks the tax filing date for individual federal and state income taxes. The previous deadline of April 15th was postponed by the IRS to today due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It took a few years longer than supporters had hoped- but Maryland finally has approved sports betting.  The bill itself is one of the largest ever to pass in the United States. It allows a record 60 online sportsbooks to be licensed and 30 retail licenses to be handed out. These retail licenses include sports teams, the six major commercial casinos, as well as secondary licenses for small businesses such as bars, restaurants, fairgrounds, and small sporting arenas. The sheer number of skins allowed far surpasses every other state up until this point. Delegate Jason Buckel said this should provide a boost…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced Friday that he is signing an executive order modifying the state’s face covering mandate to fall in line with CDC guidelines that say that those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks in most settings. He stressed that the mask mandate still applies for all those not vaccinated until June 20…                          In response to concerns of businesses being unable to find employees, the governor also announced that all federally funded unemployment programs($300/week supplement) will end on June 19… Return-to-work bonuses…