The moratorium on evictions comes to an end Sunday- and while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new, more limited protections for tenants this week- it only affects 14 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions. The formula is based on current COVID-19 transmission levels. According to the new eviction protection order, counties with “substantial” levels of COVID-19 transmission are eligible for the extension. Counties with moderate COVID-19 transmission are not covered. Those include: Allegany and Garrett. During Wednesdays Maryland Board of Public Works meeting, Comptroller Peter Franchot made a plea to the governor and state leaders to release the remaining…

With the number of cases of COVID-19 continuing to grow in West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice suggested that if things don’t improve- a school mask mandate may be on the horizon. With the Delta variant spreading rapidly and the fall semester just a few weeks away, Justice discussed how schools across the state are reacting. He said that while he generally supports local governments and school boards making COVID related decisions- if the case numbers continue to get worse, a state mandate may become necessary…

As COVID-19 case rates continue to rise, the Allegany County Health Department has recently seen a marked increase in the number of people seeking COVID testing at the free testing clinics at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  The COVID testing clinics have transitioned from a “drive-up” format to a “drive-thru” format in the Allegany County Fairgrounds Agricultural Pavilion to meet the increased demand.    Hours for COVID-19 testing at the fairgrounds are Mondays from 2 to 7 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  No appointment is needed.  Testing is free and no insurance card is required. …

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $93,289,392 in federal funding from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to strengthen Maryland’s ability to prevent and respond to climate change related natural disasters. “Climate change is here,” the lawmakers said. “As we see an uptick in extreme weather-related emergencies, such as storms and coastal and inland flooding, this new federal funding will ensure our communities can withstand and mitigate the impacts of climate change. We must confront the urgent demands…

More than 6,000 people received doses of the coronavirus vaccine Tuesday, a number that’s been slowly increasing. The state is concerned that not enough eligible young people are getting the vaccine.  Dr. Jinlene Chan, with the state health department said, “With this new delta variant, we really strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”  She said they are also concerned children aren’t getting their vaccinations for other things like measles and whooping cough, trying to avoid being in a doctor’s office setting so they don’t get COVID-19.    “We are seeing, because people are concerned about some of these vaccines, that they are not getting their…

Wednesday morning just before 6,  troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barracks responded to a motor vehicle collision E/B I-68 prior to the Clarysville Bridge, Frostburg. Responding Troopers and EMS located a Toyota 4Runner that struck the rear end of a tractor trailer traveling in lane two of E/B I-68. The driver of the 4Runner, a 23-year-old W/F from Cumberland was trapped inside. EMS personnel removed her from the vehicle, and she was transported to UPMC Western Maryland for treatment

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced today the Circuit Court for Allegany County has affirmed his Consumer Protection Division’s Final Order entered against Cash-N-Go, Inc., Brent M. Jackson, and related businesses owned and operated by Jackson under the “Cash-N-Go” name for making unlicensed and usurious consumer loans.  The Final Order requires Cash-N-Go to pay over $2.2 million in restitution to Maryland consumers and a $1,200,750 penalty to the State of Maryland.   In a Memorandum Opinion issued by Judge Jeffrey S. Getty, the Circuit Court rejected Cash-N-Go’s argument that the short-term, high-interest loans it offered consumers secured by the…

At a press conference Tuesday, UPMC experts spoke about the Delta variant of COVID-19, as well as the new prophylactic use of monoclonal antibodies for people who have been exposed to the virus. Once available, patients may receive monoclonal antibodies if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, and who may be at risk for serious illness. Preventing infection has become even more important with the highly transmissible Delta variant circulating. This variant is present in all the communities UPMC serves. Dr. Graham Snyder, UPMC’s medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology, said he cannot stress enough how safe and effective the vaccines are…

As per a directive from the Maryland State Department of Education, local school systems have until this Friday the 13th to submit 2021-2022 reopening plans. Last week the Allegany County Board of Education reviewed staff recommendations which essentially follow state guidance. The local board voted to tentatively support a plan that “strongly recommends” but does not require individuals who are not fully vaccinated to wear face coverings in indoor settings, and in outdoor settings when physical distancing cannot be maintained.  Although COVID cases have been on the rise in recent weeks, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said there are no plans…

The application process has closed and the recruiting firm hired to help select the next Cumberland City Administrator is expected to narrow the list of candidates in the near future.  Jeff Rhodes retired from the position at the end of June and since then the city’s director of administrative services, Ken Tressler, has been serving in an interim capacity. An in-house search was initially conducted and even though 24 applications were received- the list was largely viewed as lacking in the number of quality candidates the council had been hoping for. In May the council agreed to hire a firm…