Maryland policymakers and transit advocates are contemplating a bigger and better future for the state’s MARC commuter rail service- and Allegany County officials are lobbying for a Western Maryland connection. With billions of dollars eventually heading the state’s way in new federal infrastructure funding, the hope is that some of their ambitions can be realized in the not-too-distant future. The panel heard from state transportation officials, regular rail riders and a former top transportation planner as part of the discussion on the potential for expanding MARC in the years ahead. A study to expand MARC deeper into Western Maryland is…

The Maryland Board of Public Works is paving the way for the Baltimore Orioles to dramatically change the look of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.The agency voted this week to reimburse the Maryland Stadium Authority, which owns the downtown stadium, for the cost of the changes via rent credits over the span of five years. The changes — the first to the size of the iconic ballpark's playing area in two decades — will raise the wall's height from 7 feet to about 12 feet and move it back as much as 30 feet and are projected to cost $3.5 million. The…

With rumors about his own political future heating up, Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan has become a frequent guest on national news programs discussing the state of the GOP. Hogan, who began his second and final term as governor this month, has long been rumored to be considering a run for president in 2024- and more recently has been lobbied by party leaders to challenge for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat held by Chris Van Hollen. While Hogan has consistently been non-committal when asked about future campaigns- he has not been shy in discussing how the Republican Party should move forward….

After nearly four years of waiting for a final task force report,  the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority is ready to move in a different direction, requesting to become a Maryland state park. Appointed in March of 2018, the charge of the Canal Place Task Force was to determine if it should be divided into portions and sold to private investors or kept as is, with plans developed to improve cash flow and increase visitation to the attraction.  Growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of regular communication from the task force, Canal Place representatives contacted the chair of the newly…

On Saturday, Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Philip Andrew Pietro, age 27 of Cumberland MD. The warrant charged Pietro with Home Invasion, Robbery, Second Degree Assault, Third Degree Burglary, Fourth Degree Burglary, Trespass of Private Property, Theft less than $100, Malicious Destruction of Property, and Disorderly Conduct. The warrant was a result of an investigation by the Cumberland Police on January 28th, 2022. Officers responded to a residence on the 200 block of Valley St for a report of Pietro trying to break the front door of the residence to gain entry. When they arrived on scene they…

On Saturday, January 29, 2022 the Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Brenda Lene Ogden, age 39 of Cumberland MD. The warrant was issued by the Circuit Court of Allegany County and charged Ogden with Violation of Probation. Ogden is currently being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Center. On Saturday, January 29th, the Cumberland Police served a Criminal Summons on Nancy Lee Kosinski, age 69 of Cumberland, MD. The summons charged Kosinski with Credit Card Fraud charges and Theft Less Than $100. On Saturday, January 29th, 2022 the Cumberland Police served a Criminal Summons on Brad…

During his latest COVID-19 briefing, Governor Jim Justice announced that West Virginia reached 1,088 COVID-related hospitalizations on Thursday; once again setting a new all-time pandemic record. COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov “We are flooding our hospitals,” Gov. Justice said. “If we don't watch out, we're going to have real problems. “Overwhelmingly, the people that are going to the hospital and the people we are losing are the people that are unvaccinated.” Gov. Justice continued. The Governor went on to announce that 275 West Virginia National Guard members have now been authorized to deploy to 34 medical facilities across the state as part of…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland will double the reward first announced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division for information about a person of interest in the fatal fire that led to the deaths of three firefighters earlier this week: “As we continue to mourn our fallen heroes, we are conducting an aggressive investigation into the cause of the fire that took their lives. “In coordination with our federal and local partners, the state is immediately doubling the reward for information in the case to $100,000. We urge anyone with tips…

Congressman David Trone (MD-06) sent a letter, alongside over 70 other Members of Congress, to urge House and Senate Appropriations leadership to prioritize funding for programs that address the severe shortage of school-based mental health professionals.  Last May, Trone introduced the Comprehensive Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program Act, which would fund pilot programs in primary and secondary schools to fully fund mental and behavioral health prevention and intervention programs aimed at mitigating mental health issues among students. Full text of the letter can be found here.  In the bipartisan letter to the leadership of House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Members emphasized the…

Photo by Tony Wheatley, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.           The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported taking 67 wild turkeys during the 2022 winter turkey season, which was open statewide Jan. 20-22. This year’s harvest was 24% lower than the 2021 winter total of 89 turkeys. St. Mary’s, Baltimore, and Caroline counties reported the highest harvests respectively, although turkeys were reported from most counties across the state. Adult males, or “toms,” comprised 30% of the harvest with the remainder being females and juveniles. Eighty-one percent were taken with a shotgun, but…