West Virginia Governor Jim Justice Thursday announced a statewide initiative to study preparedness because of increases in infections of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus and whether residents will need a booster shot. During his regular briefing, Justice reported that 100 of the more contagious Delta variant cases have been found in the state. The assessment will be called “Booster Battlfield Assessment” and will include a study by a task force of staffing and the status of personal protective equipment in hospitals and long-term care facilities; antibody supplies; available hospital beds and a voluntary evaluation of the antibodies in a person who…

Maryland Sixth District Congressman David Trone, who represents Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, hosted a conversation Thursday with US Representative John Sarbanes on voting rights reform.  Although currently in control of the White House and both houses of Congress, Democrats have no control over state legislatures- many of which have enacted laws that critics believe will restrict voting. Representative Sarbanes is the chairman of the Democracy Reform Task Force and the architect of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which passed the House earlier this year. He said that in his opinion, Republicans are acting in a brazen manner, making no effort to…

Baltimore County Schools have become the latest system in Maryland to announce that they will be moving to universal masking for all students and staff for the fall of the 2021-22 school year. This decision comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rolled back to previous mask recommendations, deciding that it would be better for all people in grades K-12 to wear masks. While no  decision has been made by the Allegany County Board of Education. Board president Crystal Bender tells WCBC News that a plan is likely to take shape after Tuesday’s meeting with local health officials…                                    …

With the pandemic winding down and a new project manager now in place, Canal Place officials are eager to see renewed momentum for the proposed River Park project. William Atkinson, retired from the Maryland Department of Planning, has been named project manager for the proposal which will see a whitewater course, walking track, docks and a viewing area along the Potomac River behind Canal Place. Although still in the planning and study phase, the project could advance on a fast track as federal, state and local government agencies have all been supportive. Canal Place Authority chair Janice Keene offered praise for the…

In a letter from the UPMC Cardiovascular Services Department, Internal Medicine Chairman Dr. Christopher Haas has recognized the health system’s EMS partners for their role in winning the American College of Cardiology’s “Chest Pain/MI Registry 2021 Platinum Performance Award” for the successful treatment of heart attack victims in the Western Maryland region. In writing the letter, Dr. Haas noted that this award is given to only the very best programs in the country and the only two hospital systems in Maryland received the 2021 award. “The road to recovery for our heart attack patients begins with you, and we are…

Governor Larry Hogan today convened a cybersecurity summit at the Maryland State House in Annapolis focused on coordinated federal, state, and private sector efforts to prepare for and address cybersecurity threats. The summit brought together senior government officials, including leaders from the White House, Congress, the National Security Agency (NSA), and the FBI, as well as governors, academic leaders, and private sector experts. “Public officials have no higher responsibility than keeping the American people safe, and there is no greater threat to their safety than the cyber vulnerabilities of the systems that support our daily lives,” said Governor Hogan. “Now, the…

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, was full of concern. A number of indicators: an increase in cases, 100 Delta variant cases and an increase in yellow and gold counties on the state’s map, have caused the governor’s concern. “It’s going up and it’s going up significantly. The map is filling up with colors we don’t want, more than half of our counties are out of the green. It’s not good,” he said. State officials are evaluating PPE levels, hospital staffing and bed availability, nursing homes preventative measures and antibody supplies

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding the Senate passage of an emergency security supplemental package to fund the U.S. Capitol Police and reimburse Maryland’s National Guard and D.C. Metropolitan Police for their assistance on and following January 6th:     “While our democracy was under attack, members of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, the National Guard, and the D.C. Metropolitan Police stepped up to protect it. These public servants – many of whom I represent – risked their lives and answered the call when our country needed…

505 new cases and five additional deaths as a result of the coronavirus were reported in Maryland on Thursday.  The state health department attributed the increase to the spread of the Delta variant among the unvaccinated. Hospitalizations also increased Thursday. There are 215 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 with 160 in acute care and 55 in the ICU. The current positivity rate in Maryland is 2.58%.  

The Garrett County Department of Public Works – Roads Division advises that Sang Run Road Bridge will be closed beginning Monday, August 16, 2021. This road and bridge closure will continue for approximately six weeks until bridge project completion. The planned closure is located approximately 1 mile from Bishoff Road intersection. The suggested alternate route for traffic includes Hoyes Sang Run Road and Oakland Sang Run Road.