4:49PM – Allegany County emergency responders are searching the Potomac River in the Paw Paw area for a reported missing boater. The search began late Tuesday afternoon. Information about the type of watercraft and the identity of the missing person was not disclosed.

Maryland Attorney General Brian  Frosh announced today his Consumer protection Division has reached a settlement with California-based National Tax Experts, Inc. and Patrick Oakes, the company’s owner.  The settlement provides restitution to Maryland consumers, imposes civil penalties, and permanently bans the company from providing tax debt relief services to Maryland consumers.   The Division alleged in its Statement of Charges that National Tax Experts sent deceptive advertisements to Marylanders that were intended to appear as if they were sent by a Maryland court and falsely warned consumers that their assets were facing imminent seizure.  In fact, the mailers were from…

FrostburgFirst is excited to announce the next summer event in Downtown Frostburg, 2nd Saturday on July 10th. Frostburg will be buzzing with activity including sidewalk sales, business specials, and live music with Sam DeMartino. Local artists, Stella’s Dots and The Linden Tree, will also be set up in the Frostburg Museum courtyard.   FrostburgFirst will be hosting 2nd Saturdays every month through September, as well as Moonlight Madness every last Friday of the month through September.   For more information on downtown Frostburg and its Main Street Program or to get involved, visit www.downtownfrostburg.com contact FrostburgFirst at (301) 689-6900 or email frostburgfirst@gmail.com.

Mineral County's Pre-K/Head Start program is accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year. Pre-K/Head Start is a four-day program for four-year old Mineral County children. Three-year-old children that are Head Start eligible (based on income, disability, or foster placement) are also accepted. Please go to https://mineral.preschoolsteps.org to fill out an application. Officials will be conducting face-to-face interviews at Keyser Primary School on July 20th and July 27th for ALL Mineral County Pre-K/Head Start children. Call to set up an appointment at 304-788-4508.  

Gov. Jim Justice announced today the availability of reduced-price lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for kids age 15 and younger through a new tiered pricing program. The program – made possible by a West Virginia State Senate bill passed during the 2021 legislative session and signed by Gov. Justice in April – substantially reduces the cost of a resident lifetime license for children up until their 15th birthday. “As a lifelong hunter and fisherman myself, I know just how valuable it is for us to get our kids out in the woods or in our pristine waters. It can spark a lifetime…

WBAL reports two contractors are injured following a building collapse Tuesday in east Baltimore, fire officials said.  One was working near the chimney when it collapsed, leaving him struck and stuck with the falling debris. They sustained non-life-threatening injuries.  The other contractor was working on the second floor and fell through to the basement. They are in serious condition.  Both contractors were taken to a hospital. Building inspectors are at the scene

Governor Larry Hogan today, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), announced the launch of a $72 million maternal and child health care transformation initiative aimed at improving related health disparities for Marylanders statewide.  To support care transformation, Maryland’s Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) will provide $10 million in annual funding beginning July 1 for the next four years. MDH’s Public Health Services will receive $2 million annually. Maryland Medicaid will receive $8 million annually and also will be eligible to receive matching federal funds each year, bringing a combined total of $72 million to the initiative….

The Maryland Court of Appeals has dismissed Governor Larry Hogan's appeal of a decision that blocked his decision to end enhanced federal unemployment benefits for about 300,000 residents. The ruling allows a temporary restraining order to continue, and will likely mean the next move in the challenge to come in circuit court. Hogan wanted the federal portion to end last Saturday evening.   The challenge is expected to continue, as the governor wants those on unemployment to return to the workforce.  

Maryland’s top court on Monday upheld a 10-day temporary restraining order that allows for unemployed residents to continue to receive federal unemployment benefits through at least July 13.  After Governor Larry Hogan and the state’s Department of Labor appealed Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill’s decision to keep the federal benefits for at least 10 days, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera ruled to uphold the July 3rd ruling. Saturday’s ruling will expire on July 13 unless it is renewed or extended and the court will confer with counsel on or after July 6 to set a date for a full adversary hearing on the…

With the start of a new fiscal year, local governments announced a slew of new contract agreements last week with various union bargaining groups. While hammering out  a new contract with police and fire unions has often proven challenging, Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said that was not the case this year…    Meanwhile the Allegany County Commissioners at their last meeting approved new agreements with the Sheriff’s Patrol and Judicial Division; 911 Communications; Emergency Medical Services; and Allegany Transit. County Commissioners President Jake Shade said he was most satisfied to see a new deal with 911…