The president of the Allegany County Commissioners, Dave Caporale, says that state money is leading to a blossoming of economic opportunity locally.  Caporale spoke to WCBC at the PACE reception and he noted the impact of the George C. Edwards Fund.

On Friday, January 17th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department were conducting patrol checks in the area of Washington St. During the checks, officers located an unsecured door at a closed business in the 100 block. Officers then entered the unsecured door to the property and began to search the premises. During the search, officers located two subjects sleeping in a basement restroom. Once it was confirmed that the subjects did not have permission to be on the property, both Tyler Scott Poole, 34, and Marissa Linnae Tice, 27, of Cumberland, were placed under arrest. Both subjects were transported to the…

The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority that administers the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area is accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2025 Mini Grant projects.  Mini Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions for non-capital grants in the Heritage area.  Marketing and Media Director for the Canal Preservation, Kim Folk, says they fund different projects such as festivals and marketing…     “We fund a lot of festivals, we fund marketing projects.  A lot of people will need signage or interpretation.  We’ve funded a lot of Heritage Days projects.  We’ve funded multiple…

At Thursday night’s PACE Reception in Annapolis, Cumberland City Councilman Brian Lepley discussed Baltimore Street Parking with WCBC Radio.  Lepley said he is still considering options but did express concern with people taking advantage of the current free parking.

Congressman Andy Harris of the Eastern Shore is the new leader of the Republican Freedom Caucus in Washington.  That group of Republicans has spread to over a dozen states, including Maryland’s House of Delegates.  State senator Mike McKay told WCBC at the PACE Reception that the need to work with Democrats to help Western Maryland makes him hesitant to join the Freedom Caucus. House Minority Leader Jason Buckel shared the position of Senator McKay but phrased it differently.

January is National Radon Month, and the West Virginia Department of Health is supplying residents with free radon test kits to ensure their homes or apartments are safe.  Radon is naturally released from rocks, soil and water and can get trapped inside homes and buildings.  Since residents are unable to see or smell the gas, the only way to know if someone’s living space has high levels of radon is to test it, according to Indoor Radon Specialist, Leslie Smith… “If you find that you have elevated levels we recommend that you take steps to lower your exposure.  Put in…

Preserving the George C. Edwards Fund was a dominant theme at last night’s PACE Reception in Annapolis.  Jeremy Irons, co-chair of the PACE Committee, told WCBC that in a short period of time the results have been terrific. Irons added that no program statewide can match it. Governor Wes Moore has included the George Edwards Fund in his proposed 2026 budget.

A Mineral County grand jury has indicted William Blondell Ludwick III, 33, in the September murder of 22-year-old Emma Julianne Westover.  Westover was found dead in her vehicle on September 1.

Today, January 16, 2025, South Penn Elementary School was placed in a brief HOLD status due to a medical emergency. First Responders arrived on scene and provided medical service. School administrators gave the “All Clear” and the instructional day resumed as normal.

In Governor Wes Moore’s budget for the next fiscal year, he is making major investment in the state’s economy, but also wants a simplified, fairer tax structure.  At a presentation in College Park, Moore said his proposed budget actions would lighten the load on the majority of citizens in the state…     “82% of Marylanders are about to either get a tax cut or have no impact on their taxes at all, that we are not going to raise sales taxes, we are not going to raise property taxes, and the first time in a long time Maryland will…