Actual construction is nearly ready to commence at the site of the future Cumberland Gateway commercial development- commonly referred to as the Rolling Mill project. Dirt has been moving at the site in preparation for phases one and two which will include construction of a new Verizon store and a four unit strip mall. D’Atri Subs is also slated to be one of of  the first tenants. The plaza is located off Interstate 68 between Maryland Avenue and Park Street. Sometimes referred to as the Rolling Mill project, the site is expected to feature a hotel, restaurants, shops and a…

The Allegany County Commissioners removed the “interim” from County Administrator Jason Bennett’s title last week- appointing him to fill the position permanently. Bennett was appointed interim last spring following the resignation of Brandon Butler who stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Bennett, who also serves as the county’s finance director, began working for the county in November 2003. County Commissioners President Jake Shade tells WCBC News that given Bennett’s length of service time and experience with the county- the commissioners determined that there was no need to conduct a search…

Before leaving Annapolis following the conclusion of the 2021 General Assembly session, House Republicans  elected new leaders: Delegate  Jason Buckel (R-Allegany) is the new House minority leader; Del. Christopher Adams (R-Lower Shore) will be minority whip.  They were elected to lead the 43-member caucus after a Tuesday morning meeting. The two new leaders take over from Dels. Nick Kipke (R-Anne Arundel) and Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County), who were the longest-tenured Maryland House GOP leaders in the modern era. Buckel told WCBC News that he thanked Kipke and  Szeliga for their long tenure, as well as allowing him to become part…

James Maynard, Jr., age 53, of Boonesboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a federal charge for coercion and enticement of a minor in order to produce and distribute child pornography.  The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Jason Lando of the Frederick Police Department.             According to Maynard’s guilty plea, on November 27, 2019, Maynard used a social media account to meet a 14-year-old female, Victim 1,  During his initial conversation…

Just 12 hours after the Maryland General Assembly's legislative session came to a close, Governor Larry Hogan signed 66 bills into law. Tuesday's bill signing ceremony included legislation on telehealth, broadband access and reforms to the Maryland Environmental Service. Hogan again emphasized the strong bipartisan effort demonstrated by lawmakers during the past 90 days…     Senate President Bill Ferguson said the session delivered bipartisan wins, including a mental health crisis bill named for Tommy Raskin, the son of Rep. Jamie Raskin who died by suicide late last year…  

The Morgantown restaurant owner accused in the January 6 assault of three U.S. Capitol police officers, including one who later died, has pled not guilty to the charges. During a court appearance, George Tanios also asked for a jury trial, while he continues to pursue bond that could allow him to stay out of jail as he awaits trial. Tanios is one of two suspects accused of using pepper spray against officers while other rioters at the Capitol tried to push past a bicycle rack barrier. Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed after being attacked during the riot and later died at a hospital. The cause of…

Despite fewer drivers on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic, motor vehicle crashes on Maryland roadways claimed 569 lives in 2020, an increase of 6.4% compared to 535 deaths the previous year. Preliminary data released today by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) also shows an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, from 124 and 10 in 2019 to 134 and 14 in 2020, respectively. Overall crashes and serious injuries decreased, but crashes in 2020 were more severe, contributing to the rise in roadway fatalities. The total number of fatalities was the highest in Maryland since 2008, when the…

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey joined 22 attorneys general in writing to President Biden and congressional leadership raising serious legal concerns to Washington, D.C., statehood as proposed in Congress.   “If this Congress passes and President Biden signs this Act into law, we will use every legal tool at our disposal to defend the United States Constitution and the rights of our States from this unlawful effort to provide statehood to the District of Columbia,” Attorney General Morrisey joined in writing.   The attorneys general argue that the nation’s founders set forth very specific guidelines for the size and…

Through the university’s twice-weekly testing protocol, 30 positive tests and 3,196 negative tests were identified during last week’s seven-day testing period. The week’s positivity rate is 0.93 percent. The rate remains just below 1 percent and below the region and state positivity rates, BUT students and employees must remember that the virus IS IN OUR community and practicing health and safety measures is essential.    Currently, more than 1,000 FSU students and employees have reported receiving a first dose, second dose or single dose of a COVID vaccine. Additionally, recent clinics for students and employees on campus and in Cumberland, allowed more…