WBAL repots all Marylanders 16 and up may now get a vaccine for COVID-19 from any provider in the state. Governor Larry Hogan last week announced the state would move more quickly than expected into Phase 3 of the vaccine rollout. Last week, all state mass vaccination sites accepted appointments by residents 16 and up. Three state sites, including the one at M&T Bank Stadium, are now open to walk-ups. However, even at those sites, appointments are recommended. Though residents 16 and 17 years old are now eligible, options will be somewhat limited. Of the three vaccines on the market, only…

The PharmaCare Network is sponsoring a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Monday, April 19th, from 4pm -8pm. It will be held at Allegany College of Maryland’s Continuing Education Building, Willowbrook Road, Cumberland.  The Johnson & Johnson one dose COVID-19 vaccine will be given. This clinic is for Maryland residents, age 18 and older.   To register and schedule a time for the clinic, go to www.pharmacarenetwork.com/Vaccine or call 301.723.2482 (between the hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm) and a representative will set up a time for your vaccination. We ask that you do not call PharmaCare’s retail pharmacy locations…

In order to continue to facilitate vaccination efforts in Allegany County and to better serve the community, UPMC Western Maryland is pleased to once again hold registration for its upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinic to be held Friday, April 16 in the hospital auditorium.      All Individuals who live in or work in Allegany County age 18 and older are now eligible to receive the vaccine.     The April 16 clinic will administer the first dose of the Moderna vaccine, an immunization only given to individuals age 18 or older. Those interested in reserving a spot must call 240-964-1000 between the…

Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has kicked off its 2021 tree trimming program with plans to clear vegetation along approximately 1,670 miles of power lines in its Maryland service area and 1,550 miles of lines in its territory in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Beginning this year, Potomac Edison’s Maryland vegetation management cycle is being shortened to four years instead of five, resulting in work along an additional 300 miles of lines annually. The four-year cycle will allow Potomac Edison to reach more Maryland communities each year and prevent a greater number of tree-related outages…

On April 11th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department responded to the area of Queen City Drive to check on the wellbeing of a male reportedly using CDS inside of a parked vehicle.  When officers arrived, contact was made with the male in question who was identified as Michael Shane McDonald who told officers that he had stopped to talk on his cell phone.  He was made aware of the complaint and upon further questioning, McDonald admitted to having marihuana in his vehicle.  Officers confiscated the marihuana and issued McDonald a citation for possessing less than 10 grams of marihuana.  He…

On Sunday, April 11th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department responded Byrd Avenue residence for the report of a disturbance.  When officers arrived, they could hear a male yelling.  Officers were able to contact 2 residents who claimed that the male identified, as Maurice Tyson, had been inside wielding a knife at them and would not allow them to leave prior to police arriving.  At this point, Tyson became uncooperative with officers resisted briefly while trying to arrest him.  He was charged with 2 counts of 1st degree assault, 2 counts of 2nd, degree assault, and 2 counts of false imprisonment. …

West Virginia has a revised legal system, thanks to legislation signed into law Friday which establishes a new intermediate court of appeals.   Originally recommended in 2009, the new court will have just three judges and one district. It had been approved by the State Senate for several years, only to get hung up in the House of Delegates.  Still, it is expected to be good for business interests. This is John Abegg, Executive Vice President of the Institute for Legal Reform of the US Chamber of Commerce…      

Getting the COVID 19 vaccine to those who are homebound has been a challenge for states across the nation, including Maryland and West Virginia.   Retired National Guard General Jim Hoyer coordinates the program for the Mountain State and says the effort continues to reach the elderly who are isolated and without modern technology…      

As expected, Maryland lawmakers voted on Saturday to override Governor Hogan’s vetoes of three far-reaching police reform measures that supporters say are needed to increase accountability and restore public trust. Republicans, such as Justin Ready of Carroll County, are warning about the possible unintended effect of the new laws…  Democrats, including Shelly Hettleman of Baltimore County, say the reforms will protect the public from what she described as a long-standing departmental culture of silence and a virtual absense of accountability for police misconduct… Maryland approved the nation’s first Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights in 1974, and becomes the first state to repeal such…

Maryland United States Senator Chris Van Hollen has reintroduced his proposal to establish a financial transactions tax that would apply to investors on Wall Street.  Van Hollen says the fee would generate money for officials to redistribute to those less fortunate…