The Cumberland Mayor and City Council will conduct a work session Tuesday afternoon. In addition to the upcoming agenda, council will receive updates on the Cumberland Gateway Project, the Baltimore Street Access Project, and the strategic plan of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation. The session will start at 4:30 PM.

During the past week, Allegany County Public Schools reported five cases of COVID-19 in staff, and 14 in students. In addition, 12 staff members and 211 students were in quarantine this week due to close contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus, or someone who developed symptoms during the period.

Maryland added 1,840 new COVID-19 cases, while hospitalizations and the state positivity rate increased slightly, according to data released Friday by the state Department of Health. Hospitalizations were at 1,249 Friday morning, up 33 from the previous day. Of those, there were 286 in ICU beds and 963 in acute care. Maryland remains in 2B of its vaccination plan, but all Marylanders ages 16 and up can get the vaccination at several mass vaccination sites around the state. The 7-day positivity rate is now at 5.59%, up 0.03% from the day before.  

A bill drafted to protect the firearms rights of medical cannabis users in Maryland was blocked in the House of Delegates Friday. SB190, sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Michael Hough, would remove medical cannabis usage as a reason to deny a person the right to purchase or carry a firearm. The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate but has been amended since moving to the House. The amendments added regulations to the manufacture and transfer of certain unfinished parts of a firearm in order to protect against the proliferation of untraceable firearms. The bill was then altered again with the adoption of an amendment by Del. C.T….

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Friday announced the formation of an Asian-American Hate Crime Workgroup. Former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur, who is Asian American, will serve as chairman of the workgroup, with the goal of addressing a rise in anti-Asian discrimination and violence. “Words are not enough,” Hogan said. “Which is why I immediately directed Maryland State Police and all of our state law enforcement agencies to increase enhance visibility patrols and provide additional protection for [Asian American community] members. We issued awareness bulletins in an effort to ensure the safety of AAPI against further attacks. And we’ve been encouraging anyone who is a victim…

During his Friday afternoon press conference, Maryland Governor Hogan said he was told by federal officials that the shortage of doses of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine likely will impact the state for the rest of this month… He said the situation is especially frustrating, considering Maryland's successful effort to provide an expanded number of outlets for vaccine distribution in all areas of the state… Last week, the public learned of issues at Emergent BioSolutions' Baltimore plant that led to the contamination and destruction of millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.

The Country Club Mall in LaVale has been purchashed, according to the New York-based public relations firm UpSpring PR. Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management, both of Great Neck, New York will take control of the property. The partners have shared in the management of malls and shopping centers across the U.S. Among Namdar Realty’s holdings is the Logan Valley Mall in Altoona and the Uniontown Mall, both in Pennsylvania. Payments on the mall’s commercial note have fallen into arrears with none made since May 2020. 

Police reform has been a big topic in Annapolis, with top Democrats pushing measures which some say will drive good cops away from the profession. Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, speaking with WBAL, said he's been talking with chiefs and sheriff's from around the state about the changes, and believes that good officers will be able to adapt…  Harrison also said that Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's plan to not prosecute low level drug offenders has been in place for two years, and his force has cut back on arresting such offenders.  

During a recent meeting of the Senate's Veterans Affairs Committee, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin questioned Biden Administration officials about problems that continue for those who have served. Manchin said that reaching those who don't have internet or who are unaware of programs should be a priority…    

Several residents elected to address the situation surrounding a viral video that surfaced after an eviction in Bowling Green recently. During the public comment period at the county commissioners meeting, local NAACP President Tiffani Fisher called for change, saying the review needs both transparency and accountability…   Fisher said that legislation likely to pass in the General Assembly would also create a better situation and resources for the poor facing eviction, and called on the Commissioners to adopt such policies immediately.