We've all seen the large crowds at the World Series and NFL and College football games. WCBC asked West Virginia Governor Jim Justice for a reaction to seeing those large gatherings at a time when some are calling for vaccine and mask mandates.  

Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response leadership team held another news briefing today to update the public on the State’s latest pandemic response efforts.   GOV. JUSTICE PROPOSES BILL REQUIRING EXEMPTIONS FROM VACCINE MANDATES IN THE WORKPLACE During Wednesday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that he has amended his recent Special Session call to include a bill that would clarify that any government or private business that wishes to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine must also allow exemptions to that mandate for medical or religious reasons. “I’ve stood rock solid that I’m against mandates,” Gov. Justice said. “I firmly…

As reported on WCBC today, Allegany County Public Schools has updated its COVID Quarantine policy…  At the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, ACPS was given approval to move forward with amending established quarantine timelines. In collaboration with the Allegany County Health Department, it has been determined that beginning Monday, October 18, 2021, ACPS will be implementing the amended quarantine guidelines for unvaccinated students and staff who are a close contact to a known or suspected positive case of COVID-19.  The individual who is a close contact may take a COVID-19 test on or after their 5th day of…

On October 12th, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Brittany Nichole Miller. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court when she violated her probation. Miller  was taken before a District Court Commissioner where she was released after posting a $500 bond.   Arrest: Brittany Nichole Miller, age 26, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Violation of Probation.

On October 11th, 2021 and October 12th, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department began an investigation into threatening messages sent through social media to students in the school system. During the investigation a 15-year-old suspect was identified and arrested. The incident remains under investigation, and additional charges are pending at this time.

The idea of a major north-south highway through Allegany County continues to move forward with the U.S. Route 220 corridor remaining one of the focal points. In addition to moving traffic north on Route 220, advocates hope for a four-lane, divided Route 220 that, in a southerly direction, would travel through Allegany County into West Virginia at Keyser and through New Creek. In Maryland, highway engineers are looking for a possible route to connect Interstate 68 at LaVale to Route 220 in Cresaptown. With Route 220 (south of Cumberland) in Bowling Green and a portion of Cresaptown lined with homes and businesses. Delegate Mike McKay, during a recent meeting with state…

Allegany County is establishing a cost-sharing program to help residents in remote areas obtain broadband internet service. The cost of the broadband access effort will be covered by federal dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act.  During the most recent meeting, the county officials approved making $500,000 available to internet service provider companies who can run last-mile broadband fiber to various remote neighborhoods. An additional $50,000 will be available for households to apply for financial assistance to complete the connection to their homes. To help offset the cost to homeowners, the county will pay half the cost for wiring the…

With many Americans who got Pfizer vaccinations already rolling up their sleeves for a booster shot, millions of others who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine wait anxiously to learn when it's their turn. Federal regulators begin tackling that question this week. On Thursday and Friday, the Food and Drug Administration convenes its independent advisers for the first stage in the process of deciding whether extra doses of the two vaccines should be dispensed and, if so, who should get them and when. While the final go-ahead is not expected for at least another week- when it is…

UMPC Western Maryland is hosting a prescription drug “Drive Up Take-Back Day” today between 11 am and 3 pm at the hospital campus on Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. The event provides an opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medication. According to the latest data, 75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them – usually taken from a friend or family member. Simple steps, like properly disposing of medications, can help prevent that misuse. Jen Thomas is manager of Community Health at UPMC Western Maryland…  

The Allegany County Board of Education on Tuesday received a COVID-19 update from Health Officer Jenelle Mayer and while the county’s numbers are still lagging behind the state- there was some encouraging news concerning quarantining students.  The latest data shows cases per 100,000 population in Allegany County at 53.76 compared to the state rate of 17.63. The positivity rate in Allegany County stands at 10.41% compared to Maryland’s 3.88%. And the vaccination rate of 45% remains 20 points lower than the rest of the state. Despite those trends, Mayer said that the county health department is now providing a shorter…