A house fire that broke out just after midnight Thursday on Ash Spring Run Road in Mineral County claimed the life of one person, according to investigators. First-arriving New Creek volunteer firefighters reported a "fully-involved fire" in the single-story home when they arrived about 12:30 a.m. Initial reports indicated the victim, an adult male, exited the home but went back into the burning structure prior to the arrival of first-responders. Firefighters from New Creek, Keyser, Burlington, Elk Garden, Fountain and Westernport responded. Kitzmiller, Barton and Rawlings volunteers manned stations for fire crews that were at the scene. The Mineral County…

Governor Larry Hogan on Wednesday announced a bipartisan-supported budget for fiscal year 2022 to help Maryland recover after the coronavirus pandemic.  The highlights include $1.1 billion dollars in funding to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund; and $600 million dollars will go to the safe reopening of schools in the state, and will address “pandemic related education costs.” Hogan was joined by state leaders to announce the budget that will invest into the state’s unemployment program, small businesses, infrastructure, schools and help struggling Maryland families. House Speaker Adrienne Jones…  

Students who had been going to school in split A/B groups for much of the year began attending classes together this week for full days, as the Allegany County Board of Education continues implementing an incremental return to school plan. Following a brief Easter break which begins today, the plan calls for online students that have opted back in for classroom instruction to return to school buildings April 12. Beginning the week of April 19 through the remainder of the school year, all students will have the option to return to school for in-person learning Monday through Friday. While the plan…

According to a consultant, plans for a proposed river park behind Canal Place could be eligible for mitigation credits to help finance the development of the site.  During a project update this week, William Atkinson of the Maryland Department of Planning reported that Water Land Solutions is studying the possibility of accessing $12 million to $15 million in financing through bankable mitigation credits. The concept of developing a whitewater river park on the Potomac River, with walking trails, kayak and canoe docks, parking spaces and a spectator viewing area, has been in the planning stages for several years. Canal Place Preservation and Development…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice addressed the investigation of unreported coronavirus deaths during a press conference Wednesday morning. Justice says he is directing the Department of Health and Human Resources to immediately begin the process of implementing a new electronic death reporting system. West Virginia is one of the only states in the country that doesn’t have that, according to the governor. While the investigation revealed no intent that the department meant to report incorrect data, Justice said he nonetheless is disappointed the error was allowed to happen…

On Wednesday, March 31st, 2021, the Cumberland City Police responded to a residence in the 200 block of Decatur St for the report of an assault. Upon arrival on scene, Officers contacted a female victim. The victim alleged that she and a male suspect, Andrew Wayne Dawson, had gotten into a verbal altercation inside the home. She advised the incident turned physical and Dawson shoved her to the ground, causing an injury to her leg. Dawson then left the scene on foot. Officers were able to locate Dawson a short distance away from the home and take him into custody….

The Allegany County Health Department reports that 16,780 Allegany County residents have received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine against COVID-19 (23.8% of the population), with 9,773 of those individuals now fully vaccinated with their second dose (13.9% of the population).  Additionally, 625 Allegany County residents have received the single dose Janssen vaccine (0.9%).   By comparison, the state reported that 28.5% of all Marylanders had received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine, with 14.8% having had both doses and an additional 1.2% vaccinated with the single dose vaccine.   Maryland is now in Phase 2B of the…

On the eve of Opening Day, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo announced to reporters that his club had a positive Covid-19 test that will impact the Opening Day roster (Twitter links via MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman). One player tested positive, per Rizzo, but another four players and one staffer were deemed to close contacts in need of quarantine. Rizzo made clear that the Nationals plan to play tomorrow night. All five players — who have yet to be named — will be inactive for Opening Day. The positive test was performed on March 29, and the Nats learned of the result this morning….

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that, according to CDC data, Maryland has surpassed 75% of Marylanders 65 and older receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Maryland has arrived at this milestone at a faster rate than 30 other states.

Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones today announced a bipartisan budget agreement to allocate the $3.9 billion in federal funding that the State of Maryland expects to receive through the American Rescue Plan Act. The major components of the bipartisan agreement to provide targeted relief are: $1.1 billion in federal funding will be dedicated to shoring up the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to help stabilize unemployment insurance tax rates for businesses for calendar years 2022 and 2023. $800 million will be dedicated to supporting existing state efforts to provide pandemic relief, including…