The Allegany County Health Department reports that 16,683 Allegany County residents have received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine against COVID-19 (23.7% of the population), with 9,621 of those individuals now fully vaccinated with their second dose (13.7% of the population).  Additionally, 592 Allegany County residents have received the single dose Janssen vaccine (0.8%).   By comparison, the state reported that 27.3% of all Marylanders had received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine, with 13.9% having had both doses and an additional 1.2% vaccinated with the single dose vaccine.   Maryland’s vaccination Phase 2B opens Tuesday, March 30. …

West Virginia’s House of Delegates has passed a bill meant to phase out the state’s personal income tax over a decade, but there’s no certainty the proposal will be accepted by the state Senate or by the governor. If enacted, the measure would cut at least $150 million in income taxes a year until the tax is eliminated. The proposal does not contemplate any other tax increases to make up for the cut. Governor Justice has recommended cutting West Virginia’s personal income tax by 60 percent immediately, while making up the difference with a variety of sales tax increases.

There was discouraging news on the coronavirus front in Maryland on Monday, as the state health department reported increases in hospitalizations and in the positivity rate, which is nearly 5%. Hospitalizations were at 1,039, up 69 since Sunday. Of those, 248 patients are in ICU beds, while 791 are in acute care. Monday's report included nine additional COVID-19 related deaths. As of Monday, 899,450 Marylanders were fully vaccinated. The state has administered 2,532,863 doses in total: 1,633,413 first doses, 831,549 second doses and 67,901 have received the single dose vaccine.

On the evening of Easter Sunday, community churches will offer support for staff and patients at UPMC Western Maryland by coming together outside the hospital to pray while staying in their cars and turning on their flashers for 10 minutes. The event will be similar to ceremonies held last Easter, and is being organized by UPMC Western Maryland Director of Pastoral Care Bruce McBride. Attendees should plan to arrive quietly at approximately 8 p.m. Upon entering hospital property, cars will be directed to specific parking lots surrounding the perimeter of the hospital. At 8:10 p.m. cars should turn on their…

The varsity football game scheduled for Thursday, April 1, 2021, between Fort Hill High School and Mountain Ridge HIgh School has been cancelled due to COVID-19 related issues. This game will not be rescheduled. 

On Sunday, March 28th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Crystal Nicole Rymer.  The warrant was issued by District Court for failing to appear for trial on February 22nd, 2021 for a violation of a protective order charge.  She was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was released on an unsecured bond of $5,000 pending trial.   Crystal Nicole Rymer, age; 29, Cumberland, Maryland.

On Monday, March 29th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Maryland Avenue residence for the report of a disturbance.  Officers had already responded to the residence previously for a similar complaint.  When officers arrived, contact was made with a complainant who advised that Katelin Marie Moorehead had again showed up to her residence causing a disturbance and had broken some of her property.  Officers contacted Moorehead who in their presence, kicked the complainant’s dog and then began to assault her.  Moorehead was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, failure to obey a lawful order, destruction of property, assault,…

At approximately, 5:26 a.m., a tree was reported down on Ore Street in Bowman's Addition. The tree reportedly brought down live utility wires as well. Crews are currently on location and assisting. 

No injuries were reported following a house fire on Baker Street in Cumberland Sunday evening.  The fire reportedly began in an oven. Volunteer fire companies from Allegany and Mineral counties helped extinguish the blaze. The American Red Cross was assisting the victims. The extent of damage to the two-story structure has not been assessed.

It may have been one of the better weeks the state of Maryland has experienced during the entire COVID-19 pandemic, with Governor Larry Hogan on Friday announcing that, for the first time, more than 60,000 COVID-19 vaccinations were reported in a single day in the state. In total, the state reported a record  64,286 new vaccinations and a total of 2.4 vaccinations to date. In addition, the state is reporting a new record seven-day average of 46,817 shots per day. Speaking during a visit to the state’s newest mass vaccination site in Hagerstown, Governor Hogan said there is real reason for optimism…