U.S. Representative David Trone, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, led Maryland delegation members in urging U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeig to approve the funding request for the I-81/Halfway Boulevard Freight Connection Project in Western Maryland. The request was submitted by Washington County and the Maryland Department of Transportation. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris, Kweisi Mfume, and Jamie Raskin all joined the request. I‑81 is estimated to carry 12 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product per year. The Maryland…

On Tuesday at approximately 11:30 hours, Deputies with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve three outstanding Circut Court warrants on Donald Matthew Garland, in the area of Frostburg, Maryland.  All three outstanding warrants were related to Garland’s failure to appear in Circut Court.  While attempting to serve the warrants, Garland fled from Deputies on foot.  After a brief foot pursuit, Deputies were able to apprehend Garland without incident.  Pursuant to the arrest of Garland, a large amount of suspected Fentanyl was located on Garland’s person.  In addition to the warrants, Garland was arrested and charged with the following:  …

Following several weeks of improving metrics, Maryland's health department reported an increase in both the state's coronavirus positivity rate and in the total number of hospitalizations Tuesday. 805 patients were receiving hospital care because of the virus.  The positivity was measured at 3.96%.  23 additional deaths were included in Tuesday's update. 22.1% of Maryland’s population has now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Monday members of the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force, with the assistance of the Cumberland City Police Department, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, and Maryland State Police S.T.A.T.E. Team, executed a search and seizure warrant in the South George Street area of Cumberland, MD.   The search warrant was the result of an investigation by the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force into the distribution and sales of crack cocaine and fentanyl in the Allegany County area. During the subsequent search, Allegany County Narcotics Task Force investigators located large amounts of crack cocaine, fentanyl, CDS packaging materials and a large amount of…

Aggregate testing data will be sent to campus and posted every Tuesday during the semester. Testing data is among the several key COVID-19 indicators the University is monitoring to determine the raising or lowering of our institutional recovery response levels.        TESTING DASHBOARD For March 8-14, 2021        Testing Period  Number of FSU-Administered Tests – Negative  Number of FSU-Administered Tests – Positive   Positivity Rate   March 8-14, 2021  3,245  2  0.06%  March 1-7, 2021  3,292  1  0.03%  Feb. 22-28, 2021  3,189  2  0.06%  Feb. 15-21, 2021  2,791  0  0.00%  Feb. 8-14, 2021  3,123  1  0.03%  Feb. 1-7, 2021  2,367 …

According to the CDC, 22.1% of Maryland’s population has now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Maryland providers have administered 1,945,799 total shots, and are averaging a new record of 43,123 shots per day. Official data is posted daily at coronavirus.maryland.gov. The State of Maryland has launched a new platform for eligible Marylanders to pre-register to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at one of the state’s mass vaccination sites. Once pre-registered, Marylanders will be notified once an appointment is available, and will be able to verify their pre-registration status and reserve an appointment. Marylanders in Phase 1 eligible populations…

On Monday March 15th, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Baltimore Street address for what was originally reported as an indecent exposure. Upon officers arrival they spoke with the victim who advised that  Aaron J Racic had exposed himself to them. The victim then advised Racic that they were calling the police, and Racic displayed a knife and threatened to stab them if they called. Racic was placed under arrest and taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was held without bond.   Arrest: Aaron Josip Racic, age 36, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Attempted First Degree…

An unspecified number of priority appointments will be available for residents of Allegany and Garrett counties when the Western Maryland mass COVID-19 vaccination site opens next week in Hagerstown. Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday at least 2,100 priority appointments per week will go to residents of Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties. Priority appointments for mass vaccination sites are booked through text-based and call center outreach using state and local pre-registration lists. The Western Maryland site at the Hagerstown Prime Outlets is expected to open March 25.  

UPMC Western Maryland will hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for Allegany County residents 65 and older Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the hospital auditorium. Those interested in reserving a spot must call 240-964-1000 Tuesday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or until all slots are filled. Slots will be offered to callers on a first-come, first-served basis. No walk-in appointments will be honored.  UPMC Western Maryland has utilized the Allegany County Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccine interest form to contact individuals over the last few weeks. That list of 65 and over candidates has been exhausted….

Sixth District Congressman David Trone says Maryland should be doing much better with the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Trone told local lawmakers the congressional delegation had written to Governor Larry Hogan about the rollout, and that he had also written to and called Hogan personally…