The Western Maryland Legislative Delegation held its first meeting of the General Assembly session on Friday. The delegation includes representatives from Allegany, Garrett, Washington, Frederick and Carroll Counties.  The group heard a presentation from Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson… Members of the delegation have been hearing from constituents about problems with getting unemployment benefits for months, and asked Robinson to return to answer questions.

After President Biden addressed the issue of violent attacks on Asian-Americans during his first prime-time address last week, Maryland Governor Hogan discussed the topic over the weekend. During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Hogan, whose wife is Korean-American, said his family has not been the subject of any physical attacks but has been subjected to racial slurs, taunts and discrimination…

The dispute concerning a drive thru lane at Allegany Medical Marijuana on Beall Street may be headed to a resolution. Jason Buckel, legal counsel for owner George Merling, tells WCBC News that a guardrail that had been put in place to halt use of the lane was to be removed yesterday afternoon… The agreement to remove the guardrail came after a meeting between Buckel and engineers representing the City of Cumberland and Merling. The Army Corps of Engineers had objected to the lane, saying by cutting a path near the wall of the flood control project could cause an issue,…

The Allegany County Health Department reports that 13,544 Allegany County residents have received at least their first dose of vaccine against COVID-19 (19.2% of the population), with 8,612 of those individuals now fully vaccinated with their second dose (12.2% of the population).  By comparison, the state reported that 19.9% of all Marylanders had received at least their first dose of vaccine, with 10.8% now fully vaccinated. Allegany County COVID-19 Case Statistics as of March 14: New COVID Cases:  7 (cumulative total 6,440) Additional Deaths:  0 (cumulative total 201) Cases Per 100,000 Population:  3.65  (Maryland: 14.23) Positivity Rate:  1.81%   (Maryland: 3.85%)…

Allegany County Public Schools has issued an advisory to parents who had opted out of in person learning due to concerns about COVID-19, but have decided they want their children back in the school setting. "If you have a student who has opted out of in-person learning and would like to opt them back in beginning on Monday, March 22, 2021, please contact your child’s school administrator no later than the end of the day on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, to ensure that there is space available." There has already been reports of some confusion over a robocall reflecting the…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Monday issued an emergency order prohibiting the garnishment of direct payments given to state residents under the latest federal coronavirus relief bill. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides most taxpayers with $1,400 direct payments, which started depositing into bank accounts following the bill's passage last week. “For more than a year now, COVID-19 has caused incredible hardships for the people of our nation and our state,” Hogan said in a statement. “This funding is intended to support working families and struggling Marylanders, and we are committed to doing everything possible to protect this much-needed relief…

On Sunday, March 14th, 2021 the Cumberland Police the Cumberland Police Department responded a Greene Street convenience store for the report of a female that was in a vehicle and she appeared to be intoxicated according to the caller.  When officers arrived, they located the vehicle in question but it was not occupied.  Officers then were told by a store employee the female driver was inside of the store.  Officers contacted the female who appeared to be extremely intoxicated and made her aware of the complaint.  At that time, the female identified as Rita Arlene Wanger started causing a disturbance…

The long-standing Coronavirus 6-feet social distancing rule for Maryland schools could be halved to 3 feet, part of loosened guidelines being discussed in some circles by state education and health departments that say new rules are needed for a rapid return to the classroom. Governor Larry Hogan and State School Superintendent Karen Salmon, while advocating for schools to reopen, have emphasized ultimately local school boards control those decisions. Bringing all the kids back for full days five days a week  would be virtually impossible for the Allegany County school system- if the recommended six feet rule remains as a major…

It’s an issue that has already involved law enforcement, attorneys, city officials and the Army Corps of Engineers-  but the hope is it can be resolved during a Monday meeting. The City of Cumberland last week responded to an ongoing dispute with Allegany Medical Marijuana on Beall Street by re-installing a guardrail, blocking an area in which the owner, George Merling, had cut into the existing floodwall to construct a drive-thru for the business. Merling joined WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” to discuss the matter. Merling says the bottom line is that Mayor Ray Morriss philosophically opposes legalized marijuana and that…

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is calling for a bipartisan commission to audit state and federal money spent on COVID-19 relief. Maryland is due to receive more than $12.5 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which President Joe Biden signed into law on Thursday. Half of that will come in the form of direct payments to Marylanders. The other half will go to the state government and local government to help fund emergency services, vaccine distribution and other initiatives. That is in addition to billions in state and federal aid doled out to Marylanders and state and local governments…