The City of Cumberland is inviting members of the public to join a special live-streamed event Tuesday, March 23, at 10:00AM, during which the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project will be discussed.  Mayor Ray Morriss and the project’s designer, William Cochran, will provide a status report on the $9.7 million project.  The hope remains that a groundbreaking ceremony can be scheduled for late summer. While the project highlights involves reopening Baltimore Street to vehicular traffic and limited parking; a new streetscape including parklets, trees and a variety of flowers and shrubs- the real benefit will be the replacement of aging underground utility lines and…

President Biden on Thursday signed his sweeping $1.9 trillion Covid relief package into law. The passage of the bill Wednesday  marked the first major legislative achievement of the new administration and a Congress that is now under full Democratic control, with narrow majorities in the House and Senate. While many argued that the amount was too large and not COVID relief focused enough, Senator Ben Cardin fully supported the measure noting that the country is not close to recovering from the economic collapse caused by the pandemic- and millions of Americans are struggling to survive. The Maryland Democrat said given the unpredictable nature of…

While Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has been calling on school systems to reopen and return kids to the classrooms, it’s been somewhat of a mixed message, as both the CDC and the state health department recommend schools implement policies to maintain six feet between students, staff and others who are not living in the same household.  While the Allegany County Board of Education has approved an  incremental transition plan for returning kids to schools, board vice president Robert Farrell told WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Thursday that given the guidance coming from state and federal health officials, a full return wouldn’t be prudent at…

Allegany County is on board and ready to go along with Governor Larry Hogan's latest executive order on reopening. The order, which takes effect at 5 p.m. Friday, will lift capacity limits on nearly all establishments. Large venues, including theaters, concert venues and sporting venues, will be able to operate at half capacity. Quarantine requirements and other restrictions on out-of-state travel are also lifted. Though capacity limits are lifted for bars and restaurants, they must still maintain physical distancing between parties under Hogan's order. Parties must be seated and tables must be arranged at least six feet apart. Booths must…

On 03/11/21 Officers with the Cumberland Police Department and Troopers with the Maryland State Police in conjunction with the Allegany County State's Attorney's Office and Allegany County Narcotics Task Force conducted a drug interdiction assignment within the City of Cumberland. As a result of the interdiction 40 traffic stops were conducted resulting in 47 citations and 23 warnings. 7 K-9 scans were completed. Two search and Seizure warrants were executed. Officers made three misdemeanor arrests for possession not marijuana and two felony arrests for Possession with Intent to Distribute not marijuana and Distribution of not marijuana. One handgun was seized…

On Thursday, March 11 at approximately 11:30 am, officers from the Cumberland Police Department responded to the parking lot of a business in South Cumberland for a report of a disturbance.  When the first officer arrived on scene, they observed Tyrone Oliver and Jacob Haines standing outside arguing and screaming at each other. The officer told them both numerous times to lower their voices. A large group of people in the area were all standing outside watching the disturbance.  The officer had to physically step in between Oliver and Haines to get them away from one another but they continued to…

Marking a year of loss and disruption, President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law the $1.9 trillion relief package that he said will help the U.S. defeat the coronavirus and nurse the economy back to health. Some checks to Americans could begin arriving this weekend. The signing came hours before Biden delivers his first prime-time address since taking office. He’s aiming to steer the nation toward a hungered-for sentiment — hope — as he marks one year since the onset of the pandemic that has killed more than 529,000 Americans. “This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of…

One in ten Marylanders has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data released Thursday by the state health department.  The latest update shows that more than 640,000 residents – or 10.6% of the total population in Maryland – now have fully-vaccinated status. A “Single Dose Administered” section has been added to the state's COVID-19 metrics, noting that 41,567 single dose vaccines have been administered, as of Thursday morning.

 Sports betting would be allowed online, at Maryland's six casinos and the stadiums where the state's three major professional sports teams play, as well as horse racing tracks, under a measure approved Thursday by the House of Delegates. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would allow 22 locations where people could place bets in person. In addition to casinos, the three stadiums that are home to the Baltimore Ravens, the Washington Football Team and the Baltimore Orioles baseball team could have sports betting sites. Horse racing tracks at Pimlico in Baltimore and Laurel Park, as well as the state…

Using statutory authority granted to him, Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that he is extending the state income tax filing deadline by three months until July 15, 2021. No interest or penalties will be assessed if returns are filed and taxes owed are paid by the new deadline. The extension, which applies to individual, pass-through, fiduciary and corporate income tax returns, including first and second quarter estimated payments, is due to recent and pending legislation at the state and federal levels that impact 2020 tax filings and provide economic relief for taxpayers harmed by the COVID19 pandemic. In Maryland, passage…