The Allegany County Health Department reports that the COVID-19 case rate in the county is currently more than double the Maryland case rate.  The COVID case rate in Allegany County is 42.4 cases per 100,000 population compared to the state of Maryland as a whole with 18.98 cases per 100,000 population.  Free COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue every Wednesday on the ground floor of the Willowbrook Office Complex, 12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland.   From 9 a.m. to noon both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines are offered for those age 18 and older.  Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. the…

On Monday the Cumberland City Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Bethany Marie Rafferty. The warrant was issued when Rafferty violated conditions of probation from a previous Controlled Dangerous Substance arrest. Rafferty was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. Arrested – Bethany Marie Rafferty (32) Cumberland, MD Charge – Violation of Probation   On Monday the Cumberland City Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Paige Nicole Zais. The warrant was issued after a Controlled Dangerous Substance investigation. During the investigation Zais was found to be in possession of a large quantity of suspected heroin. Zais…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice conducted another briefing Monday on the state’s response to the pandemic. Justice announced a new incentive program that will provide $150 vouchers for back to school supplies to students who are vaccinated and are residing with grandparents. Retired Major General Jim Hoyer, who heads the West Virginia Pandemic Response Team, reviewed numbers and detailed efforts to get authorization for booster shots for all residents.

We have a Flash Flood Watch in effect beginning late tonight and continuing into early Thursday. Four to six inches of rain is expected to soak not only Mountain Maryland, but a large chunk of West Virginia.  During yesterday’s statewide briefing, WCBC asked Governor Jim Justice about the preparation for the storm, in a region that has seen it’s sharing of flooding…

Today is the last day for American forces to be deployed in Afghanistan. Pennsylvania 13th District Congressman John Joyce, who represents Bedford and Somerset Counties, places the blame for the chaos associated with the withdrawal, solely at the feet of President Joe Biden.

On 08/29/2021, at 6:17 PM, the Cumberland Police responded to a reported fight in the 200 block of Arch Street. When first responding Officers arrived they learned that several people were involved in an argument in the street that soon turned into a physical confrontation. The fight was over by the time Officers arrived, who were advised that the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle driven by another subject.             Officers also learned that one of the participants had suffered several serious stab wounds to the neck and chest. The Cumberland Fire Department…

Maryland House Republicans today issued the a statement regarding the AELR Committee's review of the school masking mandate issued by the Maryland Board of Education. Minority Leader Jason Buckel, Delegate Haven Shoemaker, Delegate Jay Jacobs, and Delegate Susan McComas are the House Republican representatives on AELR Committee.  "We have serious concerns regarding the State Board of Education's unprecedented usurpation of local control in mandating masking for students across Maryland. We support the request that the AELR Committee hold an open and transparent public hearing to fully evaluate this controversial decision. Moreover, the 10-day review period is the public's best tool to…

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced an update on the top 10 and bottom 10 skilled nursing facilities in the state ranked by percentage of staff with at least one dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 and highly contagious variants. MDH also announced skilled nursing facilities that did not submit adequate staff COVID-19 vaccination data as required by the state.   As announced by Governor Larry Hogan on August 18, new vaccination protocols have taken effect, with all nursing home staff required to show their first or single dose of COVID-19 vaccine by September 1. On May 4,…

On August 29th, 2021, the Cumberland City Police responded to the 100 block of E. First St for the report of an assault. Upon arrival, officers contacted the involved parties as well as a witness. It was learned that two male subjects had gotten into a loud verbal disturbance in the street that turned physical. One of the suspects, Richard Eugene Dentinger Jr, 36, of Cumberland MD, then assaulted a male victim causing minor injuries. As a result, Dentinger was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for processing. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an…

House Democrats have passed legislation that would strengthen a landmark civil rights-era voting law weakened by the Supreme Court over the past decade, a step party leaders tout as progress in their quest to fight back against voting restrictions advanced in Republican-led states. The measure faces dim prospects in the Senate chamber however, where Democrats do not have enough votes to overcome opposition from Senate Republicans. Once again playing a key role will be West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin.  Although a lifelong Democrat, Manchin is one of the more conservative members of his party in a deep red state- and…