Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh this week announced the membership of the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force, which will take effect starting October 1st.   The task force, created by an act of the General Assembly, will be responsible for evaluating the provision of services under HB 18, studying potential funding sources, and making recommendations to improve the implementation of the access to counsel program, including necessary policy and statutory changes. Frosh told WBAL that that landlords have a tremendous advantage over tenants in most cases that end up in court- primarily because many of those people facing eviction…

West Virginia University will begin fall semester classes began this week with a mask mandate. WVU announced that for the next 30 days “masks will be required for all those in classrooms, teaching and research labs on all campuses – regardless of vaccination status.” WVU Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop said the university’s leadership team made the move after considering the growth of the Delta variant in the state, the move toward vaccination boosters and the lack of participation by students, faculty and staff in the university’s vaccination verification program. While setting a goal of 80% vaccination rates-…

As of August 17, 41.5% of Allegany County residents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 60.3% of all Marylanders.  Health officials continue to urge unvaccinated members of the public to get their vaccine as soon as possible. The Allegany County Health Department continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations 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 Pfizer COVID vaccine is offered for those…

Gov. Larry Hogan says all 227 nursing homes in the state, and all hospital employees (including UPMC Western Maryland), will now requiring all staff to show proof of vaccination of get regular screening and tests. The requirement is effective immediately. People have until Sept. 1 to get the first dose. Fines will be doubled at nursing homes for failure to comply with the requirement. Gov. Hogan says 79% of all nursing home staff have been vaccinated, but says he’s concerned about the locations with the lowest vaccination rates. The Maryland Department of Health released updated coronavirus numbers Wednesday morning. As…

Allegany County Emergency Services has announced that a torndao watch in is effect in Allegany County until 8PM

In an effort to bring COVID-19 vaccines to where people are and in locations where community members feel comfortable, UPMC Western Maryland is now offering third vaccine doses to eligible individuals at our existing community vaccination clinics in Allegany County. The CDC is recommending that the moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. Community members who think they qualify are encouraged to consult their primary care provider to determine if they should receive a third dose and sign up for an appointment by calling or walking in to an urgent or primary care location. Per CDC guidelines, at…

Due to inclement weather, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds will end today at 11 AM

Heavy rain has forced the closure of the underpass of the CSX bridge on Greene Street.

On 8/17/2021 the Cumberland City Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on William Charles Morris. On 8/13/2021 at approximately 10:00 AM officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of East Oldtown Road for an assault. Officers spoke to the victim and learned they were strangled by William Charles Morris. Officers observed injuries to the victim consistent with their statement. The victim was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and Morris was unable to be located at that time. An application for charges was submitted to the District Court Commissioner and an Arrest Warrant was issued. Morris was taken before…

Maryland Governor  Larry Hogan is continuing to stand his ground despite calls to reinstate the COVID-19 state of emergency. The governor this week praised the efforts underway in the state to contain COVID-19 and the delta variant. Hogan said the state is cautiously watching the delta variant and although COVID numbers are spiking- there are no plans to change course at this time…