More than a year after vacating the Western Maryland Railway Station in Cumberland, the Scenic Railroad board has agreed to return operations to that central location. Last June, pointing to a number of issues created by a $650,000 loss in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, the railroad board moved operations to the Ridgeley rail yard. With a return to normalcy at hand, the train running again and a new leadership team in place, Canal Place executive director Dee Dee Ritchie announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached that will return scenic railroad offices to the Railway Station…  …

Plans for a proposed river park behind Canal Place are moving forward with the team now headed by newly appointed project manager William Atkinson. Local officials have been working on plans to install a whitewater river park on the Potomac River with walking trails, kayak and canoe docks, parking spaces and a spectator viewing area.  An update on the project was given Tuesday during a meeting of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority board. At this point any number of agencies will be part of the review process with the focus being to oversee the basic restoration of the…

Two  Allegany County nursing and rehabilitation facilities ranked as the worst in a new report issued this week, showing how nursing homes stack up when it comes to staff members who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The “bottom 10” nursing homes in Maryland all have staff vaccination rates of less than 56%. Nine nursing homes — mostly in western Maryland — have staff vaccination rates of less than 50%. The two worst ranked facilities in the state are in Allegany County: the Cumberland Health Care Center; and Sterling Care at Frostburg Village with just 41% and 44% respectively. Health Secretary Dennis…

The rising number of coronavirus cases coupled with a lag in vaccinations have some wondering if Governor Larry Hogan will re-impose a statewide mask mandate. Hogan is pushing back, saying he has no plans to move in that direction. Speaking with reporters following a scheduled event, Hogan said the only action the state needs to take is to get more people vaccinated.…                                           

 Allegany County Sheriff’s Deputies on Monday were dispatched to a Baltimore Pike residence for a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival officers, through the main entrance door, observed controlled dangerous substances and CDS activity. Deputies were greeted at the door by 25  year-old Barbara Ann Blow. She exited the residence, slamming the door behind her in an effort to keep police from entering. Blow was placed under arrest. Police entered the residence and located 37 year old Christopher Scott Athey who was attempting to conceal CDS. A warrant was obtained and a search of the property led to the discovery of Heroin/Fentanyl, and…

On Thursday, July 29, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan will convene a cybersecurity summit in Annapolis to highlight federal, state, and private sector efforts to protect America’s critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. The summit will serve to underscore the urgency of preparing for and addressing cybersecurity threats. “There is no greater threat to the safety and security of Americans right now than the cyber vulnerabilities of the systems that support our daily lives, from our drinking water and our power supply, to our railroads and air traffic controls,” said Governor Hogan. “As the cyber capital of America, Maryland is proud to host…

This week, the CDC weighed evidence of whether or not a booster shot for vaccinated people was in order, but did not issue new guidance. WCBC asked West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr Clay Marsh if, given the threat of the Delta variant, there was any information that would either medically, or procedurally, prohibit someone from getting a second shot…  

At an event to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Governor Larry Hogan declared that the State of Maryland will annually celebrate July as Disability Culture and Achievements Month. Hogan said that throughout July, the state will celebrate the societal achievements and cultural contributions of Marylanders with disabilities…    

One of the issues that WCBC focuses on with our news programming is the continuing opioid crisis in our area. Last year, overdose deaths in Western Maryland jumped by 50 percent after several years of decline. We recently spoke with state Health Secretary Dennis Schrader about the current spike in Substance Use Disorder cases…

Maryland US Congressman Andy Harris, the state’s lone Republican representative in Washington, agrees with those who say extra unemployment benefits are contributing to the nation’s labor shortage. He told WBAL Radio he believes its all part of a larger strategy by Democrats to force businesses to pay higher wages and, perhaps, to bring about an increase in the federal minimum wage… Federal payments of $300 per week in Maryland will end in early September