A Winter Storm Watch is in effect until 1 AM Saturday. .Significant icing is possible with total ice accumulations of up to one quarter of an inch possible. The ice is expected in Garrett and Extreme Western Allegany Counties and in Western Mineral County from Friday morning through late Friday night.  Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

According to the Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire Department, a Finzel area family was left homeless early Wednesday when fire destroyed a residence in the 2000 block of Pocahontas Road.  No one was injured in the fire that was reported to the Garrett County 911 emergency center at 12:02 a.m., prompting alert of numerous volunteer fire departments from Garrett and Allegany counties and nearby Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The Cumberland Times News reports that in addition to sub-freezing temperatures, the firefighters encountered difficulty accessing the scene. The occupants, whose names were not immediately available, were all out of the single-story structure when…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has  announced that West Virginia schools will reopen to in-person education for elementary and middle school students on January 19. During his regular COVID-19 briefing, Justice said this plan will give teachers, staff and students a little more than two weeks to prepare. He further announced that that high school students will still use the West Virginia County Alert Map and that those in “orange” advisory will be allowed to have in-person education.  Justice said that despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the virtual learning program is simply not working. In addition Justice announced…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that more than $154 million is available in energy assistance funds to help cover heating, electric, and gas utility bills, representing an approximately 40% increase from last year. More than $110 million was distributed in Fiscal Year 2020.  “Too many Marylanders have faced undue financial hardships during this unprecedented crisis, including the inability to pay their utility bills,” said Governor Hogan. “We will continue to maximize our resources to help as many Marylanders as possible.” The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP), and Electric and Gas Retirement Assistance Programs are allocated…

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and his office persevered through an unprecedented year in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to combat the opioid crisis, protect pipeline jobs and win major settlements for consumers and much more in 2020.   “This year has been unlike any other,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “Our dedicated team overcame the challenges 2020 brought with tremendous tenacity and determination to maintain the rule of law, help preserve the constitutional freedoms of its citizenry and score significant victories to fight opioid abuse and secure major settlements to benefit West Virginia consumers.”   Attorney General…

On Christmas Day an Officer with the Cumberland Police Department was conducting a foot patrol of the Western Maryland Train Station when they observed multiple locations in the area that had been vandalised by spray paint. The locations included signs, statues, benches and other items at the WMTS, and further observed spray painting on Harrison St at the I-68 on ramp and in the area of Park St matching the same as discovered at the Train Station. The incidents remain under investigation. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600. 

On Tuesday, December 29th, 2020 the Cumberland Police Department responded to a South Street residence for the report of an assault and the suspect had already fled the scene.  When officers arrived, contact was made with a female victim that stated she had an argument with Kent Lamar Gray who during the argument, choked and held a handgun to her head.  Officers did observed injuries to the female victim consistent with a recent assault and a small caliber handgun was located inside the home.  Additional officers checked the area for Gray and he was located and arrested.  He was charged…

A Moorefield man was arrested Tuesday following his Dec. 15 indictment by a federal grand jury on drug charges. Kenneth Allan Evans, 48, is one of six people accused of working together to distribute crystal methamphetamine in Hardy County and elsewhere from August 2018 to April 2019, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said. Evans appeared in federal court Tuesday to face charges including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, maintaining drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine — aiding and abetting. Also charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine were: Kaleb Joseph Beals, 31, of Silver Creek, Georgia; Jennifer…

After decades of debate, legislators are finally sensing strong support for repealing Maryland's state song, a Civil War-era call to arms for the Confederacy against “Northern scum” that refers to President Abraham Lincoln as a despot.  “Maryland, My Maryland”  was written as a poem in 1861 by James Ryder Randall and adopted as the state song in 1939. Lawmakers have tried to replace it since 1974. This year's nationwide protests against racial injustice may have made the difference. House Speaker Adrienne Jones, who became the first Black person and first woman to hold the leadership post last year, said this week that…

Ever since COVID-19 cases began surging in Allegany County in mid-October, the county commissioners have come under fire from a segment of the community blasting the local officials for dropping the ball  when it comes to addressing the pandemic. During recent public meetings the commissioners have read into the record, and responded to, letters of criticism. Some of the comments suggest the commissioners have not been vigilant in making certain businesses, bars and restaurants are following the recommended safety protocols; while others accused the officials of being seen at public events not wearing masks- and failing to lead by example….