Although she will be the rookie member of the Allegany County Board of Education when she is sworn into office in January- Crystal Bender was the top vote getter in Tuesday’s election- and that distinction can carry some weight in the board dynamic. The school board has been somewhat fractured in the past few years- and a new voice and a new perspective can potentially serve as a swing vote, shifting the board’s focus and direction moving forward. Appearing on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” on the morning following her victory, Bender said her top priority will be working toward a…

The Allegany County Health Department reports a surge in COVID-19 cases locally.  Over the last seven days, Allegany County has seen 37.5 COVID cases per 100,000 population, the highest case rate of any jurisdiction in Maryland.  The Maryland case rate stands at 14.2 cases per 100,000 population.    The growing number of Allegany County COVID-19 cases includes individuals in all age groups.  Ninety new cases have been identified since Monday and the new cases include: four females and six males ages 12 and under, ten females and four males in their teens, three females and four males in their 20s,…

WJZ reports Maryland reported exactly 1,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday as the positivity rate jumped to more than 4%, data from the state’s health department shows. As of Wednesday morning, the state has seen 148,766 COVID-19 cases and 4,025 deaths, an increase of ten from Tuesday. Thirty-three more hospitalizations were reported, bringing the state’s total to 595. Of those, 441 patients are in acute care and 154 are in intensive care. The state’s calculation of the seven-day positivity rate increased from 3.93% on Tuesday to 4.1% on Wednesday. That’s the highest rate since early August. Since the pandemic began, the state…

Following big wins on election night, state Republican leaders in West Virginia are discussing how they’ll use their dominance to push for fundamental changes to the tax code.    Governor Justice said his top priority will be considering the elimination of the state income tax, and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw raised the possibility that the GOP-dominated Legislature may examine how to take more control over the state's tax policy, particularly with regard to equipment and inventory taxes. The results of Tuesday's elections gave Republicans a 23-to-11 supermajority, while the House of Delegates now has a  76-to-24 GOP advantage.

Mineral County school superintendent Troy Ravenscroft reports that the county is now in the red category  on the County Alert Map. This has immediately impact on the  system, All Schools will be remote the rest of this week.        

UPDATE: Food distribution will resume at Braddock Middle School today at the regularly scheduled times from 12-1:30 p.m.

As expected, there are growing numbers of people with COVID-19 in the communities UPMC serves throughout western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Across the UPMC system, COVID-19 cases occupy less than 5% of our hospital beds. We remain fully able to care for all patients, with or without COVID-19. Our hospitals – urban, suburban and rural – are well staffed, have excellent personal protective equipment plans and supplies, and have the resources to serve the health care needs of our communities.      To be best-prepared to serve its community, UPMC Western Maryland has once again proactively deployed a triage tent…

An apparent discrepancy between the final voting numbers released by the Allegany County Board of Elections and the numbers released by the state of Maryland  has now been resolved. The final county numbers released after 10 pm Tuesday had Crystal Bender, Tammy Fraley and David Bohn finishing as the top three- apparenty winnings seats on the board. Ed Root, according to those county numbers finished out of the running. But overnight state numbers, which included early vote totals, election day votes and the mail-in votes that have been counted , showed Root finishing third edging out Bohn. It turns out the state,…

On Tuesday at 9:14 p.m., Troopers from the McHenry Barrack were dispatched to eastbound interstate 68 in the area of Blooming Rose Rd, in reference to an overturned truck tractor. The investigation revealed the truck was traveling eastbound interstate 68 in lane number 2. The truck overturned while making a slight left turn and struck the right shoulder guardrail. The driver was identified as Michael Becker, Mound City, Kansas. Becker had minor injuries and signed a refusal at the scene. Responding to the scene were the Friendsville Fire Department, Northern Garrett Rescue Squad and State Highway Administration. 

On November 3, 2020, the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence on Frederick Street for report of a disturbance.  Upon arrival, officers made contact with John Gilbert Caldwell, 68 of Cumberland, MD.  While officers were making contact with Caldwell inside of his residence, they observed in plain view, several items of CDS paraphernalia and a quantity of suspected crack cocaine.  Caldwell was placed under arrest and taken to the Cumberland Police Department for processing.  Caldwell was then transported to the District Court Commissioner for his initial appearance and was released on his own personal recognizance.   Arrested: John Gilbert…