West Virginia is now halfway complete with in-person early voting, and Secretary of State Mac Warner wants voters who have not yet participated in this year’s election to feel safe and prepared as they go to the polls. Early voting ends Saturday, October 31, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. "Voting in-person at a polling location supervised by both major parties and managed by experienced poll workers where every voter is guaranteed the right to cast a secret ballot is the gold standard in voting throughout the world," Warner said. “The options we’ve provided make it safe and easy…

Visiting the dentist, especially for dental surgery, can be a source of anxiety and fear for many patients. Providing a quick and efficient procedure may put a big smile on some patient's faces by allowing them to get back to their lives sooner.    The West Virginia University School of Dentistry now offers robotic-assisted implant procedures that are, in some cases, quicker than conventional methods and in certain circumstances can be less painful than traditional procedures and help reduce recovery time.  Since 2000, more than 6 million robotic-assisted surgeries have taken place across multiple medical specialties including cardiovascular, neurology and orthopedics. However, surgical robotics…

UPMC has announced the appointment of Michele Martz, CPA, FACHE as the new, incoming president of UPMC Western Maryland effective Jan. 1, 2021. Martz succeeds Barry Ronan, FACHE, who will retire after serving as President and CEO of Western Maryland Health System and President of UPMC Western Maryland since 2000.     Martz currently serves as senior vice president and chief financial officer. During her tenure in this position and in her previous roles as vice president of both Physician Enterprise and Financial Services, she has been an integral part of the management team at UPMC Western Maryland and has proven…

Maryland's health department reported 565 new coronavirus cases and three additional deaths on Monday.  The state has now reported a total of 140,844 total coronavirus cases and 3,953 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.  There are 456 people hospitalized, with 344 in acute care and 112 in ICUs, an increase of nine from Sunday. The state’s positivity rate is now 3.25%, up from 3.17% over a 24-hour period.

On Monday, October 26th, the Cumberland Police Department responded to a disturbance at a Valley Street establishment for the report of a male that was intoxicated and causing a disturbance.  Jerico Lain Vanhorn, age; 43 of Cumberland was arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication and failure to obey a lawful order.  He was issued criminal citations and released pending trial at District Court.

On Monday, October 26th, 2020 the Cumberland Police Department served a warrant on Richard Leslie Kennell charging him with 3rd degree burglary and assault.  The warrant was issued by District Court in reference to an incident that occurred on October 20th, 2020 at a Chestnut Street residence where Kennell is alleged to have entered without permission and assaulted a male victim.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was released on an unsecured $5,000 bond pending trial.   Richard Leslie Kennell, age; 65, Cumberland, Maryland.

That comment from Allegany County Board of Education President Tammy Fraley at last week’s candidates forum was interpreted by some as criticism of interim superintendent Jeff Blank. The response was to a question about whether there needs to be greater transparency on issues such of positive COVID cases occurring in the school system. Fraley tells WCBC News that she was not placing any blame on Blank or the administration, adding that she has been working for several years to see the school system’ s communication efforts improved…  

Early voting in Maryland is set to begin today, continuing through Monday, November 2. Eligible voters can cast ballots at any early voting center in their county or jurisdiction of residence. Governor Larry Hogan…  

With just over a week before election day, backers of legalized sports gambling in Maryland appear to be cruising toward an easy victory. Their campaign to build public support for Question 2, the latest statewide gaming referendum, is flush with cash and well-organized. It is outpolling opposition by almost two-to-one. And, as of last week, it has the backing of the state’s popular governor. While there will almost certainly be hundreds of thousands of votes against legalizing sports wagering, political insiders believe a majority will vote in favor of it. Delegate Mike McKay supports the effort, saying that it will help…

Starting today, Allegany County Public Schools will begin the implementation of the hybrid learning model for third and fourth grade students.  The hope is that in the very near future, 5th graders can be phased in. Count Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, a candidate for governor in 2022, as one of those voicing strong opposition and concern about kids across the state returning to classrooms. He tells WCBC News that although Maryland has being doing relatively well in battling the virus, he believes it is ill-advised to begin plans for a total reopening of the public school system at this time…