West Virginia now joins Maryland incorporating “Purple Alerts” into their public notification systems. Similar to Amber or Silver Alerts, Purple Alerts are for missing persons who have cognitive issues including brain injuries. Alerts go out when an individual is believed to be missing or in danger. Kristen Cusato of the Alzheimer’s Association says the alerts make the public more aware of people they may come across… “Six out of ten people who have Alzheimer’s will wander. It’s a brain disease that’s really causing an issue as far as them not being able to retrace their steps and not getting back…

The City of Cumberland may have some trouble determining the dispersal of awards from the hotel/motel tax. Awards are granted yearly, designed to enhance tourism and increase longer stays and visitor spending.  Sixteen applications were submitted, totaling almost $94,000. The city budgets $45,000 for the project. City Administrator Jeff Silka says many applications are incomplete…     “Especially what we’re looking for is – how did you spend the money last year? And I think that’s probably the easiest one probably to give us, but they don’t give us. As we go through these I’ll just keep in the back…

Ocean City’s lawsuit seeking to block an offshore wind farm cleared a procedural hurdle last week, as a federal judge declined to dismiss most of the plaintiffs’ claims.  The Daily Record reports that Ocean City and nearly three dozen co-defendants sued the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in October after BOEM gave final approval for US Wind to build more than 100 turbines off the coast of Maryland and Delaware. The plaintiffs — which also include Worcester County; Fenwick Island, Delaware; and environmental, fishing and business groups — say the project threatens endangered species and the tourist economy.

Mike Browning, a health coach from UPMC Western Maryland recently spoke with WCBC about the benefits of resistance training, a program Browning coaches at the local hospital at no charge. Browning says resistance training includes simple exercises anyone can do at any stage of life to increase strength, stability, or to simply get back into weightlifting, starting with a chair…    “I definitely recommend chair exercises as a place to begin which are simple body-weight exercises done with a chair. Sit-and-stands or what we normally call as squats. Also push-ups simply as off a wall or even off of a…

On Sunday, July 6th, 2025 at approximately 9:44 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Harrison Street. A police K-9 was utilized, which resulted in a positive alert for the odor of drugs. The vehicle and occupants were searched, and as a result, controlled dangerous paraphernalia were located. The operator, Caitlin Leann Hochard, and the passenger, Kiera Brianne Camaraza were placed under arrest. Hochard was issued a criminal citation for CDS Possession Paraphernalia and traffic citations for driving a vehicle with suspended registration, driving without insurance and other related traffic charges. Camaraza was issued…

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of First Energy, would like to notify the public that the Merchants Alley Parking Lot will be closed off to traffic from Tuesday, 7/8/25, to Wednesday, 7/9/25, in order to install a new pole/transformer First Energy will block the parking lot off the night before work is to be performed, in addition to, blocking off 3-4 spaces on Monday morning, 7/7/25, in order to dig the hole for the new pole. Individuals may lose service for periods of time while the work is being performed. Additional information will be released in the…

Prison policy advocates in West Virginia are urging state lawmakers to put an end to “prison gerrymandering,” that distorts political representation. The problem stems from a Census Bureau practice of counting people in prison as part of the district where they’re incarcerated and not their home district. Mike Wessler with non-profit Prison Policy Initiative says action needs taken before the 2030 census…     “It’s taking a little bit of political power from just about everyone and giving to a handful of communities that are benefitting overwhelmingly. If West Virginia ended prison gerrymandering, it would make sure that people have…

WCBC spoke with Allegany County Commission President Dave Caporale regarding the County Library System’s release from employment of director John Taube.  Since tensions over the library’s budget began, Caporale has been critical of Taube’s view that libraries had to close to compensate for a budget shortfall.  Caporale told WCBC he and the commissioners …     “Looking back, we were just as concerned as anybody else when you start talking about library closures, and ultimately we just want what’s best for the citizens and the library system.  Whether it’s with Mr. Taube or without Mr. Taube, we just want what’s…

A traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institute is now open at the Garrett County Museum of Transportation. “Spark! Places of Innovation” highlights ingenuity in rural communities. Karen White, Garrett County museum curator, says the visitor can go through the interactive Smithsonian Exhibit and then actually travel to unique Garrett County locations with innovative activities continue…     “The visitor can be engaged, they can have an experience, and it’s in surrounding communities. It ranges from individual towns to individual entrepreneurs that have recreated, have had a spark of ingenuity, and have developed something new and exciting.”

A local abatement plan surrounding the use of Opioid Restitution Funds has gotten approval from the Allegany County Commissioners. Tanya Gomer, opioid fund account manager, said many of the projects are a continuation from last year, but one new project includes an addition to county schools for safety…     “One major thing is adding a type of communication in the school system with a radio service that we can utilize to get faster responses between the nursing staff and the classrooms, especially when students are in various locations on properties.”