During Wednesday’s briefing, Gov. Jim Justice announced that the $25 million of CARES Act relief funds allocated to assist qualifying West Virginians pay their utility bills are now ready to be distributed. The money will go to local Public Service Districts so they can pass it along to customers. Customers of electric, natural gas, water, and sewer utility companies who have experienced economic hardship and/or uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, causing them to have unpaid utility bills from the period of March 1 – July 31 of this year, may receive financial assistance to pay those bills. Read More…

Governor Larry Hogan today congratulated Basic Recruit Class 62 on their graduation from the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) Academy. Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Superintendent Colonel G. Adrian Baker also took part in today’s ceremony at Sandy Point State Park. “In a state as rich in natural resources as ours, the career today’s graduates are embarking on is absolutely vital,” said Governor Hogan. “You will be asked to put yourselves in danger to protect our citizens. You may not always be appreciated and sometimes you may be unfairly criticized. But today, I want each…

The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved recommendations of nearly $20 million in Rural Legacy Program grants for conservation easements and expansion in 17 Maryland counties. Funding from these grants will permanently protect more than 4,500 acres of working farms, forests, marshes, open space, shorelines, and wetlands — plus cultural and historical resources — throughout the state. The recommendations also include five Rural Legacy Area expansions, which provide the opportunity to protect more than 43,897 additional acres. Included in that amount is 30,591 acres that essentially doubles the size of the Zekiah Rural Legacy Area in Charles County, and 12,413 acres…

Welcome to the Fall Foliage Report for October 22, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This season continues to bring on the best fall color Maryland has seen in years, as Washington and Frederick counties reach peak foliage. Potomac-Garrett State Forest, photo by Scott Campbell Scott Campbell, forester, Potomac-Garrett State Forest, says: “This is the last gasp from the Potomac-Garrett State Forest in Garrett County.”  Allegany County Fall Foliage, photos by Dan Hedderick Dan Hedderick, project forester, Forest Service, Allegany County, reports: “The leaves are coming down everywhere. Color is staggered, with some trees like walnut already done,…

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has posted the October 24, 2020, Saturday Education Map that determines which counties will hold in-person and blended instruction and directs the level of extracurricular activities permitted. The map is developed with information from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and vetted by the COVID-19 Data Review Panel. The weekly updates are posted at https://wvde.us/reentrymetrics. County plans should be reviewed for additional requirements. Red (Substantial Community Transmission): Counties must move to remote learning. No extracurricular competitions or practices are permitted. Staff may report to their schools, as determined by the…

On Friday,  the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Jordan Lawrence Costello.  The warrant was issued by District Court for failing to appear for trial on September 15th, 2020 on a disorderly conduct charge.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center held on a $2,000 bond.   Jordan Lawrence Costello, age; 34, Cumberland, Maryland.

A single vehicle accident on Interstate 68 west near the 56 mile marker overnight led to one lane of traffic temporarily closed. One person was transported from the scene with injuries. 

Because of the need to address financial challenges related to the ongoing pandemic, Frostburg State University worked with its collective bargaining units, AFSCME and FOP (Fraternal Order of Police). An agreement was reached with FOP. An agreement was not reached with AFSCME. On Wednesday, FSU notified 12 employees, members of the AFSCME bargaining unit, that they would be laid off in 90 days. This action was taken based on the collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME. Also, non-union employees were notified Friday that they would begin to receive temporary salary reductions beginning with the next pay period. "The current pandemic situation…

 Over 4,000 fans will be allowed in the stands at the Ravens' next home game, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Mayor Jack Young announced Friday. “I have reviewed the Ravens’ plan to return fans to the stadium pursuant to the Governor’s recent executive order, and I am pleased to announce we will be allowing fans at the next game,” Young said. “This exception takes into consideration the amount of thought and detail put into the Ravens’ protocols, as well as the size of the location and distancing possible.” Under the plan, the Ravens will allow…

Maryland saw a decrease in prices at the pump this week as demand for gas decreased. As demand remains low, American drivers should expect pump prices to continue declining this fall. The gas price average in Maryland today is $2.28, down three cents from last week, up five cents in the last month and down 20 cents from this date last year. Today’s national gas price average is $2.16, down respectively a penny in the last week, three cents from last month and, 46 cents from this time last year.   CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES Regular Unleaded Gasoline…