Casinos in Maryland are seeing an increase in revenue for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut their doors for three months. The Baltimore Sun reported  that the casinos brought in more than $1.4 million during this past September than they did during the same month last year. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission said the state’s six casinos made a combined $143,709,268 in September 2020 compared with $142,223,137 in 2019. That makes for a 1% increase.  Rocky Gap Casino in Allegany County made just over $5 million in September 2020, an increase of more than $247,000 from the same…

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Governor Larry Hogan today announced that $8.7 million in funds recovered by the Attorney General, and an additional $3 million in general funds will be directed to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation to provide legal services to families facing eviction and other housing security issues.    As many national and local studies establish, counsel in eviction cases often means the difference between families staying in their homes or losing their homes.  Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) makes grants to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services for low-income Marylanders.  MLSC’s funds have been…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of the #MasksOnMaryland Challenge in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). To support Maryland’s ongoing health and economic recovery, Governor Hogan is challenging all citizens, communities, local organizations, and businesses to participate by posting a picture or video of themselves wearing a mask to social media with the hashtag #MasksOnMaryland.  “Wearing a mask is the best way to keep ourselves and our families safe, and to keep Maryland open for business,” said Governor Hogan. “I wear my mask for my three daughters and four grandchildren. We are all in this together,…

As the Governor's office has declared that outdoor public spaces may now be open to the general public with the condition that the applicable political subdivision must require persons using the outdoor public space to comply with CDC social distancing guidelines, the Mayor and City Council of Cumberland will resume permitting requirements for parades, races, marches and special events beginning November 1, 2020. The permit will apply to any activity held within the City which is expected to draw a crowd in excess of fifty (50) people, or which involves the sale of food, alcohol, merchandise, or the erection or placement of a stand, tent, platform…

The Country Club Mall has been posted for sale by auction with a starting bid of $1.3 million.  A potential buyer will assume a $21.9 million loan with monthly principal and interest payments of $153,953.98, with a June 1, 2020 payment due. The current owner Gumberg Asset Management Corp of Fort Lauderdale, FL has not made a payment since May. There has been a sharp decline in occupancy after the closing of anchor stores Bon Ton , JCPenney and SEARS, with the mall currently 52.3% rented. The online auction of the 391,000 sq ft property starts on November 16th, running…

West Virginia COVID-19 Czar Dr Clay Marsh took time yesterday to present another defense of why the Mountain State has added the incidence rate to the percent positive rate in order to accurately determine how the virus is spreading… A lawsuit brought by the West Virginia Education Association has challenged the map, saying adding additional metrics makes the situation appear safer than it actually is.

With President Trump now being treated at the White House for COVID-19, WCBC asked West Virginia Governor Jim Justice if he or his staff is taking additional measures to defend against the disease. Justice told WCBC’s Paul Mullan that he had just come from a meeting concerning the expansion of broadband that included some additional protection… Governor Justice has been conducting media briefings remotely.  Yesterday’s session was the 134th since the start of the pandemic.

Rental housing was one of the first issues discussed when Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss joined WCBC’s Dave Norman Program Wednesday morning. Morriss said that in addition to low-income housing, the city also has a need for rentals in the upper ends of the income scale… Mayor Morriss says that the sale price of the East Side School property was dictated by market forces, and that the investment attached to the sale makes it a good deal for the city.

In the second part of our series with Chief Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Getty, we focus on the need for summoned citizens to show up for juiry duty. Judge Getty tells us that the glut of cases needing to be heard has put a strain on all parts of the judicial system, from the calendar to the clerks, along with the judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys… Judge Getty tells us that although fellow Judge Timothy Finan retired at the end of August, he has yet to miss a day of work, and will continue to be available to hear cases.

According to the Cumberland utilities division, beginning Tuesday, October 13, 2020, through Friday, October 16, 2020, Lake Avenue will be closed to traffic from Gephart Drive to Ridgedale Avenue for replacement of the sewer main