Mayor Ray Morriss recently spoke on the Dave Norman program about Police Chief Chuck Ternent’s status with the City of Cumberland Police Force.  Mayor said Chief Ternent is going to retire, and the City is currently working on a retirement agreement -Ternent will not be returning…     “I really want to thank Chuck Ternent for all he’s done to serve our community over the years.  We’re talking 32 years of service in the Cumberland Police Department bath as an officer and then as a chief for the last—it’ll be six years total. He’s done a really great job.”

Trish Morgan Keating with the Save the Westernport Library spoke with WCBC about the news that WCBC broke Wednesday morning regarding the termination of Allegany County Library System’s director, John Taube.  Keating says she isn’t happy that Taube lost his job, but something did need to change…    “He’s been there 25 plus years and it’s my understanding he was two years from retirement, so that’s awful.  But on the other hand had he been doing his job properly and really addressing the problem rather than wanting to close two to three libraries, how about let’s fundraise and write some…

On Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025, an officer from the Cumberland Police Department was patrolling the area of Henderson Avenue and observed Nyoka Lynn Francis,47, of Cumberland, MD walking along the railroad tracks. In this area is a clearly marked No Trespassing sign on the fence for CSX property. The officer contacted Francis, informed her of the No Trespassing sign, and issued her a criminal citation for trespassing on posted property. Francis signed for her copy of the criminal citation and was released pending trial at district court. ARRESTED – Nyoka Lynn Francis, W/F 47yo CHARGES- Trespass-Posted Property 

Allegany County handed off four different sections of county lands to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently, totaling almost 800 acres. Though he hasn’t been a fan of giving the state more land, Commissioner Creade Brodie tells WCBC one of the areas along Georges Creek may actually end up IN the creek at some point…     “At the end of the day, it may not be next year, may not be 5 years or 10 years from now, but sooner or later someone is going to be accountable for that. I’d rather it be the state rather than…

West Virginia’s honeybee population decline is estimated at about 40% this year, according to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. A drought last year, bad weather and an invasive species of mite have led to high losses in the Mountain State alone. According to Blake Shook, one of the nation’s top beekeepers, the population decline is nationwide…     “That data is howing that this is th worst bee loss in recorded history. If this is a multi-year thing, it will change the way we consume food in the United States. I mean if we lost 80% of our bees…

The Westside Neighborhood Association has been working with the City of Cumberland on renovating a park on Fairmont Avenue. According to the president of the group, Max Green, a grant the City requested from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be used for the project. Green says they have envisioned the space…     “We don’t have real finalized plans, but I think some of the tentative plans that we were talking with Ryan Mackey the Parks and Recs director about were four pickle ball courts, some parking spaces. A community garden to continue the community garden that we…

In addition to concerts, picnics, and fireworks, there will also be a history-based event in Cumberland on July 4th.  At 10am, the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization will hold a ceremony at 400 South Allegany Street honoring American Revolution patriots from the area, including Captain David Linn. Group President Ed Taylor, Jr. said a plaque-reading will take place followed by a wreath ceremony at Rosehill Cemetery…     “Captain David Linn owned the entire west side. That was his reward for his great service in the American Revolution. At that time our country was very cash poor but land wealthy and…

President Trump’s spending bill went back to the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a tie-breaker vote in the Senate.  Maryland sixth district congresswoman April McClain Delaney says she will fight what she says is a betrayal of public trust…     “This bill represents a breathtaking act of fiscal hypocrisy. For decades, my Republican colleagues have raised the alarm of an increasing national debt and federal deficit. They have tucked into this bill a $5 trillion dollar debt ceiling hike with no offset, no payfors, and no common sense.

The 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates have had an exceptionally dismal season but the squad accomplished something positive the franchise had not done since the year WCBC Radio went on the air.  With Wednesday's 5-0 shutout of St. Louis, it marked the first time since 1976 the Pirates recorded three consecutive shutouts.  The prior occurrence in 1976 was also against the Cardinals with pitchers Jim Rooker, Jerry Reuss, and John Candelaria accomplishing the feat.  The 6-0 homestand included a sweep of the New York Mets, outscoring the Mets and Cardinals 43-4. They’re the first team to score 43 or more runs and allow…

Baltimore police report a considerable drop in gun violence and other violent crimes at the halfway point through the year.  The police department on Tuesday released its midyear data for 2025, which shows a 22% decrease in homicides compared to this time last year, and the number of juvenile homicide victims is down 71%. Nonfatal shootings were also down by 19%.