Cecil and Harford Counties Delegate Mike Griffith spoke about the large amount of program funding being pushed onto counties in Maryland’s budget including over a billion dollars more in spending for education, as well as $100 million dollars in teacher pensions with the caveat that counties can raise local taxes.  Griffith says no one is actually being asked about this plan…     “I hear a lot of conversation about we’re asking people to pay more. We’re asking counties to pay more. We’re asking other people to pay their fair share. I don’t see an “ask” in here, I see…

West Virginia’s minority party of Democrats is claiming a large victory in the rejection of a vaccine bill that would have opened up opt-out options for childhood vaccinations. While there is still an executive order to deal with on the subject, Democratic Delegate Mike Pushkin said the defeat was a grassroots effort…     “I think we could all agree that there was no other bill that we received nearly as many phone calls, and emails on. People coming to the capitol, people coming up in the white coats, people who are experts who were listened to. This is a…

An addiction recovery simulation took place Wednesday, including leaders from county and state agencies as well as law enforcement.  AHEC West and Leadership Allegany coordinated the immersive experience to put officials in the place of those seeking services for recovery help. Kim Folk, one of the Leadership Allegany Class 2025 class members, says the simulation uncovers barriers to recovery…     “A lot of times business leaders, government leaders, all of the types of people that we invited to participate are the individuals who are planning something like this and we wanted to kind of flip it and try to…

State leaders gathered Wednesday morning to remember the events of March 26, 2024 when the Key Bridge in Baltimore was hit by a freighter and collapsed. Governor Wes Moore recalled the six victims on the bridge when it collapsed, the heroism of responders and recovery workers and the state and federal government’s swift action to reopen the Port of Baltimore. He also voiced his optimism for the future of the critical transportation asset…     “And I know that soon, after accomplishing the first three objectives, we will accomplish the fourth. Which is Marylanders of this generation and the next…

One of the main complaints against the Allegany Library System has been that they have not pursued grant funding. The system is facing possible closure of up to three branches and accusations are that director John Taube has not been putting efforts into finding funding.  Ashley Swinford of the library system tells WCBC that the library secures between $120- and $180,000 in grants each year…     “These funds support special projects like staff training, purchasing the events in the delivery van. We added chrome books that people could check out. However, most grants are restricted to one-time expenses and…

Queen City Drive will be closed to through traffic on Thursday and Friday between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  The closure begins at Baltimore Street and ends at Frederick Street.  Traffic will be routed to Harrison Street and Mechanic Street.  The closure will allow crews to make necessary repairs to the concrete roadway.

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Michael Deniker.  The summons was issued as the result of an incident that occurred on March 15, 2025 at approximately 5:16 PM when police responded to Fayette Street at Greene Street for a motor vehicle collision.  During the investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle Deniker was operating had a suspended registration and an insurance lapse.  Police filed for charges against Deniker at the District Court of Allegany County.  Deniker signed for his copy of the summons and he was released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Michael Edward…

Work is finally beginning on the new location of Rural King at the Country Club Mall in LaVale.  Rural King announced it was going to locate in the area in June of 2023 and will be taking over space where JC Penney was located. The retail chain has over 130 stores, has been in business since 1960, and provides food, feed, seed and other farm and home products.  No opening date has been announced.

Kohl’s department stores has announced that over 20 stores are set to be closed by the end of April.  The corporation said that the stores set for closure are underperforming and it is taking difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of its business.  Kohl’s LaVale store is not listed to be closed. The nearest store location set for closing is in Herndon, Virginia.

Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett joins the Dave Norman show on WCBC Thursday just before 9am to talk about the urgent budget situation facing the county. With mandates from the state increasing local costs by millions, county officials are looking at a possible combination of ways to overcome a deficit. Many smaller counties are finding themselves suddenly in the red following state pushback for costs of teacher pensions, the department of taxation, and deep cuts to disparity grants.