U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led over 20 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought urging them to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump last month optional for federal employees and service members. In their letter the Senators also push for answers on how the Administration plans to implement this deferral.   “We urge you to let federal workers and uniformed service members choose whether to defer their payroll tax obligations under IRS Notice 2020-65, rather than forcing them to participate….

Allegany County Emergency Services Director James Pyles will provide an update on billing matters involving area volunteer fire and rescue squads on Thursday afternoon. Two weeks ago, volunteers and representatives from fire and rescue squads across the county  packed the meeting of the county commissioners voicing  concerns  for the future of their stations.  Much of the disagreement involves the percentage split that is shared between county EMS responders and the fire and rescue squads. The revenue from insurance billings is currently split depending on who responds to a call. Pyles is listed on Thursday’s commissioners meeting agenda with an update.

The Maryland Public Service Commission, in an emergency action, has prohibited residential utility service terminations through Nov. 15. Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive order prohibiting service terminations and late fees was set to expire Sept. 1. The commission, which held hearings to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on customers and utility finances, took the step to protect as many customers as possible from having electric, gas or water service shut off and to provide a transition period that allows residential customers time to apply for assistance programs or make payment arrangements with their utility. “The commission’s goal is to help those…

Allegany College of Maryland’s Employee Recognition Committee presented Outstanding Achievement Awards for Excellence to Multimedia Technology Associate Professor John Bone and the Physical Plant Team during ACM’s 2020 awards presentation which was held virtually.  Members of the Physical Plant staff were nominated by Janna Lee, herself a member of the team. They include: George Beck, Brock Beeman, James Blank, Paul Blank, Frank Bowers, Barry Briskey, Patrick Buskirk, Kevin Gamble, Scott Hardman, Bryan Hite, Tony Hott, Brandon Kidwell, Matthew Kidwell, Korey Layman, J.J. Martin, Tommy McBride, Don Miller, Leroy Miller, Ken Morgart, Adam Phipps, Karl Rinehart, Stevie Robinson, Tim Sanner, Ian…

Four states were added Tuesday to the 14-day quarantine list for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia were added because of rising COVID-19 rates, the governors of the states' announced.  Two U.S. territories, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, were removed. In all, 35 states and territories are on the quarantine list. The three most-populous states — California, Texas and Florida — remain on the quarantine list, while the territory of Guam remains New York and the two neighboring states implemented a joint travel advisory in late June as the coronavirus began to peak in other parts of the…

The Allegany County Health Department will offer free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, September 9 from 1 PM to 6 PM.  Participants are asked to bring a driver’s license or other ID that shows their name, address, and date of birth.  Participants do not need an appointment, a doctor’s order, or an insurance card.  The drive-thru model is an easy way for individuals to get a COVID-19 test with minimal contact.  When a vehicle drives in, all patients will remain in the vehicle and a nurse will swab each patient’s throat.  All patients must be…

President Donald Trump again targeted Baltimore in tweets posted Sunday morning. WBAL reports this time, the tweets focused on a political endorsement for Maryland Republican 7th District candidate Kimberly Klacik, who's running to unseat Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who won the seat in a special election in April after the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings. In a thread of three tweets, the president said: "Be smart Baltimore! You have been ripped off for years by the Democrats, & gotten nothing but poverty & crime. It will only get worse UNLESS YOU ELECT KIMBERLY KLACIK TO CONGRESS. She brings with her the power & ECONOMIC…

On Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 12:00 pm, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative David Trone, along with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and U.S. Representative Anthony Brown (D-Md.) will host a virtual press conference with Mrs. Joann Woodson, the widow of Maryland WWII Veteran Corporal Waverly Woodson. During the press conference, the lawmakers will announce new bipartisan, bicameral legislation to award Cpl. Woodson the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during World War II, and specifically his courageous and selfless actions during the D-Day invasion. While Cpl. Woodson was previously awarded a Bronze Star, as a Black Veteran, he was not considered at the…

On Monday, September 7th, 2020 the Cumberland Police Department served several arrest warrants on the following individuals:   Rahmand Hadi Wilkins; age 28, Cumberland, Maryalnd. Charges:  2 cts. Violate a protective order, assault, and trespassing.  Additional warrant:  2 cts. Violate a protective order, 4th degree burglary, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace. Held without bond.   Jamie Nicloe Donnis, age; 36, Cumberland, Maryland. Charge:  2nd degree assault.  Released personal recognizance.   Nickoli Dunbar Cakus, age; 22, Cumberland, Maryland. Charges: Violate a protective order, trespassing and attempted 4th degree burglary. Held without bond.   Loretta Jo Lynn Knippenberg, age; 31, Cumberland, Maryland….

Governor Larry Hogan says that although the State Board of Elections has mailed out absentee ballot applications to every Maryland voter, he still has some serious concerns about the November election process. He also said that the state has recruited some 11,000 people to serve as election judges and workers, and he urged jurisdictions to contact those people who have expressed interest in working the polls. He encouraged those who want to vote in person on Election Day to vote during off-peak times to avoid crowding.  Hogan noted that it took the Board of Elections eight weeks to mail ballot applications, and…