School districts that planned not  to have students return for in-person instruction until the second semester are being required to “reevaluate their reopening plans” and submit them to the Maryland State Department of Education by the third week of November. The Allegany County Board of Education will meet today to provide an overview of the plan and that could include providing a projected timeline for students to return to the classrooms for in-person instruction. School Board President Tammy Fraley tells WCBC News that the majority of the feedback she has received both personally and as a board member has the majority…

With the Washington Street Bridge now entering its third year closed to traffic, efforts are continuing to gain some momentum to replace it, but even the most optimistic views are that a new bridge is still several years away.  The bridge was shut down in 2017, but its issues began nearly a decade ago. In 2012, the two-lane span was reduced to one lane after structural issues were discovered during an inspection. Additional deterioration was discovered in April 2016 and the bridge was completely closed to vehicular traffic. CSX made basic repairs to the span and it opened to one-lane of traffic in October that year. However, a train strike in…

The Board of Allegany County Commissioners has approved refinancing up to $40 million in general obligation debt, paving the way for the county to go to the bond market next month. Acting County Administrator and Finance Director Jason Bennett said the hope is that there will lead to some significant savings for the county…

West Virginia University announced Monday that in–person classes on the Morgantown campus will be cancelled beginning on Tuesday and will resume online-only through Sept. 25 because of rising COVID-19 infections. A university spokesperson said on-campus students should avoid leaving the Morgantown campus area except under emergency circumstances, until further notice. Off-campus students should not visit campus and are asked to stay in their Morgantown area residences except when necessary, according to the announcement. The action is being undertaken only on the Morgantown campus and will not affect other WVU campuses in other parts of the state. Staff and faculty are to report to work…

After weeks of 50 plus and 30 plus Coronavirus cases, last weeks Allegany County numbers dropped back to the teens, which is good news. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss provided his weekly COVID-19 update on Friday, which included reviews of local case numbers and the entry of Maryland into Stage Three of the reopening of businesses…

With West Virginia Schools in our area due to resume classes on Tuesday, child care services could be an issue for parents who have to deal with hybrid schedules. WCBC asked Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch about the status of the system, and if there will be enough to satisfy demand…

On 09/06/2020 at approximately 10:00 PM the Cumberland City Police Department responded to the 300 block of Washington Street for an assault. Upon arrival officers contacted the victim who advised they were thrown to the ground. Officers observed the victim’s arm was swollen and the Cumberland Fire Department was requested to respond and render aid. The victim was transported to the hospital and it was learned that their arm was broken as a result of the assault. Officers located the suspect Michael Gerrod Taylor and arrested him without issue. Mr. Taylor was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released…

In recognition of National Recovery Month, the Appalachian Regional Commission has announced that the ARC will be accepting applications for a new initiative to address the region’s substance abuse crisis. The  $10 million INSPIRE initiative is designed to assist those victims of substance abuse by creating or expanding a recovery ecosystem leading to workforce entry or re-entry. Awards made via the INSPIRE Initiative will support the post-treatment to employment continuum. An overview of the initiative was presented during Thursday’s regular meeting of the Greater Cumberland Committee by Guy Land, Legislative Liason for the ARC.  Land noted that the numbers of…

Although some Maryland school systems started the school year last week, most are beginning Tuesday, post-Labor Day. Every system in the state is starting the school year with virtual, or online instruction. Governor Larry Hogan received some strong push back and criticism recently when he announced that school systems should begin preparing for returning kids to the classrooms.   Hogan called the reaction overblown and without merit, saying that there was no mandate of any kind to force school systems to provide in-person instruction.  

Education leaders in two West Virginia counties rejected an offer last week by Governor Jim Justice to resume fall sports competitions if athletic teams test negative for the coronavirus. Justice had suggested the compromise to Fayette, Logan and Kanawha counties, whose schools were allowed to hold team practices but cannot play games due to their status on a color-coded county map. However school officials in Fayette and Kanawha counties turned down the plan. During his regular COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Governor Justice did not mask his disappointment, saying he believes this is a lost opportunity to gather important health information that could…