Allegany County Emergency Management dispatched crews to Cresaptown for the report of a natural gas leak early Thursday morning. Winchester Road between Craddock Rd. and Warrior Drive were closed while crews responded. The roadway is now reopened. 

Allegany County is among the Maryland counties going along with Governor Larry Hogan's latest executive order and moving into phase three of reopening. That means, in Allegany County, all businesses will be able to reopen effective 5 p.m. Friday. Theaters will be able to reopen and restrictions on stores and houses of worship will loosen. Allegany County Commissioners President Jake Shade tells WCBC News that while COVID-19 safety protocols should continue, he feels the county is more than ready to enter stage three…

As teachers unions across West Virginia continue to voice concern with the plan to see kids return to the classrooms next week, Governor Jim Justice fired back Wednesday, calling the criticisms “politically motivated”.  The West Virginia chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association have issued statements opposing the return to in person learning- and they have been joined on several occasions by Ben Salango, the Democratic candidate for governor challenging Justice in November. During his regular COVID briefing Justice was asked about claims that some school systems may not have the resources in…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, for the second time in less than a week, criticized the county school systems in the state that he says failed to submit return to the classroom plans. Allegany County was listed among eight school systems Hogan says did not submit a plan for review. Allegany County Board of Education President Tammy Fraley maintains that the county did in fact submit a plan- albeit one that did not include a projected date to have students return to the classrooms. The issue has been discussed between the interim superintendent and the state board…  

While many cities large and small across the county have been experiencing civil unrest and often times violent classes between law enforcement and protesters in the streets, that has not been the case in Cumberland. Even nearby Bedford experienced two separate shooting incidents just last week- Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss praised city police and the community for maintaining civility during a number of large scale organized protests and marches.  What has happened in Cumberland, he says, has been the text book definition of peaceful protests with mutual respect being demonstrated…

The Allegany County Health Department reports four new cases of COVID-19 in Allegany County.  The latest cases include a male in his teens, a male in his 30s, and a male and female in their 40s.  None of the new cases have required hospitalization.  The cumulative total number of cases in Allegany County now stands at 399. 

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice says bars in Monongalia County will be closed. Gov. Justice made the announcement Wednesday afternoon during a press briefing. He says bars will be closed as of 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 2.

A correctional officer of the North Branch Correctional Institution was injured and taken to the hospital after being assaulted Tuesday by inmates, according to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The officer reportedly suffered injuries that were not life-threatening when he was allegedly assaulted by two inmates in an unspecified area of the maximum-security prison located on U.S. Route 220 at Cresaptown. He was taken to UPMC Western Maryland for treatment. The incident is being investigated by DPSCS detectives and NBCI officials, as is an assault on Saturday at the state prison that sent two employees to UPMC Western Maryland.

Maryland State Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after two people were found dead in a Garrett County home yesterday afternoon. The two are identified as Amanda Monahan, 25, of Grantsville, Md. and Chad Sebold, 37, of Boynton, PA.  Both were pronounced dead at the scene.    Just before 4:30 p.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police from the McHenry Barrack responded to a call at Monahan’s home in the unit-block of Dorsey Hotel Road, Grantsville, where a relative of Monahan had found the bodies.  The relative had gone to the residence to check on her after receiving word that she had…

On Tuesday Western Maryland officially opened its Center for Hope and Healing, a 24-hour residential treatment facility that will house patients with substance abuse and behavioral health issues.     The center is located on Leslie Lane, adjacent to the UPMC Western Maryland main campus, and was built on land gifted to UPMC Western Maryland from the state. Funding for the project was largely attributed to a $1,000,000 pledge from the WMHS Auxiliary, including an initial gift of $400,000 made in May of 2019. Ground broke on the facility last August.      At a ribbon cutting ceremony held on August…