The budget that Governor Wes Moore has rolled out for fiscal year 2026 includes two important transportation projects in Western Maryland.  Moore was in Frederick to announce funding planned for a heavily-traveled stretch of Route 15 that has had over 570 crashes in the last three years…     “This $160 million dollar project will add a third lane in each direction to improve safety and increase capacity. It’s going to make Maryland safer and it’s going to make Maryland more competitive.” In addition, funding to widen Interstate 81 in Hagerstown has also been restored to the budget, another important…

Retiring Superintendent Jeff Blank spoke recently with WCBC about his career in the Allegany County School system. He has been in the county schools for 37 of his 38-years in education.  He said that he was very pleased with how the school system responded when COVID-19 brought a new kind of education for teachers and students…    “A lot of high points and a lot of real challenging moments that ultimately when we got through it, it was rewarding. Knowing how we got through it compared to the country – I’m proud of those things.”

The 37th annual West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show will be held this weekend in Charleston.  This year's event will feature presentations from the Three Rivers Avian Center.  Visitors can get an up close look at eagles, hawks, owls, and other large birds of prey.

Governor Wes Moore’s Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act has some Education Blueprint supporters cautious about the future.  Moore is proposing cuts to per pupil spending, collaborative time plans, and freezing other increases in coming fiscal years.  Delegate Ben Barnes who chairs the House Appropriations Committee says any proposed cuts will have a hard time coming out of the House.  Maryland Schools Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright says the board is 100% on the Blueprint but slowing the rollout of collaborative time makes sense in order to deal with the state teacher shortage.

Residents in many of rural Maryland’s counties have left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table when they file their income taxes each year. That’s the finding of State Comptroller Brooke Lierman and she would like to see that change.  Her office is encouraging eligible Marylanders to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit that can either reduce or eliminate the amount of tax owed….     “A refundable tax credit which means you get money back, even if you don’t owe. In 2023, the average earned income tax credit in Maryland was a little over $1,000 but unfortunately, over…

Linda Widmyer has been appointed to fill the open seat on the Allegany County Board of Education.  The Allegany County Commissioners made the announcement at the beginning of their meeting Thursday evening. Widmyer will fill the seat of the late Bob Farrell who passed away in December.  Eleven applications were received for the position. Commissioners Creade Brodie and Dave Caporale voted for the appointment with Commissioner Bill Atkinson casting a dissenting vote.

Leaders in Ocean City are cautiously optimistic following President Trump's executive order that effectively halts offshore wind development. On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order effectively withdrawing areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from any new offshore wind leasing. The order also halts the issuance of any new or renewed permits, leases or loans for onshore and offshore wind projects, pending the completion of a federal review.  US Wind had announced plans to erect 114 wind turbines 10 miles off the Ocean City coastline.

Mineral County and Hampshire County Schools have each called for a two hour delay Friday.

For Friday, January 24th, Mineral and Hampshire Counties in West Virginia have posted a 2 hour delay for their schools.

On 01/17/25, members of the ACSO, Cumberland Police, and MSP conducted a joint operation to arrest subjects in Allegany County who had open arrest warrants. As a result of this operation the following individuals were served arrest warrants with the following charges: Clarissa Bible of Cumberland served an arrest warrant for FTA on a District Court Bench warrant. She was taken before a DC Commissioner and released. Caitlin Ziler of Cumberland was served an arrest warrant for FTA on a District Court Bench warrant. She was taken before a DC commissioner and released. Marcus Younger of Cumberland was served an…