Forecasters at NOAA’s National Weather Service say conditions still favor above-normal activity as the Atlantic hurricane season enters its historical peak. The season runs from June 1 to November 30, but activity has historically spiked from mid-August through mid-October. Most hurricane-related damage tends to occur along the coast, but last year’s storms were a strong reminder that powerful winds and severe flooding can devestate businesses, destroy homes and disrupt lives hundreds of miles inland. While there’s time, review your business’s disaster plan to ensure it’s up to date. If your small business doesn’t have a disaster plan, now’s the time…

From Friday, August 15, 2025, through Monday, September 1, 2025, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be working alongside local law enforcement for the “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI.”  high-visibility enforcement campaign. The goal is to help prevent drug-impaired driving, to save lives, and to prevent serious injury. The GHSP is urging drivers to refrain from driving impaired. “The bottom line is that no matter what the substance is, if a driver is impaired, they should not be…

Frostburg State University Physician Assistant (PA) Program’s Class of 2025 cohort of 24 students was successful in achieving a 100% pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), exceeding the national exam pass rate of 92%. “This is an amazing accomplishment for the faculty, staff and students who are part of this program,” said Yum Nguyen, PhD, ATC, interim assistant dean in FSU’s College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences. FSU’s chair and program director of the PA program, Laurarose Dunn-O’Farrell, MPAS, MS, PA-C, LCPC, echoed those sentiments. “This score is an incredible accomplishment that exceeds the…

Chicago native Jack Suwinski homered to left field in the 9th inning Friday to lead the Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Cubs, breaking a five game losing streak.  The Pirates and Cubs resume their series Saturday afternoon with airtime at 1:55 on WCBC.  

On Thursday, August 14th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Aaron Michael Thrasher on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on August 12th, 2025. On that date, it is alleged that Thrasher failed to appear in District Court for a previous charge of CDS Possession, not marijuana. Thrasher  was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance, where he was released on his own recognizance. Arrest:  Aaron Michael Thrasher, Age 43, Cumberland, Maryland. Charge: Bench Warrant- Failure to Appear

The Maryland Transportation Authority on Tuesday conducted a high-visibility enforcement initiative targeted at drivers crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Over 65 vehicles were stopped and more than 100 citations and warnings given. Most stops involved aggressive or distracted driving as well as violating lane signals while crossing the bridge.

Those wanting to go to Ocean City may want to look at September for a trip. Bookings appear to be down for hotels for that month.  Ocean City’s data research firm, Zartico, says hotel reservations are off almost 3% for September and other vacation rentals are also hurting. WCBC took a quick look at rates on bookings.com and found hotel rates ranging from $95 to $275 per night for the week of September 7 through the 13th.

The 25th annual motorcycle ride honoring the lives lost in the September 2001 terrorist attacks passed through Cumberland Friday morning.  Over 300 motoRcycles and escorts rode into town from the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset.  People lined the streets and waved flags at the bikers as they passed. Local resident Linda Lindner said she’s been coming to see the ride pass through for 15 years. She remembers where she was on September 11, 2001…     “I was working at First National Bank of Maryland and I was sitting in the Trust Department and all of the sudden across the…

West Virginia has officially gotten out of the long-term care facility business. Governor Patrick Morrisey announced this week that the state’s four long-term care locations, including one in Fairmont, had been sold to MDG, an operator of similar facilities throughout the region. The facilities have been operating at a cost of $40 million dollars a year with a $6 million annual loss…     “Marx Development Group, or MDG, has agreed to purchase these assets from the state of West Virginia for $60 million dollars. And in addition as part of the deal, MDG has also agreed it would be…

America’s 9-11 Ride will be coming through Cumberland Friday morning between 8:30 and 9:30.  Motorcyclists will enter the city via Route 36; proceed down South Mechanic Street, turning onto Frederick Street. They will proceed onto Naves Crossroads, then Christie Road before merging onto Interstate 68 East.  Traffic will be temporarily halted along the main route and intersecting roads to allow the ride to pass through without interruption. This is the 25th annual motorcycle ride to honor those killed in the September 2001 terrorist attacks.