Taking an important step in making Maryland the “Capital of Quantum,” Governor Wes Moore has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA to establish a quantum benchmarking hub in the state. The University of Maryland will serve as the home for the project that will build a qualified independent quantum computing test and evaluation team.  Moore spoke about the federal partnership in the project…     “Up to $100 million dollars in federal matches to the state’s quantum investments over the next four years. Quantum is going to have a remarkable impact on the human…

Students in West Virginia schools will now have less screen on their phones during the school day. Governor Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 2003 into law on Tuesday allowing county school boards to determine the exact procedure for either disallowing phones on school property or storing them during the school day. Morrisey said students need time off from devices for development…     “I think the constant use of phones in day-to-day life – that’s actually been shown to limit age-appropriate development of relationships, of social skills, and other necessary tools to be successful.”

The abrupt ending over the weekend to funding for the Ameri-Corps program by the Trump Administration is directly affecting Frostburg State University’s Appalachian Service Through Action Resources program. The cuts have terminated the ASTAR program immediately.  Lisa Clark, Director of ASTAR, says this will affect over 25 partners in Western Maryland, including Evergreen Heritage Center…     “Through the partners that we have, we have over 25 partners in the Western Maryland region, but in Allegany County alone we served over 15,000—closer to 20,000 community members with our services.”

President Trump’s first one hundred days in office have seen some historical changes in the United States government and throughout the country.  Many have questioned the sweeping changes and cuts to programs and workers, but Maryland Congressman Andy Harris sees a bright spot in what others have been calling chaos.  He says that economic growth is beginning to happen with bigger industries…     “Trillions of dollars of investment promised into the United States, bringing jobs back home. Tens of billions of dollars in the pharmaceutical industry alone which left the country to a large extent over the past few…

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is implementing changes to nontidal fishing license and trout stamp fees effective June 1, 2025. This represents the first adjustment to nontidal–or freshwater fishing–fees in almost 20 years, addressing the rising costs of maintaining conservation efforts and angler programs in the face of inflation. Maryland’s freshwater fishing licenses follow DNR’s user-pay, public-benefit model, in which license revenue directly and specifically supports the programs and resources that support nontidal fishing such as trout stocking and fish population assessments.  The price of a Maryland nontidal fishing license has not changed for 18 years, while the expenses…

Shawn Cody Nida, 35 listing an address of Port Washington, OH, formerly of Frostburg, was served a District Court Arrest Warrant that stemmed from an investigation led by the County Combined Warrant Unit based on information learned during his arrest on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 for Absconding from 8-507 Treatment. His new charges include the following: • Regulated Firearm: Illegal Possession • Handgun on Person • Regulated Firearm-Illegal Sale/Transfer • Regulated Firearm-Unlawful Sale/Transfer and • Contribute to Condition of Child. Nida is being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Cente

The quantum industry, one of Governor Wes Moore’s pillars for economic growth in the state, was dealt a severe blow with the announcement that IonQ would be opening a quantum-computing hub in Tennessee.  Despite a special exemption from Maryland’s new tech tax of 3% and other investment from the state, the company chose Tennessee to build a “significant US quantum economy.”  Maryland's Senate Republican leadership said in a statement that IonQ is the first, but not the last of casualties from the tech tax. Senate Minoirty Leader Steve Hershey said, " a Maryland-headquartered company has looked at the numbers, looked…

A Maryland State Trooper from the Cumberland Barracks remains at the Crowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 68 in LaVale on Monday. The trooper, whose name has not been released, was setting up radar in the area of Exit 39 Westbound when the incident occurred. Traffic rerouted for a time to allow Trooper 5 Medevac to land and airlift the trooper to Baltimore.  The driver of the vehicle involved is working with law enforcement.

On April 28th, 2025 the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Christopher Allen Weimer. The warrant was issued after Weimer failed to appear in court on April 16th, 2025, for the original charges of malicious destruction of property. Weimer was transported to Central Booking where he was seen before a District Court commissioner and issued a bond of $500.00. NAME: Christopher Allen Weimer  AGE: 37 Cumberland, MD CHARGE: Failure to Appear

The Maryland State Department of Education is putting a temporary enrollment freeze in place for the Child Care Scholarship program, effective May 1. The pause comes as the program has reached funding capacity.  During the freeze, applications may be submitted but will go to a waitlist. Scholarships will be issued once funding becomes available. Demand for the program that provides childcare assistance to families in Maryland has increased 87% since January of 2023.