The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has issued its end of year report. Secretary Jake Day said almost 3,000 units of affordable housing were financed and mortgages provided to over 3,000 first time homebuyers. The department also established the first ever Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. DHCD supported revitalization and redevelopment projects, façade and streetscape improvements, and home rehabilitation incentives throughout the state in 2024.
The Allegany County Commissioners announced on Thursday that they are seeking nominations to fill a vacancy on the county school board. Board President Bob Farrell passed away unexpectedly in early December, creating an open position. Application information is available on the county website at alleganygov.org. Commissioner Bill Atkinson said there’s no formal state protocol for filling the position, but the county has put something in place to go through applications… “We have a committee that will review that and then we’ll appoint somebody from there. We’re hoping to do that by the end of January.”
The Cumberland Clock now stands ticking away at Hendershot Park following its dedication ceremony on New Year’s Day. Greg Hendershot who served as the chair of the committee that raised funds for the clock through Let’s Beautify Cumberland! told those attending the unveiling that the entire process from conception to reality was community driven… “The vast majority of our donations was small amounts from local people. You know, every donation counted, every dollar mattered. We appreciate a dollar donation the same as a ten thousand dollar donation. Everybody can be proud of this clock. Everybody had a hand…
West Virginia Governor-Elect Patrick Morrisey made announcement of key cabinet appointments in his administration on Thursday, including Tom McCaffery as Chief of Staff. McCaffery served as the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs in the Defense Department under Donald Trump. Morrisey also said he will be taking a good look at improving government efficiency… “I want to demand that every agency look for savings within. I know through the process so far a lot of people sometimes look to just say we need more money. We’re going to look for the efficiencies and the accountability we need because we…
The first baby of 2025 has arrived at UPMC Western Maryland. Hudson Theodore Helminiak, son of Cumberland residents Zachary and Kayla Helminiak, made his grand entrance on Wednesday, January 1st at 2:02 a.m. weighing over seven-and-a-half pounds.
Overdose deaths in West Virginia have gone down, according to the West Virginia Department of Human Services. From January to June of 2024, there was a 36% decrease in overdose deaths compared to 2023. Dr. Stephen Loyd, WV Office of Drug Control Policy, says in order to continue the decrease of such deaths, treatment needs to focus on the individual patient… “For the longest time I felt the only way to get better was the way that I got better, and if you weren’t doing it the way that I did it then you were wrong. And that’s not…
A Philadelphia man was arrested New Year's Eve after a 13 mile chase. Naeem Albright, 27, fled an attempted traffic stop on Route 30 east of Bedford. The chase continued on I-99 with speeds in excess of 120 mph. Albright has been charged with fleeing from police, illegal firearms possession, and receiving stolen property. He is being held in Bedford on bail of $400,000.
Western Maryland residents are bidding farewell to David Trone and Ben Cardin Friday as the new Congress is sworn into office. April McClain Delaney will take the place of Trone as representative of the 6th District in Maryland. Angela Alsobrooks will replace Cardin as United States Senator. The two seats both stayed in the Democratic Party. In neighboring West Virginia, Riley Moore is the new Congressman for the northern part of the state, including Mineral County. The new United States Senator is former Governor Jim Justice, who is replacing Joe Manchin. Both Moore and Justice are Republicans.
On Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Dakota Shabrea Wolfe, 19, of Keyser WV. Wolfe was arrested on two active Bench Warrants, both issued by the Allegany County District Court. The warrants allege Wolfe failed to appear in District Court for two separate trials scheduled on December 13th and 23rd, 2024. The previous charges against Wolfe include theft of less than $100 and disorderly conduct. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where she was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. She is currently being held on a total of $2,000…
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a nasal swab test to diagnose specific asthma subtypes for kids. Precise diagnosis usually involves genetic analysis of a lung tissue sample taken by a procedure done under general anesthesia, an invasive procedure for children with milder disease. The nasal swab approach could help clinicians prescribe medications more precisely and pave the way for research toward better treatments for lesser-studied asthma types.
