Senate President-Elect Randy Smith has announced Republican Senator Mike Stuart, a former United States Attorney under President Trump, as Chairman of the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee. Incoming Senator Tom Willis of Berkeley County will serve as Vice Chairman. Willis, an attorney from Hedgesville, is a Special Forces Green Beret veteran and Lieutenant Colonel in the West Virginia National Guard. Smith said Senator Stuart will play a pivotal role in shaping the legislative agenda and helping to reduce government overreach, ensuring that West Virginia citizens and businesses will face fewer barriers. 

Allegany College has money back in its budget after the Allegany County Commissioners voted to reallocate purchase money received from ACM for the Makerspace building in LaVale back to the college.  ACM has been operating its Western Maryland Works program from the location.  Earlier this year, the college suffered budget cuts from the county that also cost them state funding. New ACM president David Jones said the $833,000 is a benefit to everyone… “A very difficult budget cut with the purchase of the property that we paid. It reimburses us plus it allows the college to retain the $333,000 from…

Could Maryland Congressman Andy Harris be looking to become Speaker of the House?  Harris, a Republican who heads the House Freedom Caucus talked to Fox Business about Speaker Mike Johnson’s troubles getting a continuing resolution passed last week to keep the government running. Harris says he is having second thoughts about Johnson…   “Before the last couple of weeks, I was in his corner. But now we should consider what’s the best path forward. We do need to consider whether we’re going to advance Mr. Trump’s agenda whether the current leadership is what we need.”

The Internal Revenue Service said around 1 million taxpayers will get up to $1,400 in a rebate in the coming weeks. The automatic payments, which are set to go out later this month, will go to taxpayers who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. The IRS said it found many eligible taxpayers who filed a return but did not claim the available credit. News Nation’s Kelly Myers says taxpayers do not have to take any action…     “For those folks who didn’t fill out this claim, you don’t have to do anything. The payments will go out automatically…

Water service will be interrupted on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a valve installation on Fort Avenue.   The areas affected include Fort Avenue, Dirk Street, and Rizer Avenue.    We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience while the crew completes their work.

On December 29th, 2024 the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Jeremy Earl Minnick. The summons was issued as a result of a private citizen filing charges at District Court. Minnick signed for his copy of the summons and was released pending trial at District Court. NAME: Jeremy Earl Minnick AGE: 42  Cumberland, MD CHARGES: Theft $1,500 to under $25,000 CRIMINAL SUMMONS SERVED On December 29th, 2024 the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Dexter Lee Smith. The summons was issued after an officer conducted an investigation in to a missing person’s complaint on December 22nd,…

The Maryland Department of Transportation has a new structure for work zone speed violations that takes effect January 1. The tiered fine system is automated by cameras. Fines for speeding in work zones start at $60 and double if workers are present in the zone. In 2024, 17 workers have died in work zones, including six lost in the collapse of the Key Bridge. MDOT Administrator Chrissy Nizer said the fines are there to make drivers think about those who have been lost… “I wish everybody in Maryland could see the faces to understand the pain but also understand that…

Seven million dollars in federal grant money is going to 50 places of worship across the state of Maryland. The money is for strengthening safety and security at churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious community centers. The funding was announced by the Maryland delegation saying that every Marylander must be able to worship without fear for their safety.  LaVale United Methodist Church was the recipient of $70,000 in the appropriation.

AAA Mid-Atlantic projects over two million Marylanders will travel for the holiday season by year’s end.  90% of those travelers will go by car, but over 100,000 will take to the skies – BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport expects to see 340,000 fly in or out of Baltimore. AAA Spokesperson Ragina Ali says air travel is on the increase… “That is an increase of about 7.5% over last year. And we have seen that the airports have certainly been very busy over this year, and the end of the year holidays is especially not going to be an exception.”

Leon George Baublitz Jr is wanted by the Allegany County Sheriff's Office on a District Court bench warrant for Failure to Appear (FTA). The underlying charges in this case include: Burglary-4th Degree-Store – Theft: $100 to Under $1,500 – Malicious Destruction of Property/Value < $1,000 – Trespass-Posted Property If you have information on this person, please contact Master Deputy Shawn Fratz at 301-268-2911 or Master Deputy Larry Bennett at 301-876-3916, or Submit a Most Wanted Tip on the Allegany MD Sheriff App.