Maryland has a state song, a state bird, even a state cat. Now, efforts are underway to add a state cocktail to the list.  Delegate Wayne Hartman of Worcester County has introduced a bill in Annapolis to make the Orange Crush the official state adult beverage.  Hartman says the drink containing orange juice, vodka, triple sec and other ingredients originated at the Harborside Bar and Grill in Ocean City in 1995.  The Maryland Tourism Coalition has voiced support for the designation.

It doesn’t happen often in Annapolis, but Senator Mike McKay has been able to have floor rules suspended in the Senate to introduce a late bill.  Senate Bill 1046 has bipartisan sponsorship authorizing the use of body cameras for certain types of corrections officers inside and outside of prisons.  McKay said the bill stems from the death last May of an agent doing a home visit…     “This really has to do with parole and probation. And unfortunately, we had Parole Agent Martinez, about 8 months ago, who was brutally stabbed in an in-home visit on a sexual predator.”

Maryland Senate Bill 848 had a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee late last week. The bill moves money that has been essentially sitting in an account of unspent insurance funds to the Maryland Department of Health to help fund abortions.  The funds were collected from insurance companies as part of the Affordable Care Act. State Comptroller Brooke Lierman testified that the bill requires no additional funding…     “SB848 is a practical, effective solution to insure that these funds are used for their intended purpose – supporting equitable access to abortion care in Maryland for those who are uninsured…

Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett gave an update on some budget information at last Thursday’s commissioner meeting. Bennett said the Maryland Department of Legislative Services is recommending that an additional $600,000 of the cost of teacher pensions be absorbed by the county. That would raise the cuts and costs from the state to the county to $5.7 million dollars…    “We went to Annapolis last week and testified two times over the governor’s budget and had a good chance to talk with members of both the House Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee….

On Sunday, March 9th, 2025, an officer with the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the area of Interstate 68 when a registration violation was observed on a passenger vehicle. When the officer made contact with the vehicle's occupants, it was discovered that the subjects were prohibited from contacting one another due to an active Protective Order. As a result, Colton Austin Hamilton, 25, of Cumberland MD, was placed under arrest for violating the order. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where he was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond. Name:   …

West Virginia House Democrats were unable to stop the passage of a bill dealing with election integrity in the area of absentee ballots.  House Bill 2117 reinforces that mail-in ballots must be received on election day by the close of the polls. Democrats were concerned voting rights were being limited as part of the bill prevents the distribution of absentee ballot applications.  Delegate Evan Hansen said older voters could be affected…       “It puts our nursing home staff in a tight spot because federal regulations require them to help residents vote. A routine part of what they do…

On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Ruby Carline McCullough, 35, of Cumberland MD. McCullough was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County Circuit Court on February 11th, 2025. The warrant alleged McCullough failed to appear in Circuit Court on that date for a previous charge of obstructing and hindering. 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 without bond. At the time of her arrest, McCullough was also found to be in possession…

On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 100 block of Fayette St for the report of a theft of a utility trailer. The victim advised the 8ft trailer had been stolen sometime after 6 am on this date. Later in the day, at approximately 11am, an officer on patrol in the area of Sedgewick St observed a GMC truck with a similar style trailer affixed to it. The officer was able to confirm that the trailer was stolen by the owner’s registration plate that was still being displayed. The officer then made contact with a…

Today is the deadline business owners can submit testimony to Maryland lawmakers regarding a proposed business services charge that adds a 2.5% tax to many business services including bookkeeping and payroll, repair services, financial planning, and property maintenance. Chamber of Commerce CEO Juli McCoy wants businesses to contact lawmakers or even to testify in Wednesday’s House and Senate hearings…     “There is the option to testify on Zoom. Register to do that. You have to submit your testimony in advance and then you sit there on Zoom and wait for the hearing and wait for them to call you,…

Today marks a significant milestone for Allegany College of Maryland's baseball program as Coach Mason Heyne celebrated his 100th win. The Trojans swept the College of Southern Maryland at home at Steve Bazarnic Field, adding another memorable chapter to Heyne's tenure. This victory is particularly special as it comes in Heyne's fifth full season as head coach, following his interim year in 2021. Coach Mason Heyne has been instrumental in leading the Trojans to success since taking over the program. In his first full season, he guided the team to a Region 20 playoff berth with a 27-19 record. The…