The Maryland Department of Health announced Monday the launch of a statewide public information campaign to raise awareness about the importance of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccines and immunizations for pregnant women, infants, seniors and other at-risk populations.  The launch is part of a larger ongoing statewide campaign about how Marylanders can protect themselves against respiratory viruses – including COVID-19, seasonal flu and RSV – with vaccinations and healthy habits to limit the spread of germs.  The $1.8 million campaign, funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, includes television, radio, and digital advertising targeting those…

While much of the attention at last week’s Cumberland Mayor and City Council meeting focused on parking downtown and closing the pedestrian underpass, the council continues to work on infrastructure projects throughout the city.  Mayor Ray Morriss discussed a high bridge on the East Side that goes over I-68.  Morriss said Harbel Construction will perform the construction work.

All schools in Mineral County will be non-traditional learning on Tue. Feb. 11, 2025.

Pre-construction work is officially underway at the site of the Key Bridge in Baltimore in anticipation of tearing down the existing piers and building the new bridge.  The piers that once held up the bridge still stand in the Patapsco River. Around them, industry moves along at the Port of Baltimore.

Beverly Byron, a conservative Democrat who represented the sixth Congressional district for years, has died at the age of 92.  Byron succeed her husband Goodloe E. Byron in 1979 and she served until 1993.  She was defeated in the 1992 Democratic primary by Thomas Hattery, who went on to lose to Republican Roscoe Bartlett.   Funeral services have been set for former sixth district Congresswoman Beverly Byron, who died Monday at age 92.  A memorial service will be held February 25 at St. Ignatius of Loyola in Ijamsville at 11 a.m.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is pushing for a 52% tax on skill games in the state.  He says there are at least 700,000 skill games that are not monitored and have taken money away from the Pennsylvania Lottery that benefits the state’s senior citizens.  He says taxing the skill games will fill a funding void in programs…      “We’ll use the revenue from that to do a couple things. First, we’ll fill the funding gap for older adults that skill games caused in the first place. And second, we’ll provide an influx to the general fund to strengthen the…

Allegany County Schools Superintendent Jeff Blank has announced the appointment of Jenny Ramsey as Administrative Coordinator of Community Schools. Ramsey has been an employee in the county school system for 21 years and has held teaching and administrative positions including most recently Supervisor of Gifted and Talented. Ramsey started in her new role in mid-January.

The State of Maryland has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of overdose fatalities in year-over-year tracking.  In 2024, the number of overdose deaths fell 38% from 2023 numbers.  Fatal overdoses across the country reached record highs following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, 2,800 people died – the largest number in the state’s history. The Governor’s office points to investments in behavioral health substance abuse care for the reduction.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office has issued its report on Friday’s fire at the old YMCA on Baltimore Avenue.  Twenty five firefighters responded at 2:22 p.m.  A suspected psychiatric emergency took place in one of the resident rooms and combustibles were ignited.  Smoke alarms were in operation and residents were evacuated.  Damage was estimated at $1,000.  The resident in question was taken to UPMC for an evaluation. 

Until 10:00 pm, the City of Cumberland water department will be repairing a leak on the 16" main on Nave's Cross Road.  Please use caution while driving in the area.  There will be a change in traffic patterns with flaggers in place.  Residents in the area may experience intermittent interruptions of water service.