City Hall will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 16th at 8 AM.  The Community Development Department will remain in the Willetts Building, 446 N. Mechanic Street (the corner of Valley and Mechanic) until further notice. The Mayor and City Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow, July 16th will be moved back to City Hall, with the closed session at 5:00, open session at 5:30 and the regular public meeting at 6:15.

The Maryland Department of Health is reporting a reduction in depression and suicidal behaviors among middle and high school youth. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 60,000 students across the state shows that those who felt sad or hopeless decreased significantly compared to 2021 with girls more likely than boys to have such feelings. Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrara Scott says the results are encouraging but the data shows a clear link between adverse childhood experiences and risk behaviors.

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Congressman David Trone, all Democrats, applauded the Biden-Harris Administration announcement Friday of $208 million in federal funding to support the Volvo Group’s efforts to upgrade and reequip three domestic manufacturing facilities – including its Hagerstown location – to increase production of its Mack and Volvo electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The money will create new union jobs across the three facilities and support the production of clean vehicles in Maryland.

FROM ABC NEWS: The special counsel's classified documents case against former president Trump has been dismissed.  A stunning development, coming on the first day of the Republican National Convention. In an order that runs more than 90 pages, Judge Aileen Cannon has dismissed the classified documents case and ordered it closed, finding that special counsel Jack Smith was wrongly appointed in violation of the constitution, because he wasn t confirmed by the Senate. This is an argument that failed during the Trump presidency, when it was used against then-special counsel Robert Mueller.

On July 14th, 2024, at approximately 3:17 am, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 100 block of South George Street for the report of a male causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, Officers met with an employee who advised the individual was creating a disturbance and refused to leave. Officers spoke with the individual, who was later identified as Shauwn Kirby Layton. Shauwn was uncooperative and refused to provide his name. When told to leave several times, Shauwn began assaulting officers and was subsequently placed under arrest. Shauwn was taken to a local area hospital…

On July 14th, 2024, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department served a Bench Warrant on Sue Ellen Lilly for failing to appear for her trial at District Court on July 11th, 2024. Sue was taken before a District Court Commissioner where she was released on her own recognizance. Arrest: Sue Ellen Lilly, Age 55, of Cumberland, Maryland. Charge: Failure to Appear. On July 14, 2024, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department served a Bench Warrant on Jose Leonel Perez for failing to appear for his trial at District Court on September 17th, 2019. Jose was taken before a District Court…

An additional 4% reduction in personal income tax rates for West Virginia residents will take effect on January 1. The reduction was triggered after the state’s revenue collections surpassed the rate of inflation, pursuant to an Act passed by the legislature in 2023.  Governor Jim Justice is hoping the Legislature will do even more when they gather in August for a special session…  

July 17, 1974 was the official opening day for Rocky Gap State Park, once a collection of over 40 lots of land. Edward Habeeb arranged for the land to be sold to the state with the understanding a state park would be built.  The 243-acre lake is man-made and the 3,000 acre park has seen the addition of camping areas, a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course and a resort.  This week, Rocky Gap State park will celebrate by providing free entry to the day-use area of park and its beaches through Friday.

With the Emergency Medical Services union rejecting the latest offer from Allegany County to come to an agreement on needed budget cuts for the new fiscal year, the county now has to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to find ways to bridge the two million dollar budget gap.  County Administrator Jason Bennett says there are discussions going on now at the county offices to come up with another path…  

Pennsylvania legislators have passed a $47 billion dollar budget for their 2024-25 fiscal year that began July 1.  The budget was passed in the state senate 45-5.  It includes $600 million dollars for education, revamping the funding formula used by school districts and includes money for school safety improvements. There were no tax increases in the new budget, but the state did access $3 billion dollars of the state’s surplus fund.