The IRS-sponsored Volunteer Tax Assistance program will return to Frostburg State University for the upcoming tax filing season.  The VITA program offers free tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Volunteer students who have been trained by the IRS in tax law offer the assistance.  Appointments must be made in advance by calling Dr. Chelsea Schrader at 301-687-4158.  Appointments will be held in FSU’s Frampton Hall Room 208 starting at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays January 27th through March 14th, and again March 24th through April 4th.

Confusion is still rampant after President Trump ordered a spending freeze on federal programs. A judge has blocked the order, but the White House maintains that a thorough review of spending remains in place.  Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen was quick to say the president’s administration had over-reached with the freeze…     “Believes that it has the power to cherry-pick the law, to decide what parts of laws that have been duly enacted by this Congress they like and want to implement and which ones they want to reject. That is an unconstitutional power grab.” Maryland Governor Wes…

The Team Maryland delegation is off to a busy start on Capitol Hill. The main focus of much of the state’s senate and congressional leaders is preserving and protecting the jobs of thousands of federal workers that call Maryland home.  Congresswoman April McClain-Delaney said she previously worked for the Commerce Department with many federal employees and values their worth…     “I was the number two at an agency overlooking about a thousand people and all I found was that they were really overworked, under resourced, with deep, deep subject matter expertise and I think valuing their work and what…

The Canal Place Board has released a Request for Proposal for the engineering and design of the land-based portion of the River Park Project.  DeDe Richie, executive director of the Preservation and Development Authority, says they held a pre-bid meeting with engineering firms this week.  Richie said the meeting helped revise the RFP to clarify requirements for this part of the project…    “We had… I’m going to say six engineering firms attended that.  And as a result of that meeting, and because we’re partnering with the City of Cumberland and Allegany County, we had to add an addendum even…

WCBC News has learned that the LaVale location of MedExpress will close at the end of the day on Friday, January 31.  A notice to patients indicated it was a difficult decision to close the center but no other reasons were indicated. An online link was provided to request patient records. WCBC contacted the MedExpress Administrative offices in Morgantown but received no response.

On Thursday, January 30th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Anthony Eugene Smith, 60, of Cumberland MD. Smith was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on December 16th, 2024. During that incident, it is alleged that Smith assaulted a staff member at a local medical facility. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where he was released on his own recognizance. Name:    Anthony Eugene Smith                                 Age:   60 Charges:    Assault 2nd Degree.

Bruce Allen Williams, 28 of Cumberland, was arrested on a body-attachment warrant for Failure to Appear for a Child Support Hearing. Williams was released after posting a $100 cash bond. Peter Joseph Readnour, 53 of Dry Ridge, Kentucky was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. His original charges include Exceeding Posted Maximum Speed Limit: 50 MPH in a Posted 40 MPH Zone, Person Driving Motor Vehicle on Highway or Public Use Property on Suspended Out-of-State License, and Driving Motor Vehicle on Highway Without Required License and Authorization. Readnour was released on his own recognizance.

On Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Mary Grace Eccles, 33, of Cumberland MD. Eccles was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on January 27th, 2025. The warrant alleges Eccles violated the terms and conditions of probation that had been placed upon her due to a previous conviction on charges of destruction of property. 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 $5,000 bond. Name:    Mary Grace Eccles                                 Age:   33…

Maryland’s Child Victims Act, passed in 2023, opened the door for many abuse cases against the Archdiocese of Baltimore by removing the statute of limitations. Now the state has over 3,500 claims from plaintiffs housed by the Department of Juvenile Services. Senate President Bill Ferguson says settlements of possibly more than $3 billion dollars have to be paid, despite the state deficit…     “These are very real costs associated with very real, horrific scenarios of what’s happened to young people who have been violated while in the state’s custody. And so we have to figure out a way to…

In a strange bit of irony, the Johnstown Flood museum is closed for repairs -– due to flooding.  Shelly Johannson who directs Heritage Johnstown, told reporters the museum was not open at the time, but an employee discovered a water pipe failure…    “We’re very fortunate that a volunteer docent, Nikki Bosley, came in to work in the archives on the day that the museum was closed during our winter operating schedule and discovered there was a problem and sounded the alarm and allowed us to get in here and keep it from being much, much worse.”