The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating missing teen, Aaleah Park. Aaleah, 17, went missing from Morgantown, West Virginia on July 19, 2024. Authorities believe that she may still be in the local area or travel to Taylor County, Barbour County, or Preston County West Virginia or to Oakland or Cumberland, Maryland. Aaleah is described as 5'2", weighs 119 lbs., and has brown eyes with brown hair.

As car prices climb, AAA expanded this year’s ownership cost study to include comparisons of electric and hybrid vehicles to gas-powered vehicles. EVs have the lowest fuel cost, based on national average pricing for electricity and because of their design and powertrain have the lowest maintenance costs.  Shawn Steward of AAA says EVs tip the scales toward the more expensive because of their upfront costs, including installing home chargers…

Several beaches along the Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware coast remained closed on Monday after the weekend discovery of medical waste washing up on their shores.  Syringes, needles, and other medical waste were discovered on Sunday morning and beaches quickly moved to shut down swimming and wading. Everyone on the beaches is encouraged to wear shoes and be on the lookout for any kind of waste.  Investigators are working to find the source of the debris.

On September 16 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest warrant on Natasha Groves. The warrant was issued for 4th degree burglary and destruction of property. The original incident occurred on September 12, 2024.  Officers were dispatched to a Baltimore Street address for a female yelling. The Officer arrived and was familiar with the apartment. The Officer later contacted the Owner who advised that no one was permitted in the building. The owner stated that he had to change locks due to people gaining access. The Officer took note of the lock and observed that the locked was forced…

On September 16, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Keith Wilkins. The Bench Warrant was issued from the District Court of Maryland for Violation of Probation. Officers observed Mr. Wilkins and had knowledge of the Bench Warrant. Officers located CDS paraphernalia and a Controlled dangerous Substance while searching Wilkins pursuant to the arrest. Arrest: Keith Louis Wilkins, age 36, Cumberland, Maryland. Charges: Violation Of Probation, two counts of CDS possession of Paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.                                                                    

Looking back over the weekend, the Heritage Days Festival in Cumberland’s Historic District along Washington Street drew record crowds for the annual event. Becky McClarran, one of the organizers, told WCBC that the festival found a sweet spot in the number and type of businesses participating this year… “They love the festival foods and we had such a wide variety this year, a much wider variety than we’ve ever had, I think in the arts and craft and the commercial vendors and you know we had a lot of non-profit vendors as well that had information so it was quite…

Despite a global pandemic, tourism spending in West Virginia has grown more than 40% – or nearly $2 billion in annual spending since 2017.  Governor Jim Justice announced that the industry’s total economic impact approached $9 billion in 2023. Tourist volume to the state reached 75 million visitors last year.  During the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Charleston, state Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby presented the Governor with a lifetime achievement award for his assistance to tourism… “The West Virginia Tourism industry has never had a champion for tourism like Governor Justice.  The Governor has supported the industry like no one…

Cumberland’s Economic Development Corporation is looking for marketing assistance through a grant recently received.  The CEDC’s Executive Director, Matt Miller, explained the details of how the grant will be used during a recent board meeting, saying the grant will help to further efforts already underway… ”The CEDC was awarded a $50,000 grant to generate and implement a strategic marketing plan to promote past, current, and future projects and initiatives throughout the city of Cumberland. For example, the marketing effort will highlight the comprehensive revisioning of Baltimore Street while raising awareness of opportunities that exist for private investment within the district.”…

A new record has been set at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, just one month after a record-setting month.  For July, almost 2.7 million passengers traveled through BWI, making it the busiest month in the history of the airport.  The previous record had just been set in June.  BWI provides nearly 300 daily nonstop departures to about 90 domestic and international destinations. The airport produces a total annual economic impact of $11.3 billion dollars. BWI Marshall and its passengers generate, support and sustain more than 107,000 jobs throughout the region.