The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center received a major donation form the Kamin Family Foundation.  Daniel and Carole Kamin have been long-time supporters of UPMC through both giving and volunteering. The $65 million dollar gift will help to complete the new 635-bed patient tower at UMPC Presbyterian, which will now be called the Kamin Tower. The new facility will have private rooms, staff spaces, and easier access for patient imaging as well as shared spaces for families. The tower is projected to open in early 2027.

The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigations Unit (C3I), made an arrest in connection with an armed robbery that occurred at a business in LaVale around 12:20 AM on July 27, 2025. Yeshua Jericho Banner, a 34-year-old resident of Cresaptown, was taken into custody during a traffic stop. Banner was served with a District Court arrest warrant related to this investigation. After his arrest, Banner was brought before the District Court Commissioner and was held without bail. The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SORT) and the Washington County Special Response Team (SRT)…

Woodvalley Community Strategies met with the public regarding updates to the City’s 10-year comprehensive plan.  Consultant Jamie Kendrick of said after brainstorming plans with multiple city groups, key takeaways included focusing on housing, infrastructure and public services citywide… “Not all these ideas will take hold, not all of them should take hold, but it’s a way of getting the community to think about different ways to position different parts of the City for future momentum and growth.” Kendrick said the comprehensive plan is especially important since the State Highway Administration awarded $1.25 million in grant money in the planning stage…

During Governor Wes Moore’s visit to Westernport on Sunday, he had pointed words for the denial of FEMA funds for the area’s flood recovery efforts. Moore told those gathered at the Port West Restaurant, partisan politics is holding back the money…     “When you look at all the states and all the localities that received funding from the Trump Administration, not one state that did not vote for Donald Trump got funding. So this was purely a political decision.” Moore specifically highlighted neighboring West Virginia’s relief…     “West Virginia had around the same amount of damage that was…

West Virginia hospitals are anticipating significant change over the coming years following passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”  Legislation in the bill reduces supplemental payments from Medicaid, particularly impacting the Mountain State. Supplemental payments help cover the cost of care for larger providers, according to Jim Kaufman with the West Virginia Hospital Association…   “In the final bill, once fully implemented, we will lose about a billion dollars a year when those provisions go into effect. This will have a huge impact on our efforts to provide care in rural communities. One positive is these cuts will not start until…

A caller to the WCBC Dave Norman Program relayed a story that a physician  recommended not drinking Cumberland’s water due to harmful PFA’s.  PFA’s are chemicals that have gained notoriety due to plastics being found in water systems. Cumberland’s PFA level has been determined to be point zero nine three parts per trillion, well below the EPA enforceable level of four parts per trillion.  Mayor Ray Morriss said the state is looking at reducing the enforceable level, but not without issues…     “The Maryland State Legislature is looking at legislation to reduce those numbers, but at the same point…

The Potomac Highlands United Way “Stuff the Bus” school drive to benefit students in Allegany, Garrett, and Mineral Counties will be coming up in August. Mineral County’s event will take place at the Keyser Walmart on August 1, starting at 8:30am. Allegany and Garrett Counties will have their events on August 15 at the LaVale Walmart and Staples locations. United Way Director Michele Walker says the county boards of education take care of distribution…    “All the supplies then go to the respective board of eds, and they divide them up amongst the schools, and in Garrett County they also…

Maryland universities will have to provide more support for student-parents attending classes. The Pregnant and Parenting Student Support Act requires all 4-year public colleges to adopt a plan addressing resources for student-parents. Josie Klein with the National Women’s Law Center says support is needed for student-parents who have more responsibilities…     “They’re juggling a lot. They’ve got schoolwork, academic responsibilities. Many are working, and they also have family responsibilities. And this is really important because basic needs security is a real barrier for student-parents in graduation and getting to that finish line.”

On Sunday, July 27th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Chantee Marie Carey, 36, of Cumberland, MD. Carey was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on July 21st. The warrant alleged she violated the terms and conditions of probation that had been placed upon her due to a previous conviction on charges of second-degree assault. 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 $500 bond. ARRESTED -   Chantee Marie Carey  36yo CHARGES - …

President Trump signed an executive order late last week that should make it easier for municipalities to remove vagrants from the streets and into programs of assistance. Hagerstown recently passed an ordinance that banned sleeping and camping in public spaces. In Cumberland, police have already stepped up enforcement of the city’s camping ordinance, according to Mayor Ray Morriss…     “It’s becoming more prevalent this year simply because we’re making a push to enforce those nuisance-type rules and now we’re just waiting to see what the court system here in Allegany County is going to do, what kind of sentences…