Paul Crimm, Chief Technology Officer for Honeywell Productivity Services, talked to WCBC’s Dave Norman recently about the way artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era for retailers. Crimm says over half of the big retailers are planning to adopt AI to mitigate increasing operation costs, supply chains, and rising customer expectations. One of those expectations has been in the area of delivery of goods that can now take place in hours instead of weeks… "10 years ago when you would order something from a major online retailer you would choose 4 day shipping, or next day area shipping. You…

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, says a $5 million dollar research grant from the Department of Energy will be going to West Virginia University for research in solar and hydrogen technologies. Manchin said that developing such technology helps to ensure America’s energy independence. Researchers at WVU, along with NASA, aim to demonstrate using solar-thermal systems to make low-cost, clean hydrogen that could make oxygen in space along with a variety of other applications.

For the second year in a row, Cumberland resident Drake Rose has been named the recipient of the $500 WCBC Jim Robey Achievement Scholarship. Rose is in his second year of a Multimedia degree program at Allegany College of Maryland.  He is also pursuing certification in both Social Media Marketing and Graphic Design.  The scholarship was established for students in the media program at Allegany College in memory of long-time WCBC broadcaster Jim Robey who passed away in 2005.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and First Lady Justice will speak at the annual CIS West Virginia conference in Morgantown on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Communities In Schools West Virginia (CISWV) is a dropout prevention program that operates in all 55 counties. Through the extensive and critical work of site coordinators, students who are at risk of dropping out of school are surrounded by a network of programs, partners and resources. With a goal of keeping them in school and ensuring they graduate, coordinators establish relationships with the students and their families throughout their years in public school.

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation today announced the 2024 recipients of the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. 50 small restaurants in the U.S. will receive a $50,000 grant each to help them upgrade, renovate, and grow their businesses. The grant program significantly expanded its reach this year, doubling the number of grantees, including in 13 new states, and increasing the total grant funding to $2.5 million, up from $1 million in prior years. Curtis' Coney Island on Liberty Street was chosen as the Maryland recipient of the grant and will receive $50,000 for renovations to their business. …

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration has revealed an updated Maryland bay License plate. The new plate highlights protection of coastal water bays in the state. Proceeds from the license plates provide funding to communities to protect and restore natural resources through the Chesapeake Bay Trust.   State Senator Mary Beth Carozza of Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore says the new design reflects protection of all of the states waterways…  

Maryland will be well represented at the 2024 Paris Olympics by state natives who have earned world-class and national competition medals, and those debuting in their first games.  Seven-time gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky will return to the Olympics along with other Maryland athletes in wrestling, fencing, skateboarding, sailing, boxing, track and field, and trampoline events.  Ledecky says getting ready for Olympic competition is an ongoing process…  

On July 28, 2024, Cumberland Police Department arrested Cheyenne Mariah Nair. Officers were dispatched to a business on Park Street for an alleged assault. Officers arrived and made contact with the victim who had visible redness to the right-side cheek and nose. The victim stated that his girlfriend had assaulted him with a closed fist. Ms. Nair was transported to the Allegany County Detention Center pending her initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner. Arrest: Cheyenne Mariah Nair, 26 years old, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Assault 2nd degree

Work is moving ahead on a location for a Royal Farms convenience store just off the Maryland Avenue exit of eastbound Interstate 68. The City of Cumberland planning commission okayed the final site plan recently. Cumberland’s Mayor Ray Morriss told WCBC News recently that the developer is also continuing talks with a major Mexican food franchise Chipotle that could locate across from the Chick Fil-A on Williams Street… "Still in negotiations with Chipotle for the corner of Park and Williams." Morriss also said another property in the footprint of the Rolling Mill project is now under contract to be purchased by…

The state of West Virginia has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding state Medicaid coverage of sex-reassignment surgeries. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced the state of West Virginia should have the option of whether or not to fund such surgeries through Medicaid.   "In this particular case the state of West Virginia was sued for denying Medicaid coverage for sex reassignment surgeries. Now our state's Medicaid program made a reasonable decision to reserve scarce funding for medically necessary treatments not elective surgeries."