A third mediator representing insurance carriers is being added to the group responsible for coming up with a settlement between sex abuse survivors and the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. Lawyers, citing duplicate and vague claims that need clarification, have not revealed the exact number of cases needing to be settled.  The Baltimore Archbishop, Father William Lori, wants to work out a solution that is equitable to all parties involved… "We're going to work to achieve a number that is mutually agreed upon but will still enable the church to continue its mission."

Working with the Association of Community College Trustees, Allegany College of Maryland is continuing its recruitment efforts to find a new college president. Current President Cynthia Bambara has announced January 1 as her retirement date.  The search committee has set a target date of August 27 for receipt of applications for candidates interested in the position with interviews beginning in October. The announcement of a new college president is scheduled for November of this year.

CSX released an annual report this week that highlights the company’s advancements in key issues dealing with the environment, safety innovations, and worker benefits. The report shows that CSX helped rail customers avoid almost 13 tons of CO-2 emissions – the equivalent of 3 million passenger cars. The company also reforested 144 acres of land and launched the company’s first–ever hydrogen fuel cell locomotive. CSX became the first Class-1 railroad to offer paid sick leave to union workers and trained more than 6,000 first responders to safeguard employees and communities where CSX operates.

Gov. Jim Justice today announced the appointment of Dr. Stephen Loyd as Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP).  “Dr. Loyd is going to be an incredible asset in fighting the opioid crisis and drug abuse in West Virginia," Gov. Justice said. “His genuine compassion for people struggling with addiction and his drive to improve public health are exactly what we need. West Virginia has a long way to go with our drug challenges, and we are going to continue pulling the rope together to achieve real progress.”  Dr. Loyd is an Internal Medicine/Addiction Medicine physician, earning his medical degree at…

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 Danielle Jean Ash, 32 of Cumberland, was arrested a District Court Arrest Warrant stemming from a C3I Investigation for events that occurred between 3/10/24 to 5/7/24. Ash has been charged with the following: 15 counts of Issue False Document, felony Theft Scheme: $1,500 under $25K, felony Fraud ID Information Theft $1,500 to less than $25K, 15 counts of Forgery/Private Document/Possession, 15 counts of felony Forgery – Private Documents, and Conspiracy-Theft Scheme: $100 to less than $1,500. Ash is being held at the Allegany County Detention Center on a $7,500 – 100% cash bail and is pending…

The West Virginia Department of Health has launched a new project called MEDALS,  aimed at promoting antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes across the state. MEDALS stands for Maximizing Efforts Dedicated to Antimicrobial Leadership and Stewardship and is a concentrated effort to elevate standards in infection prevention.  Nursing homes will be evaluated based on criteria highlighting efforts for infection control and continuous improvement.

Doctors and medical personnel are providing free healthcare services at the Allegany County fairgrounds this week. General health exams are available along with physicals and immunizations for children 4 to 18 years of age. Today's hours begin at 8 a.m. and run till 7 p.m. tonight. Specialty medical services available include Optometry, vision screenings with diabetic eye exams, Medical exams and Occupational Therapy. Dental exams include X-rays, fillings and extractions. Behavioral health screenings can be initiated with specialist referrals. Veterinary services are provided today with rabies vaccinations, medical exams and nail trimming. David Stewart of AHEC West is assisting in coordinating the Mountain Maryland…

A manufacturer has purchased the 350,000 square foot building that once housed the Hunter Douglas factory. Announcement of the name of the new owners should happen in the coming weeks. Commercial real estate agents Binswanger Global announced the property sale without details on the buyer. According to Jeff Barclay, Allegany County Economic Development Director, the county has been working with the new owners for a while and says the location will give the business an east-coast presence… "Been working with the company for a few months and there's some modifications to the building that they're going to need to make…

Governor Wes Moore shared his thoughts on small business development during a speaking engagement in Baltimore this week. Saying that the state is asset rich and strategy poor, Moore pointed to the many entrepreneurs, colleges and military installations Maryland has but there is no coordinated strategy to use that talent. He said the state has made it difficult for small businesses to start and succeed…   " The problem is we have not had a strategic plan and we haven't had guidance and we've frankly made it far too difficult for a lot of our small businesses to be able…

James Zamagias, a longtime history and political science teacher and Dean of High School Academics at Bishop Walsh, has announced his retirement after 45 years at the Catholic school in Cumberland. Jim has been a member of WCBC's Sports Team for over 30 years and will continue those duties. Zamagias, a resident of Cumberland, graduated from BW in 1975. After getting his undergraduate from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Zamagias returned to BW as an instructor where he has remained for his entire professional career. He later earned his Master in Education at Frostburg State University. Affectionately known as “Mr. Z”…