Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the state has sent an additional $2.5 million to support the state’s food banks and food pantries. West Virginia has now sent a total of $8.6 million to provide emergency food assistance for those affected by the federal government shutdown. Last week, Governor Morrisey expedited $1.1 million in funds to the food banks. On Tuesday, the Governor authorized an additional $5 million to go to the food banks as nearly 270,000 West Virginians will not receive new SNAP benefits starting November 1, 2025. “As Senator Chuck Schumer and the democrats in Congress continue to play games with…

The Office of the State Fire Marshal has arrested a Hancock man following an investigation into a house fire that happened earlier this month in Washington County. The accused is identified as Alvin Gerald Funk, 78, of Hancock, Maryland. He is charged with first-degree attempted arson and arson threat (felonies), as well as reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property (misdemeanors). He is being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center. Deputy State Fire Marshals arrested Funk on Wednesday after he was released from Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland. On Oct. 15, 2025, at about 12:40 a.m.,…

The Associated Press is reporting that two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue to fund SNAP, the nation’s biggest food aid program, using contingency funds during the government shutdown. The rulings came a day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because it said it could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown. It wasn’t immediately clear how quickly the debit cards that beneficiaries use to buy groceries could be reloaded after the ruling. That process often takes one to two weeks.

Marylanders in need of food assistance should visit 211md.org to locate the nearest food pantry or food bank.

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served two bench warrants on Nathin William Schroth.  The warrants were issued due to Schroth violating probation.  He was originally charged with Burglary-4th Degree-Store and Theft: $100 to under $1500.  Schroth was seen by a District Court Commissioner for a bond hearing.  At the conclusion, Schroth was held on two $500 bonds. ARRESTED:  Nathin William Schroth       AGE:  20        Cumberland, MD

A special monument will be dedicated Sunday for a city employee killed on the job.  Nathaniel Rice of Cumberland will be remembered with a monument telling his story on Sunday, November 2nd at the German Lutheran Cemetery on Baltimore Avenue. The event begins at 2pm and including remarks from Cumberland’s mayor and the Rice memorial’s unveiling, according to Ed Taylor, Jr. with the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization…     “And he was killed on November the 9th of 1900, 125 years ago. They were digging a trench in the area of what we know today as where Arch Street meets…

With the recent end to the Animal Shelter Foundation, the Allegany County Commissioners are taking steps to resurrect the Animal Control Board.  County Administrator Jason Bennett says the purpose of the board to advise on how to carry out both the Animal Control and the Animal Shelter functions… “It’s gonna serve as an advisory board to receive—I think it’s supposed to receive a report from the shelter operations, and then I think it’s also supposed to accept public comment and come up with suggestions for changes.”

With the government shutdown having acute affects on local food banks, businesses are partnering to aid those in the Allegany County area facing food insecurity.  One such business is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad who will be accepting food and monetary donations for the Western Maryland Food Bank through this coming Sunday, November 2nd.  Nikki Shields of WMSR says they have already met their monetary match but are still taking donations…     “Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will match all monetary donations up to $500.  They can bring stuff to the ticket office on the second floor at 13 Canal Street…