The Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area was awarded $260,000 in grant funds for fiscal year 2026 through the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. Funds are for operations of the Canal Place Heritage Park as well as projects within the Heritage Area boundaries.  Kim Folk of the Heritage Area tells WCBC that local groups have funding resources available to them because of the Heritage area… “It’s not just the mini-grants on the local level. Because you’re in a heritage area, you can apply for these capital grants through the state because of us. So even though it’s through the state,…

A group of farmers say government policies need to change to support farms in West Virginia with cultivating foods that will improve American’s health. Joe Maxwell with Farm Action says the government’s policies are a major contributor to the problem, including putting the profits of foreign companies over the interests of American farmers and families… “They could shift government food procurement towards healthier foods, using government dollars and purchasing power to shift the agriculture and food system. The president could renegotiate the United States, Mexico, Canada agreement and make sure that all beef and pork is labeled as ‘Product of the USA’.”

Talk that the perennial Friday After Five events in downtown Cumberland may come to an end has people on both sides of the issue voicing opinions.  Mayor Ray Morriss would like to see the event stay along Baltimore and Centre Streets as a way to encourage visitors, but Jim Weir who owns Awesome Gifts and Collectibles, would like to see a new location for the event… “I think they should keep Friday After Five and I think they have an excellent place to keep it and to do it, but it’s not in the middle of Centre or Baltimore Street….

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (D-MD) released a statement denouncing the House Majority’s FY26 Defense Appropriations bill: “Today, I voted against the Defense Appropriations bill because it fails to meet the basic standards of strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, and national security that the American people—and our service members—deserve. Congress was not given the necessary information to do its job. The Administration never submitted a full budget request for the Department of Defense, which is essential to bringing together military, civilian and Congressional stakeholders to craft a strategic, effective defense budget. This bill also simply repeats last year’s funding levels, ignoring the…

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of First Energy, would like to notify the public that a portion of Maryland Avenue near Putnam Street will be under a flagging operation on Friday, 7/18/25 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM in order to perform critical utility work. Please follow all flagger instructions during this time frame and traffic will be fully restored after work completes at 4:00 PM. Individuals may lose service for periods of time while the work is being performed. Additional information will be released in the event the operation needs to be extended. Thank you for your…

A Maryland man is facing a federal indictment for allegedly threatening U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.  Seth Jason, of Edgewater, was arrested Thursday morning by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Anne Arundel Police Department in connection with allegedly threatening Rep. Greene over a period of 15 months starting in 2023.

Due to the condition of the track at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, the Tractor/Truck and Semi-Truck Pull has been cancelled for this evening.  The poor condition is due to all the rain received at the Fairgrounds.

On Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served a Criminal Summons on Tylee Ashaun Powell, 26, of Cumberland, MD. The summons was in reference to an incident that occurred on June 6th, 2025, in the area of N. Centre St and Pershing St. During that incident, an officer with the Cumberland Police was flagged down by a subject who advised they had just been assaulted by Powell, who had fled the area on foot. As a result, an application for charges was submitted to the District Court for charges and a Criminal Summons was issued related to the…

The Allegany County Historical Society has a received a grant of $10,000 from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.  The funds are tipped to go toward research and creation of an exhibit for the Gordon Roberts House museum. Dave Williams, president of the historical society, says the planned exhibit will specifically highlight the African American workers in Cumberland’s history, spanning the years 1840 to 1920…     “Letting everybody know who visits the Gordon Roberts House and everybody who is interested in the community that these folks were here and that they made contributions to the local economy. Many of their…

June marked the first month of increased taxes to Maryland from sports betting. The amount paid to the state rose to 20% from 15% in accordance with the Budget and Reconciliation Act passed in April.  For the final month of the fiscal year, bettors wagered more than $403 million dollars at mobile or retail outlets. Winners took home $346 million. Tax contributions to the state for June were $9 million, bringing the year total to just under $89 million dollars, a 47% increase from 2024.