On Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Eric Leighton Brewington, 25, of Cumberland MD. Brewington was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on October 20th, 2025. The warrant alleges Brewington failed to comply with an order of the court that had been placed upon him due to previous charges that include burglary, assault, and violating a protective order. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. ARRESTED -   Eric…

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed the State of Maryland late last night that the state’s appeal for a Major Disaster Declaration for the May 2025 flooding that occurred in Allegany and Garrett Counties has been officially denied. For the Western Maryland communities who experienced devastating flooding, there are no additional appeals available and there is no legal recourse for the State to seek federal disaster funding. “This outcome is not just deeply frustrating, it also ignores the devastation wrought by historic floods in Appalachia and leaves Marylanders on their own,” said Gov. Moore. “FEMA has a responsibility to weigh the merits…

In a speech that had already exceeded 16 hours, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon held the Senate floor to protest aspects of President Donald Trump’s authoritarian style of leadership. In support of the speech, Merkley briefly yielded the floor to Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen who spoke about Trump’s misuse of the military…    “We’ve seen and you’ve experienced it firsthand in Portland, the President trying to implement the statement he made – the outrageous statement he made – that we are going to use American cities as training grounds for our military. Regardless of someone’s political views, they should…

A fixture on the Ocean City, Maryland boardwalk will not be returning to the shore next summer. The boardwalk tram operated on the Ocean City boardwalk since 1964 but operations were suspended in August of 2024 after a toddler was struck and killed. The city announced it has repurposed the jeeps that drove the trams and the passenger trailers are for sale.

Pennsylvania has announced it will be unable to distribute SNAP food benefits for the month of November, sending families scrambling to find low income food sources. Maryland has not indicated yet whether SNAP will be paid out in November, but Terry Jessie with the Potomac Highlands United Way says they stand ready to assist those needing information whether or not funding comes through…     “We will get on the computer and get into our files and we will find all of the food pantries, any place that could possibly help them out in the area in which they live…

Churches across the country continue to face issues with attendance, tithing, and cultural challenges.  Local churches are not the exception as Ray Morriss explained when he talked with WCBC’s Dave Norman.  Even what’s considered the most visible church in the city, Emmanuel Episcopal, is having staffing and attendance issues…     “A lot of our churches in our community are having financial issues and as of now, Emmanuel does sort of share a pastor. There’s two gentlemen who rotate between Cumberland, Mount Savage, and Garrett County that are rotating so there is not a full-time pastor.”

FEMA , through the Trump Administration has notified Governor Moore’s office it has denied Allegany County’s appeal for Flood recovery funds for damages in Georges Creek from May’s flooding. No reason was given by FEMA for the denial.

On Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Michael Samual Cox, 35, of Cumberland MD. Cox was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on October 20th, 2025. During that incident, officers with the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 100 block of Hanover St for the report of a burglary. Upon arrival, officers observed a door and frame to the residence to be damaged. A victim then advised that they observed Cox enter the home after hearing the door break. Cox then allegedly…

The abrupt abandonment of the Allegany County Animal Shelter by the entire Animal Shelter Foundation left the county in dire straits and over 400 animals in need of immediate care. The county acted quickly to contract the services of the former shelter director, manager, and animal control officer so animals could get needed attention, but County Administrator Jason Bennett says it’s a mystery to all what exactly happened…     “I frankly do not know. You know, we as the county contracted with that nonprofit to handle this on our behalf so we weren’t handling it. I really don’t know…