On Thursday, July 17th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 10 block of Pennsylvania Ave for the report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers learned that subjects in the home had gotten into a verbal altercation and a female had been locked out of the home. The female then began to scream and beat on the door and damage the property, eventually gaining entry into the home. The female then began to assault the male, causing him visible injuries. As a result of the investigation, Sara Denelle Smith, 38, of Oakland MD, was placed under…

Jade Meadow III, LLC will be holding two public hearings regarding a 300 MW solar project before Public Utility Law Judge Christine L. Burke.  The first meeting will be on Tuesday, August 5, at 6 pm at the George’s Creek Library in Lonaconing.  The second meeting will occur on Wednesday, August 6 at 6 pm at the Garrett County Public Library.  Comments can be sent in electronically by Friday, August 8 through the Commission’s online portal at https://www.psc.state.md.us/make-a-public-comment/, or by mail addressed to: Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th…

Activities continue through the weekend at the Allegany County Fair.  Tonight, features Bull Mania beginning at 7pm, followed by the annual fireworks display at 10:30.  Kevin Kamauf said that rides open at 5pm Friday and Saturday and Saturday evening’s main event is an annual fair favorite – the demolition derby, beginning at 7:30pm… “We have our annual demo derby. There will be 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, 8-cylinder, mini-van, and mid-size SUV derbies."

A new lawsuit is challenging Maryland’s closed primary system. If the lawsuit is successful, nearly a million voters in the state may be able to participate in upcoming primary elections. Unaffiliated voters, meaning those not registered as Republican or Democrat, currently cannot vote in primaries. Jeremy Gruber with Open Primaries Education Fund, says states need to expand access to independents because the majority of general elections are not competitive… “Maryland is well behind the rest of the country in recognizing and empowering independent voters. This is a voting rights issue that has to be addressed in Maryland. When a million…

Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke on the floor of the Senate on the rescission package that cuts $9 billion dollars from many government-supported programs.  The bill passed the Senate 51-48, but Van Hollen noted Republican members of congress reversed what they had just voted to pass less than two weeks ago… “One day Republicans vote for a package that includes essential investments, and the next day they turn around on a party-line vote and erase the investments that were just signed into law.”

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…