The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released state jobs and unemployment data indicating Maryland added 3,600 private-sector jobs in February. However, the unemployment rate increased to 2.4% making it the fourth lowest rate in the nation. Education and Healthcare added the most jobs to the economy with 2,000 but the public sector and financial activities lost 2,400 positions.                                            

UPDATE   Cumberland Police report the missing juvenile has been located at 9AM Wednesday. The Cumberland Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing juvenile, Devon Robison. Robison is a 14-year-old black male, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and 170 pounds. Robison was last seen on Gleason Street in Cumberland on March 26th, 2024 at approximately 9:00 pm, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. Robison may be traveling on a bicycle. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts please call the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600. Callers can remain anonymous.

***UPDATED MAJOR TRAFFIC ALERT***  DETOURS IN PLACE FOLLOWING COLLAPSE OF INTERSTATE 695 BRIDGE OVER THE PATAPSCO RIVER (FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE)   Motorists Should Expect Heavy Traffic, and Avoid I-695 in Southeastern Baltimore County; Increased Traffic Volumes on I-695 and Other Parallel Routes  (March 26, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is assisting the Maryland Transportation Authority with traffic control related to the collapse of the I-695 bridge over the Patapsco River (Francis Scott Key Bridge). Drivers are encouraged to prepare for extra commuting time until further notice.  The outer loop I-695 closure has shifted to exit 1/Quarantine Road (past…

 It’s that time of the year again: income tax filing—this year’s deadline for both state and federal taxes is April 15 and with that comes a reminder from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for last-minute filers to take their time filling out personal information. “It’s easy to feel rushed when you have a limited amount of time,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “However, make sure you take enough time to fill out everything correctly and send your information to the right place.” Getting things right in the beginning means no delay in a potential tax refund or confusion caused by…

Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police combined resources to target open and active warrants. As a result, the following individuals have been apprehended. Monday, March 25, 2024 Tyree Lorenzo Hope, 32 of Baltimore, was served a Circuit Court Grand Jury Indictment. His charges include: 2 counts: CDS: Possession with intent to Distribute: Narcotics, 2 counts: CDS: Possess-Not Cannabis, 2 counts: CDS: Distribution-Narcotics, CDS: Possess-LG Amount, Handgun in Vehicle, CDS: Distribution ETC. with a Firearm, Firearm/Drug Trafficking Crime, Handgun on Person, Firearm Possession Crime Violence/Felony, and Illegal Possession Ammo. He is being held without bond at the Allegany County…

Frontier Communications has alerted Hampshire County 911 to a significant landline service disruption affecting 421 customers in Springfield. This outage may impact your ability to reach 911 in an emergency. Please utilize alternative communication methods like cell phones or text-to-911.

The Internal Revenue Service says over 22,000 people in Maryland have unclaimed refunds for tax year 2020 but face a May 17 deadline to submit their tax returns.  The IRS estimates more than $1 billion in refunds remain unclaimed because people haven’t filed their 2020 tax returns yet. The average median refund is $991 for 2020. The three-year window for 2020 unfiled returns was postponed to May 17, 2024, due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.   

No one was injured Monday when a building was found to be collapsed in Hancock. Just before Noon, city crews were doing an inspection when they discovered the collapse of the second and third floors of a building on Main Street. It was unclear at first if someone had been in the building at the time but the site was found to be clear. Plans are being made to demolish the building for safety reasons.

Rescue operations continue in the Patapsco River, looking for any survivors of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. A container ship crashed in to a bridge support around 1:30am Tuesday morning, causing a catastrophic bridge collapse.  Right now it is believed that eight people went into the water – one has been taken to shock trauma, one treated at the scene and released and 6 are unaccounted for – there was a construction crew on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Traffic on I-695 is being detoured to other routes. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott thanked the…

The following is a statement from Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore: “It is truly horrific to see reports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse early this morning. I am praying for and thinking of all those people who were traveling on the bridge, as well as the crew of the cargo ship involved and their families.  “I am so grateful for the efforts of first responders from around the state assisting with the ongoing search for victims and survivors.  “I ask Marylanders to be alert as they make their way…