EMERGENCY PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE It is possible that Commissioners will enter into an Emergency Public Meeting following the Work Session in order to take official action. Both meetings will be held in Room 100 at the County Office Complex and will be live-streamed on our website and Facebook. The Allegany County Board of County Commissioners will be holding a Public Work Session today at 2pm to discuss the Allegany County Animal Shelter. This meeting is open to the pubic for observation and will be streamed on the County website for live viewing and playback. Unlike regular meetings, work sessions typically do not…

On Monday, October 20, 2025 at approximately 2:44 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 400 block of Columbia Street for a disturbance.  Police arrived on scene and contacted the parties involved.  During the investigation, a subject identified as Jadyn Smith continued to yell and refused to listen to officers’ orders.  Smith was arrested and transported to police headquarters.  He was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Jayden Smith                AGE:  18              Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Disorderly Conduct

One billing option that has been explored by Maryland Water Service, the company that currently services customers in the Bel Air, Pinto, Glen Oaks, and Highland Estates area, is called rate smoothing. In cleanest terms, it takes the total of the company’s expenses and spreads them evenly across all customers. According to Senator Mike McKay, that concept does not benefit water users…     “Advocates that I’ve been talking to in Allegany County, like Mr. Smith, they are adamantly against smoothing of the rates. And he’s done a really good job of explaining why. That’s easy for accounting but it’s…

Maryland continues to lose residents to other states and a main reason is housing availability and affordability. Between 2010 and 2023, Maryland lost over two million residents to other states. Housing is a major factor and Maryland Housing Secretary Jake Day says that simplifying permitting and zoning reform will help, but people want homes now…     “There is no one that moves to a housing policy. There is no one that moves to a housing permit. People move into homes so the homes have to exist for people to choose a place. So making it easier to build housing…

The spooky season offers something for everyone in downtown Cumberland this coming Saturday. “Boo on the Bricks” will have events for all ages, according to downtown spokesperson Becky McClarran.  Children will be able to trick-or-treat and there will be a special performance to kick off the day…    “Starts with the wicked whirl witches dance – a group of ladies who are going to do a performance for it. And then from 1 till 3, we’ll have trick-or-treating. The first hundred kids get the treat bag.” Downtown will also have music from Frostburg’s Mountain City Center for the Arts…  …

On Monday, October 20, 2025 at approximately 7:14 AM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 200 block of Greene Street for a disturbance.  Police contacted the staff who reported that Brittany Rice stole merchandise from the store.  Rice was arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing.  She was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Brittany Lynn Rice            AGE:  39              Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Theft less than $100

The United States Internal Revenue Service claims that Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia owes more than eight million dollars in back taxes.  Politico reports that some of the taxes owed go back to 2009.  The Justice family owns the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs.

Mikey Allen intercepted a pass and returned it for a 32 yard touchdown as Southern Utah defeated Abilene Christian, 31-24.  Allen also recovered a fumble in the game.  Danny King punted four times for a 40 yard average and pinned the opponent inside the 20 twice. Allen is a sophomore and King is a senior.

More than 30,000 graduated from Maryland colleges and universities last year alone, but a report by the Cengage Group finds only 30% are landing jobs in their career field.  Research suggests it's more proof of a disconnect between what employers want and what colleges teach.  Kim Russell, with Cengage Group, explains nearly 60% of those who feel unprepared say they lack job-specific skills for their career fields… "And that’s definitely what employers are looking for, but really what’s going to distinguish between two candidates is that technical skill, that ability to do on-the-job work day one when they land that…

Trump administration officials want to disperse research dollars from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration across multiple offices.  NOAA—responsible for innovating flood warning systems, tornado detection, hurricane tracking and more—has been a target of larger cuts as the agency requested a workforce cut of 17% in next year’s budget.  Jake Schwartz, with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, says the restructuring of the office will hinder preparation for future natural disasters… "It actually funded research to explore for the sake of scientific exploration, and for the sake of inventing technologies that then help the next generation of Americans.  The work that…