Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin announced $4,509,759 for two projects on the Eastern Shore to reconnect communities divided by infrastructure. These federal dollars, secured by the Senators through the Inflation Reduction Act, will fund critical transportation upgrades in two Eastern Shore communities. One grant will support planning and construction of pedestrian and vehicle access improvements along U.S. Route 50 in the Town of Easton in Talbot County. The second grant will support the planning and design of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Route 113 in Berlin, as well as other sidewalk and street crossing improvements, to…

Today, March 20, 2024, Allegany High School was placed in a brief HOLD status due to a medical emergency.  EMS dispatched at 1:49 Allegany High School for 14 year old male allergic reaction to a vape pen.  School security was notified. First Responders arrived on scene and provided medical service. School administrators gave the “All Clear” and the instructional day resumed as normal.  

DeDe Richie of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority shared some good news with the Mayor of Cumberland Wednesday morning on WCBC. During Mayor Ray Morriss’ review of the City Council meeting, Richie called in to announce that the Appalachian Regional Commission has provided monies to create trail connections to trails in Pennsylvania and West Virginia… Mayor Morriss expressed his appreciation over the good working relationship between the City and Canal Place…

Lonaconing Mayor Jack Coburn and the residents of Georges Creek are not happy with a decision to allow rail traffic in their community. The 14 mile rail line between Westernport and Shaft provided freight service to the Luke Mill and has sat dormant since 2019. A lease between the rail line owner, Duncan Smith's Eighteen Thirty Group, and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad was signed in January but Mayor Coburn says that no one ever spoke to him or the community. Plans had been underway for a foot trail in 2022. County and City officials signed paperwork to move forward with a trail… Mayor Coburn said following…

The NWS has issued a Special Weather Statement today 3/20/24 for an enhanced threat of wildfires, due to high winds and low relative humidity.

 – The Allegany County Department of Emergency Services (DES) is pleased to announce the implementation of a new Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD), marking a significant milestone in enhancing emergency response capabilities. In late 2018, Allegany County embarked on a search for a replacement CAD system, seeking to modernize its emergency dispatch operations. After careful evaluation, Motorola Solutions emerged as the preferred vendor, meeting the county's requirements and offering cost-effective solutions. The contract for the new system was signed in January of 2020. After a significant delay in planning due to the pandemic and a lengthy and thorough ground-up build-out…

One Democrat in the running for the Sixth District Congressional seat has bowed out.  Geoffrey Grammer, a physician and retired U.S. Army Colonel, announced his decision on Monday. He had announced his candidacy in November. That leaves the race for the seat currently held by David Trone being pursued by seven Democrats and six Republicans…

UPMC Western Maryland, along with Allegany Imaging, has recently invested more than $2 million in a state-of-the-art MRI machine. The new unit is the second MRI machine in use at UPMC and provides a shorter examination time while also decreasing the noise level around the procedure.  With having two machines in use, more scans can be completed in a day, increasing patient access. The new machine will also reduce typical helium usage by 70% over its lifetime, making it more eco-friendly.

Legislators in Annapolis are trying every avenue possible to raise revenues during this General Assembly session.  A bill that has cleared the Senate now awaits its turn in the House. The Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act would add an excise tax on those selling firearms and ammunition.  Senator Guy Guzzone, chair of the Budget and Tax Committee, says the proposed 11% tax would go to fund trauma centers and crime prevention programs…

An Infill Development Agreement with Teabow Residential LLC from Washington D.C. will see new housing going up on empty lots across the city including Maryland and Pennsylvania Avenues, Knox, Arch, Lee, and Elder Streets.  Teabow will build single family, condo, and townhouses through an incentive plan coordinated between the city and Allegany County. The market rate housing will replace empty lots where blighted property once stood.  Mayor Ray Morriss sees it as monumental at this point in time…