Members of Maryland’s federal, state, and local governments released a statement Thursday afternoon regarding the General Services Administration notice of an evaluation of the site selection process for the new FBI headquarters.  The GSA has chosen Greenbelt, Maryland as the location but objections raised by Virginia representatives has now launched an investigation into possible conflicts of interest and changes of criteria in the scoring process. The statement from Maryland officials states that, ”any objective evaluation will find that the GSA arrived at this decision after a thorough and transparent process. It is imperative that we move expeditiously to build a…

 Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, has died. She was 93. The court says she died in Phoenix on Friday, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness. In 2018, she announced that she had been diagnosed with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.” Her husband, John O’Connor, died of complications of Alzheimer’s in 2009. O’Connor’s nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high…

On Friday December 1, 2023, Allegany County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a LaVale residence for a reported assault in progress. The caller reported that they live out of the area, but their relative in LaVale contacted them on a video call advising they were being assaulted. When the first Deputy arrived he could see through a window into the residence and observed a woman sitting on a couch. He yelled to the woman to open the front door but she yelled back that she couldn't. The Deputy also observed a man kneeling on the floor nearby punching something on the floor. The…

On November 30, 2023 Officers from the Cumberland Police Department served Arrest Warrant for Assault First Degree, Assault Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Conditions of Release (x2) on Robert Lee Charlton III. He was taken to ACDC to await his hearing. Arrest: Robert Lee Charlton III, age 40, Cumberland MD Warrant Served On November 30, 2023 Officers from the Cumberland Police Department served Arrest Warrant for Robbery, Assault Second Degree (x3), Theft of $100 to under $1,500 on Elias James Harr. He was taken to ACDC to await his hearing. Arrest: Elias James Harr, age 44, Cumberland MD Summons…

The Maryland Department of the Environment has  issued a refuse disposal permit to Geocycle for accepting, processing and transfer of industrial by-products. Geocycle uses low-speed shredding equipment and metal separators to process industrial by-products into a low carbon alternative fuel and aggregates used in the building industry.  The new facility will process up to 75,000 tons per year of off-spec products, and other residuals from industrial or manufacturing operations, producing high quality alternative fuels for cement kilns. Within several months, Geocycle is planning to create up to 20 jobs for the local community.

The Polar Express Excursions on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are packed with holiday-makers visiting the North Pole. Executive Director Wes Heinz says they expect 40-45,000 riders for the Christmas season.  Making the trip a truly magical experience for riders is an effort that starts long before the holiday season.  Wes Heinz says that this year, the railroad has put together a large cast of volunteers working the holiday trains, many that are students coming from local schools…    

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel already has the coming General Assembly session on his mind.  The legislator has been at work on legislation with other state Republican representatives on crime bills to introduce in January and has been listening for what Governor Moore has in mind for the weighty issue of juvenile crime. Buckel says that the Governor has the right mindset, but needs his team to come together… Buckel says that Democrats want to take a much softer touch with the treatment of juvenile offenders than what most Western Maryland residents are used to seeing occur…

With the reorganization of the Senator George Edwards Fund, there have been questions of how the process will work for fund distribution as well as the future of the fund in light of a looming budget deficit for the State of Maryland.  George Edwards seems optimistic that funding will continue at least through the five years passed in the original legislation, bringing $50 million dollars to invest in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties… Edwards says the $20 million distributed in the first round should start to show its benefits soon and that will help the fund’s future…

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen continues to press the Biden Administration on answers to a letter he and 23 other senators sent to the President seeking information on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.  Van Hollen supports continued aid to Israel but wants clarity on the use of the US funding.  He spoke recently on Face The Nation about the letter’s reference to funding uses…

The State of Maryland has declared that all new cars sold in 2035 and beyond must be electric, leading to gas-powered cars becoming almost obsolete in the state.  However, the government’s demand for electric vehicles does not match the desire of car buyers.  Recently a coalition of almost 4,000 auto dealers sent a letter to President Joe Biden, saying that the heavy push to electric vehicles is not feasible, leaving cars setting unsold on lots across the country.  Dave Carroll, General Manager of Younger Toyota, talked to WCBC’s Dave Norman about the market for electric vehicles, saying the big  production…