Spring is the perfect time to be making repairs or upgrades around the house. Now, with a new phone app, it can be even easier – especially if one isn’t very repair-oriented.  FrontDoor.com offers chat technology to homeowners who want an idea of what they can do for their homes and what is better left to professionals.  Sara Riley, Director of On-Demand Services for Frontdoor says their video-chat feature on the app allows homeowners to troubleshoot with experts…

The Appalachian Laboratory and Allegany County are partnering to advance environmental science and technology development. The Cleantech Research and Development Grant is funded by the County and offers up to $50,000 to cover costs for research and development conducted in partnership with the Appalachian Laboratory. The required 1:1 match brings the total available funding to $100,000. Successfully developed products and services can then be produced or provided by firms in the county, creating high-paying technology jobs for local workers.

West Virginia’s water and sewer systems are being directed to have assessments done to determine the threat of cyber-attacks occurring.  Across the country, the number of such attacks on public utilities is increasing. The state’s Public Service Commission wants to have the assessments done within 60 days and then develop a plan to address any cyber-attacks that could affect the distribution of safe drinking water.  The Department of Homeland Security and other agencies will be working with municipalities to do the assessments.

Good weather this week should see increased progress on the downtown construction project.  Concrete work is almost finished with the exception of the Baltimore /Liberty Street intersection.  Sidewalk pavers are being installed on North Liberty Street and that work will progress quickly in the coming weeks.  Brief interruptions to the entrances of businesses will occur while paver work completes. Granite tiling on the spillway of the water feature at Liberty Street’s parklet is also ongoing. New Traffic signals at Baltimore and Mechanic Street should also be operational in a few weeks.

A ten-to twelve-foot clock will soon be located in downtown Cumberland at Hendershot Park, located at the intersection of Greene, Baltimore, and Washington Streets. Ed Mullaney and Greg Hendershot of Let’s Beautify Cumberland discussed fundraising efforts for the project. Hendershot says he is hoping to raise enough money to provide for maintenance costs once the clock is installed. Hendershot noted that donated funds from the public are eligible right now for a special match to help fundraising efforts.    

During a campaign stop in Upper Marlboro last week, former Governor Larry Hogan addressed what voters may see as one of the most important parts of  his campaign – his stance on abortion.  Hogan says he was raised Catholic and personally does not endorse the procedure, but also believes it should not be up to him. While many are suggesting that Hogan has changed his stance based on previous voting and policy decisions, he says he will vote to codify access to abortion into the Maryland constitution and work to restore Roe v. Wade…

A bill signed in to law by Governor Jim Justice will aid West Virginians in need of emergency services. New “treat-in-place” protocols will allow patients with certain conditions to be treated in their homes.  It is a move the governor hopes will alleviate long wait times in emergency rooms and free up ambulances for other critical calls. The new law also allows EMS companies to bill for certain services provided in-home that do not require transport to hospital.

The Victim Compensation Reform Act of 2024 easily passed both houses of the Maryland legislature and received the enthusiastic signature of Governor Wes Moore. As part of the attention on reforming crime laws in the state, the act will increase funding for funeral expenses and mental health counseling to crime victims. The governor said it is vital that citizens feel state government stands behind them.

At a news conference in Bedford County, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis highlighted how investments through the PA SITES pilot program will benefit rural communities to prepare sites for future development and attract new companies. The Bedford County Development Association is receiving a $338,880 grant to develop a pad-ready site at the Bedford County Business Park II in Bedford Township. Davis said it is imperative to have sites shovel-ready for companies.  

ABC News reports the Supreme Court on Monday declined hearing a challenge to a Maryland law banning certain so-called assault weapons. Plaintiffs in the Maryland case argue that semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 violates the Second Amendment. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown says the state should ban such weapons as being “highly dangerous” and pointed to mass shootings where such weapons were used.