The first steps of finding a new director for the Allegany County Library System will wrap up this week according to Marketing Director Ashley Swinford. Applications for the position can be submitted on the library’s website until Friday, October 10th at 5pm. The position came open after Director John Taube was asked to step down at the end of June. Swinford says the Library Board of Trustees is conducting a broad search for the new Executive Director and plan a decision by mid-November…     “They did elect to do a nationwide search for the executive director, so that’s posted…

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an Executive Order safeguarding vaccine access for state residents and protecting family freedoms to make health care decisions.  Shapiro said that continuing chaos and confusion at the federal level led to the establishment of a state-based safety net with clear medical guidance…     “I’m directing all Commonwealth agencies to ensure our state regulations and guidance align with the recommendations of our nation’s leading medical experts. We want Pennsylvanians to have reliable evidence-based information regardless of what happens at the federal level.”

National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 is possible in Maryland, Central and Eastern Allegany County, and in West Virginia, Eastern Mineral, Hampshire, and Hardy Counties from late Thursday night through Friday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at approximately 8:27 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 900 block of Gay Street for a disturbance.  This was the third time police had responded there for the same subject, Thomas Wiggington Jr, causing a disturbance.  Officers learned that Wiggington had made threats of violence to others and to the police.  Wiggington had barricaded himself in an apartment and refused to listen to officers. Wiggington continued to cause a disturbance and claimed that he had weapons.  After approximately 2 hours, police were able to take Wiggington into custody. …

Maryland relies heavily on federal jobs unlike neighboring states, according to Cumberland City Lobbyist Rich Reinhardt with Percy Public Affairs, which makes the state not as economically independent.  15,000 federal jobs have been cut since the beginning of the year in the state—the equivalent of 1 out of every 6 federal positions cut nationwide this year.  Reinhardt says the federal reduction is due to ideas the Trump Administration has that go beyond the federal level… “They want more private enterprise.  They want certain things done, and some of the things that they want done are counter on what Maryland has…

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council swore in James Pyles as the next Cumberland City Police Chief during last night’s council meeting.  Mayor Ray Morriss said with 40 years spent in local law enforcement, Pyles knows what Cumberland needs. “We got the right guy, we got the best guy.  We know that he’s going to be a great leader for our police department.  He’s going to be a great leader for our City, a great leader for our community.  He truly does the right thing.  He believes in community policing.  He knows what our community needs.” Pyles told the Mayor…

West Virginia’s freshman congressman is pulling no punches in saying that Republicans should not give any concessions on the continuing resolution to reopen the government. Speaking with Newsmax, Congressman Riley Moore said Democrats are using the shutdown for political gain and Republicans should hold to what they want for the CR…      “No, no concessions. I don’t want any concessions. I believe the Democrats need to do what’s right here and I do think that eventually they are going to fold under the pressure of their own stupidity and bad decision making and putting themselves in a box.”

Legislation introduced by House Minority Leader Jason Buckel earlier this year gave hope for the repair of three Cumberland bridges that have closed since 2017.  House Bill 860 would make common carriers liable for damage done to public structures like bridges. Buckel says he did not intentionally write the bill to be retroactive, but it could be tried by courts…     “Their ultimate decision. They’re in control of their lawyers, their budget. Whether or not they choose to try it, I don’t know. It’s obviously very clear that it would apply if anything else ever happened in the future…

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at approximately 11:57 AM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 600 block of Park Street for a theft.  Police contacted the staff who reported that an employee, Mecca Pulley, was stealing items from the store and making fraudulent returns at another store location in LaVale, MD.  After further investigation, Pulley was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Mecca Isiaah Pulley       AGE:  21           Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Theft less than $1,000