The Maryland Higher Education Commission has extended the Maryland financial aid deadline to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, to June 1, 2024.  The commission launched a new webpage to support the application process to help Maryland students apply for federal and state financial aid for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.

Plans for a passenger ferry service in Chesapeake Bay are advancing, with a map of six primary and additional secondary proposed stops released. The project, involving multiple Maryland counties, focuses on a leisure ferry service with potential future expansions to carry cars.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 Arther Tejeno Bunbasi Jr., 25 of Cumberland, was served a District Court Arrest Warrant for the following charges: Malicious Destruction of Property, Disorderly Conduct and Disturbing the Peace; Disorderly Conduct. He is currently being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Center. Thursday, February 22, 2024 Michael Anthony Hagenbuch, 31 of Short Gap, WV was arrested on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear. His original charge is: Theft: $1,500 To Under $2,500. At the time of the arrest, CDS was found in Mr. Hagenbuch's possession. Additional charges were subsequently filed including: CDS:…

Saturday, February 24th, 2024.       ***Adult Arrest*** On Friday, February 24th, 2024, the Cumberland City Police arrested Arthur Tejena Bunbasi Jr, 25, of Cumberland MD. Bunbasi was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County Circuit Court on February 22nd, 2024. The warrant alleges Bunbasi violated the terms of Pretrial Supervision that stemmed from a previous first-degree assault charge. He was taken before the District Court Commissioner for his initial appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Arthur Tejena Bunbasi Jr.         Age: 25…

 Two Las Vegas men are facing felony narcotics possession charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered nearly 73 pounds of marijuana in their checked baggage on Thursday at Washington Dulles International Airport. Virginia State Police troopers charged Kaliq Talib McCallister, 33, and Christian Tyler Knight, 28, with felony possession with intent to distribute, transportation, and narcotics conspiracy charges. CBP has observed an increasing trend of United States-based growers and retailers shipping marijuana to Europe and Africa where high-quality weed can fetch prices many times higher than in the U.S. CBP officers usually see the marijuana being exported in smaller…

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement ahead of the February 24 anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. “It’s been two years since Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked and ruthless attacks on the people of Ukraine. His war continues to threaten Ukrainian sovereignty, regional stability, and the fate of democracy around the world. If this war is not proof enough of Putin’s sinister goal of weakening these institutions, the imprisonment and death of Russian democracy advocate and leader, Alexei Navalny, serves as another stark reminder – and again reveals the depths of depravity to which he and…

Frostburg State University’s departments of Biology, Educational Professions and Recreation and Parks Management will host a presentation by Dr. Mamie Parker, titled “A Black Woman’s Journey: Breaking Concrete Blocks to Help Save Our Planet to Save Ourselves,” on Monday, March 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. in room 208 of the Education and Health Sciences Center. Parker is the former Student Conservation Association chair and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) head of Fisheries and Habitat Conservation. This event is free and open to the public. Parker’s nearly three-decade-long career as a fish and wildlife biologist with FWS took…

The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) today announced applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) will be accepted beginning Monday, February 26, 2024, through Thursday, March 1, 2024, or until funds are exhausted. The federally funded program assists eligible West Virginia residents in paying home heating bills.  Eligibility for LIEAP benefits is based on income, household size, and whether the household is responsible for paying its heating bill. Income guidelines must be at, or below, 60 percent of the State Median Income. In situations where a heating emergency exists, applicants must be…

As construction progresses downtown, the construction zone is also becoming more congested. The safety of visitors to downtown, as well as the construction workers, is our priority during construction. As such, the City of Cumberland Engineering Department would like to notify the public that the following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning on Monday, February 26th: North Centre Street, between Dexter Place and Frederick Street North Liberty Street, between Frederick and Pershing Streets Baltimore Street, between Mechanic and George Streets Emergency vehicle access will be maintained. Pedestrian access to all buildings downtown will also be maintained. Visitors to…

Wildfires in Maryland last year significantly outpaced the 10-year average, according to the Maryland Forest Service’s Annual Wildland Fire Report.  The report covers data related to wildfires on 3.2 million acres of land overseen by the Maryland Forest Service.  In 2023, 199 wildfires burned almost 4,500 acres. Both figures were higher than the 10-year averages of 127.8 wildfires per year and 2,376 acres burned. The most common cause of wildfires last year was debris burning, which resulted in 71 wildfires, followed by arson, causing 51 wildfires. Arson-related fires caused by far the most acreage burned with those fires resulting in an…