Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition in calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take urgent action on issuing specific guidelines for testing all finished baby food products for lead and other toxic metals.  Attorney Generals from 20 states are citing recent finding of childhood lead poisonings from cinnamon applesauce pouches. ABC’s Rhiannon Ally has details…    

There was discussion on the Dave Norman Program Tuesday about what construction will continue past George Street up to Queen City Drive.  WCBC spoke with the Executive Director of the Downtown Development Commission to find out. Melinda Kelleher first answered questions about the area in front of Rehab 1st at the corner of Baltimore and George Streets… Then the question arose about the brick and curb work. Kelleher was able to answer that as well, saying that block will get a refresh…

Allegany College of Maryland and The Garrett County Health Department will be receiving grants totaling over $1.6 million dollars for programs of telehealth, counseling, and stress-relief tools for area students.  The money is part of $111 million dollars in grants announced Tuesday through the Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports – part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform. Programs should begin this Spring. Maryland Health Secretary Laura Herrara Scott said the grant money will go to a variety of helps for students…   

Republican Senator Mike McKay spoke with WCBC on Tuesday about proposed legislation restructuring Canal Place. The bill has been sent to all concerned parties and McKay is awaiting official replies… What would Cas say?  Senator McKay talked about how he thinks the late Speaker of the House Cas Taylor – a Democrat and originator of Canal Place -  would react… WCBC talked with Mayor Ray Morriss to get his thoughts on the bill which would see Cumberland taking over the Canal Place Festival Grounds as well as having a seat on the proposed new board.  The Mayor believes the bill…

The Mayor and Council received a proposal from Allegany County for use of Greenspace near the housing development planned for West Side. The Haystack Village Park would be located along Sedgwick Street and would include access to the GAP trail. The plot of land to be used is just under 3 acres.  Plans are to develop a memorandum of understanding between the City and County for the land use.

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $213,696,341 to the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to complete its Light Rail Vehicle Fleet Replacement project. The federal funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Rail Vehicle Replacement (RVR) program, will support the MTA’s efforts to replace all 52 aging light rail vehicles in its fleet with new ones. These investments will ensure safe, efficient, and more accessible light rail travel in the Baltimore region, and were made possible in part by the…

Fire units have responded to the White Oaks Avenue area for reports of a brush fire.  Reports say a caller reported a blown transformer started the brush fire. Electriity has been reported off at locations throughout South Cumberland.

The Garrett County Sheriff's Office is implementing a state-of-the-art virtual reality de-escalation training program. This training aims to equip its officers with advanced skills in crisis intervention, de-escalation tactics, and active shooter situations. The VR system places officers in a simulated environment where their actions directly influence the outcome of each scenario. This immediate feedback loop allows for real-time learning and adjustment. Over a million different simulations are available.

The Allegany County Sheriff's Office is still accepting applications to attend its second annual Citizen's Police Academy.  The academy will familiarize citizens with the operations of the sheriff's office and witness activities deputies encounter on a day-to-day basis. Intended to open lines of communication between the community and the police, the experience will give citizens a firsthand look at the Sheriff's Office, how operations are handled, and citizens take away a better understanding of the police role in the community. Applications will be accepted through March 1.

A missing person’s case in Hampshire County has ended after a crashed car was found in a deep creek bed along Route 50. Jason Shingleton of Purgitsville was reported missing on Monday and Hampshire County Sheriff’s office along with state police and citizens began a search.  Shingleton’s car was located and it was determined it had traveled off the highway and he was ejected. Mr. Shingleton was found to be deceased.  The crash remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.