Frostburg State University’s online Master’s degree program has been ranked fifth among Maryland’s such programs.  Online Masters Colleges, a prominent source for students seeking higher education degrees did the ranking.  The award recognizes FSU for the outstanding online master’s program based on a comprehensive evaluation process which assess universities on multiple factors such as graduation rates, affordability, and accreditation.   

Fatal motor vehicle accident in McCoole area, Rt 220 south of Black Oak Bottom Closed  Logging truck on its top confirmed entrapment, Rt 220 shut down. Troop 5 was requested along with heavy left tow trucks to access the victim however he succumbed to his injuries. Crews are currently clearing the incident. Rt 220 will be closed in both directions at that location for several hours. 

Maryland Secretary of Health Laura Herrara-Scott testified before the House Judiciary Committee on House Bill 583 which would establish a Center for Firearm Violence Prevention.  This is one of the bills put forth by the Moore Administration this session to deal with rising gun violence in the state.  Herrara gave the committee some statistics on gun deaths… The Secretary told the committee what the center would do, again keying on data, one of Governor Moore’s government management goals…  

An early voter’s poll is showing that only a week after announcing he would run, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, is tied with Democrat David Trone in a hypothetical general election matchup.  Emerson College polling queried 1,000 Maryland voters and results show the two tied at 42% each with 16% undecided.  David Trone said that Hogan may have been a good governor, but the US Senate is completely different…    

West Virginia was handed bad news on the economic front with the announced closure of the Weirton Cleveland-Cliffs Tin Mill steel plant.  Almost 1000 jobs will be lost and the state has sent an Economic Task Force and Workforce West Virginia Emergency Response Team to Weirton. Governor Jim Justice commented on the closure during his administrative briefing, saying that the decision to close was based on the US International Trade Commission not putting import tariffs on tin from other countries, pricing them out of the market…

The Board of the Canal Place Preservation Authority held a special meeting on Friday on the bill by Maryland Senator Mike McKay to uncouple Canal Place and the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area.  Board President Janice Keene shared the current structure of Canal Place and the Heritage Area, saying they were not involved in the drafting of the bill. Board Member Michael Mudge gave his opinion on the proposed moves… Janice Keene disagreed, saying there was much more to the bill… Six board members voted to send a letter to Senator McKay opposing the legislation with 2 abstaining…

The Maryland Department of Transportation will close the right lanes on both eastbound and westbound I-68 beginning today.  The closures are necessary for crews to remove erosion and sediment controls from previous construction work at Sideling Hill. While the westbound closure is expected to take one day, the eastbound closure will last through the remainder of February. Work will be done between 7am and 6pm Monday through Friday.

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Erik Baker.  The summons was issued as the result of an incident that occurred on February 14, 2024.  On this date at approximately 2:45 PM, an officer responded to a business in the 700 block of Park Street for a theft complaint.  The staff reported that Erik Baker stole merchandise from the store.  After further investigation, police filed for charges against Baker at the District Court of Allegany County.  Baker signed for his copy of the summons and was released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Erik Damon Baker          AGE: 37            Cumberland,…

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Britini McFarland.  The warrant was issued as the result of McFarland failing to appear in court.  She was originally charged with Peace Order: Fail to Comply, Harass; A Course of Conduct, and Disorderly Conduct.  At approximately 9:30 AM, police located McFarland at a residence in the 600 block of E. Second Street and advised her that she had an active bench warrant for her arrest.  When police officers attempted to arrest McFarland, she resisted and assaulted the officers.  McFarland was eventually taken into custody and transported…