Approximately 40 to 50 people attended the draft review of Cumberland’s Historic Preservation Plan to see the proposal from the Lakota Group out of Chicago.  Josh Bloom from Lakota was pleased with the support offered by those in attendance who offered practical advice for the plan’s finalization… Ruth Davis-Rogers, Cumberland’s Historic Preservation Planner, says the plan clearly defines what the work of preservation does within the community…

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has announced that Jonathan M. Smith has been selected to serve as Chief of the newly created Civil Rights Division. Smith is a well-respected legal figure in civil rights.  For the past seven years, Smith served as Executive Director of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. The Civil Rights Division of the Office of Attorney General is the first of its kind in Maryland history. It will enforce federal and state civil rights laws including those that outlaw discrimination in housing, lending, employment, commercial transactions, and public accommodation.

The Downtown Development Commission is in the planning stages of a new event for the holidays. A winter market is coming to the plaza at Canal Place in late November.  The downtown Christmas tree will also be located on the plaza.  DDC Director Melinda Kelleher says half of the funding for the event came about through a grant from the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area and will be used to make the experience unique…

On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Todd Ellsworth Adams Jr, 40, of Cumberland MD. Adams was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County Circuit Court on September 11th, 2023. The warrant alleges that Adams violated the terms and conditions of probation placed upon him that stemmed from a previous CDS distribution charge. Adams was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center where he is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Todd Ellsworth Adams Jr            Age: 40 Charges: Bench Warrant – Violation of Probation On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police…

On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, at 0615 hours, the Cumberland City Police Department responded to the area of E/B Interstate 68 near Maryland Ave for the report of a m/v crash involving a tractor trailer. Upon arrival on scene, officers located a 2019 Kenworth laying on it’s side in the roadway, blocking two lanes of traffic. Officers immediately began to render aide to the two occupants located inside the cab of the truck.  A 67-year-old female passenger was transported to UPMC Western Maryland by the Cumberland Fire Department with serious life-threatening injuries. The truck was being driven by a 70-year-old…

The US Census Bureau released its Supplemental Poverty Measure which looks at poverty rates in the U.S.  The poverty rate among children saw the most dramatic increase, more than doubling from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% last year. Catherine Rampell, Washington Post Special Correspondent, told PBS Newshour that cuts in pandemic era programs and other increasing costs caused the increase… The Census Bureau said that Social Security was the most important “antipoverty” program in 2022, lifting 28.9 million people out of the supplemental poverty measure.  Overall, data shows that 10.5% of the population is in poverty.

Governor Wes Moore tackled a variety of subjects recently at Semafor Principals live event on Tuesday.  The governor fielded questions on education, the Democratic Party, and policing in the state.  Moore said one focus of his administration is how and who responds to emergency calls that may have a mental health component… The governor says there should be a different approach to such calls and his administration is working on a team of crisis responders…

Since 2016, Frostburg State University has been running a comprehensive fundraising campaign known as “Forging Futures: The Campaign for Frostburg State University.”  The goal was to raise $25 million to support scholarships, classroom and student experiences and create regional partnerships to help drive economic development.  The campaign has been a success, raising the goal amount in conjunction with the University’s 125th anniversary.  Over $12 million will go to scholarships for FSU students while other monies are earmarked for capital projects such as plans for a regional recreation center –  John Short, Vice President of University Advancement explains it will be…

The Centers for Disease Control have advised that everyone six months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against potentially serious outcomes of the illness this fall and winter.  The FDA approved and authorized the new shots from Moderna and Pfizer on Monday, amid an increase in COVID hospitalizations and concern about the spread of several new variants. The new shots are similar to previously approved formulas but were updated to target the XBB variants — strains of the virus descended from the original Omicron variant — which became dominant last winter. Newer strains have since emerged, though vaccine makers have announced…

Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services released a research brief showing that juvenile crime in the state has seen an increase over the last two years though the level of crime is below pre-pandemic levels.  The report also shows that youth are increasingly the victims of violent crimes. Baltimore City has seen increase in murder and attempted murder arrests for juveniles. To help with these challenges, DJS participated in Gov. Wes Moore's Safe Summer Initiative. It provided $5 million to 12 Maryland counties impacted by high gun violence. In response the DJS has also established improvement teams to tackle the issue…