Pennsylvania now has its own Blueprint for Education. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget invests $975 million dollars in streamlining state-owned community colleges and universities. The Blueprint changes funding to an outcome-based formula and dramatically cuts tuition rates. A student or family making the median income or below would only pay $1,000 per semester for tuition and fees. Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin said it will help build a better workforce faster…    

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.  Services this evening include Our Lady of the Mountains, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Christ Lutheran Church in Lavale, and Divine Mercy Parish.

Women in West Virginia receiving SNAP benefits are being encouraged to apply for a 10-week pre-apprenticeship training program.  The program is designed to prepare women 18 and older for entry level positions in advanced manufacturing. Participants will have hands-on training in high-tech machines used in medical, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and auto industries. The Spring class begins on February 26 in Charleston. To apply, clients should speak with their Department of Human Services county office caseworker.

Allegany County Public School board members and staff recently toured the renovated Westmar Early Childhood Center in Lonaconing. Construction plans started in 2022 to remodel five classrooms for Pre-K needs and include a sensory room, office space, classrooms and space for the Judy Center.  County school maintenance staff handled all interior building construction including installation of a new HVAC system.  The Pre-K and Headstart services will benefit the George’s Creek and Westernport communities.

On 2/13/2024 at approximately 1:45 PM the Cumberland City police were dispatched to a business on Queen City Drive for a shoplifting complaint. Officers spoke to the complainant and were provided a description of a subject that had just stolen merchandise. When the employee questioned the suspect they fled the area and dropped several items outside. Officers were able to locate Jesse Smith on Baltimore Avenue and found stolen merchandise on his person. Officers were then notified of another shoplifting at a nearby business on Queen City Drive. Stolen merchandise from that business was also located on Smith. Smith was…

The Connected Device program for Allegany County is progressing, with 515 of 5,000 available Chrome Books distributed.  The grant program originated in the Governor’s Office of Statewide Broadband to address digital equity in the county, giving as many people as possible connection to the internet to improve access to agencies, programs, as well as improve quality of life.  Kati Kenney, Public Relations and Communications Manager for the county, said distribution events take place through mid-April at sites throughout the county…    

Maryland Governor Wes Moore took his pitch for the “ENOUGH” Act to Dorchester County this week.  Speaking at an intergenerational center, the Democrat shared some statistics about income and poverty in the state… In Allegany County, the median income according to the US Census is $55,248 yearly with 18% of the county’s population living in poverty.  Moore says his “ENOUGH” Act would help to change those numbers…

The West Virginia Attorney General is addressing the “elephant in the room” and asking US Vice President Kamala Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment and relieve President Biden of his duties for being unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.  A letter from AG Patrick Morrisey to the VP pointed to evidence of the President’s cognitive decline and said the country needs a leader who is mentally fit…     

Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has co-sponsored the bipartisan Reproductive Freedom For All Act, which would codify the essential holdings of Roe v. Wade to protect women’s abilities to make their own health care decisions. The legislation is in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. West Virginia passed a law in 2022 that restricts abortion.  The bill’s main sponsor is Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine who spoke to reporters on why the bill is needed…