In January when WCBC announced its 2023 Person of the Year, local businessman Ryan Sawyers took issue with the choice and held a fundraising campaign for the Women’s Healthcare Center, an abortion clinic located along Route 220.  In return, Dave Norman also announced a matching fundraiser by him and his wife Brenda for First Way Pregnancy Center.  Friday, Ron Yost of Cumberland Community Church presented a check for the fundraiser and asked others to donate…    

LPL Financial, a leading provider of investment and business solutions for independent financial advisors, has selected Christopher Mathews of First Peoples Wealth Management Services for inclusion in their Patriots Club. The award is presented to less than 4% of the firm’s more than 21,000 financial advisors, signifying Mathews as a top advisor on a national level. Mathews holds a Master’s Degree in Finance and has over 25 years of financial experience.  

The new “State Plan” announced by the Moore Administration late last week encompasses ten priority areas of government that Governor Wes Moore wants to tackle in a more deliberate manner.  A data-driven dashboard will be used by state agencies to mark the progress of key performance indicators in each area of the plan, accessible by the public to view.  Moore believes that the best decisions are made with strategic management tools…

The authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board could be expanding to protect prescription costs for all Marylanders. Currently the board is charged with developing payment limits for high-cost drugs for state and local government employees. Maryland Senate Bill 0388 would expand that authority to cover everyone in the state. Vincent Demarco of Maryland Healthcare For All testified before the Finance Committee to explain how setting upper payment limits would benefit Marylanders…    

The field is set for both the Cumberland City Council race and the Allegany County Board of Education contest.  The filing deadline was Friday night, February 9th, and the primary election will be May 14 in Maryland.  City council candidates include incumbents Laurie Marchini and Eugene Frazier with challengers DA Tinnen, Brian Lepley, and Simeon Younger.  For the Board of Ed, candidates include incumbents Crystal Bender and Tammy Fraley with challengers Max Green and Gerry LaFemina.

Paul Kreider, who is currently serving as West Virginia University’s Vice Provost, has been selected to serve as the interim president of WVU Potomac State College effective March 16, 2024. Kreider’s appointment comes after current president Chris Gilmer resigned in January after the Potomac State Faculty Senate approved a “no confidence” vote concerning Gilmer’s chief of staff Brady Whipkey. No timeline for the selection of a permanent president has been announced.

On February 11th, 2024, at approximately 12:23 am, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 100 block of Harrison Street for a reported destruction of property complaint. A witness reported they had observed a subject break the window of the business and flee the area. The witness provided a description and officers began searching for the suspect. The officers discovered two additional properties that were destroyed. As the officers searched for the suspect, they located an additional business damaged in the 200 block of South George Street. As officers continued their investigations on each of the incidents, they…

On February 10th, 2024, at approximately 1:39 pm, officers of the Cumberland responded to a business in the 700 block of Park Street for a reported trespassing complaint. Upon officer’s arrival they observed Martin Stanback, who had been previously served with a “No Trespass” order for the business. Stanback was placed under arrest and later released on a Criminal Citation pending his trial at the District Court. Arrest: Martin Lewis Stanback, age 33, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Trespassing.

Maryland Kids Code (HB 603/SB 571) will receive consideration next Tuesday, Feb. 13 in the House Economic Matters Committee and Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Senate Finance Committee. The youth online safety and privacy bill was reintroduced last month by Senators Benjamin Kramer and Chris West and Delegates Jared Solomon and C.T. Wilson. Broad support for the Maryland Kids Code’s design-first approach to tackling harms associated with digital media will be reflected in testimony from community members including parents, young people, educators and medical professionals offering diverse perspectives on the need to protect children and teens online. Last month, Senate…

This week marks the West Virginia Legislature's midpoint in the 60-day session. With the days becoming increasingly hectic, we are gaining insights into the bills likely to progress through the legislative process and those facing challenges. During this phase, House and Senate members engage in discussions to articulate the necessity and purpose behind specific bills that have crossed over. With house squatters in the news across the nation moving into people’s home while they are away, then claiming they are tenants, the WV Legislature decided to act.  That comes in the form of HB 4940, with the very descriptive short…