Coastal Carolina University President Michael Benson will be the next president at West Virginia University, sources tell MetroNews.  Benson previously had administrative posts at the University of Utah and he was president of Snow College.  He also held positions at Southern Utah University and Eastern Kentucky University.

In a move to modernize Maryland’s alcohol sales laws, a new bill has been introduced that aims to allow beer and wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores across the state.  The initiative, brought forward for the second time by Delegate Marlon Amprey of Maryland’s 40th District, proposes a 5% surcharge on beer and wine sold in these potential new retail outlets.  WBAL reports that the amendment arrives just two months after Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore announced he wants lawmakers to remove the ban on alcohol sales in grocery stores.  Maryland is one of only three states that…

***Adult Arrest*** On Friday, February 21st, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Cherokee Dawn Logsdon, 30, of Cumberland MD. Logsdon was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on February 20th, 2025. The warrant alleges Logsdon failed to appear in court on that date for a previous charge of driving without a license. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where she was released on her own recognizance. Name:    Cherokee Dawn Logsdon                                 Age:   30 Charges:   Bench Warrant-Fail to Appear.   ***Adult Arrest*** On Friday, February 21st, 2025, the Cumberland…

Census data released February 11 shows that enrollment is still on the rise at Frostburg State University for the third year. Over 3.300 students are enrolled for Spring 2025, including those enrolled at FSU’s international location.  In Fiscal Year 2024, FSU awarded 844 bachelor’s degrees, up from 753 the previous year. Growth has been noted in FSU’s online programs for LPN to BSN nursing program. The college currently has a 92.2% retention rate for first-time students returning from the Fall 2024 semester.

The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its third Citizen’s Police Academy. The purpose is for citizens to become familiar with the operations of the Sheriff’s office and to witness the deputies in action. Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 6pm until 9pm from March 5 until May 7 when there will be a public graduation ceremony. Applications are now being accepted online. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, be a first-time participant, and consent to a criminal background check.

Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore now joins Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia on the Trump Administration’s Council of Governors. President George W. Bush originally established the Council of Governors through the national Defense Authorization Act of 2008. Five Democrats and five Republicans make up the council, each appointed to two-year terms. The council is tasked with strengthening state-federal partnerships on key national security, disaster response, and military coordination issues. It also provides advice on federal budget issues.

The Office of the Stae Fire Marshal continues to investigate a fire Friday morning that claimed two lives.  Emergency responders went to Asbury Avenue in LaVale shortly after 10am Friday for a residential fire that was fully involved.  Fire was through the roof of the structure when crews arrived.  Two fatalities were confirmed but identities had not been released as of 5pm Friday.  The fire was the third in two days in Maryland that claimed lives. A fire in Harford County on Friday resulted in two deaths and a fire on Thursday in Anne Arundel County also claimed the lives…

The office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is on the site of a morning fire in LaVale.  Emergency crews were called to a residential fire on Asbury Avenue near the Holiday Inn Express just after 10am this morning.  Fire crews arrived to see heavy fire coming from the roof of the structure. According to the State Fire Marshal's office, one deceased victim has been confirmed.  

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served two bench warrants on Anthony Talbert Sr.  The warrants were issued as the result of Talbert failing to comply with a court order on original charges of CDS: Possess-Not Cannabis.  He was arrested and found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and multiple other controlled dangerous substances and drug paraphernalia.  He was issued criminal citations for the drug possession violations.  He was later transported to Central Booking to await his bond hearings for the warrants.  Talbert was seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County…

Thursday afternoon’s budget meeting for the Allegany County Commissioners revealed some possibly catastrophic news for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.  County Administrator Jason Bennett spoke exclusively with WCBC News about some of the forecasted cuts and state-mandated expenses… “Amongst that is a total of $5.1 million of cuts in funding to the County. So, we kind of detailed that today.  It would include an $800,000 reduction to our disparity grants, $750,000 that are new for a teacher pension cost shift directly to the counties.  An adjustment to the SDAT local office share—we currently pay 50% of that office.  They’re proposing…