Allegany College of Maryland is reminding current and prospective college students to complete their 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid by Maryland’s priority deadline of March 1 to maximize their financial aid. The college recommends that all students apply for federal financial aid using the form, even if they doubt their eligibility or have not received aid in the past. Allegany College financial aid staff are available to help parents of dependent students navigate the process.

Several local agencies have teamed up to form the Allegany County Resuscitation Committee – a groundbreaking partnership focused on improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in the county.  Including Allegany County Emergency Services, the Cumberland Fire Department and UPMC Western Maryland, the partnership will seek to improve access to Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs, and increase CPR training events across the community. There is a goal to equip every law enforcement vehicle in Allegany County with an AED unit so officers have tools to provide lifesaving interventions.

The following students from Northeast Elementary School earned Principal’s Choice for the second marking period of the 2023-2024 school year: Kindergarten Charlotte Bohannon, Lennon Gibbs, Benjamin Kessler, Hadley Leedy, Haiden Locke, Madison Mayhew, Jane Morris, Charlotte Rayman, Josie Thompson, Elias Weisenmiller, Kamryn Wilson, Bailey Broadwater, Dyani Brockenberry, Mason Day, Harvey Dentinger, Oliver Greise, River Haggerty, Gage Hamilton, Ally Helmstetter, Ava Kortepeter, Noah Macklin, Kash Taylor, Talia Taylor, Hallie Wilder, Ophelia Yermakov 1st grade London Brenneman, Kendall Goodman, Sydnie Hardinger, Maria Lee, Luke Martin, Briella Natale, Achilles Peck, Charles Pisula, Carson Roberts, Cooper Shook, Zoey Fazenbaker, Ryleigh Helmick, Naithon Humple, Parker…

A Cumberland tradition that reaches back to at least 2008 will be celebrated today at City Hall.  The annual Groundhog Day ceremony will take place in the early hours of Friday morning.  Melinda Kelleher of the Downtown Development Commission shared the details around this year’s event and its special guest… WCBC will cover the event live.

On Thursday, February 1st, 2024, the Cumberland City Police arrested Nikita Loraine Bible, 36, of Cumberland MD. Bible was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant issued by the Frederick County Circuit Court on January 29th. The warrants alleges Bible violated the terms and conditions of probation that stemmed from a previous CDS Possession conviction. She was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center where she was held without bond. Arrested: Nikita Loraine Bible         Age: 36 Charges: Bench Warrant-Violation of Probation

Senator Mike McKay is continuing efforts to overturn the Maryland State Retiree Prescription issue that is causing all retirees to lose state coverage for their prescriptions at the end of 2024.  His bill, SB0349 would reverse the actions taken under the O’Malley administration in the early 2000s – McKay told WCBC the history of the coverage change… Hearings will be planned in Annapolis to consider the bill. Anyone wishing to testify in person or in writing can contact Senator McKay’s office.

A Baltimore County Delegate is introducing legislation that would call for high school JV and Varsity sports for girls to be just for girls. Delegate Kathy Szeliga says House Bill 47 has also been introduced in the Senate by Senator Mary Beth Carozza. Szeliga said she has been told stories of biological girls being severely injured by transgender girls in sporting events, including head injuries and losing teeth…    

Governor Jim Justice thinks that West Virginia is being targeted by the Biden Administraton.  The Governor called on the President to cease the war being waged by his federal agencies on the state.  In the last week, a state wildlife center has been closed over the location of a fence that has been in place for over 20 years.  And the US Fish and Wildlife Service has all but canceled trout stocking plans in parts of  the state along with planned roadwork projects in order to protect a species of crayfish. Justice voiced his aggravation during his weekly administrative briefing…

At this month’s Canal Place Board Meeting, Executive Director DeDe Richie hailed the warm reception that plans for the River Park received at the annual Pace Reception in Annapolis. A large display showed attendees what the attraction would look like and staff was also able to share preliminary results of an economic impact study with legislators, showing a bright financial future for the area…    

The Juvenile Justice Reform Package introduced by Governor Wes Moore on Wednesday was positively received by Republicans in the General Assembly.  House Minority Leader Jason Buckel said in a news release that it was refreshing to see acknowledgement that some recent justice reforms have gone too far and that reinstating the DOJ jurisdiction over 10 to 12 year olds found in the possession of firearms is an issue we have championed and advocate for.