Incumbent school board members Tammy Fraley and Crystal Bender have both filed for re-election to the Allegany County Board of Education.  No candidates have filed for Cumberland City Council with the February 9 deadline approaching.  The primary election will be May 14 in Maryland.

The IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be at Frostburg State University again this year to offer free tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Taxpayers can get assistance with basic federal and Maryland state income tax returns from FSU student volunteers who have been trained and approved by the IRS. Returns will be filed electronically. Appointments must be made in advance by calling 301.687.4158.  The assistance will be available through March 15th.

On Sunday, January 28th, 2024, the Cumberland City Police responded to the 300 block of Frederick St. for multiple reports of gunshots being fired. Upon arrival on scene, officers were contacted by witnesses who advised that they had observed several individuals firing shots at one another in a nearby alley. They advised the subjects then fled the area on foot. Officers searched and located evidence that shots had been fired in the area. Shortly after, officers observed a male running from the area. Officers were able to apprehend the subject after a brief foot chase and found the subject to…

On Sunday, January 28th, 2024, the Cumberland City Police responded to the Trinity Lutheran Church in the 300 block of N. Centre St for a destruction of property complaint. Once on scene, officers contacted church members who advised an unknown male had entered the church. They advised the male suspect had discharged multiple fire extinguishers, broke light bulbs, and removed food items from the kitchen area. The male suspect was located by officers a short distance from the church and taken into custody without incident. As a result, Matthew Schafer Zink, 40, of Cumberland MD, was then taken before a…

Building on a recent $15 million federal grant to expand new electric vehicle charging stations, the Maryland federal delegation of Congressional and House Representatives has now acquired over $4 million for the state Department of Transportation to repair and replace 25 EV chargers in six counties. Plans are to add another 58 charging stations across the state to those chargers that already exist, upgrading the EV infrastructure for a larger, reliable network.

A multi-state drug operation has been broken up, according to a release from the US Attorney General’s office.  Over 80 people were indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.  Gary Bernard Brown, Jr., also known as “Gee,” of Baltimore, supplied others with large quantities of fentanyl capsules and powder for redistribution in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. The investigation yielded 22 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets. Eleven of the indicted individuals are still at large. Those indicted were from Harpers Ferry, Charlestown, Martinsburg, Winchester,…

Just before the Maryland House of Delegates adjourned for the weekend, the House Speaker recognized a special visitor, US Senator Ben Cardin.  Cardin was a member of the Maryland House from 1967-1986, serving in the capacity of Speaker from 1979 until he entered Congress in 1986.  Senator Cardin addressed the body, encouraging teamwork to bring success to the state…    

University of Maryland researchers found that used cell phones purchased off PropertyRoom.com, a website that partners with police departments, often contain personal data from prior owners. In one case, a phone was part of an identity theft scheme and contained multiple victims’ data. Many of the phones had no PIN to secure them, while others were accessed by guessing simple PIN numbers.  Study author Dave Levin says they found many people aren't taking basic precautions…

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller spent much of her first year in office concentrating on highway safety.  Miller, who is a Transportation Engineer, worked with the State Highway Administration to craft the Maryland Road Worker Protection Act. The proposed legislation seeks to protect the state’s road workers and drivers, especially in construction zones.  Terry Soos, SHA Deputy Administrator, said the approach to the bill was twofold…    

One of the Public Safety bills proposed by Republicans in the Maryland Senate had its first hearing late last week in Annapolis. Senate Bill 28 is the Violent Firearms Offenders Act of 2024.  This bill has been proposed and passed on the Senate floor in previous sessions but failed in the House.  Bill Sponsor – Senator William Folden of Frederick explained to the Judiciary Committee what the bill would change in existing state law…