Gov. Jim Justice has declared a State of Emergency for all 55 West Virginia counties due to the winter storm event forecast to hit the state in the coming days.   The National Weather Service predicts heavy snow, dangerous wind chills, and strong winds beginning today, Thursday, January 18, 2024, and continuing throughout the week and into the coming weekend. “All West Virginians need to absolutely be ready for the potential impact this winter storm may bring to our state,” Gov. Justice said. “West Virginians should pay extra close attention to emergency officials and media outlets, and be prepared if there are…

A Terra Alta woman was arrested after she told West Virginia fire investigators who had charged her with arson that she set a fire in nearby Oakland last summer.  Deputy State Fire Marshals were contacted by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office after they arrested Rachel Lin Giffen, 23, for intentionally setting a fire at her employer's store in Terra Alta. On January 9, 2024, firefighters responded to the End Zone convenience store in the 34000 block of Veterans Highway just outside Terra Alta. Firefighters discovered a large wooden bin filled with cardboard on fire inside the garage area…

Due to expected extreme weather conditions, City of Cumberland trash collection has been suspended for the Friday, South end and Maple side Area of the City of Cumberland. Residents in these areas will receive double trash pickup on their next regularly scheduled collection day: Tuesday January 23rd..  Any questions may be directed to the Public Works Department at 301-759-6620 or publicworks@cumberlandmd.gov or Burgmeier's Hauling at 301-777-0416, Customerservice@burgmeiers.com. Bulk items that were scheduled for collection will be collected next Friday January 26th.

All Allegany County Public Schools will be CLOSED, Friday, January 19, 2024.  Synchronous learning will take place for students via the Schoology platform with login hours at 8:30 am for elementary and 8:00 am for middle and high.  As always, students without access to connectivity will be given up to two days to submit assignments.  All synchronous virtual learning schedules can be found on the ACPS website.   Additionally, all staff may work remotely, Friday, January 19, 2024, with the exception of essential personnel.  Bishop Walsh, Calvary Christian Academy, Lighthouse Christian Acadmy and Mineral County Schools are closed on Friday. 

The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police – Barrack C have combined resources to target open and active warrants. As a result, the following individuals have been apprehended. Monday, January 15, 2024 Herbert Franklin Sumey, 42 of Uniontown, PA was arrested on a District Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear. His original charge is for Driving on a Suspended Out-Of-State License. He was released on his own recognizance after appearing for a bail review in District Court. Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Amanda Sue Winchester, 39 of Frostburg, was arrested on a District Court Bench Warrant for Failure…

As another winter storm begins to impact our listing area a check of roads with the Maryland Department of Transportation, Charley Gischlar… reminding listeners not to crowd the plow and to remain behind snow plows as they clear the roads in front of you.    

Community officials, business owners and organizations are on their way to Annapolis for PACE event this evening. Wes Heinz, Executive Director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad spoke with WCBC's Dave Norman about being a community ambassador and the successful partnerships this year… Networking is a critical component at PACE.  Wes discussed plans to talk with Garrett County representatives about tourism dollars saying visitors on the slopes in Garrett County travel east on the way home and have been stopping on Sundays in Cumberland….

Congressman David Trone, co-founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, joined other Representatives in introducing the Innovate to Save Lives Act, focusing on expanding research into new and emerging drug threats. According to the Centers for Disease Control last year, the overdose death rate topped 112,000 in a 12-month period. The Act would establish an additional 10% tax credit for small businesses researching drug-use disorder issues, notably emerging drug threats.

Hundreds of thousands of older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities are now eligible to apply for a rebate up to $1,000 through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. The maximum standard rebate is now $1,000, up from $650 thanks to bipartisan legislation Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law last year. The program's income limits have been increased to $45,000 and made equal for both homeowners and renters – the first time since 2006 the income limits have been raised. This change makes nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians eligible for the program.

 Governor Wes Moore yesterday released the Moore-Miller administration’s FY 2025 budget proposal. The $63.1 billion plan follows a fiscally responsible framework to respond to the state’s budget challenges while making record investments in priorities that will make Maryland safer, more affordable, more competitive, and the state that serves. The governor’s FY 2025 budget proposal shrinks the state’s structural deficit by 34 percent, keeps the Rainy Day Fund balance at 9.4 percent, and flips the state’s projected cash shortfall of $1.1 billion to a positive cash balance of more than $100 million—all without raising taxes for Marylanders. The proposal directs state…