As the end of his term nears, Senator Joe Manchin is not resting on his laurels. The West Virginia politician who has yet to clarify if he is going to run for President is planning a 2-month tour of the country where he says he wants to mobilize people who feel politically homeless. One of the first stops is New Hampshire’s “Politics and Eggs” event, usually reserved for presidential candidates.  He’s told reporters that if he decides to run, it won’t be to just divert votes from Trump or Biden…   

When Western Maryland Delegate Jason Buckel and Senator Mike McKay met recently with the Canal Place Authority, they heard the most recent news on the River Park project plans. Getting ready to go in to a new legislative year, Buckel and McKay were cautious with telling the Authority they have a long row to how getting the needed funding.  Senator McKay says the state is looking at where money is being spent and where it is not… McKay urged the board to spend the money they have wisely and quickly…

City Engineer Bobby Smith says lead is not a problem in the City of Cumberland’s water system, but a survey needs to be done on the pipes that lead in to homes in the city – that’s about 8,500 service connections.  Residents are being asked to fill out an online survey to determine whether lines going into their homes are made of lead.  The survey is located on the City’s website.  Smith says Cumberland has kept up with a replacement program to reduce or eliminate such piping on the City’s side…    

Michael Mudge has been chosen as WCBC’s 2023 Person of the Year.  His involvement in many community causes lends credence to the choice, but his work with Abortion Free Allegany has recently been at the forefront.  Mudge recounts that it was in a Berlin hotel, speaking to an elderly German pastor who served during Nazi rule, where he got his resolve… Mudge says he could not remain silent when the abortion clinic announced plans to move to the area…

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. Wednesday, December 27, 2023 Thomas Floyd Haer Jr, 50 of Johnstown, PA, was arrested as a Fugitive from Justice. He was wanted in Somerset County PA. for Failure To Appear. His original charges include: Intentional Possessionof Controlled Substances By Person Not Required, Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He is being held on Detainer pending his extradition to Somerset County. Justin Kenny Haslacker Jr, 42 of Frostburg, was served two (2) Warrants….

A New York truck driver is dead following a crash of the log truck he was driving. On December 26, emergency services responded to a crash on Cumberland Road in Springfield, West Virginia. Deputies learned through investigation the tractor and trailer was traveling north on Cumberland Road when the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle and ran off the right side of the roadway. The truck overturned and was extremely damaged. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and was identified as Richard E. Gray, age 77, of Chenango, NY.

Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby faces yet another trial – this time for mortgage fraud. She was convicted of perjury last month at a trial where the government argued that Mosby lied about suffering an “adverse financial consequence” in order to pull money from her city retirement account under emergency pandemic rules. Prosecutors say new court documents show “overwhelming” evidence Mosby knew about a tax lien she did not disclose when applying for mortgages on two Florida properties.

On December 27th, Officers from the Cumberland Police Department (CPD) were dispatched to a residence on the 900 block of Grand Ave for an assault. Upon arrival Officers began an investigation and determined that Jeremiah James Arbogast assaulted a male at the residence. The male did need medical attention at UPMC and was transported by Cumberland Fire Department. During the assault on the male, Jeremiah James Arbogast also assaulted a juvenile. Arrest: Jeremiah James Arbogast, age 43, Ft. Ashby WV Charges: First Degree Assault, Child Abuse

Bipartisan federal legislation called the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act would allow board-certified physicians to prescribe methadone without oversight. Advocates say the bill would make it easier for people who are not near methadone clinics to access treatment for opioid-use disorder. Jordan Scott with the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Network says the current regulations mostly affect people in rural regions who can’t get to methadone clinic…     

The cost of the River Walk project at Canal Place is estimated to be 25 million dollars.  Currently the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority has a little over six million dollars allocated.  At a recent update meeting with the Canal Place board and Western Maryland delegation, there was discussion of city and county money being allocated for the project.  Mayor Ray Morriss says there’s a chance, but not the outstanding amount needed…