Senate President Bill Ferguson is promising hearings, but House Minority Leader Jason Buckel wants more immediate action after a 16-year old in the custody of Maryland’s Department of Human Services was found dead in a Baltimore hotel room this week. The incident comes on the heels of an audit of the DHS that included finding sex offenders in charge of children. Buckel told WBAL Radio the state needs to get things under control…   “You know, I think the Governor has the ability, he’s maybe the only person who has the ability, to put a stop to this today and…

Fire crews are on the scene of a residential fire on Proenty Road, off of Route 36 near Corriganville. Preliminary reports indicate one deceased victim. Fire crews at one point were ordered to vacate the structure due to possible collapse. 

Washington County is dealing with animal cruelty as gun darts have been used to kill cats.  Humane World for Animals is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved.  Eight cats were found injured or dead in the Boonsboro area of Washington County.  They had been shot with steel razor-tip blowgun darts. 

Members of Maryland’s federal delegation visited the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, or BARC, for a tour and to underscore the center’s importance, despite President’s Trumps plan to shutter the facility. Congressman Jamie Raskin remarked that shutting the center would set research gain back perhaps decades.  Senator Chris Van Hollen said the research done in Beltsville cannot be duplicated elsewhere…    “This location, just geographically, is in an environmental status that reflects the diversity of so many parts of the country. You know, we call Maryland “America in Miniature.” This BARC ag facility is able to test many different kinds of…

Congress only has about five days to agree to a budget – and avoid a government shutdown. Democrats say they will not approve a bill that doesn't secure healthcare funding. Maryland has lost over 15,000 federal jobs since January. Here’s more from ABC's Rachel Scott, who says the White House is now threatening to fire even more government employees…    “In a memo obtained by ABC News, the White House and the administration revealing programs that do not align with the President's policies could be targeted. This is a major escalation and a significant break from the way that shutdowns…

The Allegany County Commissioners recently recognized the 2026 Miss Maryland Volunteer and Miss Maryland Volunteer Teen title winners, who are both from Allegany County.  Miss Maryland Volunteer, Rebecca West, is a senior at Frostburg State University, and Miss Maryland Teen Volunteer, Tess Bond, is a junior at Mountain Ridge High School.  Commissioner Dave Caporale says the two highlight the best of Allegany County…    “Both Rebecca and Tess exemplify the very best in Allegany County, determination, service and pride in their community.  Their accomplishments not only highlight their personal talents and hard work but also shine a light on Allegany…

Recently enacted tax rules say a designated amount of qualifying overtime pay will be exempt from federal income tax under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. For a single person, up to $12,500 dollars in overtime pay would be tax-free. Joe Mullenax of Allegany Business Consulting says calculating what is and isn’t taxed can be confusing…     “So it’s only the extra part of overtime. In other words, if you make $20 an hour and you work an hour of overtime and you get paid $30 for that hour at time-and-a-half, it’s only the extra $10 that going to…