On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Jacob Baker. The warrant was issued due to Baker failing to appear in District Court for a trespassing charge. Baker was transported to the Allegany County Detention Center. Baker received an initial appearance by a District Court Commissioner, where he was released on his personal recognizance. Arrest: Jacob Allen Baker, Age 36, Cumberland, Maryland. Charge: Trespass Posted Property (Failure to Appear)
Keystone Coal in West Virginia may be allowed to walk away from its obligation to treat acid mine drainage. The company is seeking a bond release from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The company has not cleaned toxic acid mine drainage seeping into freshwater trout streams in the state, according to Chad Cordell with the Kanawha Forest Coaltion… “This is really a push where we’re telling the DEP not only do you need to not grant this bond release but you really need to start enforcing the water-quality laws and get this company to deal with this…
Manuel Ochoa, Founder of Ochoa Urban Collaborative presented a fair housing assessment of Cumberland for the Community Development Block Grant funding during Tuesday’s Mayor and City Council meeting. Ochoa tied into the tax credit idea, saying since over 71% of Cumberland’s homes were built before 1960, such funds could be used to make these homes livable for seniors… “You know, not only are these tax credits but CDBG funds can also be what— what can— how can those funds be used as an investment to fix up some of these homes to perhaps make them more accessible to seniors…
UPMC Western Maryland employees are working with LOCAL 27 of the United Food and Commercial Workers to form a Union. A press release from Zack Frink of UFCW said that other locations of UPMC have Union representation and the workers at the Cumberland location have reached out expressing their desire to organize and fight for better wages, benefits, and safer working conditions. The release pointed to staffing issues, mandatory extended shifts, and desire for safer working conditions. The release also says UPMC employees work without a contract, leaving them vulnerable to unfair treatment and job insecurity.
Governor Wes Moore was a guest on this week’s Face The Nation program and he spoke openly about taking steps to defend Maryland against the so-called attacks of the Trump Administration, including the decision to not move the FBI to Greenbelt. The governor said that the public is becoming confused by the mixed signals sent by federal and state officials… “If they’re not hearing an alternative – if they are not hearing an alternative plan, if they’re not hearing a plan to push back and fight back – if they’re not seeing what we are doing in the…
While it was good news to business owners throughout the state that a proposed 2.5% business services tax has been defeated, other taxes being proposed in the Maryland General Assembly are still being debated. The specter of an increase in the sales tax, currently 6%, is bothersome to Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss… “The problem I have with that is, quite frankly, that is a regressive tax. That’s a tax that hits the low to middle income people at a much higher rate than it does the more affluent part of our population so that’s a concern that I…
Following hours of debate in the Maryland House, HB853 passed to move on to the Senate Judiciary Proceedings Committee. The Second Look Act seeks review of jail sentences for those incarcerated for more than 20 years if they were put in prison between 18 and 25 years of age. Delegate Robin Grammer believes the bill is unnecessary… “These folks already have tons of opportunities to get their sentences modified. And this gives them the 13th, 14th, and 15th opportunity to do that.” Minority Leader Jason Buckel had offered an amendment removing mass murderers from the bill – it…
There is still time in the Maryland General Assembly to find ways on both sides of the aisle for lawmakers to deal with the three-plus billion-dollar deficit the state is facing. While Democrats are looking at taxes to increase revenue, House Minority Leader Jason Buckel told WBAL there is money now that could be shifted to lessen the burden… “We’ve put all our eggs in the federal government basket and the chickens have come home to roost. We have hundreds of millions of dollars in that budget that are never going to be spent correctly that we could…
Signs are up along Baltimore, Centre, and Liberty Streets and new parking rules are now in effect. Vehicles may park in any parking spot not otherwise marked as a loading or special time zone, or handicap access space at no charge for one hour. Once the hour limit is reached, vehicles must move from the area. The City of Cumberland has long-term parking options available at the city parking lots and garages. Parking violations are subject to a $25 citation.
48 Y/O, W/M, James Eugene Feagin has been reported to the Cumberland police department as a missing person. Feagin was last seen wearing black leather jacket and blue jeans, he also has an eyebrow ring over his left eye. Furthermore; he has a skeleton hand tattooed on his left hand. He is approximately 6’-2’ in height and weighs approximately 175 lbs. with collar length black hair and blue eyes. Feagin was last seen in the area of Oldtown Road in Cumberland. He is not believed to be in any danger. If anyone has information on Feagin’s location they are encouraged…
