The State of West Virginia is challenging what they call the “antiquated” system of choosing teams for the college basketball playoffs.  After the Mountaineers were left out of the playoffs, Attorney General J.B. McCluskey wants to find out how teams are chosen…     “The people of West Virginia are investing not just their emotion and not just their energy and not just their time in to our Mountaineers. We are investing enormous amounts of the people’s money into these teams as well. What is the objective metric? If it is not an objective metric, if it is purely subjective,…

Local volunteer fire companies are appealing the closure of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg. A letter to both President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed concerns over impacts the closing has on training fire and EMS personnel. WCBC spoke with Jonathan Dayton, President of the Allegany Garrett Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association about the NFA’s training importance…     “These classes are vital not only to the career firefighters across the country but also to the volunteers here locally and also across the country. They rely on the training at National Fire Academy just as much as…

Maryland’s Senators both voted against the “Halt Fentanyl” act in D.C., a bill that permanently makes the substance a Schedule 1 controlled drug. WCBC reached out to Senator Chris Van Hollen for his reasoning – in a statement, he said the bill threatened development of overdose antidotes and did little to curb availability.  A caller to the Dave Norman Show on Tuesday said the drug does need to be taken off the streets…    “This is mass murder on the grand scale. I mean, when you’re talking about Fentanyl coming over, you know, Canada a couple weeks ago sat there…

The three-plus billion-dollar deficit is something needing addressed before the Maryland General Assembly finishes business in April. While the business services tax is dead, along with the so-called slush-tax, House Minority Leader Jason Buckel told WBAL he is keeping watch for other ways residents may be hit…    “You, know you’ve heard of a sneak attack – We’re just going to raise the sales tax across the board from six cents to seven cents. That wasn’t a bill this year, there’s been no public hearing on it, there’s been no comment on it. But it won’t shock me because you…

A motor vehicle accident at 3:40 Tuesday afternoon closed Route 36 between Motor City and Corriganville.  Entrapment was reported and Trooper 5 was dispatched.  The collision was between a school bus and another vehicle.  No students were on the bus.  Trooper 5 transported the driver of the vehicle to Baltimore for treatment.  The school bus driver was taken to UPMC.

A Cumberland native has joined the ranks of national broadcasters of the NCAA tournament for Westwood One.  Danny Reed, currently the voice of Georgia Southern University, was heard nationally over the weekend when he broadcast the Conference USA title game.  Reed will also be doing Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 broadcasts for Westwood One.  He is a 2003 graduate of Bishop Walsh School where he won the Rapplier Award as the top male student athlete.  Reed’s radio career began at WCBC doing Dapper Dan Little League games.

Research indicates that women are generally less well-off financially than their male counterparts, but they are likely to fare better in homeownership. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that women earn roughly 86% of what men earn weekly. A Lending Tree Analysis of the latest housing data shows single women are more likely to own a home in 47 of the 50 states. Single women own the largest share of homes in New Mexico, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

Marie Miller who directs the Forestry Program at Allegany College of Maryland recently spoke to WCBC about the course. This forestry program is the only one in the state and the region offering a two-year degree accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Miller says it is great for those wanting to be outdoor, hands-on learners. Students can receive a two-year degree or a certificate…     “We are set up to be a two-year program so you can come in and be finished in two years. We also have a one-year certificate and that’s for tree care. If students…

On March 17th, 2025 the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Mariah Nicole Davis. The summons was issued after an officer conducted an investigation of a breaking and entering that occurred on March 5th, 2025 on Spring Street. The officer was able to observe property of Davis inside the residence, and an exchange of text messages between the victim and Davis. The messages provided showed an admission from Davis of being inside the residence, and the officer filed for charges at District Court. Davis signed for her copy of the summons and was released pending trial at District…

Advocates are urging Maryland lawmakers to support a bill approving medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients. The bill, which has been introduced over several years without success, is still in committees. A poll last December found more than 70% of Marylanders supported the legislation. Donna Smith with Compassion and Choices, says it is about creating options…     “It’s just an option. No one’s forced to do anything. The doctors are forced to be involved to write a prescription. The pharmacists aren’t forced to do anything. It’s just an option for the very few who need it.”