All Allegany County Public Schools will be CLOSED, Friday, March 10, 2023 due to the forecast of inclement weather. 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. Additionally, all staff may work remotely Friday, March 10, 2023, with the exception of essential personnel. Calvary Christian Academy is closed tomorrow, Friday, March 10, 2023.  Daycare is available at the Early Learning Center Bishop Walsh School will…

 The Maryland Senate voted Thursday for a measure to give the state’s attorney general independent authority to bring criminal charges against police officers after investigating deaths when officers are involved. The bill, which passed on a 27-20 vote, would expand a part of a package of police reforms approved two years ago in response to concerns about police accountability after the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The measure now goes to the House, where a similar bill has also been filed. The Independent Investigations Division was created in the attorney general’s office to investigate in-custody deaths of civilians throughout the state,…

The Maryland Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism will open the application process on March 15 for the new Maryland Alcohol Manufacturing Promotion Fund. Applications will close on April 30 and reopen again on July 15.  “Maryland’s breweries, wineries and distilleries are a significant economic generator in our state, as well as a draw for residents and visitors alike, and this program offers a great opportunity to further expand this growing industry,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kevin A. Anderson. “We are committed to ensuring our brewers, distillers and winemakers have the tools they need to take this industry to the…

A large prescribed burn in the Dan's Mountain area in Rawlings by the Department of Natural Resources. Smoke will be visable for much of the day, but again this is a controlled, planned burn.

House Appropriations Committee Member Rep. David Trone (D-MD) released the following statement on President Biden’s budget:   “In the last two years, Congress passed funding bills that represented our vision to put People Over Politics and build a brighter future for Americans. I’m confident that President Biden’s budget furthers that vision as it becomes a reality in the months and years to come. And, unequivocally, these investments will have a tremendous return on investment for Americans and our economy.   “That vision includes creating tens of millions of jobs – good-paying, reliable jobs – that Americans can count on for…

On Thursday, March 9, 2023 at approximately 12:00 AM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle on Virginia Avenue. The operator, later identified as Jennifer Shockey, refused to stop at the direction of the officer and fled. Deputies from the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Mineral County Sheriff’s Office assisted. Deputies were able to stop the vehicle in the area of Howard Street. Shockey was arrested by the Cumberland Police Department on an active arrest warrant through Baltimore City. Shockey was found to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She was transported to…

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a Circuit Court bench warrant on Kelsey Conners. The warrant was issued as the result of Conners violating pre-trial release. Conners was originally charged with Assault-2nd Degree. She was arrested and transported to the Allegany County Detention Center where she is currently being held without bond pending her appearance before the court. ARRESTED: Kelsey Jo Conners AGE: 29 Cumberland, MD

On the day after Hunter Douglas announced that it’s Cumberland plant would be closing at the end of July- Allegany County officials met with company representatives to access the situation moving forward. The closure of the company, which at one time employed close to 900 people, comes just a few years after the Verso Corporation shut down the Luke Mill and released 600 employees. Wednesday’s meeting, held at the Hunter Douglas facility , included County Commissioner David Caporale; County Administrator Jason Bennett and economic development director Jeff Barclay. Following the meeting, Commissioner Caporale talked with WCBC News and said they…

Although the city of Cumberland has made a concerted effort in recent years to eliminate blight the problem is far from solved. Ed Taylor, who resides on South Allegany Street, addressed the Cumberland Mayor and City Council this week to voice concern with the plight of his neighborhood… He says the problem is getting worse and he urged city officials to have code enforcement officers step up…

Governor  Wes Moore and other Maryland officials spoke in a meeting on Wednesday to persuade the FBI to move its headquarters to Prince George's County. Two sites in Prince George's County and one in Fairfax County, Virginia the finalists for the new FBI headquarters. Moore said the move would create a 'once in a life-time opportunity' for African Americans that he says have 'long been overlooked' in the decision-making process for the expansion of federal agencies…