One person died of gunshot wounds and another person was in police custody following a shooting Tuesday afternoon on Grafton Street. The Hampshire Review reported Romney Police confirmed the incident, and it remained under investigation. Grafton Street runs off of U.S. Route 50 in the town's business district. Efforts Wednesday by the Times-News to contact the Romney Police Department were unsuccessful. A town hall clerk said the police department could not respond to the inquiry, noting officers were "busy with the investigation." First-responders were reportedly dispatched to Grafton Street early Tuesday afternoon for a trauma patient who had reportedly suffered multiple…

On Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at approximately 2:47 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Maryland Avenue.  A Cumberland Police Department K-9 was utilized resulting in a positive alert.  A search of the vehicle was conducted and the operator, Rebecca Zajdel, was found to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance.  Zajdel was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Rebecca Reed Zajdel            AGE:  32            Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  CDS: Possession-Not Cannabis       

On Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at approximately 3:36 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 900 block of Bedford Street for a disturbance.  Officers contacted the parties involved.  The resident reported that Rahman Wilkins was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the property.  Officers attempted to deescalate the situation; however, Wilkins refused to cooperate.  Wilkins continued to yell and refused to leave after being told to do so by police.  He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.  Wilkins was issued two criminal citations and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Rahman Hadi…

On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Robert Stevens.  The warrant was issued as the result of Stevens violating probation.  Stevens was originally charged with Assault-2nd Degree. He was arrested and transported to Central Booking. He was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center on a $3,000 bond. ARRESTED:  Robert William Stevens     AGE:  53       Cumberland, MD CRIMINAL SUMMONS SERVED On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Joseph Coreley.  The summons was issued as the result of an incident…

In a little more than a month, the downtown Cumberland Mall coud begin to resemble a war zone. City engineer Bobby Smith discussing some of the challenges that are expected to arise during the 18 month $15 million redesign of Baltimore Street. In addition to crews literally tearing up the mall- construction work will continue on the Baltimore Street Bridge. Business owners, residents and shoppers will all have any number of obstacles to deal including with including general  disruptions, possible delays, road closures and accessibility limitations. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss…            

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is not backing down from his decision to cut funding to a scholarship program that provides low-income families opportunities to send their child to private schools instead of struggling schools. The BOOST Program is a $10 million program that offers scholarships to low-income families so they can take their students out of struggling schools and put them in private institutions. In his first budget proposal, Moore is seeking to cut $2 million from BOOST. Republicans argued Moore faced pressure from teacher’s unions to cut the program, noting historic opposition from the unions to voucher programs. House…

State Senator Mike Mckay tells WCBC News that a proposal to expand MARC train commuter service further west is gaining momentum. The Maryland Transit Administration has prepared  an online survey to find out how much interest there is in a Western Maryland line. It is all part of a  f of the Maryland Area Regional Commuter service to Hagerstown and possibly Cumberland- with that study expected to be completed this summer. MARC trains currently run from Brunswick, Md., to Martinsburg, W.Va., and Washington.  According to Mckay who has discussed the plan with the state’s transportation secretary, expanding MARC service would be transformative for…

With an estimated price tag in the $30 million range- Canal Place officials are continuing to communicate with local, state and federal officials to put together a funding package for a proposed river park along the Potomac River. The proposed park, estimated to cost roughly $30 million, includes installing a moderate whitewater course on the river behind Canal Place, along with docks for canoes and kayaks, walking trails and a viewing area. Dee Dee Ritchie, executive director of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, believes there is momentum with in-person visits to the site late last year by Congressman…

More than 1,000 people took to the streets of Annapolis this week for the 44th annual "March for Life." WBAL reports organizers said this one took on a stronger meaning in a post-Roe v. Wade America. This year, organizers said there's a lot at stake here in Maryland with a controversial piece of legislation in the General Assembly. This is the first march since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, allowing states to decide for themselves whether to legalize abortion. Abortion is still legal here in Maryland, but new legislation in the General Assembly would put…

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is co-leading a coalition of 22 states with Louisiana in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a broader right to religious accommodations in the workplace.   The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case, Groff v. DeJoy, on April 18. The outcome of the case holds much significance— the possible restoration of fuller protections for employee religious freedom in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A 1977 Supreme Court decision, Trans World Airlines v. Hardison, narrowed protections for religious liberty in the…