In the wake of a Supreme Court decision overturning part of Maryland's concealed carry law, lawmakers in Annapolis are back to the drawing board in rewriting the law. WBAL reports the measure attempts to put limits on concealed carry, including limiting permits to people 21 and over, and barring those on probation from receiving a permit. The measure would also double the fees for a concealed carry permit, which some second amendment groups argue is unconstitutional. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Clippinger said it cost the state $20 million to process all of the concealed carry applications last year. He added…

Allegany College of Maryland recently purchased a skidder that will be used by students enrolled in its Forest Technology 205 Harvesting and Primary Manufacturing course, thanks in part to a $45,000 grant from the Rural Maryland Council. During the summer session course, students learn the benefits of timber harvesting, how to operate forestry equipment and earn their chainsaw operation certification

On June 5 of last year, twenty-nine year old Brittany Kaye Donahue was reported missing from her Amherst Avenue residence she shared with her husband and children to the Allegany County Sheriff's Office by another family member after not being seen or heard from for several days. Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance, the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) was contacted to assist in the investigation.  As part of the investigation into the disappearance, numerous interviews were conducted, and search warrants obtained and searches conducted. Evidence obtained as a result of the lengthy investigation developed enough information…

Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Bowie this Wednesday to discuss housing costs.  WBAL reports she plans to talk about the Biden administration's efforts to lower the cost for homebuyers through a new plan that will lower rent and offer credit for first-time homebuyers to help with down payments. According to the news release, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will reduce its annual mortgage insurance premium by 0.30 percentage points, from 0.85% to 0.55% for most new borrowers. The mortgage insurance premium is the monthly fee that homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages pay to insure their mortgages, which they pay…

On February 21st, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served a Criminal Summons on Michelle Porter. The Criminal Summons was issued by the District Court stemming from an assault that occurred on February 19th, 2023, at a residence in the 700 block of Baker Street. During this incident the victim reported that Porter had punched them in the face. An application for charges was completed against Porter and this Criminal Summons was issued. Porter signed for her paperwork and was released pending her trial at the District Court. Arrest: Michelle Lynn Porter, age 39, Cumberland Maryland. Charge: Assault Second…

On February 21st, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on David McCauley. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court stemming from an assault that occurred on February 12th, 2023. McCauley was taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was released on bond. Arrest: David Lee McCauley, age 56, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Two Counts of Assault Second Degree. On February 21st, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served two Arrest Warrants on Kristen McCullough. The Arrest Warrants were issued by the Circuit Court after McCullough was Indicted by the Grand Jury stemming…

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council Tuesday began the process to transfer 19 Frederick Street to a Washington County-based investment group with plans to transform the aging structure into a unique bar with an events space and Airbnb rentals on the upper floors.  Clock Tower Ventures is headquartered in Hagerstown and has been involved in similar ventures.The council voted unanimously last night to approve the first reading of an ordinance that will transfer the property; The transfer will become official with a second and third vote in early March. The city will receive one dollar for the property- with the…

Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s $63 billion budget is currently in the hands of the General Assembly- and lawmakers now have new powers and more say on the matter. With that new power, Senator Mike McKay wants to see a fiscally conservative path moving forward. Previously, Maryland's governor had unusually strong budget authority in the state Constitution, because the legislature was only allowed to cut from the governor's plan. Lawmakers now can increase, decrease or add items to the budget, as long as the changes don't exceed the total proposed by the governor. While the state’s fiscal picture is currently in…

The Biden administration began 2023 with a renewed push to get a sweeping immigration bill through Congress that it introduced two years ago when it first entered office. However, to date, there are no signs that the bill will pick up the necessary Republican support needed to move forward. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, says hollow political bumper sticker approaches with pledges to “build the wall” are great for political rallies- but do little to address the problem in any meaningful way. Van Hollen says he isn’t optimistic that many of his Republican colleagues will be willing to support the…

Maryland and Virginia continue to pitch the pros of their respective jurisdictions while they try to win the competition to become the next home of the FBI. A week after the General Services Administration contacted delegations from Virginia and Maryland to say that its decision on where to locate the FBI would come after additional “consultations”- representatives from both states continue to weigh in- including Maryland Senator Ben Cardin. Speaking at a rally, Cardin said that Maryland’s two proposed sites, in Greenbelt and Landover, check all the all the boxes for the requirements set out by federal officials. In his…