On September 14, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Richard Allen Lowry. The Arrest Warrant stemmed from an incident that occurred on August 19, 2023. Officers from the Cumberland Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Patterson Avenue for a report of theft. The homeowner provided video surveillance capturing the suspect removing the items. The homeowner provided a list and values of the stolen property.  Officers continued their investigation and later developed a suspect. Officers located the stolen property at a local Pawn Shop.  During the investigation Officers located the stolen property and…

Senior Pennsylvanians will soon see financial relief with their property taxes and rent. Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 1100 into law, expanding the state's existing property tax and rent rebate program. AARP State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh says expansion of the program will significantly boost property tax rebates for older adults, lightening the financial load for homeowners and renters. The yearly maximum standard will increase from $650 to $1000 for individuals. The Keystone State is home to almost three-point-five million people age 60 and older.

Governor Wes Moore was in the hot-seat on Tuesday evening when he took questions on education during a town hall on Maryland Public Television.  One question he fielded dealt with opting out younger children from lessons dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity.  Is there an age where that is not appropriate?  His answer put the onus squarely on local jurisdictions to make the decision… Moore did offer advice to jurisdictions that are putting curriculum together that may have sensitive topics…

Governor Jim Justice has announced the launch of the new “YOU CAN” initiative aimed at stopping human trafficking in West Virginia. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where force, fraud or coercion is used to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor against their will.  Trafficking analysts for the West Virginia Fusion Center – Sammy Dow and Paula Yount developed the program to bring awareness to cases in the Mountain State.  Jack Luikart, director of the Fusion Center, explained that the program will educate the community and law enforcement…

Global news service Semafor hosted a sit-down talk with Governor Wes Moore this week.  The governor answered questions on several areas of interest, including his campaign to become Maryland’s first black Governor.  Moore recalled his first trip to the town of Lonaconing while he was campaigning for office… The Governor says his administration is committed to being present in all areas of the state…

Customers shopping downtown for the holidays will be able to save some money with a new discount card being introduced by the Downtown Development Commission.  Executive Director Melinda Kelleher introduced the card at this week’s DDC meeting and said it was a joint effort with Matt Miller of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation… Kelleher says the card has a mix of different businesses represented throughout the downtown area…

Approximately 40 to 50 people attended the draft review of Cumberland’s Historic Preservation Plan to see the proposal from the Lakota Group out of Chicago.  Josh Bloom from Lakota was pleased with the support offered by those in attendance who offered practical advice for the plan’s finalization… Ruth Davis-Rogers, Cumberland’s Historic Preservation Planner, says the plan clearly defines what the work of preservation does within the community…

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has announced that Jonathan M. Smith has been selected to serve as Chief of the newly created Civil Rights Division. Smith is a well-respected legal figure in civil rights.  For the past seven years, Smith served as Executive Director of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. The Civil Rights Division of the Office of Attorney General is the first of its kind in Maryland history. It will enforce federal and state civil rights laws including those that outlaw discrimination in housing, lending, employment, commercial transactions, and public accommodation.

The Downtown Development Commission is in the planning stages of a new event for the holidays. A winter market is coming to the plaza at Canal Place in late November.  The downtown Christmas tree will also be located on the plaza.  DDC Director Melinda Kelleher says half of the funding for the event came about through a grant from the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area and will be used to make the experience unique…

On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Todd Ellsworth Adams Jr, 40, of Cumberland MD. Adams was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County Circuit Court on September 11th, 2023. The warrant alleges that Adams violated the terms and conditions of probation placed upon him that stemmed from a previous CDS distribution charge. Adams was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center where he is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Todd Ellsworth Adams Jr            Age: 40 Charges: Bench Warrant – Violation of Probation On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police…