Groups associated with sugar growers and refiners have spent tens of thousands of dollars for hundreds of U.S. House staff to tour muddy sugar cane fields in Louisiana and Florida and sugar beet factories in Minnesota, according to an analysis of House travel disclosure data from 2012 through 2023 compiled by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland.
Baltimore metropolitan area traffic remains affected by the Key Bridge collapse
Since the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, efforts to alleviate congestion and improve safety on suggested alternate routes have been a focal point of state agencies, elected officials and partner organizations. Still, an analysis of traffic crash data and congestion data by CNS found the absence of the bridge has significantly increased travel times and accident rates along I-95, I-695 and I-895.