Seafood industry visa fix collides with coronavirus, leaves great uncertainty

WASHINGTON – With the aid of lawmakers, seafood businesses in Maryland, Virginia, Alaska and North Carolina last month won federal approval of an additional 35,000 visas for non-immigrant workers, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Within days, the coronavirus…

As Maryland reports three virus cases, officials seek to calm public and trace contacts

WASHINGTON – In the wake of three Maryland residents testing positive for coronavirus, officials sought to calm the public Friday as test kits were delivered across the country and more people in the state were being tested for possible exposure.…

Trump’s proposed Chesapeake Bay cleanup cuts draw fire

Members of Congress, state lawmakers and environmental groups are rallying against President Donald Trump’s 91% funding cut for Chesapeake Bay cleanup.

Senators make their final cases ahead of Wednesday’s impeachment vote

WASHINGTON – Democratic and Republican senators spent the day before Wednesday’s impeachment verdict arguing whether the case has been made for convicting President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.  Signs pointed…

Without witnesses, House Democrats open arguments in Trump impeachment trial

WASHINGTON – The House’s Democratic impeachment managers started the clock on their allotted 24-hour opening remarks in the Senate on Wednesday, moving forward with the second day of the trial without new witnesses or new documentary evidence.  Much of the…

Senate impeachment trial opens with fight over rules, but GOP prevails

WASHINGTON – The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump started Tuesday with partisan fighting over the rules governing the proceedings. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted he was following historical precedent, while Democrats argued that the Republicans were furthering…

Equal Rights Amendment may be near ratification, but must overcome old deadline

WASHINGTON – The Equal Rights Amendment may be close to ratification following Democratic wins in Virginia’s House and Senate and proposed House and Senate resolutions to remove the ratification deadline. The ERA would guarantee equal constitutional rights to a person…

Congress awaits inspector general’s report on cancellation of FBI headquarters move

WASHINGTON – With parts of the FBI headquarters building crumbling on Pennsylvania Avenue, there had been plans to relocate the agency to a more secluded and spacious campus in either suburban northern Virginia or suburban Maryland.  But six months after…

Funding for historically black colleges remains held up in Senate

WASHINGTON– Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Maryland may lose more than $4 million in federal funding if Congress does not reauthorize mandatory spending for those institutions beyond the current academic year. Maryland’s HBCUs “face a funding cliff due to…

Baltimore says goodbye to a beloved leader, friend at Morgan State University tribute

BALTIMORE – Marking the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings last week, community leaders, elected officials and friends gathered together Wednesday night to honor the former congressman at Morgan State University, where Cummings served as a member of the Board of…