Northeast

Congress agrees to fully fund Baltimore Key Bridge rebuild in plan to avert government shutdown

Published

2 years ago

December 18, 2024

Congress agrees to fully fund Baltimore Key Bridge rebuild in plan to avert government shutdown

Congressional leaders struck a deal to avert a government shutdown that includes a provision stating that the federal government will fully pay for the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

The provision also allows the Treasury Department to recoup at least some funds spent through insurance payments, as well as federal and state litigation related to its collapse.

A container ship called the Dali struck part of the Key Bridge in the early hours of March 26.

The incident sent shock waves through both domestic and global supply chains, having blocked a significant amount of shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore for more than two months.

REPUBLICANS GIVE DETAILS FROM CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS WITH DOGE’S MUSK, RAMASWAMY

Part of a span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is suspended on the container ship Dali in Baltimore on March 26, 2024. (Army Corps of Engineers/Handout via REUTERS)

Maryland officials estimated the cost to rebuild the bridge to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion.

The new federal measure is part of a short-term government funding bill to avert a partial shutdown through March 14 to give lawmakers more time to negotiate a spending deal for the remainder of fiscal year 2025.

It is also one of several seemingly unrelated policy measures included in the bill that have angered members of congressional Republicans’ rightmost flank, who said they felt largely blindsided by inclusions.

DANIEL PENNY TO BE TAPPED FOR CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL BY HOUSE GOP LAWMAKER

House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, and Sen. Chuck Schumer struck an agreement on government funding. (Reuters)

Federal and state Democrats from Maryland, however, praised the Key Bridge’s inclusion in the bipartisan deal.

“This has been a nine-month fight to make sure that Baltimore City and Baltimore County are made whole again. And now, we are able to secure the full funding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild which the Congress will vote on in the next 48 hours – this means so much to all of us throughout the state,” Rep. Kewisi Mfume, D-Md., said in a statement.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who also praised the provision and criticized House Republicans for objecting to it on Monday, before the final deal was struck.

Rep. Kweisi Mfume praised the measure’s inclusion. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“House Republicans have not signed off on 100% funding for the Key Bridge. The Senate has signed off on that. But we have not been given a good reason why House Republicans continue to object,” Van Hollen told local outlet 11 News. “That is the state of play as we speak.”

The short-term spending bill must pass the House and Senate by Friday, Dec. 20 to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com

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Boston, MA

Where to watch Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 4

Published

45 minutes ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 4

The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

The MLB action continues on Saturday as the Boston Red Sox visit the Los Angeles Angels.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels?

First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, July 4.

How to watch Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels on Saturday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 6:35 a.m.

Matchup: BOS at LAA
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:38 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Location: Anaheim, California
TV: NESN and Angels.Broadcast Television
Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for July 4 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.

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Pittsburg, PA

Does Pittsburgh have black bears? Yes. Here’s what to do if you see one

Published

1 hour ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Does Pittsburgh have black bears? Yes. Here’s what to do if you see one

A black bear was recently spotted in North Park Lake, just north of Pittsburgh.
Officials advise the public to give bears space and not let pets bother them.
Black bears inhabit most of Pennsylvania, but are typically transient in urban areas.

If you see a black bear near Pittsburgh, give it space, and don’t let your pet bother it.

That’s the advice Allegheny County’s parks department gave locals after a bear was spotted in a lake north of Pittsburgh, with the department issuing a warning in partnership with Allegheny County Police Department on June 16.

Here’s what to know about the bear sighting and bears around the Pittsburgh area.

When, where was black bear spotted near Pittsburgh?

A black bear was spotted in North Park Lake in McCandless Township in Allegheny County just north of Pittsburgh.

Allegheny County Parks didn’t say when the bear was seen, but they posted about the sighting on Facebook on June 16, saying the Pennsylvania Game Commission had been notified and was monitoring the situation.

What should you do if you spot a black bear in Pittsburgh area?

After a black bear was spotted in North Park Lake, Allegheny County Parks and Allegheny County Police Department put out a joint statement warning residents not to bother bears.

If you see a bear, you should use caution and give it “plenty of space,” according to the county parks department. Don’t approach it, and don’t try to interact with it. If you have a pet with you, keep them controlled on a leash.

“The best thing you can do is view wildlife from a safe distance and allow it to move through the area undisturbed,” the parks department said.

The state also bans residents from feeding bears.

How common are black bears in Pittsburgh area?

Bears inhabit forested areas across more than three-quarters of Pennsylvania, though they’ve been spotted in every county, according to the state game commission. The bears seen in large urban centers and agricultural areas, like the southeastern corners of the state and parts of the western border, are generally transient, as those areas don’t have enough woods to create a good habitat.

The population of bears statewide is estimated to be about 19,000 and is managed through regulated hunting to reduce the risk of more frequent human-bear conflicts. Hunters harvested 2,873 black bears in 2026, with Tioga County reporting the most harvests. Allegheny did not rank among the counties with the top 10 most bears harvested.

Black bears are also not uncommon across the border in Ohio. The state set a record with more than 500 sightings in 2025, according to a report from the Ohio Department of National Resources, with the department finding “consistent evidence” that female black bears live in the northeast corner of the state.

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.

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