Maryland
Virginia, Maryland senators renew National flight slot debate – Roll Call
Senators from Virginia and Maryland are urging lawmakers negotiating a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill to omit provisions that would add long-distance flight slots to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a controversial issue that threatened to hold up the bill in the past.
A perimeter rule Congress set in the 1960s establishes National as a short-haul airport, limited to flights within 1,250 miles, with some exemptions. In a letter Friday, Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Benjamin L. Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland argue that any additional flights would overburden the airport’s capacity.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee advanced its FAA reauthorization bill in February with an amendment that would add 10 total flight slots — five additional flights into DCA and five out — a major decrease from earlier proposals, such as one from Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., to add as many as 56 additional flight slots.
The House, however, voted down multiple proposals to add National flights in its FAA bill, which passed last July, 351-69.
The four senators indicated last summer that they intend to oppose the FAA bill if it includes any additional flight spots. They added that extra flights would siphon customers from Washington Dulles International Airport, which is located roughly 30 miles from downtown Washington. National is fewer than 5 miles away.
“The airport was designed to accommodate 15 million passengers, but this year, in part thanks to previous Congressional carve-outs to DCA’s slot and perimeter rules, it is on pace to serve 25 million,” they write in the letter. “The ten new flights, which would be allowed to fly beyond DCA’s 1,250-mile perimeter, would mostly likely be flown by larger aircraft, with a correspondingly larger strain on DCA’s resources.”
Advocates for more flights, like Senate Commerce ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, contend the extra slots would meet the travel demands for residents of D.C. and its growing metropolitan area as well as tourists. It also would make for a faster commute for many members of Congress from outside of the current 1,250-mile perimeter.
The proposal is also causing a divide between air carriers, and prompting an increase in lobbying dollars. United Airlines, which opposes any flight additions, has led the pack in lobbying. Dulles is a United hub.
Delta Air Lines, on the other hand, joined a group dubbed the Capital Access Alliance that is advocating for additional slots.
The slot proposals are likely to be a point of debate as the House and Senate negotiate a final bill. Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said this month that pre-conference negotiations on the bill are just ramping up.
Maryland
Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes
SEVERN, Md. (WBFF) — A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.
The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.
Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.
ALSO READ | SUN | Maryland GOP unveils energy plan it says saves customers up to $40 a month
The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.
The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.
The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.
More information is available at mdlottery.com.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit helpmygamblingproblem.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland
SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned
Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.
“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”
The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.
In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.
Maryland
Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Md. (WBFF) — An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.
According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.
ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.
No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.
The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.
Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.
The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (4)
TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
-
World5 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts5 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO5 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
News1 week agoWorld reacts as US top court limits Trump’s tariff powers