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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Legal Battle for Underfunded HBCUs in Maryland Continues

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Monday, November 26, 2018   

BALTIMORE — A 12-year lawsuit filed by Maryland's four historically black colleges and universities against the state will continue in December, with both sides preparing for oral arguments.

The four institutions - Bowie, Coppin and Morgan State Universities and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - say they have been underfunded, while programs they've instilled to attract more diverse students have been duplicated by traditionally white institutions in the state. This makes growth difficult for HBCUs, according to Mike Jones, an attorney repressing the schools.

"This makes it more difficult for the schools to, number one, attract a diverse student body,” Jones said; “makes it more challenging for them to develop business partnerships of the kind that can bring in funds."

Earlier this year, the schools declined an offer of $100 million over 10 years made by Gov. Larry Hogan, saying the funds were inadequate and the issue goes beyond money. Hogan's legal team said the financial commitment went beyond what the law required.

Jones brought up other states to explain why Gov. Hogan's offer wasn't sufficient. Mississippi agreed to pay its three HBCUs $500 million over 20 years after a Supreme Court desegregation decision in 1992.

Jones said the case must be resolved soon. He said the lack of resources has made it difficult for students to be successful on their own campuses. And it has led them, in some cases, to traditionally white institutions, or TWIs.

"Students at the HBCUs, because the libraries were inadequate, they would have to go over to one of the TWIs,” he said. “For example, sometimes the people from Coppin would go over to UMBC."

Oral arguments are set for December 11, with the Circuit Court expected to make a decision on further action within the following few months.


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