Politics

By delaying the bill signing, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek shortens time opponents have to gather signatures for a measure to overturn the transportation bill.

Maryland's Capital Debt Affordability Committee is recommending the state stick to its guns by endorsing a plan to borrow up to $1.75 billion for capital projects in the coming fiscal year, despite the job shedding inflicted by the Trump administration's plans to shrink the federal government.

The bill was a response to a charter school fraud that took the state for $400 million, but Gov. Gavin Newsom said the proposed reforms were too expensive.

"The project is not dead," said the transportation planning board chair.

Federal Reserve Gov. Stephen Miran said Thursday that the central bank's forays into examining climate change and racial justice under the prior administration politicized the Fed. He also argued that Fed officials should limit their comments on economic policies such as tariffs.

The Southeast's states rely on federal funds more than those in other regions and analysts warn those funds may be ending shortly if the shutdown continues.

The city council took action to keep the property tax rate unchanged, a move that could punch a $53 million hole in the fiscal 2026 budget and drain reserves.

The Trump administration's tariff policy is affecting vulnerable pockets of the economy including the construction industry, port operations and states with a reliance on international trade.

Legislators and transit groups are pushing to get transit reform across the finish line this month, lawmakers and stakeholders said Friday.

A six-notch downgrade gives the financially troubled city a non-investment grade rating of BB-plus with a negative outlook.