BALTIMORE (AP) — Johns Hopkins University is investigating the discovery of a rope tied into a noose at a construction site in a building it owns off its Baltimore campus. Johns Hopkins officials also notified federal authorities about what the university calls a potential hate crime, the Baltimore Sun reports. “Johns Hopkins University condemns this act of hate,” President Ronald J. Daniels ... Read More

A Northeast Philadelphia contractor admitted in court Monday that he provided home repairs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to labor leader John J. Dougherty and members of his family and was paid with money allegedly embezzled from Dougherty’s union. Anthony Massa, 66, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, theft and embezzlement of labor union assets in a hearing before U.S. ... Read More

A Baltimore-based asbestos removal contractor has been ordered to pay more than $960,000 in back wages and damages to resolve allegations of discriminatory hiring and compensation. A federal administrative law judge ordered WMS Solutions to make the payment, finding that the company recruited a Hispanic workforce to the exclusion of other races, then created an abusive and hostile working ... Read More

Danville, Va. - The Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority is considering whether to allow a company to build part of a natural gas pipeline through the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill in southwestern Pittsylvania County. The RIFA board voted 4-0 during its regular meeting Monday to authorize the county administrator and Danville's city manager to further ... Read More

May 19--The general manager for Franklin Regional's Sloan "elementary campus" construction and renovation is confident that contractors will be able to keep pace with the project's original timeline, despite a roughly month-long setback at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. "The only areas we're trying to keep a close eye on, because of covid-19, are materials," Massaro Construction ... Read More

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to require two other states to implement plans to cut pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, officials said Monday. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the agency believes the claim “has no merit." Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and Virginia ... Read More

May 14--PennDOT is delaying new construction and downgrading resurfacing to patching and sealing as state highway workers return to work after a seven week coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Acting Secretary of Transportation Yassmin Gramian said the shutdown that halted driver's license renewals and triggered a dramatic reduction in travel and a corresponding loss of gas tax revenue has left the ... Read More

May 6--Facing a drop in gas tax revenue from fewer motorists driving at a time when the Pennsylvania Turnpike won't turn over more than $100 million due in July, PennDOT might delay noncritical bridge and highway projects if the state does not get $700 million to $800 million in covid-19 federal aid this summer, agency officials said Tuesday. While critical projects in the pipeline and under ... Read More

Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones wants the council to consider delaying new impact fees on homebuilders and other developers two months before the county was to begin charging the fees. Jones introduced the bill at the council’s virtual meeting Monday night. He said companies are worried they will be unable to meet the July 1 deadline for collections due to the coronavirus pandemic. ... Read More

Apr. 13--As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout Pennsylvania and non-life sustaining businesses remain closed, Republican leaders are pushing legislation to waive Gov. Tom Wolf's order and open all public and private construction projects. Last week, the House State Government Committee approved a bill in a 15-10 vote that would allow all residential and commercial construction ... Read More