RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Dueling legislative proposals in Virginia backed by different gambling companies would open the door for an expansion of slot-like betting machines in businesses such as truck stops, restaurants and convenience stores. At the center of the debate are “gray machines,” arcade-style games that look similar to slot machines but involve an…… Continue Reading

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s top political leaders unveiled legislation Wednesday meant to increase accountability for juvenile offenders and the adults who run the juvenile justice system, which one leading lawmaker said was struggling in an “abundance of confusion” without meaningful oversight. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore gathered with leaders of the General Assembly, which is…… Continue Reading

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell will enter this week’s Federal Reserve meeting in a much more desirable position than he likely ever expected: Inflation is getting close to the Fed’s target rate, the economy is still growing at a healthy pace, consumers keep spending and the unemployment rate is near a half-century low. A year ago, most economists had…… Continue Reading

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures and Ukraine aid faced potential collapse on Thursday as Senate Republicans grew increasingly wary of an election-year compromise that Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, seems likely to oppose. Senate negotiators have been striving for weeks to finish a carefully negotiated compromise on border…… Continue Reading