ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland's House Speaker is urging the state's governor to settle a lawsuit involving four historically black colleges for $577 million.
House Speaker Adrienne Jones sent a letter this week to Gov. Larry Hogan, urging him to end what she described as "a stain on the national reputation of Maryland's higher education system."
She's urging him to agree to an amount recommended by an attorney representing the state's four HBCUs to settle the 13-year-old lawsuit over disparities in programs.
Jones says the money would be used to develop new programming, hire faculty and expand the reach of state scholarships.
Last month, an attorney for Hogan made what he described as a "final offer" of $200 million to settle the lawsuit.
