Speaker Adrienne A. Jones has entered the fray about how to settle a long-running court dispute with Maryland’s four historically black colleges and universities over severe underfunding and the undermining of crucial academic programs.

Darryll J. Pines, a veteran faculty member and dean of the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, will be the university’s next president.

Lawmakers and open government advocates are promoting a package of three bills meant to modernize the state’s open records laws, which are now 50 years old.

The city is seeking expressions of interest to redevelop six public school buildings that are no longer in use.