In the News
HOOPERS ISLAND, Md. —
There is crab meat crisis on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, even though crabs are in good supply this season.
It's not a lack of crabs, but of crab pickers.
There are two schools of thought on how the lack of pickers could impact Marylanders. The price of live crabs could go down, while the cost of crab meat could skyrocket.The problem is rooted in new immigration policies by the Trump administration.
Can a state force pregnancy resource centers to violate their beliefs? In March of this year, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a California law that requires pregnancy resource centers to advertise for the abortion industry. Congress has followed the case closely, especially since it could determine whether the state can order people to ignore their consciences on other moral issues too.
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HOOPER'S ISLAND, Md. - Nearly half of Maryland crab houses have no workers after their mostly-Mexican workers failed to get visas, forcing seafood businesses like AE Phillips in Fishing Creek to shut down completely.
The Knapps Narrows dredging program, undertaken by Southwind Construction to ensure continued safe navigation along the federal channel, is now officially completed.
SMITH ISLAND, Md - Prayers are being answered on Smith Island.
Last year, state officials allocated $6.88 million dollars for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore proper access for watermen.
Now, Maryland's first district congressman and other officials are checking in to see the progress that has been made.
"We're gonna visit the work that's both getting working boats in and out as well as making sure that the main channel to the island is dredged," says Congressman Andy Harris.
HOOPER'SISLAND, Md.- With wooden pole in hand, waterman Tommy Palley shows a deep-rooted problem in the waterways surrounding Hooper's Island.
"At the most, this probably isn't even a foot and a half," Palley said holding the pole in the water.
Underneath the blue-green waters of Tar Bay, shoaled land has been slowly taking over for more than ten years, damaging boats and leaving watermen wondering if the channel in and around Fishing Creek will ever be dredged.