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Bria Overs

Bria

Bria Overs is a business reporter at The Baltimore Banner. She covers small business and consumer and economic trends, with a special interest in minority- and women-owned businesses, technology and labor. She previously worked at Business Insider, Word In Black and contributed to local publications in Los Angeles, her hometown.

The latest from Bria Overs

Alexandria Warrick Adams, executive director of Elev8 Baltimore, said at a Thursday press conference that Maryland communities and children will feel the effects of AmeriCorps cuts.
Maryland loses 550 AmeriCorps positions to Trump administration cuts
Maryland lawmakers and AmeriCorps partners are asking the community to step in to save their organizations and programs as the Trump administration moves to significantly cut the federal agency.
Jennifer Dewees, president of MCCEI, speaks at the first Annual Maryland Tradeswomen Summit in March.
Local workforce development organization falls victim to Trump cuts
As the Trump administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion, one of Baltimore's workforce development organizations loses funding.
Gov. Wes Moore celebrated Volunteer Maryland’s 30th anniversary during an AmeriCorps service event at the Baltimore Community ToolBank in Baltimore City on March 17, 2023.
Maryland nonprofits and volunteers ‘devastated’ after AmeriCorps abruptly ends service
The Trump administration’s dismantling of AmericCorps leaves volunteers without work and Maryland community programs in a lurch.
STONE RIDGE, VIRGINIA - JULY 17:  In an aerial view, an Amazon Web Services data center is shown situated near single-family homes on July 17, 2024 in Stone Ridge, Virginia. Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the world, according to a report this year cited in published accounts, but is facing headwinds from availability of land and electric power.
Marylanders could pay $800M to power Virginia data centers
Electric utility customers could soon be on the hook for $800 million in transmission upgrades to power Northern Virginia data centers.
A hawk lands on a transmission tower near Brandon and Marie Hill’s farmland in Parkton, MD on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.
Renewable energy company ordered to issue $6.5 million in refunds to 32,000 Marylanders
The Maryland Public Service Commission concluded that SmartEnergy misled customers and violated the law.
A protest outside the Social Security Administration headquarters in Woodlawn earlier this month, as many express concerns about deep cuts to the federal workforce.
Social Security could lose some 7,000 employees under Trump’s worker reclassification
The Social Security Administration could lose thousands of employees under President Donald Trump's revived reclassification policy.
Farm manager Amelia Hazel harvests flowers at Two Boots Farm in Hampstead.
Mother’s Day just got more expensive: Maryland florists face tough choices as tariffs hit
Local sellers and growers are grappling with rising costs and uncertainty.
Leonor and Jose Rivera hold each other as they pay respects and mourn at a portrait of Pope Francis after a Mass at The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in North Baltimore on Monday evening.
Archbishop Lori urges Maryland Catholics to remember Pope Francis by serving the less fortunate
Baltimore Archbishop William Lori encouraged area parishioners to learn from Pope Francis’ legacy by embodying light and hope through service to those in the margins.
The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore announced its next cohort of the Black Owned and Operated Storefront Tenancy program Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Downtown Partnership President Shelonda Stokes, center.
5 more Black-owned businesses to move into Baltimore’s downtown amid DEI backlash
The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore announced its third cohort of five businesses that will open storefronts in downtown Baltimore late this year.
Public and political pressure on BGE ramped up as the cold winter and previously approved rate hikes combined to create eye-popping bills.
What BGE customers need to know about Maryland’s utility legislation
The Maryland General Assembly tried to tackle complaints about escalating gas and electric bills.
Views of the U.S. Social Security Administration Headquarters in Woodlawn.
She spent her final months trying to prove she was alive. Now her family is suing Social Security.
Seven months after she descended into the Kafkaesque situation, Joyce Evans was dead.
Cars, like those pictured for sale in the lot of Antwerpen Nissan of Owings Mills, will cost more as tariffs get absorbed by consumers.
The time to buy a car was yesterday. Thank Trump’s tariffs for that.
President Trump is imposing a 25% tariff on all imported cars. The auto industry's complex supply chain means even American automakers will be impacted.
Customers use the washing machines at Spin Cycle Coin Laundry in Baltimore.
A $10K BGE bill? Baltimore laundromats struggle amid utility rate hikes
Rapidly increasing expenses have put a strain on Spin Cycle Coin Laundry, a family-owned laundromat in Charles North.
Supporters of legislation aimed at lower heating costs and improving public safety hold up signs during a press conference held outside of Baltimore City Hall in February.
BGE approach compared to ‘extortion’ as lawmakers grill execs over soaring bills
The Maryland General Assembly committees that oversee energy issues join a growing chorus of lawmakers and consumer advocates alarmed by rapidly rising utility bills.
Woodlawn in Baltimore County is home to the Social Security Administration’s headquarters.
DOGE overhauls Social Security Administration with employee, office lease cuts
The Social Security Administration plans to cut its workforce by more than 7,000 by offering employees early retirement and buyouts and through expected resignations.
Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Council President, speaks during a press conference addressing rising BGE costs and legislation aimed at lower heating costs and improving public safety held outside of Baltimore City Hall on February 4, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.
Maryland’s federal lawmakers want an end to BGE’s rate hikes
Three of Maryland's congressional representatives join the chorus of voices calling for an end to Baltimore Gas and Electric rate hikes.
The Social Security Administration is led by a DOGE-supporting acting commissioner.
Social Security Administration closes offices, cutting nearly 200 employees
The moves come after the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, entered Social Security last week.
The People’s Counsel David S. Lapp testified Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, during a Baltimore City Council committee about BGE rate increases, the high bills and winter shut-offs.
BGE customers demand rate relief as utility bills soar: ‘Shouldn’t have to choose between oxygen and the heat’
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company customers in Baltimore and around Maryland are facing significant rate increases.
The Social Security Administration employs about 10,000 people in Maryland, many through its headquarters in Woodlawn.
The Social Security Administration meant job stability. Not anymore.
Baltimore County is home to the Social Security Administration headquarters. Thousands of federal employees are worried about their jobs.
This year, Juan Webster and his team will train about 2,000 Montage International employees at its 16 properties worldwide, including the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging best practices.
Why these Marylanders are doubling down on DEI
Marylanders are leaning into DEI as the term itself is being weaponized and its initiatives have become a target of the Donald Trump administration.
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