BALTIMORE _ Former University of Maryland football coach DJ Durkin continued to communicate with assistant coaches and develop game plans for the team after being placed on administrative leave amid media reports alleging abusive treatment of players, according to multiple sources.

The Justice Department issued a legal opinion Wednesday justifying President Donald Trump’s decision to bypass normal procedures and name Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general.

BALTIMORE _ Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh announced Thursday that he is appealing the recent federal ruling that threw out the state's congressional map for the 6th District after determining that Democratic officials unconstitutionally drew the boundary to diminish Republican influence.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ The choices ahead are not simple for UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt and the university's Board of Trustees _ wherever they suggest putting Silent Sam, some people will be unhappy.

Pro-Brexit politicians say the agreement, which calls for close trade ties between the UK and the bloc, would leave Britain a vassal state, bound to EU rules that it has no say in making.

The Justice Department is writing a legal opinion justifying President Donald Trump’s decision to bypass normal procedures and name Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general, according to a person familiar with the matter.