CASA opens $13.8 million multicultural center in Langley Park

MARYLAND

CASA opens center in Langley Park

CASA of Maryland, the state's largest Latino and immigrant service organization, opened its new $13.8 million multicultural center in Langley Park yesterday. The new center will offer educational and legal services aimed at the area's immigrant community.

Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) praised CASA's work over the past 25 years, including its push for a comprehensive overhaul of immigration law.

The organization expects to serve 6,000 families annually through the facility.

About 20 protesters, many from the anti-illegal immigration group Help Save Maryland, held signs and chanted in front of the building, decrying the tax dollars that helped fund the facility.

-- Kevin Sieff

TRANSPORTATION

D.C., Md. praised in driving safety report

The effort to reduce accidents caused by distracted driving has gained momentum across the nation, according to a report issued Tuesday, as states enact stronger laws against texting and cellphone use and push to create greater public awareness.

The report gave the District and Maryland high marks for their efforts and ranked Virginia a notch lower, primarily because it has not included distracted driving in its state safety program.

The report by the Governors Highway Safety Association said that the District, Maryland and 26 other states have given distracted driving priority in their highway safety plans. It also found that the number of states that seek to determine whether distraction was a factor in accidents has grown.

-- Ashley Halsey III