Americans overwhelmingly support legislation to allow everyone to receive a tax break for their charitable gifts, according to a poll released Tuesday by Independent Sector, a membership organization of nonprofits that is pushing the idea. It is possible that Congress will vote to expand charitable deductions in a pending disaster funding package, but the biggest obstacle is the calendar. Congress has a limited time to consider legislation before going into recess for the entire month of October before the November midterm elections.

The state of Maryland has recognized the potential for registered apprenticeships both to provide a path to better-paying careers that do not require college degrees and to help employers meet their needs for employees with specialized skills. In this latest Abell Foundation report, Linda Dworak of Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative offers an overview of apprenticeship and the current landscape in Maryland and Baltimore.