D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser this week declared the Potomac River sewage spill a public emergency while also requesting federal help and money for cleanup. It's the latest move in a local disaster that has turned political. NBC 4 Washington reporter Mark Segraves joined Kojo and Tom to break down what exactly happened, how local officials are trying to manage the crisis, and what comes next.

The data center debate has come to Montgomery County. Elected officials in recent weeks have taken competing stances on the best way to manage data center growth, including a proposal to restrict them to industrial areas. Montgomery County Council Vice President Marilyn Balcomb represents the area around one controversial project. She got behind the mic to discuss why it's important for the county to limit where developers can build data centers, but still believes they have a place in the county.

Balcombe said the county needs to think about data centers as a source of tax revenue. The county currently has four data centers, with a fifth being built in her district.

“Roughly $10 million per year per data center. So, if we have five data centers, that would be $50 million, she said. "That's a lot of money when we think about how to balance our budget."

A public hearing for the proposed zoning amendment is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Virginia General Assembly session hit its midpoint this week, known as "Crossover Day," with approved bills moving forward to the other chamber. Virginia House Delegate Adele McClure, who represents Arlington County, joined us from Richmond to break down the docket and her priorities as the session moves into its final weeks. Plus, we discussed the latest court ruling halting Virginia's redistricting referendum.

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The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a bill to block D.C. from uncoupling the city's tax code from the federal code. It's a move that will cost the District nearly $700 million in revenue and will almost certainly lead the city to ax the first-of-its-kind local child tax credit. Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker joined the show to discuss what Congress's interference means for the District.

Parker said the change could also create tax season chaos. 360,000 District residents file personal income returns. The tax code shift might force the city to push back its tax filing deadline to the fall. "We don't fully have a picture of what that might mean, but it would certainly impact not only our cash on hand, but how we deal with tax season," he said. Parker also noted the Council is exploring its legal options.

Plus, he talked about the Potomac River sewage spill, which now may be the largest wastewater spill in U.S. history.

Virginia Democrats approved new congressional maps this week that could give the party a 10-to-1 seat advantage in the upcoming midterm elections. Several steps remain before the maps could take effect, including a statewide referendum on April 21. VPM State Politics reporter Jahd Khalil joined us from Richmond to break down the news that the Virginia Supreme Court will allow the referendum to proceed.

Rep. April McClain Delaney, who represents a portion of Montgomery County and western Maryland, introduced legislation this week to block the opening of an ICE facility in her district. She joined the show to explain why she's pushing against it, despite local officials voting in favor of bringing the facility to the county.

Delaney said she spoke directly to John Barr, president of the county commission, about the planned detention center.

"I said, "Listen, I've been in Minnesota at a field hearing and have seen the horrific state of what is happening there. I was at the Baltimore ICE facility.'... It’s unconstitutional, and I think a violation of human rights," she said.

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Last month's winter storm continues to pose challenges for counties and cities across the region. In Prince George's County, some side streets are still snow- and ice-covered, and schools only reopened on Wednesday of this week. Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy joined Kojo and Tom to explain why the county is struggling with cleanup. Plus, we asked County Executive Braveboy why she supports some Maryland lawmakers' efforts to redraw Congressional maps.

The bill allows Democrats to re-work the congressional map in their favor, with the goal of ousting the state’s lone Republican representative. \But the legislation is expected to stall in the state Senate, where Democratic leadership says it’s political and legally risky. County Executive Aisha Braveboy said she supports redistricting because of the outsized effect it could have on her county.

“Politics, unfortunately, and especially at the federal level, really impacts Maryland disproportionately," she said. "We have about 65,000 federal workers in Prince George’s County. About 5,000 of them have lost their jobs over the past few months."

She said the bill should receive an up-or-down vote since state delegates and Governor Wes Moore favor the new maps.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to block D.C.'s tax plan, which, if approved by the Senate, would cost D.C. $600 million in revenue. Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen got behind the mic to explain why this would be a significant blow to the District's budget.

If the District is forced to mirror federal tax cuts at the local level, it could cost the city $600 million in revenue. Beyond blowing a hole in the city’s budget, it also could lead to a massive administrative headache. Federal taxes would still be due in the spring, but the local filing deadline would be pushed to account for the change.

“Every single person, every business, and every resident in the district will now have their entire tax filing upended by six or eight months," said Allen. "You're gonna be filing your taxes for D.C. in the fall. It's a mess."

A vote in the Senate on the measure is expected in the coming weeks.

Plus, we discussed the significant layoffs at the Washington Post this week.

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