Maryland state senators are sending more than a half-billion dollars to four majority-black institutions of higher learning, settling a 13-year-old lawsuit. On Sunday, the Baltimore Sun reported that Maryland’s state Senate unanimously passed a bill sending 580-million dollars to Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore over the next 10 years. Administrators say the schools will use the money for expanding academic programs, increasing scholarships, and recruiting faculty. The suit stemmed from accusations that Maryland was systematically discriminating against historically black colleges and universities.