Old Line Bank leaving Federal Reserve oversight for FDIC

Old Line Bank has withdrawn from the Federal Reserve System.

The Bowie-based subsidiary of Old Line Bancshares will now receive its primary regulatory oversight from the Federal Deposit Insurance Co. That means a new group of examiners will visit the bank to look over the books. The Fed will continue to regulate the parent holding company and the state of Maryland also will continue to keep an eye on the bank operation.

Old Line President and CEO James Cornelsen downplayed the move, announced in…

Marijuana and the awkward situation for D.C. employers

The District’s marijuana legalization has been hailed as a potential gold mine for businesses. It was even the subject of a recent conference to teach D.C. entrepreneurs how to navigate the “Green Rush.”

It has also created a situation for employers and employees that is, rather, shall we say … awkward.

See, despite D.C. law allowing residents over 21 to consume small amount of marijuana at home, federal law still prohibits the use of the drug. The D.C. Council took up an emergency measure to…

Compass recruits TTR Sotheby's team as it seeks to expand presence in D.C. region

Tech-driven real estate brokerage Compass has recruited a high-powered team of brokers from TTR Sotheby’s International Realty to help increase its footprint and visibility in the D.C. region, less than two years after its launch as Urban Compass in New York City.

The Alex Venditti Group, which made headlines when it brokered the sale of a Georgetown home for $510,000 over list price, has signed on with the Compass brand. The group is led by its namesake, Venditti, who decided to make the move after…

The government is doubling down on cybersecurity — really this time

I tend to be reluctant to make definitive forecasts, but I’m ready to say 2015 is quickly turning into the year of cybersecurity. Yes, cyber has been a top concern for several years, and several policy initiatives are simply carrying over. But a brand new initiative potentially brings a fresh, game-changing new focus to the crucial concept of cyber threat sharing.

Eventually this will bring into sharper focus the types of products and services federal agencies will require for combating cyber threats.…

DEP proposing additional gas well regulations

The state Department of Environmental Protection wants to bolster its proposed rewrite of rules governing oil and natural gas wells, calling for new regulations on noise levels and upgrades to wastewater impoundments.

The department has been drafting new drilling regulations since 2011, and on Monday, officials outlined some new revisions to an initial version it published in 2013.

Among other things, the revisions would require operators to either upgrade centralized wastewater impoundments and…