The collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge and the fight over who pays

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

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Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

24% left · 66% center · 10% right of 285 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 67 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. March 2024

   Mar 26– 27Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Collapses After Ship Strikes It325 articles · 103 independent sources

   21 left, 36 center, 18 right
2. Mar 26Biden says he wants federal government to pay for rebuilding of Baltimore bridge after cargo ship crash19 articles · 14 independent sources

   8 left, 3 center, 3 right
3. Mar 26Officials stopped traffic onto Baltimore's Key Bridge before collapse: 'These people are heroes'8 articles · 2 independent sources

   0 left, 2 center, 0 right
4. Mar 26Cargo ship hits Baltimore's Key Bridge, bringing it down. Rescuers are looking for people in water - The Union-Recorder20 articles · 11 independent sources

   3 left, 5 center, 1 right
5. Mar 26– 31Baltimore bridge collapse a ‘national economic catastrophe,' says Maryland governor166 articles · 69 independent sources

   13 left, 34 center, 6 right
6. Mar 26– 28Dali cargo ship had 'routine engine maintenance' in port before crashing into Francis Scott Key Bridge29 articles · 20 independent sources

   3 left, 6 center, 4 right
7. Mar 266 presumed dead in Baltimore bridge collapse, says employer57 articles · 23 independent sources

   5 left, 12 center, 3 right
8. Mar 26– 28Maryland asks for $60M in federal relief for bridge collapse; experts predict $4B loss7 articles · 7 independent sources

   1 left, 3 center, 1 right
9. Mar 26Cargo ship lost power before colliding with Baltimore bridge; 6 presumed dead19 articles · 12 independent sources

   4 left, 5 center, 0 right
10. Mar 26– 28Hazardous materials stored in 56 containers on cargo ship that toppled Baltimore Key Bridge: Coast Guard14 articles · 7 independent sources

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11. Mar 26– 29Central American and Mexican families mourn victims of Baltimore bridge collapse36 articles · 18 independent sources

    7 left, 8 center, 1 right
12. Mar 26– 27‘Black box’ data recorder recovered from ship that struck Baltimore bridge as recovery efforts continue11 articles · 10 independent sources

    3 left, 5 center, 1 right
13. Mar 26– 27Police had about 90 seconds to stop traffic before Baltimore bridge fell. 6 workers are feared dead14 articles · 13 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
14. Mar 27– 28The Baltimore bridge disaster may lead to the 'largest single marine insurance loss ever,' Lloyd's of London bosses say5 articles · 4 independent sources

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15. Mar 27– 28Baltimore bridge collapse: Divers recover two bodies – DW114 articles · 44 independent sources

    7 left, 20 center, 8 right
16. Mar 27– 28Debate emerges over whether modern protections could have saved Baltimore bridge17 articles · 10 independent sources

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17. Mar 27Investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse picks up speed as divers search for missing workers15 articles · 7 independent sources

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18. Mar 27– 28Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before it collided with Baltimore bridge, officials say37 articles · 19 independent sources

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19. Mar 28– 29Building a new Key Bridge could take years and cost at least $400 million, experts say31 articles · 20 independent sources

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20. Mar 28– 29Wife of Baltimore bridge collapse survivor says workers were on break in their cars when bridge came down11 articles · 6 independent sources

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21. Mar 28– 29Biden OKs $60M in aid after Baltimore bridge collapse as governor warns of 'very long road ahead'21 articles · 17 independent sources

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22. Mar 28– 30Reopening the Port of Baltimore could take weeks as colossal wreckage cleanup gets underway, officials say18 articles · 10 independent sources

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23. Mar 29– 30Cranes arriving to start removing wreckage from deadly Baltimore bridge collapse87 articles · 50 independent sources

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24. Mar 30– 31Crews carefully start removing first piece of twisted steel from collapsed Baltimore bridge82 articles · 40 independent sources

    4 left, 8 center, 4 right
25. Mar 31– Apr 2Second channel opened allowing some vessels to bypass wreckage at the Baltimore bridge collapse site68 articles · 45 independent sources

    7 left, 13 center, 4 right
26. Mar 31In Key Bridge collapse, Baltimore lost a piece of its cultural identity22 articles · 17 independent sources

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27. Mar 31As crews work to lift first piece of Baltimore bridge debris, officials eye a temporary channel around the collapse site10 articles · 7 independent sources

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28. April 2024

    Apr 1– 6Biden tours collapsed Baltimore bridge as clearing proceeds and declares ‘your nation has your back’75 articles · 37 independent sources

    5 left, 14 center, 5 right
29. Apr 1‘I consider myself very lucky’: This man was one of the last to make it off the Baltimore bridge before its collapse11 articles · 8 independent sources

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30. Apr 2– 4Maritime terminal prepares for influx of redirected ships as Baltimore bridge cleanup continues10 articles · 9 independent sources

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31. Apr 3Major US bridges could be vulnerable to ship collisions, including one just downstream from Key Bridge6 articles · 6 independent sources

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32. Apr 4Small businesses apply for federal loans after Baltimore bridge collapse6 articles · 6 independent sources

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33. Apr 5US Army Corps of Engineers plans to reopen Baltimore channel affected by bridge collapse by end of May29 articles · 20 independent sources

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34. Apr 6Body of third construction worker recovered from Key Bridge wreckage in Baltimore9 articles · 8 independent sources

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35. Apr 8– 9Maryland governor and members of Congress to meet to discuss support for rebuilding collapsed bridge19 articles · 14 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
36. Apr 8Salvage crews have begun removing containers from the ship that collapsed Baltimore's Key bridge38 articles · 24 independent sources

    4 left, 5 center, 1 right
37. Apr 15– 16FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse, AP source says87 articles · 55 independent sources

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38. Apr 15– 16Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse had apparent electrical issues while docked: AP source20 articles · 12 independent sources

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39. Apr 16Salvage crews race against the clock to remove massive chunks of fallen Baltimore bridge12 articles · 12 independent sources

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40. Apr 16Fourth body recovered in Maryland bridge collapse24 articles · 8 independent sources

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41. Apr 20– 26New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore37 articles · 24 independent sources

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42. Apr 22– 23Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Legal battle brewing over responsibility for tragedy20 articles · 13 independent sources

    3 left, 5 center, 1 right

43. May 2024

    May 2Maryland is about to get $350 million from insurance in bridge collapse6 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
44. May 2Baltimore bridge deaths: 5th body recovered from collapse site; 1 remains missing50 articles · 26 independent sources

    3 left, 10 center, 3 right
45. May 2– 3Plan to rebuild Baltimore Key Bridge by 2028 will cost $1.9 billion, officials say18 articles · 12 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 2 right
46. May 7– 8Body of 6th Baltimore bridge collapse victim recovered, authorities say54 articles · 26 independent sources

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47. May 9– 14Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives47 articles · 28 independent sources

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48. May 12– 14Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom7 articles · 6 independent sources

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49. May 12Crews prepare for controlled demolition as cleanup continues at bridge collapse site17 articles · 15 independent sources

    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
50. May 12– 13Demolition of a key section of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge set for this afternoon after weekend weather delays13 articles · 11 independent sources

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51. May 14– 15Cargo ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse had power blackouts hours before leaving port57 articles · 31 independent sources

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52. May 15House committee holds hearing on Baltimore bridge collapse after NTSB preliminary report6 articles · 6 independent sources

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53. May 19– 20Ship that caused deadly Baltimore bridge collapse to be refloated and moved62 articles · 32 independent sources

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54. June 2024

    Jun 3– 4Memorial for Baltimore bridge collapse victims vandalized7 articles · 7 independent sources

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55. Jun 11– 12Baltimore's busy port fully reopens after bridge collapse, and a return to normal is expected48 articles · 40 independent sources

    6 left, 11 center, 3 right
56. Jun 19Attorneys for Baltimore seek to keep crew members from bridge collapse ship from returning home18 articles · 12 independent sources

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57. Jun 20Attorneys reach deal that could allow some Dali crew members to fly home after months stuck onboard, court filings say7 articles · 7 independent sources

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58. Jun 24– 25Dali cargo ship leaves Baltimore for Virginia, nearly 3 months after bridge collapse44 articles · 36 independent sources

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59. September 2024

    Sep 18Justice Department sues over Baltimore bridge collapse and seeks $100M in cleanup costs38 articles · 31 independent sources

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60. Sep 21FBI agents have boarded vessel managed by company whose other cargo ship collapsed Baltimore bridge32 articles · 23 independent sources

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61. Sep 24Maryland sues the owner and manager of the ship that caused the Key Bridge collapse14 articles · 14 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 1 right

62. October 2024

    Oct 24– 25Owner, operator of ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse to pay $100M in settlement with US43 articles · 25 independent sources

    3 left, 9 center, 1 right

63. November 2025

    Nov 18– 19How the NTSB is trying to prevent another major bridge collapse13 articles · 9 independent sources

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64. Nov 18A misplaced wire label caused a power outage on a massive container ship, sending it crashing into a bridge, the NTSB finds10 articles · 10 independent sources

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65. Nov 18NTSB set to vote on probable cause of cargo ship crash into Baltimore bridge, causing its collapse6 articles · 6 independent sources

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66. Nov 18Cost to rebuild Baltimore’s key bridge more than doubles, completion now expected in late 203019 articles · 14 independent sources

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67. May 2026

    May 12Ship operator, employee charged in crash that caused deadly collapse of Baltimore bridge in 202424 articles · 16 independent sources

    0 left, 8 center, 3 right