Latest D.C. Local News

February 09, 2010 - WASHINGTON (AP) The D.C. area is preparing for another storm this afternoon after being pounded over the weekend with more than 2 feet of snow. The Office of Personnel Management says federal agencies in the Washington area are closed. Nonemergency employees will be given excused absences, but emergency employees must report for work.

WASHINGTON (AP) Metrorail is reopening, but officials are warning that the system could close early as a second major storm approaches the Mid-Atlantic region. Trains will run at 30 minute intervals today. Limited Metrobus service is operating.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Maryland Regional News

February 09, 2010 - SALISBURY, Md. (AP) Salisbury University police say three men are charged with the theft of a life-sized, 400-pound bronze statue of Henry David Thoreau from campus. Fifty-six-year-old Raymond Louis Bunting of Fruitland was charged with felony theft after police say he sold the statue for $442 to a recycling firm. Two 18-year-old Salisbury students are charged with theft.

BALTIMORE (AP) The first of nine ships bringing hundreds of thousands of tons of road salt has arrived at the Port of Baltimore as the region prepares for another big snowstorm. The ship carrying 40,000 tons of salt arrived yesterday, and the Rukert Terminals president says the next ship is due Sunday.

BLADENSBURG, Md. (AP) Bladensburg police believe carbon monoxide poisoning killed two men found dead in a car. Police say the two men in their 20s were found Sunday morning in the closed, unventilated car with the engine running.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Virginia Regional News

February 09, 2010 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Snow-weary Virginians are getting readh for another round of winter weather as a new storm bears down. The National Weather Service says parts of northern and western Virginia could see more than a foot of new snow. Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect for the entire state through tomorrow night.

NEW KENT, Va. (AP) One eastbound lane of Interstate 64 in New Kent County is closed because of a 6-foot-deep sink hole. The Virginia Department of Transportation says repairs are expected to continue through noon today.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Metro Train Passengers Evacuated Near Smithsonian

February 09, 2010 - WASHINGTON (AP) Metro train operators are evacuating a blue line train that stalled near the Smithsonian station.

Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein says a cable in the tunnel may have wrapped around part of the train Tuesday morning and caused some smoke. She says passengers were not in any danger.

Train operators are evacuating passengers through the rear of the train and directly onto an orange line train behind the stalled train. It will back up to the L'Enfant Plaza station.

Farbstein says orange and blue line trains will be delayed.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Falling Snow Brings Rising Demand To Community Kitchen

February 09, 2010 - By Rebecca Sheir

With more than 2 feet of snow blanketing the D.C. region, many agencies that feed the hungry are seeing a surge in demand. And with even more snow predicted, one community kitchen doesn't plan on slowing down any time soon.

D.C. Central Kitchen kitchen manager, Jerald Thomas, has been at work since the wee small hours, preparing lunch.

He made "a pork stew,with local vegetables," he says. "It was awesome, actually."

Awesome and unusual. The 4,500 meals the kitchen normally serves to social-service agencies and shelters each day include breakfast and dinner.

"Mostly because a lot of the shelters are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shelters," says the kitchen's CEO, Mike Curtin. "But when the weather is like this, they're gonna keep them open 24-hours a day and they wanna make sure the people have breakfast, lunch and dinner."

So D.C. Central Kitchen has been churning out an extra 3,000 meals a day since the blizzard hit with help from some faithful volunteers.

"You reach one person in the shelter system, walking out in the elements all day long," says Thomas. "That's why our volunteers are committed to coming."

Thomas says that's what keeps him coming, too: the desire to help people keep their strength and nutrition up no matter how much snow comes down.

There's No Business Like "Snow Business"

February 09, 2010 - By David Schultz

Workers with Katchmark Construction are using a tarp to remove snow from the roof of an office building in Chantilly, Va. They're shoveling snow onto the tarp and then dumping it onto the ground.

Steven Katchmark owns this roofing and siding company. They're received more than 150 calls for service so far this week, but Katchmark says he won't make a windfall profit this winter.

One reason: insurance.

"You know, it is generally good for our business. It does keep us busy during the winter months," says Katchmark. "But there's a lot of liability and a lot of safety concerns that no one gets hurt."

Then, there's the issue of finding people who are able to leave their homes and who want to shovel snow all day long.

"You end up having to have a massive amount of people in a short amount of time," he says. "So there is some confusion and organization that needs to get taken care of."

Katchmark says he's using all of his employees who are available, plus additional temporary workers. He says they're servicing 15 roofs at a time.

Workers At D.C. Snow Command Center Prepare For Round Two

February 09, 2010 - By Patrick Madden

As the region braces for another major storm, those in charge of keeping the streets clear will have to battle another element as well: exhaustion.

Cabin fever may be kicking in at the District's snow command center.

"At this point I can't even tell you if its the day shift or the night shift," says DDOT's Jeff Marutian.

He has logged about 48 hours at the center over the past four days -- helping direct snow plows, scan traffic cameras, and answer angry phone calls from snowed in residents

He's got company at least. There are a half dozen others cooped up in this small dark room. The windows are blacked out. There are projections of live D.C. traffic on two of the walls.

"We've had our fair share of Dunkin' Donuts and we will all look forward to getting to the gym when this is all over," he says.

Those workouts will have to wait-at least for the next few days.

Maryland Resident Remains Without Electricity

February 09, 2010 - By Elliott Francis

Pepco officials say approximately 26,000 residents remain without power in Montgomery County.

We spent time with one local resident whose house has been without electricity since the start of the storm.

Mary Staley says the power outage has been disappointing, but she seems to take it all in stride particularly as she sees the Pepco serviceman working on the lines at the end of her street.

"It's so frustrating I feel as if I could just, just say, pleeease, fix my transformer. But, no," says Staley.

Go inside Mary's house, and you realize what no electricity feels like, it's very cold.

Mary shows us how cold.

"So here's our indoor thermometer. It's 46.4," she says.

Mary says she's been staying with neighbors and didn't buy much food last week so spoilage isn't an issue.

Right now, her biggest concerns are how long it might take to turn the power back on.

"They probably wont get to it till Friday," she says.

...And the forecast for more snow this week.

Power Breakfast For February 9, 2010

February 09, 2010 - Circulus in probando.

Latin a little rusty? Circulus in probando is an affliction plaguing Congress at the moment. It commonly strikes anyone who comes in close contact with health care overhaul. Last week when asked when Democrats would decide what to do next on health care, House Majority leader Steny Hoyer showed clear signs of circulus in probando - literally, "circle in proving."

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports.

Maryland Attempts To Prepare Roads Before Next Storm

February 09, 2010 - Morning Edition host Matt McCleskey talks with Kelli Boulware of Maryland's State Highway Administration about the current status of the state's roads and how much remains to do as the next storm approaches.

National Weather Service: 10 To 20 Inches Of Snow Possible In Next Two Days

February 08, 2010 - The National Weather Service has changed its previous winter storm watch to a winter storm warning to take effect at noon on Tuesday to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

The NWS also increased its estimates of snow accumulation from 5 to 10 inches to 10 to 20 inches.

Near freezing temperatures expected Tuesday afternoon, dropping to the upper 20s Tuesday night and Wednesday.

The NWS warns that the snow and strong winds expected from this storm will make travel "very hazardous."

New Snowstorm, Now In The Midwest, To Hit D.C. To Boston

February 08, 2010 - By AccuWeather.com Senior Expert Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski

A new snowstorm bringing the Plains and Midwest snow today will not miss New York City and southern New England and will hit areas from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia again.

The new storm is part of a duo of snowstorms this week that will touch the lives of over half the people of the nation. The new northern storm will affect much more real estate than the last with "plowable" snow.

Unfortunately this will be a colder storm than the last, delivering a snow that is much more subject to blowing and drifting for a longer period of time.

There is the potential for a foot of snow or more from Wilmington, Del. to Boston, Mass.

People should be prepared for slow or no travel as the storm intensifies upon nearing the Northeast coast Tuesday night into Wednesday. Schools will close, commerce will be impacted and accidents will occur.

Lower temperatures, strong winds and deep, powdery snow could make this the worst of the two storms even in areas that were hit hard with the last.

From a meteorological standpoint the prospect of two blizzards in less than a week for the same area is absolutely amazing!

In terms of a human factors, this one may bring life-threatening conditions to the homeless in the region. Shoveling snow in the extreme cold could pose serious health risks.

In terms of fiscal issues, this could be the storm that breaks the bank from small businesses to large cities, who must pay to remove the snow.

The amount of snow from the new storm will be less than this past weekend's monster in the Virginias and southwestern Pennsylvania. However, even if these areas receive a foot or a mere six inches it will cause serious problems.

Snowfall from the next storm Tuesday into Wednesday could make the 2009-2010 winter season the snowiest ever for many mid-Atlantic cities. If not, there is plenty of winter left to make that happen.

Crews Work To Clear Residential Streets Of Snow

February 08, 2010 - WASHINGTON (AP) Officials in Maryland and D.C. say main highways are passable as snow removal continues.

Maryland State Highway Administration spokeswoman Mariska Jordan said Monday that most of the state's interstates and main roads are drivable. Freezing temperatures, however, have left some roads icy.

In Washington a spokeswoman for the District Department of Transportation says cleanup is on schedule. The city tries to have main streets clear within 36 hours of the end of a storm. Department spokeswoman Karyn Le Blanc says they've met that goal.

The city tries to get residential streets clear within 60 hours after a storm. Le Blanc says efforts to get residential streets clear could be hampered by the fact more snow is expected Tuesday and crews will have to pre-treat roads for that storm.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest D.C. Local News

February 08, 2010 - WASHINGTON (AP) Rail travelers eager to leave the nation's capital before more snow hits are lining up at Union Station. Passengers boarded Amtrak trains Monday going to Boston and New York and other destinations.

WASHINGTON (AP) Transit systems in the Mid-Atlantic region are starting to come back to life after a blizzard over the weekend, but service is limited. Washington's Metrorail is limited to underground service and its buses are operating on a limited basis.

WASHINGTON (AP) Power crews are still working to restore electricity to thousands of customers in the mid-Atlantic. Pepco is reporting nearly 42,000 outages early today. Most of the affected customers are in Montgomery County, Md.

WASHINGTON (AP) Airports in the Washington region are working to get back to normal days after a blizzard dumped nearly 3 feet of snow in some parts of the area. Flights are expected to resume today at Reagan National Airport.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Maryland Regional News

February 08, 2010 - ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) With more snow in Maryland's forecast, state officials say it will be several days before they know how much battling the storm will end up costing. Work continued Monday just to dig out from the weekend's snowfall, which heaped more than 2 feet of snow on many parts of the state.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) The Maryland General Assembly is scheduled to return to duty after having a snow day due to the weekend storm. Alexandra Hughes, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Michael Busch, says the House of Delegates and Senate will follow the normal schedule with floor sessions starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

BALTIMORE (AP) Reggie Holmes and Dewayne Jackson each scored 25 points to lead Morgan State to a 94-68 victory over Florida A+M on Sunday. Holmes hit four 3-pointers and Jackson came off the bench to hit six from beyond the arc for the Bears, who are 6-0 at home this year.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Virginia Regional News

February 08, 2010 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia's Senate has passed a bill that would write into law executive orders by the past two governors that ban bias in the state work force based on sexual orientation. Sen. Don McEachin's bill advanced from the Democratic-controlled Senate on a nearly party line vote of 23-17.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The Senate has passed a bill to ban talking on a cell phone while driving unless using a hands-free device. Sen. Thomas Norment's bill passed the Senate 25-15 Monday. It would phase in penalties for drivers who take their hands off the wheel to hold a cell phone.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Two stimulus grants totaling $21.5 million have been awarded to expand broadband infrastructure in Virginia. The matching grants were announced Monday by U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner and Reps. Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Efforts to divert funds received from possible offshore drilling for oil and gas off Virginia's coast are moving forward in the General Assembly. The House passed a bill proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell on Monday to divert 70 percent of the revenues to transportation, 20 percent to energy research and 10 percent to localities.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

New Snow Storm Likely To Limit Afternoon, Evening Service

February 08, 2010 - From the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the Metrorail system will open at 5 a.m. with limited service and may close early depending on weather conditions as more snow and below-freezing temperatures are expected. Fifteen stations will remain closed due to heavy snow drifts on the tracks.

A combination of six- and eight-car trains will operate at 30-minute intervals and travel at maximum speeds of 35 miles per hour. Limited Metrobus service will begin at 5 a.m.

MetroAccess will operate limited service between 8 a.m. and noon Tuesday for customers whose trips are associated with life-sustaining medical needs such as chemotherapy and dialysis. After noon, MetroAccess will provide return-trips only to help get customers home.

Metrorail service for Tuesday morning (Feb. 9)

• Red Line Limited Service: Medical Center to Union Station and Glenmont to Forest Glen • Blue Line Limited Service: Franconia-Springfield to Stadium-Armory • Green Line Full Service: Greenbelt to Branch Avenue • Orange Line Full Service: Vienna to New Carrollton • Yellow Line Full Service: Huntington to Fort Totten

Metrorail stations that will remain closed on Tuesday include Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook, White Flint, Grosvenor-Strathmore, New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U, Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood, Brookland-CUA, Silver Spring and Takoma Metrorail stations on the Red Line and Benning Road, Capitol Heights, Addison Road-Seat Pleasant, Morgan Boulevard and Largo Town Center Metrorail stations on the Blue Line all due to snow drifts on the tracks of three to six feet.

Approximately 75 percent of Metro parking spaces will be available for parking.

Rail customers are encouraged to use station elevators from the street level into and out of the stations as they are safer than escalators in this type of heavy snowfall.

District Government Anticipates Another 10-20 Inches Of Snow

February 08, 2010 - D.C. Public Schools will be closed Tuesday. Patrick Madden has more on how the district's government is getting ready for the next winter storm...

Ignoring Fire Department Advice, Residents Shovel Roofs

February 08, 2010 - By Peter Granitz

As the D.C. area prepares for more winter weather, some residents are trying to clear snow from their homes before the next snow storm comes. The D.C. fire department is telling residents to stay off their roofs.

Flat roofs are more likely to collapse than pitched ones because the heavy, wet snow just sits on top. D.C. Fire and EMS personnel are telling people shoveling the snow off houses to lessen the load is actually more dangerous because it adds even more weight.

They're encouraging people to hire roofing contractors to remove the snow if necessary.

But in Ward Five's Trinidad neighborhood, LaNeise Lee is not heeding the advice. She says she always pays the same young man in the neighborhood to clear her roof.

Without a whole lot of room between her house and the fence, she holds an extended ladder at a pretty steep angle, while the young man throws the snow down below.

"It's an older house and a flat roof," she says. "Therefore preventative maintenance is better than having an eight-thousand to $10,000 bill (laughs) or more! Because it's all in your house now."

They tossed the snow into the abandoned lot next door. The fire department says people should shovel snow either onto their own property or into tree boxes on the streets.

Food Safety Tips For Power Outages

February 08, 2010 - By Rebecca Blatt

Approximately 42,000 customers in the region are still without power after the weekend storm, and with more snow on the way, the area may face additional outages.

Michelle Peregoy, spokeswoman for Virginia's Department of Emergency, says to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed if the power goes out. A fridge can keep food safe for about 4 hours, and a full freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours.

Peregoy says it's not a good idea to try to keep food cool outside, even in low temperatures.

"On a sunny day when the sun hits that food it can just the radiation can warm up the food and can cause the temperature of the food to rise," she says.

Most importantly, Peregoy adds: When in doubt, throw it out.

Roof Collapses At Falls Church Fire Station

February 08, 2010 - By Jonathan Wilson

In Virginia, the weight of the snow caused a roof to collapse at a Falls Church fire station and more damage to another fire station just down the road.

A spokesperson for Fairfax County's fire department says the flat roofs on 37 fire stations have been checked and only these two fire stations so far have had trouble standing up to the snow.

Firefighters at the Bailey's Crossroads station awoke to a crashing sound a little after 3 o'clock this morning, the roof over the four vehicle bays in the station had caved in.

All the firefighters got out of the building without injury, and the department is still assessing damage to the vehicles stuck inside. Later in the morning a portion roof at the Annandale station was found to be sagging two inches under the weight of the snow.

Firefighters and vehicles have been moved out of that building. The department does not expect emergency response at either station to be affected.

Big Snow Means Big Businesses For Ski Resorts

February 08, 2010 - MCHENRY, Md. (AP) The big snow is bringing big business to Maryland's only ski resort.

Lori Epp of the Wisp resort in McHenry said Monday the parking lot was full as visitors enjoyed the 36 inches of snow that fell over the weekend in far western Maryland.

She says the storm caused some late openings of chair lifts Saturday as resort workers struggled to get in. But all skiable terrain was open by Saturday night, and sales on Sunday were 12 percent above a year ago.

Epp says the forecast for more snow and continued cold weather this week bodes well for Presidents Day weekend business.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Homeless Shelter Emerges From Storm, Braces For Another

February 08, 2010 - By Jonathan Wilson

Volunteers and staff at Carpenters Homeless Shelter in Alexandria, Virginia are working to make sure residents have a warm, safe place to stay during the winter weather.

Mary Martin is the deputy director of Carpenters shelter and she says without volunteers, the shelter couldn't have dealt with all the people in Alexandria looking for a place to stay this weekend.

Claire Burns is one of those volunteers. She braved a 45- minute walk through the snow to get to the shelter this morning. She says when you're helping a place like Carpenters, its easy to go the extra mile.

"Literally and figuratively," she says with a laugh.

But getting to the shelter isn't the only challenge. Lee Spears and Anthony Butler, both currently housed in Carpenters residential shelter, took turns with a shovel this morning digging Butler's car free from snow. Spears needs a ride to work its his first day on the job.

"If I don't make it in, they'll go with somebody else, and I need the job," Spears says.

The overnight shelter here serves about 25 people a night, but weather has pushed the occupancy to 40 for the past few nights.

Triple AAA Representative Weighs In On Driver Safety

February 08, 2010 - John Townsend of Triple AAA Mid-Atlantic talks with Morning Edition host Matt McCleskey about safety tips for drivers hitting the roads ravaged by the weekend's storm...

Firehouse Roof Collapses Under Weight Of Snow

February 08, 2010 - FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) Some firefighters in Fairfax County didn't have to go very far to respond to a roof collapse overnight it was in their own firehouse.

County fire department spokesman Dan Schmidt says about 18 firefighters were asleep in their bunks at the Bailey's Crossroads station around 3 a.m. Monday when they were awakened by a crash. Schmidt says the roof over their engine bays had collapsed under more than two feet of snow.

Schmidt says everyone was able to get out safely, but the fire engine, fire truck and medic units inside were damaged.

He says emergency services continue in the area with increased staffing at nearby stations and a fire engine and ambulance are outside the station.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Regions Airports Recovering After The Blizzard

February 08, 2010 - Morning Edition host Matt McCleskey checks up on the region's airports after the storm with Courtney Mickalonis of Reagan National Airport...

Airport Information

February 08, 2010 - From the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority:

Reagan National (DCA) Airport:

The airfield opened for flight operations at 10 AM today.

As flights operate today on a limited basis, passengers are advised to contact their airlines to confirm their flights BEFORE coming to the airport.

Passengers are urged not to come to DCA today unless your flight is confirmed.

If your flight was canceled, please call your airline's customer service telephone number or rebook through your airline's website.

As of this posting, Metrorail service was not operating to above-ground stations, including the Reagan National Airport Metro station. For information regarding Metrorail and bus service, click here.

Dulles International (IAD) Airport:

The airfield is open for aircraft operations today, although some flights may be canceled or delayed.

Passengers are advised to contact their airlines to confirm their flights BEFORE coming to the airport.

Passengers are urged not come to IAD today unless your flight is confirmed.

If your flight was canceled, please call your airline's customer service telephone number or re-book through your airline's website.

As of this posting, Metrorail service was not operating to above-ground stations, including the West Falls Church Metro. As a result, Washington Flyer Coach service from the West Falls Church Metro station to Dulles Airport remains suspended indefinitely. For information regarding Metrorail and Metro Bus service, click here.

Below are links to all of our airlines, including websites and contact numbers. In general during peak demand, service will be faster when using the website versus a phone call:

Airlines serving Reagan National Airport (DCA), click here

Airlines serving Dulles International Airport (IAD), click here

For a look at delays at major U.S. Airports as reported by the FAA, click here.

Former Education Sec. Rod Paige Speaks About New Book And Education's Future

February 08, 2010 - For the next several months, reporter Jessica Gould will examine some of the major issues affecting public education throughout the National Capital region.

To begin, she speaks with Rod Paige, who ran the public schools in Houston, Texas before serving as the nation's Education Secretary under President George W. Bush.

Paige recently co-authored a new book called "The Black White Achievement Gap: Why Closing It Is The Greatest Civil Rights Issue Of Our Time..."

A Newcomer's Guide To Washington: Part Two

February 08, 2010 - In the second installment of "A Newcomer's Guide to Washington," WAMU's Rebecca Sheir sheds a little light on height...

Alexandria Schools Cope With Overcrowding

February 08, 2010 - Faced with dramatically increasing enrollment numbers, School Board members in Alexandria, Virginia are considering a proposal that would place enrollment caps on the city's most popular schools.

Projections suggest Alexandria's enrollment will double in the next six years. That's why Superintendent Morton Sherman has proposed a short-term solution he's calling "modified open enrollment." The plan would cap enrollment at crowded schools and place additional students at neighboring facilities.

The policy would also allow parents to choose to send their children to any school in the district, on a first-come-first-serve basis, until classes are full. The School Board is set to consider the plan in the next two weeks.

HOV Lanes Open In VA But Rural Areas Remain Under Snow

February 08, 2010 - Virginia Governor Bob McDonnel says he expects the state's HOV lanes will be cleared for this morning's rush hour -- but cautions that rural communities in Northern and Northwestern counties may remain under snow for much of the day.

The Governor says Virginia's Department of Transportation needs at least until this afternoon to clear all corners of the Northern and Northwest counties, including parts of Fairfax.

Some 500 members of the National Guard have been deployed to those areas. McDonnel says heavy snow plowing vehicles were sent in over the weekend as reinforcements -- for areas with the heaviest accumulation. "Right now the National Guard has about 25 active missions to go into the areas to help on any number of things from delivering supplies to picking up emergency personnel to bringing people to hospitals."

More than 100,000 residents were without power last night. McDonnell expects that number to rise as tree limbs give out under the weight of heavy snow that froze over night.

Mana Rabiee reports...

Montgomery County Closed, Tens Of Thousands Remain Without Power

February 08, 2010 - By Peter Granitz

Montgomery County schools and services are closed today. But the county executive says all necessary workers will continue clearing roads and helping those without power.

Tens of thousands of people in Montgomery County are still without heat and electricity. Pepco says it's working to get people's power back. The county is running three warming shelters for people to come and warm up.

County Executive Isiah Leggett says he may open more, but that depends on how cold it gets and how quickly Pepco restores service. Besides, he says, the roads are still too dangerous to ride on.

"One of the problems we have is not actually the shelters, but getting people to the shelters. In many of the residential communities people simply cannot get out and it's much more dangerous to have them navigate that rather than stay in place," says Leggett.

Snow is packed down on many roads in the Maryland suburbs. Montgomery County says it has eight-hundred vehicles cleaning the roads.

Power Breakfast For February 8, 2010

February 08, 2010 - As economic barometers go. commercial construction is a good one. Workers make good money; the stuff they build tends to generate more money and jobs down the road.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports.

DDOT Works To Restore District Streets Before Next Storm

February 08, 2010 - Morning Edition host Matt McCleskey talks with Karyn LeBlanc with D.C.'s Department of Transportation about clearing the roads after the weekend's major storm and the anticipation of another one on the way.

MarylandReporter.com: State Roundup Feb. 8, 2010

February 08, 2010 - From the Maryland Reporter website:

We've got updates on what's open, what's closed (the general assembly is) and what the cleanup might cost. But there's much more on sex offender laws, wine shipment and unemployment taxes.

SNOWMAGEDDON: The weather dominated weekend coverage. We’ll give you some highlights from across the state right here. Check out this page at The Baltimore Sun for a running update on what’s open and closed, and how the state is digging out.

For one thing, the general assembly is closed due to icy conditions, The Associated Press reports. Annie Linskey at The Sun writes that it looks like this has never happened before.

It looks like the state has already busted its budget for snow removal, with more on the way, according to the Washington Examiner.

Frank Roylance had some great coverage for The Sun on his Maryland Weather blog, which you don’t see often on MarylandReporter.com. He reports that we might be digging out again on Wednesday. Roylance also had the hot story that BWI airport doesn’t have an official snowfall total, because a federal contractor messed up.

And what would the snow coverage be without some good video? The Diamondback has a video of a campus snowball fight. WJZ has lots of stuff, as do WMAR, Fox45 and WBAL.

Here’s the local scoop from Annapolis, Frederick, Westminster, Prince George’s County (and College Park), Hagerstown, Salisbury, Washington, D.C., and Rockville.

UNEMPLOYMENT: Nick Sohr of The Daily Record reports that Gov. Martin O’Malley’s plan to offer unemployment tax relief to businesses could be dead after several groups urged the state to try to conserve what money it has left in its strained benefits fund. Julie Bykowicz at The Sun had the story too.

WINE: Sen. Joan Carter Conway, the Baltimore City Democrat whose committee will review a proposal to allow direct shipment of wine to consumers, says the measure isn’t going anywhere this year, according to Julie Bykowicz at The Sun.

SEX OFFENDERS: Del. Norman Conway, a Salisbury Democrat, wants to raise the age definition for child sex victims from 13 to 15, and make it easier to track sex offenders, Greg Latshaw reports in The (Salisbury) Daily Times.

HISTORIC TAX CREDIT: The Sun’s editorial board says O’Malley’s plan to expand eligibility for the state’s historic rehab tax credit is a “bribe” for legislators, but an effective strategy to get the job done.

LIQUOR FEES: Meg Tully has the scoop in the Frederick News-Post about the county legislative delegation’s deliberation over proposed liquor license fee increases.

MONTGOMERY RACES: Patricia Murret writes in The Gazette about a brewing battle in Montgomery County for Sen. Jennie Forehand’s seat and how that will affect the House.

JUDGE PAY: The Maryland Judiciary won’t ask for a pay increases for judges, Steve Lash writes for The Daily Record. (The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee rejected the raise for judges Friday, MarylandReporter.com reported.)

WIND POWER: Del. Wendell Beitzel, R-Western Maryland, is pushing the state to standardize its regulations for wind turbines, Kevin Spradlin reports for the Cumberland Times-News.

Local VA Shelters Help Those Who Lost Power

February 07, 2010 - Several public shelters in Virginia have opened their doors to residents who have lost power during the historic snow storm that hit the region over the weekend. Click here for a list of local shelters.

MD Snow Crews Won't Reach Subdivisions Until Tuesday Morning

February 07, 2010 - By Mana Rabiee

Maryland officials are doing what they can to help residents recover following yesterday's blizzard.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) says the next few days will be very difficult as the state continues to dig itself out of a blizzard that dumped up to 30 inches of snow on the region.

"We're going to be encouraging people that they need to plan, expect to stay off the roads for the next couple of days until we dig our way out of this thing," he says.

Meanwhile, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett reports snow removal crews will first concentrate on clearing primary and secondary roads through Monday night. He added crews will not focus on most residential streets until Tuesday morning.

Leggett is also considering opening warming centers in locations scattered across the county for people left without heat in their homes because of power outages. He says the challenge will be bringing people to those centers without causing undue risks on the roads, which are expected to remain difficult to navigate throughout the day.

Most Residential Streets May Be Plowed By Monday

February 07, 2010 - By Mana Rabiee

Road crews in D.C. are working around the clock to dig the district out of snow in time to have schools and offices open by Monday morning.

Snow removal crews were working around schools, libraries and recreation centers as early as Saturday in preparation for Monday morning.

Fenty says crews will work around the clock Sunday to clear many residential streets in time for the city's return to work.

"Hopefully [with] the sun coming out in the afternoon, we really do think that we're not only going to be able to clear a lot of the major arteries, the middle roads, but make significant progress into the residential neighborhoods" he says.

Fenty advised residents and businesses to remove the snow on their sidewalks while it's still soft because it will be nearly impossible to be shoveled once it freezes.

Meanwhile, the district opened three warming centers across the city overnight to help some of the 6,000 D.C. residents left without heat because of power outages.

Carbon Monoxide Poisons MD Families Trying to Heat Home

February 07, 2010 - The blizzard that has hit the Atlantic Coast is leaving many people without power throughout Maryland - and no power means no heat. But as residents come up with creative ways to stay warm, some are putting themselves in danger.

A family of three in Montgomery County were taken to the hospital this morning after using a charcoal cooker inside their duplex.

Last night, Prince George's County Fire and EMS responded to a call in Landover Hills. They found seven people sick with carbon monoxide exposure from a gasoline powered generator.

Both families were without electricity because of downed power lines. Mark Brady is with PG County Fire and EMS. He syas, "Carbon monoxide is what fire fighters and paramedics refer to as the 'silent killer' because it's something you cannot see, you cannot taste it and you cannot smell it. People don't really realize that they're being overcome by carbon monoxide until it's too late."

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include flu-like symptoms, such as nausea and dizziness. Brady says the only safe way to heat a home without power is with a working fireplace, and that residents should not use gas stoves for heat.

Mana Rabee reports...

SHELTERS OPENING IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Shelters are opening in Montgomery County. The first has already opened at Richard Montgomery High School, located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.

Two more shelters are expected to open at 4 p.m. for residents affected by power outages. The two shelters are located at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring and the Longwood Recreation Center, 19300 Georgia Avenue, Brookeville.

Individuals using the shelter should bring any medications or personal supplies they require with them. No pets are allowed at shelters except for registered service animals.

Workers Shovel Out Cars For Uncertain Work Week

February 07, 2010 - In DC, residents continue to dig their way out of the snow. But not everyone is certain whether it will be clear enough in time for work tomorrow.

Mayor Adrian Fenty says crews are covering all areas of the city and are reaching residential side streets. But that's not enough for some people living in Northeast Washington.

A man named Derrick - who only gave his first name - says he needs to leave his house at 4:45 in the morning to make it to Gaithersburg for work. Unlike most people, he's sure he'll be needed. He works at the Post Office.

Derrick and a few neighbors were shoveling their cars and the alley they share. He says if he can get the car out of the alley, he’ll be fine. "They haven't been through here yet, as you see. Does that always happen? This is DC. You never know what to expect, so you need to deal with it."

For those hoping to take public transit, Metro has yet to announce when it will resume above-ground trains.

Peter Granitz reports.

Blizzard Conditions Bring Local Airports To Standstill

February 06, 2010 - By Jonathan Wilson

The winter storm has brought local airports to a standstill, and airports are expected to stay that way for most of the day.

Airlines began canceling flights as early as Thursday and by late Friday afternoon runways were closed at both Dulles and Reagan National, and terminals were nearly deserted.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says at Dulles 400 staffers worked through the night, most working to clear the tarmac of snow. At Reagan National, 150 staffers remained overnight--flights there aren't scheduled to resume until Sunday.

At BWI, a spokesperson says the storm will likely be less disruptive than the record setting storm on the weekend before Christmas, because airlines will have an easier time re-booking passengers.

Tens of Thousands Without Power, Storm Rages On

February 06, 2010 - By Peter Granitz

Tens of thousands of Metro-area residents are waking up this morning without power. Crews are working to get service back but it is unclear how long people will be without electricity.

More than 60,000 people in Northern Virginia don't have power this morning, and Pepco is reporting 85,000 homes are without electricity, most in Montgomery County. Less than 6,000 in Washington have lost service.

Spokesman Bob Hainey says the heavily-treed areas of Maryland and upper northwest D.C. are the hardest hit because the heavy, wet snow is causing trees to fall onto power lines.

Compounding that, Hainey says, work trucks are getting stuck in the snow on tight roads.

"These are large trucks. These are trucks with double wheels and chains," says Hainey. "But right now we are working with Montgomery County to get those trucks mobile again. It just shows you the power of this storm."

With possibly ten more inches of snow today, Hainey says he can't predict when people will get their power back. He says to call 877-PEPCO-62 to report an outage.

O'Malley Insists State Prepared, Eyes Federal Help

February 06, 2010 - By Peter Granitz

Maryland declared a state of emergency because of the massive snowstorm. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) says his state can handle the efforts, but is hoping for federal help.

O'Malley insists the state's budget will not affect the services and crews combating the snow storm throughout Maryland. The clean up in December cost $27 million, which is nearly half of the allocated money for the year.

On a conference call with reporters, he said the clean up will take several days and is sure to cost more than the previous one. He's hopeful the state will qualify help as a federal emergency.

"Twenty-eight inches is what's required and it's measured at the airport," he says. There's a federal ruler that comes out to do that. Now it's our hope that whoever comes out with the federal ruler does so after the next 6-8 inches fall and we hit that 28 inches."

The governor said the state has not opened any emergency shelters, but is prepared to if needed.

Days Before Residential Streets Can Be Cleared

February 06, 2010 - By Mana Rabiee

Transportation authorities across the Washington area say it will take days before all the snow can be cleared from residential streets.

Transportation spokespersons from D.C., Virginia and Maryland say the snow fell so fast that highway crews had to clear the same roads repeatedly.

Most area residents will not see road crews entering subdivisions or residential streets until after the snow fall stops.

"The rule of thumb that the county has for clearing the roads is that is takes, for 24 [inches] of snow, it will take about 60 hours once the snow stops to at least make a run at every single one of those 5,000 lane miles of road," says Montgomery County Department of Transportation spokesperson Esther Bowring.

A Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson also says it will take much of next week to remove all the snow and that some residents should not expect to go to work Monday.