Friday, October 10, 2008
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December 13, 2007 - (Dec 15) TUDOR PLACE GINGERBREAD HOUSE Bundle up the kids and bring them to the Tudor Place's Gingerbread House Workshop, starting Saturday and running through the 28th. Tour the historic mansion and learn how the holidays were celebrated in early Washington and, afterwards, the kids can design and build their own gingerbread houses. Reservations are required.
(Dec 15-16) GRANDFATHER FROST AND THE SNOW MAIDEN Coming up this weekend at the Hillwood Museum and Gardens are performances by Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden. The Russian Winter Festival opens on Saturday. It's a family-friendly event, celebrating Russian holiday traditions with storytelling, music by Samovar and the St. Petersburg Trio, and traditional folk dance performances and lessons.
(Dec 28) ELLA The musical "Ella" re-opens on the boards of Arena Stage - but not in Southwest, D.C. The theater will be in its temporary residence in Arlington's Crystal City. This weekend, the musical spotlights the life of Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Jazz. Set during the rehearsals for a 1966 performance, the play provides audiences a glimpse into her life...on stage and off.
December 13, 2007 - When children in Washington face abuse, neglect or homelessness, there's a legal office ready to help them. It's called the Children's Law Center. Rosiland Jordan profiles the woman who runs it and her equally passionate team of child advocates...
December 13, 2007 - The State Board of Education will vote on its proposed sex education curriculum standards tonight but many questions remain. The standards, according to the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, would include a comprehensive approach to abstinence, along with teaching eighth graders about such topics as sexual orientation and ninth graders about the availability of abortion. The State Superintendent of Education, Deborah Gist, says if the standards are passed each local education agency, or school, would be responsible for the curriculum but that wouldn't be standard at every institution. Adam Tenner is the Executive Director of Metro Teen AIDS. He believes the standards will pass tonight and says he's not so much worried about a standard curriculum but how the standard would be measured.
Jessica Golloher reports...
December 13, 2007 - Power Breakfast, our daily look at what's happening on Capitol Hill and at the White House...
December 13, 2007 - The Bush Administration says it will have to lay off federal employees unless Congress passes a Defense funding bill. Lawmakers from the D.C. area say the White House is playing politics. The Department of Defense says it has to send furlough notices to about 100,000 employees. A furlough is a temporary layoff, until the funds come in to bring them back on. The Congressional Research Service claims the DOD has extra money it can use to stay afloat, and says it can also hold off on some scheduled maintenance. Northern Virginia Republican Congressman Tom Davis feels the message being sent could deter new workers. Congress already passed a nearly half trillion dollar DOD funding bill. The White House is waiting for more Iraq War funding.
Matt Laslo reports...
December 13, 2007 - The mortgage industry's legacy of discrimination continues to hamper some African-American home buyers in Virginia but there's a growing movement to help them overcome the obstacles.
Nancy King reports....
December 13, 2007 - The moths are becoming an ever increasing problem in the state. An official from the state's Agriculture Department says the number of wooded areas under attack by the pests could double by next year. The agency is considering spraying pesticide on about 100,000 acres. In 2007 they sprayed about half that amount. The hardest hit places are in Allegany and Washington Counties.
Pat Brogan reports...
December 13, 2007 - Lawmakers in Virginia want to know why proposed regulations governing labs that test water, waste and air samples have never been implemented.
Anne Marie Morgan has the story from Richmond...
December 13, 2007 - Montgomery County is scaling back its schools budget for next year as the county braces for a projected 400 million dollar budget shortfall. Montgomery County School's proposed $2.1 billion budget may be the largest in county history but it's also much lower than originally projected. The 5.6% pending increase is about 2 percentage points off the county's 8-year-average. Schools Superintendent Jerry Weast says the tough financial constraints facing the county forced him to make some the tough decisions. He says the hardest hit will be the school's central office, which will lose about 16 jobs. The budget recommendation is the first step in a long, complex process that begins tonight when Weast presents the budget to the Board of Education.
Patrick Madden reports...
December 13, 2007 - Virginia's chief executive wants to borrow more than a billion and a half dollars to improve higher education in the state. Governor Tim Kaine says a General Obligation Bond would help pay for high-tech research facilities and instructional programs in life sciences, business and education. Before a bond could be issued, the General Assembly and voters in Virginia would have to approve it. Kaine also wants the General Assembly to approve an additional $54 million for financial aid and operations at colleges and universities -- including George Mason University in Fairfax. Both proposals are part of the governor's plan to diversify Virginia's economy.
Rosiland Jordan reports...
December 13, 2007 - Metro commuters will soon see their first rate increases in four years. Metro's Board of Directors voted for new fare and parking fee hikes starting next month. Metrorail fares at peak commute times will go up by between 30 and 60 cents, depending on the distance of the trip. Bus rates will go up a dime for riders who pay in cash instead of using SmartTrip cards. And commuters will also pay more to park in Metro lots.
Shia Levitt reports...
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