"Art Beat" with Stephanie Kaye - Monday, May 12, 2008
Stephanie Kaye

May 12, 2008 - (May 12) TELEMANN, KLUGHARDT AND FOOTE Show up at the Howard Community College recital hall tonight at 7:30 for a concert of classical proportions. Joan Bob and Sandra Gerster Lisicky bring viola and oboe to the musical works of Telemann, Klughardt and Foote, along with guest pianists Mary Woehr and Barbara Brickman.

(Through May 18) 1776 (from the Apr 9-May 11 calendar) 1776 ends next Sunday at the Olney Theater Center in Maryland. This is one history lesson you won't sleep through. It's filled with light-hearted legislative jokes and rousing vocals by Johnny Adams, Bennie Franklin, and T.J. as they spar with the Continental Congress and pursue their dreams of independence from Britain.

(May 13-June 22) THE VISIT The Visit opens tomorrow at Signature Theater, running through June 22nd. Part of the Kander & Ebb musical festival, the show's stars include two 2-time Tony winners, George Hearn and Chita Rivera, and tells the gripping story of a wealthy old woman who takes revenge on a town that betrayed her.

DC Council Wants Say in School Closings
Jessica Golloher

May 12, 2008 - The DC Council will hold a public hearing on a measure that would mandate certain procedures before Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee can close a school.

The chancellor plans to shutter at least 20 schools before next fall. Many in the public and on the council maintain that there needs to be more of a formal process before that happens....including an annual survey of how the buildings will be used and more public input. Most importantly, the bill would require council approval before any doors can be closed for good. Mayor Adrian Fenty has consistently maintained that the council has already given him authority to allow the chancellor to close schools when they gave him mayoral control over the underperforming system.

Jessica Golloher reports...

West Virginia Governor comments on that State's Primary
Gene Kuleta

May 12, 2008 - Tomorrow is presidential primary day in West Virginia. West Virginia's Democratic Governor, Joe Manchin says that to connect with voters in his state, Clinton and Obama should focus on issues including caring for troops, on ways to improve the economy and on how to get gas prices to come down.

Gene Kuleta reports...

Artomatic is Here

May 12, 2008 - Artomatic is a one of a kind mass art exhibition where a thousand artists install their work in a vacant building. It`s entirely volunteer run, and the scale is massive. This year, the event is in a 12 story high rise at 1200 First street North East.

Sabri Ben-Achour attended opening night...

Virginia Politics Preview

May 12, 2008 - Transportation is front and center as state officials work to resolve a funding shortfall. On Monday Gov Kaine will announce his new transportation funding proposal for the general assembly special session on June 23rd, he will also begin holding town hall meetings on transportation beginning Tuesday in Woodbridge and thursday in Hampton. The dept of transportation will seek public input on a scaled down plan for road improvements in a Wednesday public hearing in northern Virginia.

Tom McNeil Reports...

Virginia Transportation Tax Proposal

May 12, 2008 - Virginia may soon see rising taxes to pay for transportation projects. Virginia governor Tim Kaine will propose today several measures to raise funds for transportation projects across the state. His plan includes raising the titling tax on car sales from 3 to 4 percent, raising the car registration fee by $10, and raising the Sales tax in Northern Virginia and Hampton roads would be raised by one percent.

Sabri Ben-Achour reports...

Rain Opens Sinkhole in Prince George's County

May 12, 2008 - Todays slow-moving storm has closed schools, downed power lines, and flooded roads. One Prince George's County neighbor says the rain storm is even altering the landscape. As 20-year-old Douglas Pfof surveys the 10 foot gulley in his backyard, he says he wasnt shocked by this mornings wake-up call. 10 years ago, heavy rains caused the same patch of land to sink a few feet, but nothing like this mornings collapse. The sinkhole is 200 feet long, 20 feet wide, and runs across the backyard of three homes in Camp Springs. The porch of one of those houses now precariously sits on a 45 degree angle, authorities on the scene say there are waiting for it to topple over. Todays heavy flooding also closed most of Upper Marlboro, the headquarters for the Prince Georges County government.

Patrick Madden reports...

Governor Urges Marylanders To Be Prepared for Flooding

May 12, 2008 - Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley says area residents should be prepared for even more problems associated with the area's drenching rain. The governor points out that Maryland and much of the rest of the Mid-Atlantic area have seen several inches of rain and several roads either under water or blocked by downed trees and power lines. O'Malley says that with expected high winds, residents should stay alert, especially while driving. O'Malley says the worst-hit areas for flooding and blocked roads include Montgomery, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles and Calvert Counties. He says emergency officials are also keeping an eye on low-lying areas of the lower Eastern Shore. O'Malley says there are no plans for evacuations. But he says National Guard troops are ready to assist if any are ordered. The governor is also reminding motorists to obey detours, to slow down and to not attempt to drive through standing water

Gene Kuleta reports from Hanover, in Anne Arundel County...