Friday, August 29, 2008
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June 02, 2008 - Like any other police, those who guard the Capitol and congressional and senate buildings use radios to communicate -- except when they don't work -- which officials say is too often. Not only do capitol police have difficulty communicating with other police and with fire and rescue who use new digital signals, but there are "dead spots" in and around the congressional buildings where the radios don't work at all.
Capital police chief Phillip Morse told a house subcommittee last year that his officers simply couldn't communicate effectively with each other. $10 million has been appropriated by Congress for upgrades, but costs are expected to far exceed that amount. A new system would take up to two years to construct, and that's after the money is approved.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
June 02, 2008 - (Through Jul 27) NEFELI MASSIA The intriguing art of Nefeli Massia appears on the walls - and floors - of the Katzen Arts Center through July 27th. The work of this Greek-born artist engulfs the 2nd floor of the museum with ghostly and ethereal visual displays. Her drawings and sculpture swirl across the walls and spill onto the floor, ensnaring the viewer in her vision.
(June 3) JEAN NOUVEL French architect Jean Nouvel is in town to receive the Pritzker Prize, the highest honor awarded in his field, and he's also lecturing at the National Building Museum Tuesday evening at 5:00. Meet this courageous and imaginative world-class designer, who rejuvenated the Les Halles district in Paris, helped define France's architectural landscape, and holds honorary degrees from the University of Buenos Aires, the Royal College of Art, London and the University of Naples.
(May 31-Aug 31) RE.ACTION AT ANNMARIE GARDENS [Re.action: Art that Will Move You] features mobiles by Baltimore Artist Rick Eisenmann Rick Eisenmann at the Annmarie Gardens in Solomon, Maryland, through August 31st. He displays his moving art in natural settings, in this case, alongside an original Alexander Calder. Eisenmann boldly invites viewers to compare his work to one of the master's. The exhibit celebrates the grand opening of the gardens' new arts building.
Rick Eisenmann puts his mobiles up against the likes of Calder at the Annmarie Gardens in Solomon, Maryland.
courtesy of: Rick Eisenmann
June 02, 2008 - The call is getting louder to help Chesapeake Bay watermen hurt by new restrictions on harvesting blue crabs.
Members of Congress from Virginia, including Senators John Warner and Jim Webb, are calling on the secretary of commerce to declare a blue crab fisheries disaster for the Chesapeake Bay. Last week, the Senate agreed to provide 75-million dollars in disaster aid for fisheries nationwide. If the House of Representatives and President Bush also sign off on the disaster aid and the government approves the declaration for the Chesapeake Bay, water men there would be able to access some of that money. Webb says water men are hurting after Virginia and Maryland restricted the crab harvest by 34 percent in order to help increase the bay's dangerously-low crab population.
Gene Kuleta reports...
June 02, 2008 - Nearly 200 musicians from Maryland will travel to China next month to play in an invitation-only "Salute to the Olympic Games" concert. They will also break into smaller bands to perform in a series of intimate concerts with their Chinese counterparts.
Kavitha Cardoza sat in as the American musicians rehearsed before heading overseas...
June 02, 2008 - As the Democratic presidential primary winds down, some Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters have threatened to switch party allegiances when they vote in the general election.
Commentator Deborah Bolling can't understand it...
June 02, 2008 - The DC Council is expected to take up emergency legislation that would ban all fireworks in the District.
Mayor Adrian Fenty introduced the measure along with council member Jim Graham last week. Officials say the city received 4,000 calls last 4th of July during a 12-hour period due to the improper use of fireworks. There were six significant injuries related to fireworks last year as well. DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin says he has yet to issue any licenses for fireworks this year because he hopes the legislation will pass. The measure needs nine votes of approval from the 13-member council. If it passes, it immediately goes into effect. Fireworks staged by professional pyrotechnics experts will be allowed, such as the annual celebration on the National Mall.
Jessica Golloher reports...
June 02, 2008 - Virginia's 68th governor will face off against its 69th in a fight for the seat of retiring US Senator John Warner. Over the weekend, thousands of Republicans gathered at their state convention and narrowly elected former Governor Jim Gilmore as the party's candidate.
Anne Marie Morgan reports from the Capitol...
June 02, 2008 - Virginia's attorney general is headed to a federal appeals court in Richmond to seek another hearing on a state law on late-term abortions.The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 last month that the Virginia abortion law is unconstitutional, despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold a similar federal ban. Attorney General Bob McDonnell said he will ask the full court to review the decision on Monday. He cited the Supreme Court's decision as part of the basis of his appeal. The three-judge panel's May 20 decision affirmed the same court's 2005 ruling striking down the law.
Patrick Madden reports...
June 02, 2008 - Lorenzo Odone, the subject of the film Lorenzo's Oil has died at his home in Virginia.
When he was six, Lorenzo Odone was diagnosed with an extremely rare disorder called Adrenoleukodystrophy, which causes the body's neurological system to disintegrate. His parents were told he had two years to live, and began to watch their son become trapped inside his own body. They weren't scientists, but they researched tirelessly to find a way to save Lorenzo, eventually developing a treatment made from olive and rapeseed oils that slowed the disease in their son's case and has since been shown in studies to prevent onset of symptoms.
On Friday, Lorenzo Odone died at his Virginia home from pneumonia before an ambulance could arrive. He was 30 years old, 22 years older than doctors predicted he would ever live.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
June 02, 2008 - DC cab drivers must now have new time-and-distance meters, or face a $1000 fine. Cabs with the new meters are identified by a certification sticker from the DC Cab Commission. Union Station is one of the busiest areas in the city for taxis, and all of them that passed through this morning had the sticker. The commission, and to a lesser degree DC police, are issuing the fines. Drivers have been grousing about the new meters, saying it is costing them money, but their customers have been more positive.
Matt Bush reports....
June 02, 2008 - DC kids can grab their swimsuits -- public pools in the are now open for cannonballs.
A few weeks ago, while making his final checks of the pool in Anacostia, DC Parks and Recreation Director Clark Ray heard this plea from one eager swimmer.
"Come on Mister, Turn the water on!"
So today he did.
Mayor Adrian Fenty joined the Parks Director and a dozen local 5th graders at Oxon Run Pool in Southeast to officially open the DC's pools.
"There's a total of 31 pools at 25 locations and four spray parks that will be opening," Fenty said. "All of them look just as fantasic as this pool right here. Doesn't this pool look good, guys?"
"Yes!" the kids cheered.
Eleven pools have already opened and several more will follow this weekend. The catch is you'll have to wait until June 16th to swim at any of them during the week, but free swim lessons are available at all indoor facilities.
David Klatt reports...
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