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Saturday, July 4, 2009
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June 25, 2008 - The Smithsonian Folklife Festival kicks off today in Washington.
This year's celebration focuses on the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, the lone star state of Texas and NASA's 50th anniversary.
Patrick Madden has a sampling of sights and sounds from the Mall...
June 25, 2008 - Virginia's House Transportation Committee passed a bill Tuesday to commission an independent performance audit of the Virginia Department of Transportation and related agencies. The audit would seek ways to reduce duplication and help cut the cost of operating state transportation programs.
The bill's sponsor -- delegate Scott Ligamfelter -- says that the transportation committee has an obligation to investigate how VDOT spends its funding.
Savings gained from the audit could be directed to Virginia's Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund.
The bill has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee, which will decide how much to spend on the audit.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
June 25, 2008 - (June 25-July 6) SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL The Smithsonian's annual [Folklife Festival]http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2008/ opens this morning on the National Mall at 11am, and runs through July 6th. This exposition of living cultural heritage has three themes this year, Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon, Texas: A celebration of Wine, Food, and Dance, and NASA: 50 Years and Beyond. The festival offers an opportunity to enjoy diverse cuisines and music, listen to story tellers and observe craft demonstrations.
(June 25 - Ongoing) BEYOND HAPPY HOUR At the Upstairs Lounge in Dupont Circle from 6pm to 11pm tonight, you can join DJ's Bob, Will Eastman and Dave Bloom in the Moroccan-themed lounge as they spin a variety of underground hip-hop, indie rock, and reggae beats not often heard in the District.
(June 25 - Ongoing) ART PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION At 3:00 this afternoon, learn how the curators at the Smithsonian use science, history, and skilled hands to preserve the objects included in their collections. This behind-the-scenes look at the restoration and preservation of the nation's most valuable artifacts takes place each week at the American Art Museum's Lunder Conservation Center.
June 25, 2008 - Day 2 of the General Assembly's Special Session was a hectic one packed with meetings as Senators and Delegates made pitches for a variety of potential solutions to Virginia's transportation funding needs.
Anne Marie Morgan has more from the Capitol...
June 25, 2008 - The District's Department of Transportation is unveiling a new master pedestrian plan, designed to make the city safer for foot traffic. The major goals of the plan are to reduce the number of pedestrians killed and injured by cars and to make walking in the district so easy that people choose to do it more often. The plan would be implemented within the next 10 years. It is estimated to cost $18 million.
Faryl Ury listened as officials presented the plan to residents...
June 25, 2008 - Senators risk losing vacation time over the housing and mortgage package. The House prepares to vote on the alternative minimum tax. And Senator Hillary Clinton reintroduces herself to lawmakers.
Todd Zwillich reports...
June 25, 2008 - The D.C. government has agreed to settle with six lawyers who sued to try and keep their jobs. The government lawyers sued interim D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles to prevent their terminations. They've now agreed to drop the case.
This comes after the City let three of them retire while three others can remain on the payroll until September. Two others have not settled.
Nickles sent the eight lawyers letters last month informing them they would be fired because of poor performance and budget constraints. The employees' union said the city failed to follow the proper procedure for the terminations.
Kavitha Cardoza reports...
June 25, 2008 - The Board of Public Works slashed $50 million dollars from Maryland's budget -- a move prompted by the repeal of the so-called tech tax. The budget cuts total about $75 million for fiscal year 2009 when the loss of federal matching funds is also taken into account. The reductions were to help make up for an estimated $200 million budget hole caused by the repeal of a tax on computer services.
Comptroller Peter Franchot, one of three board members, criticized the budget cutting process. Franchot says he saw a written copy of the cuts earlier in the day, and he says that didn't leave much time to consider the impact of cuts to private colleges and health programs.
Meymo Lyons explains...
June 25, 2008 - Federal employees who use Metro to get to work could get more help on their commuting costs. The House is set to vote Thursday on a bill increasing funding for mass transit systems throughout the country. Virginia Republican Tom Davis is trying to offer an amendment increasing the maximum allowed value of Metrocheks -- the subsidized metro cards federal employees get.
Todd Zwillich has more from Capitol Hill...
June 25, 2008 - Maryland's current law requires 4- and 5-year olds to sit in a booster seat. That law expands on Monday to include kids up to the age of 8.
David Klatt reports...
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