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Friday, November 20, 2009
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August 05, 2008 - Virginia's two U.S. senators are asking the government to ease off the federal ethanol mandate to help the state's poultry, dairy and cattle industries. The farming community has complained that too much of the nation's corn crop is being diverted to biofuel. That's driving up the cost of feed.
A federal mandate passed in December diverts about a third of U.S. corn toward the production of ethanol. Monday, Sens. John Warner and Jim Webb said they sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency in support of a temporary waiver of that mandate.
They cited the increased farm costs to farmers, who pass some of those costs off to consumers. The poultry business said 70 percent of its costs are for feed.
Meymo Lyons has more...
August 05, 2008 - In Virginia, as university officials prepare for the upcoming school year, they are challenging each other to think more broadly about campus safety. Representatives from more than 60 of Virginia's colleges and universities came together in Richmond for the Second Governors Campus Preparedness Conference Monday.
Tommie McNeil reports...
August 05, 2008 - The Washington region's real estate market has long been a favorite of foreigners because it's the seat of the federal government and the home to a host of international agencies -- not to mention less expensive than New York City.
But the troubled U.S. economy is making an investment in local real estate even more of a bargain for foreigners.
Kavitha Cardoza reports...
August 05, 2008 - Maryland authorities have seized nearly 8000 packs of smuggled cigarettes from a single van off the beltway. Maryland police and Federal ATF agents pulled the van over after watching 50-year-old Pavel Peleshenko load them into his van.
The trade in illegal cigarettes runs from states with the lowest cigarette taxes in the country - such as Virginia, which charges 30 cents - to states with the highest taxes such as New York, which charges nearly $3. Smugglers try to illegally move cigarettes between those states and cash in on the difference. In Maryland, it's illegal to move more than 2 cartons of cigarettes in or out of the state at a time.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
August 05, 2008 - Circuit City Stores temporarily pulled the irreverent MAD Magazine from its store's shelves for poking fun at the consumer electronics retailer. The company, based in Richmond, says the August issue was removed from the 40 Circuit City stores that sell magazines. Spokesman Jim Babb called the move a "knee-jerk reaction" by "some overly-sensitive souls at our corporate headquarters."
Meymo Lyons reports...
August 05, 2008 - It`s not just environmentalists who are going "green" these days. D.C. is bringing low-income housing in-line with the movement.
Stephanie Kaye visited the Galen Terrace apartments in Southeast Washington...
August 05, 2008 - The Loudoun County Sheriff's Department is now the first in Virginia to offer its crime reports online.
Residents can now find out why, where and when officers are called to any part of the county. Officials with the sheriff's department say the program is being offered in the effort to keep the community informed without having to dedicate any more manpower. The system does not show all crimes committed. Some like domestic violence,n rape and sexual assault are not accessible to the public.
Pat Brogan reports...
August 05, 2008 - House Republicans continue a debate on oil drilling...without their opponents. In the Senate, Democrat Jack Reed holds down the fort to prevent President Bush from slipping through any recess appointments. Meanwhile, a Republican action committee conference gets under way in Arlington, Va.
Jodi Breisler reports...
August 05, 2008 - A yearly event meant to fight crime kicks off this afternoon.
People from all walks of life are being encouraged to work with the police, community groups and other officials to generate support for local anti-crime programs. This year's rally comes at a time when the District's homicide rate is higher than it was at this same time last year. The event also coincides with the city's "All Hands on Deck" initiative, which puts the entire police -- 3,300 officers -- force out on the street. Some residents say that not enough is being done to curb crime in the city and that some of Police Chief Cathy Lanier's initiatives aren't working, including her controversial neighborhood checkpoint plan. National Night Out activities begin at 4pm on the National Mall. Local police districts also have their own programs.
Jessica Golloher reports...
August 05, 2008 - House leaders have agreed to allow a vote next month on a bill that would end handgun control in the District of Columbia.
The House bill seeks to eliminate gun control measures passed by DC Council after the Supreme Court struck down the District's 32-year ban on handguns.
It would allow residents of DC to own handguns without registering them with local police if they meet federal requirements. It would do away with a mandate for owners to keep handguns unloaded and disassembled in their homes. And it would also repeal the city's ban on most semiautomatic handguns.
The measure was filed last week by several conservative Democrats. Supporters say the bill has a good chance of passing the House, though its prospects in the Senate are unclear.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
August 05, 2008 - You will soon be paying more to take a taxi in Fairfax County.
Following in the footsteps of other jurisdictions such as the District, Alexandria, Arlington and Montgomery counties, officials in Virginia's Fairfax County have granted emergency authority to cab operators to add $1 to every fare to cover rising gas prices. The county's Board of Supervisors is expected to consider a permanent increase in fares later this year. For now, the extra surcharge will last from August 15 until October 14. The total surcharge allowed per trip will be $2.
Bill Redlin reports...
August 05, 2008 - Officials in Fairfax County, Va., are thinking about a new approach to try to bring the number of deer in county parks under control.
The Board of Supervisors will vote Monday on whether to ask state officials to be allowed to use bait to lure deer into authorized areas, where police can kill them. SWAT team sharpshooters are now used in larger parks to target deer, but officials say it's hard to catch the animals in smaller parks for safety reasons. Deer are seen as causing car accidents, spreading ticks, carrying disease and reducing vegetation in forests.
Bill Redlin reports...
August 05, 2008 - In Maryland, the president of the Montgomery County Council says County Executive Ike Leggett is holding back funds that would help government employees purchase their first homes. President Mike Knapp says it has been more than a year since the council allocated $500,000 to help cover the closing costs for county employees. The problem, Knapp says, is that county executive Ike Leggett hasn't signed off on the legislation.
But a spokesman for Leggett disagrees with Knapp. Patrick Lacefield says the proposal, which would help employees recieve up to $10,000 for down payments and closing costs, was a "non-binding suggestion" to the county executive. In fact, Lacefield says, a recent Leggett proposal to give rebates on transfer and recordation taxes for county employees will help all homeowners, not just first-time buyers.
Patrick Madden reports...
August 05, 2008 - (Aug 6) IMAGINASIA The Imaginasia Family Program at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art on the Mall features Yellow Mountain, an exhibit of the magical effect of clouds in Chinese painting and photography. It begins today at 2pm and will be open every day this week except Friday. You can explore mythical images and hear about the stories of the supernatural that inspired the art and you can create your own poetry during writing workshops and listen to traditional stories about the legendary Yellow Mountain and other Asian landscapes.
(Through Sept 21) WINGS OF FANCY A live butterfly show, Wings of Fancy, surrounds visitors with fluttering friends at Brookside Gardens through September 21st. Hundreds of Asian, Costa Rican, and North American butterflies flit freely among colorful tropical nectar plants as you learn about the butterfly life-cycle in this exhibit.
(Through Oct 5) JIM HENSON'S FANTASTIC WORLD
Jim Henson's Fantastic World, an exhibit that explores one of America's most-beloved artists and puppeteers, is at the Smithsonian's Ripley Center on the Mall through October 5th. On view are more than 100 original artworks, that include drawings, cartoons, storyboards and movie props that made Bert and Ernie, Kermit and Rowlf, and the entire Muppet family come to life.
August 05, 2008 - The Maryland comptroller's office is sending millions of dollars to residents but is encountering some unexpected suspicion.
Every year, the Maryland comptroller's office receives tens of millions of dollars in unclaimed property. If a safe deposit box, bank account or other financial account has no activity for three years, financial institutions turn the contents over to the state. For years, the state has tried to reunite owners with their property through methods including newspaper ads. But this year, the comptroller's office is matching unclaimed property against tax records and sending checks to residents. Administering the program costs the state about $3.5 million annually, but Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot says the program is worth the cost.
Gene Kuleta reports...
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