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Saturday, November 7, 2009
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September 08, 2008 - Several ceremonies are planned this week to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Virginia's Fairfax County held its this afternoon at the county government center. County Board of Supervisors chairman Gerry Connolly noted a similarity between today and 9-11. Much of Connolly's remarks focused on how 9-11 changed the role of first responders, and the urgency with which they operate. County fire and rescue chief Ronald Mastin agreed. Several first responders from Fairfax County helped at the scene in the aftermath of the attack on the Pentagon, where a ceremony Thursday will dedicate the permanent memorial to 184 people killed there.
Matt Bush reports....
September 08, 2008 - Several elected officials from Montgomery County are calling on voters to vote "no" on Maryland's upcoming referendum on slot machines. More than a dozen officials, including members of the General Assembly and the county council, gathered in front of Montgomery County's old red brick courthouse to call on voters to reject the proposal to legalize slot machines. The November referendum will ask voters whether the state should allow up to 15,000 slot machines.
Gene Kuleta reports...
September 08, 2008 - You can now download your favorite books, music and video from area libraries. The service is free, and the books, music or video check themselves back in automatically so there are never late fees or ripped pages.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports....
September 08, 2008 - According to officials, about 15 percent of Montgomery County residents speak English as a second language. This population is also at the highest risk for pedestrian collisions.
Kavitha Cardoza reports on a new initiative aimed at teaching this population street safety...
September 08, 2008 - (Through Nov 21) THEY CAME FROM BEYOND THE BELTWAY The photographs of Lucian Perkins are featured in They Came from Beyond the Beltway a new exhibit at Carroll Square Gallery in downtown D.C. through November 21st. His unobtrusive shots of tourists wandering the Mall capture subjects in obedient alien formation, lingering in front of monuments, statues and other hives of tourist activity during their summertime descent on the District.
(Sept 8-Oct 10) TWO OF FOUR Images of water and light comprise Two of Four, a collection of paintings by Lisa Neher, at the Fairfax Art League Gallery through October 10th. An opening reception tonight from 7 to 9pm offers glimpses of domestic and foreign vistas, stretching from the shores of the Outer Banks to the free-flowing fountains of Italy. You can also enjoy other artists' works in the gallery, featuring an array of works in acrylics, oils, pencils and pastels.
(Sept 9-Oct 4) DR. COOKS GARDEN
[American Century Theater](<http://www.americancentury.org>) presents [Dr. Cooks Garden](http://www.americancentury.org/show_cook.php) opening tomorrow at 7:30pm, running through October 4th. This seldom-seen 1968 Broadway thriller tells the tale of a local whose return disrupts life in an idyllic New England town that's not quite as lovely or unsullied as it seems.
Images of water and light comprise [Two of Four](September 08, 2008 - Congress returns to Washington after a 5-week recess. Todd Zwillich and Elizabeth Wynne Johnson report on what to expect as lawmaking resumes...
September 08, 2008 - It's another busy week in Virginia, with many legislative meetings at the Capitol and other events to help Virginia remember the September 11th tragedy.
Tommie McNeil has this week`s preview from Richmond...
September 08, 2008 - In Maryland, the Howard County executive says new flexible work schedules have led county employees to be happier and more productive.
For two months, some Howard County employees have had the option of working compressed schedules such as four 10-hour days. Employees can also start their work days earlier or later to avoid rush hour and work some days from home.
County Executive Ken Ulman, who implemented the new policy, says employees are saving fuel and also being more productive, which he says improves public service. Ulman also says employees are also more productive because they're happier.
Gene Kuleta reports...
September 08, 2008 - Defendants in jury trials have a much better chance of avoiding the most serious charges if they're tried in the city of Baltimore rather than in three nearby, suburban counties, according to a new study.
The report by the Abell Foundation was based on data from July 2005 to June 2006 for the city of Baltimore as well as Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County. It showed that juries in the city were 30 times less likely to convict defendants of the most serious charges they faced compared to those in Baltimore county, Anne Arundel county and Howard county.
A draft report released earlier this year recommended that officials look into using a regional jury pool as a way to eliminate the disparity.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
September 08, 2008 - Local officials say while damage from Tropical Storm Hanna was minimal, the cleanup throughout the region was not.
The power is, for the most part, back on in Virginia following the storm. Dominion Virginia Power says it has restored service to almost all of the 200,000 customers affected by Hanna. Dominion says the Hampton Roads was the worst hit, although the central and northern parts of the state were also affected.
Nine schools in D.C. saw minor flooding. Pepco and the D.C. Department of Transportation spent several hours removing downed limbs, branches and trees.
In Fairfax County's Huntington neighborhood, 50 people had to be evacuated from their homes. Red Cross volunteers spent Sunday distributing clean-up kits to Huntington residents.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
September 08, 2008 - More than 60 percent of recently retired police officers in Montgomery County are collecting disability payments, according to a new report. A draft of the report, obtained by the Washington Post, cites "questionable practices" and patterns or behaviors that a "prudent person would consider abusive."
In one instance, it says, an officer was a top finisher in a fitness contest a year after retiring on disability. The County Inspector General, who prepared the report, is calling for better oversight of disability payments. County Executive Isiah Leggett acknowledges problems with the system, but his office is questioning the value of the report, saying it is "fundamentally flawed."
Erin Stamper reports...
September 08, 2008 - DC's police and corrections department are using customized playing cards to solve some criminal cases. Rather than the usual images such as kings and jacks, the cards show the pictures of victims in unsolved cases. Five hundred decks are expected to be distributed to inmates and residents of halfway houses during the next two weeks.
The hope is that inmates will offer tips for homicide and missing person investigations. The city will offer as much as $25,000 for information leading to convictions. Similar programs operate in six states.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
September 08, 2008 - Maryland could be about to see a replay of recent budget problems, according to state Comptroller Peter Franchot. Speaking in Rockville, Franchot said he'll release revenue estimates Tuesday that will bring bad news about the health of the state's economy. While he didn't provide specific numbers today, Franchot said state leaders will not be able to rely on economic growth to erase a deficit. Franchot criticized last year's special legislative session on the budget shortfall, saying it was a hurried way to address the problem. He said the governor and legislative leaders should establish a panel to look at ways to reform state spending.
Matt McCleskey reports...
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