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September 10, 2008 - Some homeowners in Frederick County, Md., may soon get "smart thermostats" that can tell them how to save money. As part of a test of high-tech, energy-saving devices, electric utility Allegheny Power is proposing installation next year of of the thermostats in hundreds of homes in the Urbana area -- about 40 miles northwest of Washington.
The gadgets would enable customers to control their homes' temperatures remotely through a Web site that regularly conveys energy price and usage information.
Meymo Lyons reports...
September 10, 2008 - The DC Shorts Film Festival is rated one of the best in the world. It kicks off tomorrow, September 11, 2008, at venues around the city. The fest grew out of the experiences of Jon Gann, an award-winning filmmaker who directs the festival. Stephanie Kaye has details...
September 10, 2008 - Politicians and reporters are taking tonight off from lawmaking to try to get some laughs. A test of Washington's collective funnybone kicks off at the D.C. Improv.
It's the 15th Annual Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest. The event removes politicians and reporters from their Capitol Hill comfort zones to test their stand-up comedy skills for one night only. The show is a fundraiser for VSArts, an organization that promotes the work of artists with disabilities. Last year the group made seventy-five thousand dollars for charity.
Stephanie Kaye reports...
September 10, 2008 - (Sept 11-18) DC SHORTS FILM FEST The DC Shorts Film Fest hits big and small screens around town starting Thursday and running through next Thursday. The fifth annual showcase featuring fleeting flicks is presented in two-hour blocks, with a smattering of screenings that vary in length - some just a minute long. These films are guaranteed not to strain one's attention span but do give a glimpse of short celluloid tales. An opening night cocktail reception Thursday at 9pm will allow enthusiasts to meet and greet the visiting filmmakers.
(Through Sept 28) PEACE The play Peace arrives on stage at the Clark Street Playhouse in Arlington, at 8pm through September 28th. This new comedy is inspired by Aristophanes' classic satire of the same name. It follows a Tennessee landowner's hot air balloon mission to turbulent Mt. Olympus, where he finds the mountain gripped by War, Peace being held hostage, and discovers harmony on earth can be restored - for a price.
(Sept 10-Nov 20) ART BEADS The World of Art Bead has arrived at the Japan Information and Culture Center, opening with a lecture this evening at 6:30 and running through November 20th. The artist, Miho Kanaya, details the intricacies of bead weaving, and the ways in which she creates eclectic images from tiny bits of plastic and glass.
September 10, 2008 - The United Way is targeting childhood obesity in its yearly fundraising campaign. According to the United Way of the National Capital Area, one of every five children in the D.C. region is obese. So, the agency and its partners are embarking on a year-long fundraising effort to benefit programs that encourage kids to exercise more and follow a healthy diet. Donald Shell, a health officer for the Prince Georges County health department, says parents play the most important role in getting their kids in shape. The YMCA donated $25,000 to kick off the campaign.
Matt Bush reports....
September 10, 2008 - For the D.C. area, the fall months are when the most teen driving fatalities occur. Thirty percent of teen driving deaths occur in September, October and November. Jim Jennings, with Allstate Insurance in the Capital region, says a majority of those fatalities are because teens were speeding or not wearing seatbelts. More than 5,000 teenagers are killed every year in automobile crashes.
Kavitha Cardoza reports...
September 10, 2008 - Todd Zwillich looks ahead to what lawmakers will tackle in Congress during the next three weeks before they head home for a final pre-election push.
September 10, 2008 - D.C.'s congresswoman talks with WAMU host Matt McCleskey about legislation under consideration, which would override the city's gun regulations. She explains why some Democrats are supporting the bill and what to expect moving forward.
September 10, 2008 - Marion Barry and the three other Democratic incumbents facing challenges appear to have won their D.C. council primaries. There was considerable confusion late Tuesday over an unusually high number of write-in ballots in some races. The numbers were later revised,Dan Murphy,spokesman for the DC Board of Elections blamed a faulty optical scan cartitridge from a ballot machine which lead to erroneous write-in tallies that for a time threw the entire process into chaos....That chaos cast uncertainty over 16-year council veteran Carol Schwartz` loss to challenger Patrick Mara in the Republican primary Add to that allegations of unnumbered ballots.
But as Meymo Lyons reports an investigation into the primary election itself is underway
September 10, 2008 - On the eve of the 7th anniversary of September 11th, heavily armed police officers and bomb sniffing dogs surged into Fort Totten metro station in a show of force. Police said they hoped the exercise would be a deterrent, but also a reassurance to passengers that officers and dog units are constantly patrolling metro. There are 400 police officers assigned specifically to metro, and they work routinely with FBI and homeland security to monitor the subway system.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
September 10, 2008 - Tomorrow is anniversary of the deadliest attack in U.S. history. And a new progress report says the DC area must work harder to prepare for another similar tragedy. Seven years have passed since the September 11th attacks. But Americans -- especially in our area -- cannot get complacent. That`s the message from Gerry Connolly, the chairman of the Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors. He also heads the National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council.
Gene Kuleta reports from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments headquarters in downtown DC...
September 10, 2008 - Both presidential candidates were in Virginia today. Democratic hopeful Barack Obama campaigned in Norfolk. And in Fairfax, Republican candidate John McCain held his first rally in Virginia since the GOP convention. The lines formed early as thousands of enthusiastic supporters made their way to Van Dyke Park in Fairfax to see first-hand the new Republican ticket. Even a small group of Obama supporters who showed up couldnt dampen the crowds spirit. The group was led away by police but not before both sides tried to find out who could out "shout" the other, including one man, who told the Obama camp to "Vote Muslim!" When the gates opened, thousands fanned out over the parks green fields. One of the introducing speakers called the crowd "McCains biggest to date" and it seems his new running mate had something to do with it. "Sarah Palin" chants broke out frequently during todays rally. Palin, for her part, did not disappoint the crowd. The Alaskan governor attacked Senator Obama for earmarks and promoted her own "energy" policies... including a natural gas pipeline she helped usher through. When it was Arizona Senator John McCains turn, he reminded the crowd why his campaign is focused on Virgina, which has voted Republican for the past four decades.
Patrick Madden reports...
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