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September 19, 2008 - For nearly three decades, In Series has been entertaining audiences in D.C. with an eclectic blend of opera, cabaret, dance and poetry. Perhaps best known for its Zarzuela, or light Spanish operetta, the group performs a wide variety of works with a clear Spanish and Latin-American flavor. But this season starts on Sunday with an opera-musical of Mozart favorites called Mozart's Men.
Andrew Hiller reports...
September 19, 2008 - Congressmen say they'll take up bills focused on business regulations, and lawmakers cross party lines for presidential endorsements.
Todd Zwillich reports...
September 19, 2008 - The metro area will take part in Car Free Day on Monday. The world-wide event is designed to help commuters find new ways to get around without driving. If high gas prices haven't been enough to convince you to get out of your car, transit officials hope that giving out prizes might. They want 10,000 people who normally drive to pledge to use Metro, take a bus, join a carpool, ride a bike or go for a walk in return for a chance to win an iPod and other prizes.
About about half of commuters still drive alone. Traffic and air quality concerns are the behind the push to go car free.
Denise Crouse commutes from near Frederick, Maryland to downtown DC. She used to drive, but years ago switched to taking a bus and the metro.
To find out more, visit www.carfreemetrodc.com.
Kathleen O'Neil reports...
September 19, 2008 - The sleek new buildings that have sprung up around Nationals Park are having trouble attracting tenants in a sluggish economy. Many of the new offices, apartments and retail spaces remain empty. A 10-story building owned by the Lerner family, who also own the Nationals, is a case in point. Nineteen months after Lerner Enterprises announced that the building a block north of the stadium was "substantially complete," it remains mostly empty. Meantime, with the first season at the new stadium nearly over, the team owners still haven't paid rent that was due in the spring.
The Lerner family contends the ballpark is not "substantially complete." The chairman of D.C.'s Sports and Entertainment Commission says his agency is in the process of hiring a law firm to handle the rent dispute.
Meymo Lyons reports..
September 19, 2008 - It often takes a fatal accident to bring safety problems to light, and last week's deadly commuter train collision in Los Angeles is a perfect example. Positive Train Control is expanding the reach of the technology is near the top of the wish list for the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration.
Jonathan Wilson reports on where railroad officials in Washington say rail safety should go next...
September 19, 2008 - First, Congress was caught off guard by news that the feds would bail out insurance giant AIG. Barely 24 hours later, an even bigger bailout is on the way - trillions to shore up the entire lending system. A couple days ago, lawmakers were talking about taking corrective action next year. Suddenly it's more like right now.
Elizabeth Wynne Johnson of Capitol News Connection reports on --This week in Congress...
September 19, 2008 - Two festivals kick off the weekend:
(Sept 20) H STREET FESTIVAL The H Street Festival in northeast between 12th and 14th Streets on Saturday from 9am to 7 pm celebrates this city corridor currently undergoing reconstruction. As part of the Main Streets USA revitalization project, this section of the city still retains plenty of its original grunge and grit, even as a bit of glitz starts to emerge, with local music and fashion shows, and plenty of room for dancing in the streets.
(Sept 20) INTERNATIONAL FOLK-FUSION FESTIVAL The international folk-fusion of the Blue Balkony Festival comes to Indian Head, Maryland, Saturday from 4pm to midnight, melding the music and culture of the Rroma Gypsy and African American blues traditions. This premier festival honors two unique genres that have shaped America's cultural landscape, offering a dynamic dialogue between the Blues and the Balkans.
(Sept 21) IN YOUR EAR In Your Ear offers avant-garde poetry the third Sunday of every month at the DC Arts Center at 3pm. The gathering reaches for alternative, experimental and innovative verse and poems from outside the mainstream.
(Sept 19-Nov 4) HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON The world stage premiere of the beloved children's story Harold and the Purple Crayon opens Saturday, with weekend performances at 11am and 1:30pm through November 4th. Based on the 1955 classic by Crockett Johnson, you can join Harold, as he sets out to conquer the world armed only with an oversized purple crayon. See Harold draw himself out of any dilemma!
The world stage premiere of the beloved children's story opens Saturday, September 19th, with weekend performances through November 4th.
courtesy of: Adventure Theatre
September 19, 2008 - The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, opens its doors to the public this weekend, a first glimpse of this prison-turned-gallery. Artists will be on hand this weekend for outdoor concerts, exhibitions and theatre for children.
Stephanie Kaye reports...
September 19, 2008 - The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, opens its doors to the public this weekend, a first glimpse of this prison-turned-gallery. Artists will be on hand this weekend for outdoor concerts, exhibitions and theater for children. Stephanie Kaye reports...
September 19, 2008 - In Maryland, the medical examiners final autopsy report on the death of an inmate at the Prince Georges County jail has been issued after nearly three months. The report confirms its initial findings that the death of 19-year-old Ronnie White was a homicide. White had been locked up in solitary confinement at the county's correctional center when the guards on duty say they found him in his cell, lifeless and with no detectable pulse. Less than 48 hours earlier, the 19-year old had been arrested on first degree murder charges. The victim was a decorated police officer, Cpl. Richard Findley.
The initial report by the medical examiner ruled Whites death a homicide. At the time, County Executive Jack Johnson condemned what he called vigilante justice, and the investigation into Whites death was turned over to state police and the FBI. The report is now in the hands of the county's top prosecutor, state's attorney Glen Ivey. The case now pivots from what happened to who did it. The focus of the investigation has been on the guards that had access to Whites cell at the jail. Ivey says there is still more work to do, such as interviews with the family doctor and additional grand jury testimony.
Patrick Madden reports...
September 19, 2008 - Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett now supports the legalization of slot machines in Maryland. Leggett says he will support approval of the November referendum because economic conditions have changed dramatically.
If approved by voters, slots would be installed at certain locations within the state. Leggett says the projected budget gaps of at least $1 billion for the state and $250 million for Montgomery County now make legalizing slots a better alternative than another round of raising taxes. With the downturn in the housing market and the worsening economic outlook showing no signs of a turnaround, Leggett says he will "reluctantly" cast his vote for legalizing slots.
Responding to Leggett`s reversal, Scott Arceneaux of Marylanders United to Stop Slots, says must have been placed under a "tremendous amount of political pressure" including threats to teachers, schools and budgets by Annapolis insiders.
Jim Asendio reports...
September 19, 2008 - It's called "Mall-Ball," the highly competitive softball games that have become a tradition among the denizens of downtown Washington. Kavitha Cardoza checked out what makes the "think tank league" tick and showed up for the Championship Game between the conservative Heritage Foundation and the left-leaning Center for American Progress. She found it's a whole different ballgame.
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