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Friday, November 20, 2009
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December 16, 2008 - A mystery Santa Claus has delivered nearly 500 toys to a northern Virginia church. Pastor Wayne Snead arrived Sunday at Galilee United Methodist in Sterling to find piles of presents that have been distributed to the needy.
Stephanie Kaye has more...
December 16, 2008 - Even though school attendance is required by the law in D.C., approximately 20 percent of public and charter school children in the District have racked up more than 15 days of unexcused absences.
As Kavitha Cardoza reports, in part two of out three part series on Truancy, new regulations are being proposed to reduce that number...
December 16, 2008 - In Maryland's Montgomery County, teachers and support staff have agreed to give up yearly raises to help close a county budget shortfall. The president of the county council would like to see other workers follow suit.
Phil Andrews says the county has 33,000 workers, 22,000 of whom work in the school system. Their decision to forgo their yearly cost of living increase saved the county around $89 million.
Andrews now hopes that example will be followed by the rest of the county's workers. County Executive Isiah Leggett has been negotiating with the unions representing those workers. The county is facing a projected budget shortfall of $450 million in the next fiscal year.
Matt Bush reports...
December 16, 2008 - (Through Dec 21) TALES OF DOOMED LOVE Spooky Action Theater's Tales of Doomed Love occupies the stage at Montgomery College in Takoma Park, Maryland, through Sunday. You can take a break from the Sugar Plum Fairies to savor these five classic love stories, both bitter and sweet, told with a twist.
(Through Dec 2008) PLAN B GALLERY The Plan B Gallery is featuring its White Box=Gift Box fine art craft exhibition through the end of December, transforming the gallery into a boutique of fanciful objects, jewelry and ceramics created by local artists.
(Through Jan 4) TOO MUCH LIGHT An underground Chicago favorite, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind is composed of 30 miniature plays performed in 60 breathless minutes, at D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theatre through January 4th. This long-running, late-night hit returns to Woolly with new material, as these eccentric actors race against the clock, performing zany vignettes and risqué revelations.
(Dec 17, 23 & 30) TUDOR PLACE CONSTRUCTION It's not too late to begin construction on a gingerbread house at the beautiful and historic Tudor Place home and gardens in Georgetown. Workshops take place tomorrow morning and next week. This hands-on apprenticeship allows children to become their own history detectives, with tours of the historic mansion providing inspiration as they build their own sweet walls and windows, gingerbread style.
Gingerbread House Workshop ( Ages 6+) Saturday, December 13th at 10:30am Wednesday, December 17th at 4:00pm Tuesday, December 23rd at 10:30am Tuesday, December 30th at 10:30am and 1:00pm
Chocolate Making Workshop and Tea for Adults Sunday, December 21st at 1:00
Chocolate Making Workshop and
December 16, 2008 - In Annapolis, the U.S. Naval Academy is hoping to boost efforts to attract minority students. The Board of Visitors, which includes members of Congress, is in the process of drafting a letter to Congress pointing out the importance of recruiting top-notch minority candidates through the congressional nomination process.
Meymo Lyons has more...
December 16, 2008 - Members of the Electoral College met yesterday in state capitols around the country. In Richmond, Virginia, once the capitol of the confederacy, electors cast historic ballots for America's first black president.
Anne Marie Morgan reports from Richmond....
December 16, 2008 - Officials in Baltimore say President-elect Barack Obama plans to make a public speech in the city during his train trip to Washington three days before his inauguration. They're expecting up to 150,000 people to attend. The Inaugural Committee announced Monday that Mr. Obama will travel from Philadelphia to Washington by train on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Meymo Lyons reports...
December 16, 2008 - Todd Zwillich explores the connection between Madonna, "Pet Sematary," and the U.S. Senate.
December 16, 2008 - The Chancellor of D.C.'s Public Schools, Michelle Rhee, says she thinks President-elect Barack Obama's pick for Education Secretary is a good choice.
Kavitha Cardoza reports...
December 16, 2008 - First, Inauguration planners warned there were no rooms left. Then they predicted roads and subways would be overwhelmed by the crush of visitors. Now, wireless companies are telling customers to expect delays and dropped calls during the swearing-in.
Wireless industry spokesman Joe Farren says the infrastructure that cellphone carriers rely on will face the same pressures as its brick and mortar counterparts on Inauguration Day. He says cellphone carriers will be bringing in mobile towers and trucks to boost wireless capacity, but there is a physical limit to how many calls can go through at one time. Farren has a few simple rules for inauguration: text, don't talk and hold off on sending any cellphone pictures.
Patrick Madden reports...
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