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Sunday, March 21, 2010
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March 17, 2009 - Prince Georges County executive Jack Johnson announced a proposal to lay-off 307 county employees unless the state comes up with millions to plug the county's budget gap. Johnson laid out the county's $2.58 billion plan, warning that even more will be needed to restore other cuts anticipated in the grim outlook for fiscal 2010. Johnson expressed optimism that help will come from Annapolis even as he outlined the blueprint which includes cuts of 10 percent across the board for nearly every department.
Meymo Lyons reports...
March 17, 2009 - Plans for a new public library in D.C.'s Tenleytown neighborhood could eventually make room for private businesses on the site as well. Mayor Adrian Fenty's announcement gives a green light to two projects that have been batted around by the D.C. City Council and a variety of neighborhood groups in recent years. The issue concerns the prime property: a busy corner of Wisconsin Avenue directly above Tenleytown's Metro stop.
David Klatt reports...
March 17, 2009 - Todd Zwillich explains how the tough economy could have ripple effects on America's foreign aid.
March 17, 2009 - The acting chief security officer in D.C.'s technology office is due in court today after his arrest on corruption charges last week. Federal prosecutors are asking the court not to release him pending trial.
Yusuf Acar is accused of defrauding the District through several schemes. They include billing the city for items that were never delivered and for so-called "ghost" contract employees, who did not actually work.
Charges against Acar and a technology consultant were formalized in federal court Thursday, as the FBI finished searching the city's technology office.
In a court filing, prosecutors say Acar recently gave his mother $100,000 to take back to his native Turkey and was preparing to smuggle an additional $200,000 with help from a friend. Prosecutors also say Acar was carrying more than $4,500 in pajamas he was wearing at the time of his arrest.
They warn the chance that he would flee is strong.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
March 17, 2009 - Local pubs are much busier than usual before lunchtime today, and the lure of St. Patrick will keep staff on their toes until late tonight.
Stephanie Kaye reports...
March 17, 2009 - This St. Patrick's Day, revelers around the city will be looking for an authentic Irish experience.
As Stephanie Kaye reports, one local bartender is on hand to do just that...
March 17, 2009 - Out of a relentless hail of hammers, a home is beginning to take shape on the National Mall. It will find its way to a single mother of two in Texas. Her house was damaged in a hurricane. The construction crew is made up of high school dropouts, former gang bangers and erstwhile drug dealers. They're all a part of Youthbuild, a program where young people can get a second chance. They can get their GED's and learn the construction trade, all while building affordable housing for others.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
March 17, 2009 - Few cities can match D.C.'s storied basketball history. But as the men's NCAA tournament tips off tonight, only one school from the District is headed to the "Big Dance." On the steps of the American University's student center and below a huge banner that boasts "WE'RE DANCING," American University President Neil Kirwin led the teams send-off.
Despite the presence of powerhouses like Georgetown and George Washington University, AU will be the only D.C. school in the tournament. They're facing Villanova... and, unfortunately for AU, the game will be in Philadelphia, Villanova's home city. AU and Villanova square off Thursday.
WAMU 88.5 is licensed to American University.
Patrick Madden reports...
March 17, 2009 - A federal judge has ordered a District of Columbia employee arrested on corruption charges to remain in jail while the case against him proceeds. Yusuf Acar, who was the acting chief security officer in D.C.'s technology office, is accused of defrauding the city through several schemes. They include falsifying bills for items that were never delivered and then splitting the money with the vendors who submitted them.
Meymo Lyons reports...
March 17, 2009 - Proponents of moving the D.C. United professional soccer team to Prince George's County in Maryland plan to rally in Annapolis today. Supporters of the move also plan to pack hearing rooms this afternoon to testify before state delegates, who are considering a bill to let the Maryland Stadium Authority sell bonds to help build the new venue. Its price tag could approach $200 million.
D.C. United asked its fans to contact state and county leaders about supporting public financing. Team officials have said they would pay 25 percent of the stadium's costs. But some legislators say they're concerned the stadium might not generate enough revenue to pay off the other 75 percent.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
March 17, 2009 - Here's an opportunity to celebrate St Patrick's Day with Yeats at the [Arts Club of Washington]
Or, you can see a free performance by the Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance at the [Kennedy Center's]http://www.kennedy-center.org/ Millennium Stage tonight at 6:00pm.
The New Deal comes to a dance party at the [State Theater]http://www.thestatetheatre.com/events/e1171.xml in Falls Church, Virginia tonight at 9. This band plays what's called "livetronica"...that's live electronic music - no drum machines or loops. This St. Patty's Day party is for revelers 18 and older.
The play, "Not SUCH stuff", arrives at the [Venus Theatre Play Shack]https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/638845 in Laurel, Maryland tonight at 8 and runs throughout the month of March. Lady Macbeth didn't kill herself, Juliet had special needs and Portia...well don't get Portia started! These leading ladies of Shakespeare will tell you what REALLY happened...in this collection of adult monologues.
March 17, 2009 - An exhibits specialist at the National Air and Space Museum is filing a federal whistleblower complaint against the Smithsonian Institution for retaliating when he complained of improper handling of asbestos in the museum's outside walls. In the complaint Richard Pullman alleges he implored museum managers for the past year to improve protections for workers and the public after learning of the asbestos.
Meymo Lyons has more...
March 17, 2009 - Some students at Catholic University received a St. Patrick's Day chemistry lesson on hangovers and drinking.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
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