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Friday, November 20, 2009
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April 09, 2009 - The president of Maryland's Senate says he doesn't see much opportunity for compromise as lawmakers consider whether to allow illegal immigrants any access to driver's licenses.
Both the House of Delegates and the Senate have voted to stop giving licenses to illegal immigrants this year. But the House wants to allow illegal immigrants who already have state identification to renew their licenses and receive a distinct card that could not be used to board planes or enter federal buildings.
Senate President Thomas Mike Miller said Wednesday he doesn't see a compromise emerging and he or Speaker of the House, Michael Busch, will have to "turn the votes" in their chambers.
Jonathan Wilson reports...
April 09, 2009 - Three years after thousands of immigrants poured into D.C.'s streets to push for immigration reform, local leaders are, again, mobilizing their supporters. But groups who still oppose those plans now point to local job cuts and wonder how many more people the region can take.
David Klatt reports...
April 09, 2009 - A former soldier from Prince George’s County is accusing the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Washington of mistreating him and other minority veterans.
Tommie Canady is admitted to the hospital several times a year for treatment of a terminal pancreatic disease and he claims the care he receives is atrocious. On two occasions, he sayss the same nurse administered an overdose of morphine to him and is still working at the VA.
He says he's alive because he's developed a high tolerance to pain medication. He also says he’s been denied disability benefits because he is black.
Canady tried to tell his story to me during a town meeting, but hospital officials interrupted the interview and confiscated WAMU’s equipment until the recording was surrendered to them. They claimed Canady was required but failed to sign a VA release form. No one at the hospital would comment for this story and the Department of Veterans Affairs central office did not respond to requests for an interview.
David Schultz reports...
April 09, 2009 - This is the time of year when many students receive college acceptance or rejection letters.
But as writer and professor Liam Callanan notes, schools are also waiting -- to hear whether the new professors they've recruited will accept offers of employment.
April 09, 2009 - National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers sits down with Economic Club President David Rubenstein for a Q and A session. Meanwhile, Congress grapples with a question of its own.
Elizabeth Wynn Johnson reports...
April 09, 2009 - (Through Sept 20) JUBILEE Jubilee, an African-American Celebration takes place at the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum through September 20th. The exhibit highlights the numerous African-American holidays and celebrations that take place in the USA, from the extinct games of "Pinkster" and "John Canoe" to the still vibrant "Big Quarterly" and "Mardi Gras."
(April 10-12) LYNN REDGRAVE For five performances only, the celebrated actress Lynn Redgrave returns to the Folger Theatre on Capitol Hill, tomorrow through Saturday with matinee and evening performances of "Rachel and Juliet." It tells the story of Redgrave's mother, Rachel Kempson, whose on-stage Shakespearean experiences led to a lifelong search for Juliet and her real-life Romeo; revealing insights into one of the most extraordinary theatrical families of our time.
(April 15) RE-OPENING MONTICELLO After nearly a decade of planning and 43-million dollars of work, Thomas Jefferson's home on the hill in Charlottesville, Monticello, re-opens on Wednesday, April 15th, with a new visitor and education center and special tours, providing a 21st-century gateway to Jefferson's era of discovery and thought.
April 09, 2009 - The final four teams in the NCAA hockey tournament face off tonight in Washington. Miami University of Ohio and Bimidji State of Minnesota are set to meet in the first game at 5 p.m. Boston University and the University of Vermont round out the so-called "Frozen Four." They'll play at about 8:30 p.m.
Metro is expecting large crowds at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Station tonight traveling to and from the event at the Verizon Center. Transit officials say they're prepared to keep the Metrorail system open an extra hour if the second game runs late, ending just before or after midnight. Metro will use a combination of six-car and eight-car trains to help fans get home. Tonight's winners will meet in the championship game Saturday night.
Matt McCleskey has more...
April 09, 2009 - In a city where the arts are made plentiful by neighboring Virginia and Maryland, D.C. is having a hard time getting its own orchestra off the ground. The debut concerts of the new D.C. Philharmonic were supposed to usher in the Easter weekend. The 30-year old conductor, John Baltimore, says he subscribes to the traditional definition of "philharmonic," a group that originates from and is supported by its community.
Unfortunately for Baltimore, this community doesn't appear ready to support another musical ensemble. He says he knew he was taking a risk, starting a non-profit organization during tough economic times. But he wanted to focus on what he felt was an untapped and affluent African-American community. The D.C. Philharmonic has rescheduled its inaugural concerts for the fall.
Stephanie Kaye reports...
April 09, 2009 - Since September 11, 2001, it hasn't been easy to send care packages to active duty soldiers, but hundreds of children got the chance to send their thanks from a military base in Virginia.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports..
April 09, 2009 - A top aide to Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley says the historic Preakness Stakes horse race could pack up and leave the state next year if lawmakers don't act in the next few days.
Maryland state lawmakers face a tough decision on a last-minute bill: Give the state the power to either buy or exercise eminent domain over Pimlico Race Course, where the Triple Crown race has been held for more than 100 years or do nothing. The latter would open the door for the bankrupt owner of those racetracks, Magna Entertainment Corporation, to auction them off.
David Klatt reports...
April 09, 2009 - We begin a new series called "Conversations," in which reporter Michael Cottman introduces us to some Washingtonians who are making a difference.
Broderick Johnson is a Washington D.C. lobbyist and one of Washington's top African-American lobbyists. As Chairman of Bryan Cave Strategies, Johnson has more than 20 years of public policy, law and political experience to the firm. He served in the White House during the Clinton Administration from 1998-2000 as Deputy Assistant to the President and House Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs.
April 09, 2009 - As the recession continues to roil the economy, experts are warning the elderly to watch out for financial fraud, even within their own families. A wheelchair-bound 85-year old enters his local police station and says he has been the victim of identity theft. His two grand-daughters have stolen $40,000 from him, he says, and countless more from other family members. And although he used to have a close relationship with his grand-daughters, he says those days are over.
His story is far from unique. Theresa Brownson, manager of D.C.'s Senior Medicare Patrol Project, says she has seen a surge in identity theft within families since the recession set in.
Brownson attended Wednesday's forum in the District to help seniors fight fraud. She counsels them to closely review bank records, monitor credit card statements and stay alert.
Jessica Gould reports . . .
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