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Thursday, September 2, 2010
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April 22, 2009 - As part of our continuing series called "Conversations," reporter Michael Cottman discusses politics with Karen Finney, an independent political consultant in D.C. For the past four years, Finney was director of communications for the Democratic National Committee. Finney also served in various communications positions in the White House when President Bill Clinton was in office.
April 22, 2009 - Commentator Amy Marasco Newton works with an environmental education foundation, reaching out to students in Virginia and Maryland. And she's pondering an idea that some people criticized President Obama for publicizing not too long ago.
The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WAMU 88.5 or American University. What do you think? Let us know on our Commentary Forum.
April 22, 2009 - When it comes to recycling and reducing carbon foot prints, commentator Lynn Peterson Mobley says we should fight the feeling that whatever we do is little more than a drop in the bucket.
The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WAMU 88.5 or American University. What do you think? Go to our Commentary Forum to let us know.
April 22, 2009 - (April 22) AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY The National Archives hosts a screening of the documentary Legacy: Black & White in America tonight at 7:30. You can stick around to discuss the movie with the film's producer and other community leaders, as it documents the political rise of President Obama against the backdrop of racial attitudes in America.
(April 24) FUTURE OF AMERICA'S SONGBOOK The Future of the American Songbook is the subject of sound and discussion at the National Museum of the American Indian Friday afternoon at 1pm. The chief music arranger for the Airmen of Note joins a national editor of jazz music and the director of Bands and Orchestras to discuss the fundamentals of composition in a master class-style session.
(April 25) The exhibit Victory Mail, Victory Music celebrates the centennial of Benny Goodman's birth and other war-time jazz musicians featured on stamps. National Postal Museum hosts the event on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4pm. The festivities include the stories and sounds of America's "classical music" as well as the opportunity to write your own Victory Mail. This World War II innovation miniaturized messages on microfilm to lighten cargo and send morale overseas.
April 22, 2009 - Every year, Ben and Jerry's hosts a free scoop day. Each participating location chooses a non-profit organization to benefit. Volunteers from the non-profit give out ice cream and collect donations.
Eilis O'Neill reports...
April 22, 2009 - Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett says the budget for his security detail is nothing new. As part of his overall county budget plan, Leggett is setting aside $90,000 for each of four bodyguards -- something he's says he always done since taking office.
Matt Bush reports....
April 22, 2009 - The Virginia Department of Health says a Prince William County resident has measles, the state's first confirmed case of the virus this year. The announcement comes as health officials across the Washington region investigate five other cases of the highly contagious disease that usually causes a red skin rash. The health department's Web site lists six public places the carrier recently visited, including two grocery stores in northern Virginia and a bar in D.C. Measles is a sometimes fatal, highly infectious virus that is generally uncommon in the U.S. because of high childhood vaccination rates.
Kavitha Cardoza reports...
April 22, 2009 - A sheriff in Maryland says a father who shot his wife and three children to death before killing himself struggled with depression and had money troubles. Christopher Wood, 34, had nearly $500,000 of debt hanging over his head. Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins says he discussed his family's financial problems in six notes he left behind after he killed himself Friday. The bodies were discovered by a relative a day later in Middletown in northwest Maryland.
Stephanie Kaye has more...
April 22, 2009 - A charter school in the District that serves teenage mothers has had its charter revoked. The M.E.I. Futures Academy serves 37 teenage mothers, providing them with room and board, parenting classes and daycare while they study. But an audit of the school by the Public Charter School Board found a host of problems. Incomplete curricula and no educational program, a lack of textbooks and supplies. The school also suffered from financial problems and truancy rates as high as 50 percent. At a board meeting last month, several teenage mothers with babies in tow pleaded for the school to remain open. But this week the Charter School Board voted unanimously to revoke the school's charter. Several board members praised the school's mission, but said its operation was substandard. A community meeting is planned within the next two weeks with students and their families to help them find alternative placements for next school year.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
April 22, 2009 - Montgomery County Chief of Police Thomas Manger testified in the Senate about local needs for combating terrorism. Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin is looking for ways to protect national security without compromising civil liberties. He now chairs the Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee. Security experts say the U.S. needs a federal database to connects local police with federal information on terrorism suspects and vice versa. Manger told the committee federal agencies often overlook their local counterparts.
Matt Laslo reports from Capitol Hill....
April 22, 2009 - The House begins a three-day hearing blitz on its sweeping energy and climate change bill, but the Senate is going about it a bit differently.
Elizabeth Wynn Johnson explains...
April 22, 2009 - Some members of Congress got a sneak peak at new green-powered cars for Earth Day, while students pushed them to pass meaningful environmental legislation.
Eric Niiler reports from Capitol Hill...
April 22, 2009 - David Kellermann, the acting chief financial officer of mortgage giant Freddie Mac, was found dead at his home in Northern Virginia early this morning, in what police say was an apparent suicide.
A spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Police Department says officers responded to a call from Kellermann's home around 5 a.m. Though his death is under investigation, she says Kellermann appears to have committed suicide.
Kellermann was named acting CFO last September. His predecessor stepped down after a government takeover.
Freddie Mac has been criticized for business practices that some argue contributed to the housing and financial crisis. It owns or guarantees about 13 million home loans.
According to Freddie Mac's Web site, Kellermann worked for the company for more than 16 years. Kellerman also served as a volunteer board member of the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless. He was 41 years old.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
April 22, 2009 - Volunteers who worked on President Obama's campaign want to keep that energy moving. They're focusing on the environment. Around 40 Bethesda residents gathered for an Obama Earth Day party to talk about going green. Emma Rackstraw is a sophomore at Walt Whitman High School. She's part of "Grow the Hope," an organization carrying out the President's agenda.
Ashley Johnson reports....
April 22, 2009 - Officials at D.C. Public Schools are asking for input on the proposed calendar for the next academic year. The community forum, scheduled for tomorrow, is meant to gather input on the proposed calendar for school year 2009-2010. The new calendar has additional days of professional development for teachers. On those days, schools will be closed for students. DCPS is working with the Department of Parks and Recreation to offer alternative options for children on these days. Parents had also asked for school Spring break to align better with surrounding school systems. The new calendar also eliminates Emancipation Day. The community forum will take place tomorrow Noyes Elementary School Kavitha Cardoza reports...
April 22, 2009 - The acting chief financial officer of money-losing mortgage giant Freddie Mac was found dead at his home in Vienna Virginia in what police said was an apparent suicide. Police would not say if a suicide note was found. Kellermann worked for Freddie Mac for the past 16 years and was named acting chief financial officer last September when the government seized control of the company to keep it from failing. The mortgage financing company, which owns or guarantees about 13 million mortgages has been criticized for financing risky loans that fueled the real estate bubble. Freddie Mac lost more than $50 billion last year, and the government has pumped in $45 billion to keep the company afloat. Both Freddie and Fannie Mac have come under fire more recently from alwmakers as they plan to pay more than $210 million in bonuses next year to keep workers in their jobs. While Fannie Mae has disclosed the names of executives in line for the bonuses, Freddie Mac has yet to do so. Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
April 22, 2009 - Volunteers who worked on President Obama’s campaign want to keep that energy moving. They’re focusing on the environment. Around 40 Bethesda residents gathered for an Obama Earth Day party to talk about going green. Emma Rackstraw is a sophomore at Walt Whitman High School. She’s part of “Grow the Hope” an organization carrying out the President’s agenda. Ashley Johnson reports....
April 22, 2009 - Vice President Joe Biden spent his Earth Day morning at the New Carrolton Metro Complex in Maryland -- and he was joined by that's state governor to tout the Obama Administration's commitment to greening up the nation's public transit systems. The Vice President announced 300 million dollars in economic recovery funds that will go the nation's Clean Cities Program. Clean Cities has been around for 15 years -- and let's state and local governments, as well as transit authorities get matching funds from the government when they spend on alternative fuel vehicles. Flanked by Governor Martin O'Malley, Senator Ben Cardin, and Representative Donna Edwards - Biden said the Clean Cities program already has a history of success. Biden made the announcement inside Metro's cavernous Carmen Turner Maintenance and Training Facility -- in front of dozens of metro employees, and circled by a giant circle of Metro's natural gas, and hybrid buses. Metro Board member Peter Benjamin said hosting Vice President Biden on Earth Day was especially appropriate. Metro is applying for 15 million dollars under the Clean Cities Program -- and could get the money within the next two months. It would go toward buying 150 new hybrid vehicles. Jonathan Wilson reports....
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