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Major Metro Delays

July 18, 2009 - The investigation into last month's accident on Metro's Red Line is causing added delays today.

The Takoma station will be closed until 7pm as investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board continue to conduct tests on the tracks near the site of the accident. The Red Line will be split into two segments with trains turning around at Silver Spring and Fort Totten.

Shuttle buses will connect the three stations but Metro says passengers can expect significant delays traveling through that area. Matt McCleskey reports...

Constellation Selling Nuclear Holdings to French Firm
Stephanie Kaye

July 18, 2009 - Maryland-based Constellation Energy Group wants to sell its nuclear operations to a French company. It has sent a counter-proposal to the state's governor outlining the deal.

Constellation wants to sell its half of its nuclear operations to the French company EdF. A spokesman for Constellation says the sale would bring in about $5 billion in benefits to Baltimore Gas and Electric customers directly and indirectly - Baltimore Gas and Electric is a Constellation Energy subsidiary. But Governor O'Malley says Constellation must fully address the needs of ratepayers and the public interest in selling its nuclear holdings. The governor added he has full confidence in the state's regulatory process.

Stephanie Kaye reports...

Taser Lawsuit Moves Ahead

July 18, 2009 - A federal judge has ruled that a wrongful death lawsuit can go to trial against Frederick County and the sheriff's office in the death of a man who was shocked with a Taser in 2007. The family of 20-year-old Jarrell Gray is seeking $145 million. U.S. District Judge William Quarles ruled on Friday that there is enough evidence to take the suit to trial. No date has been set. A grand jury ruled last year that Cpl. Rudy Torres was justified in using his Taser twice to subdue Gray in November 2007 after Gray did not obey commands to show his hands. Gray died hours later.

Meymo Lyons reports...

Powers Restored to DC Police Union Chief

July 18, 2009 - D.C. police reinstated the powers of the local police union chief after temporarily revoking his badge and gun. The city says it pulled the powers of Fraternal Order of Police Chairman Kristopher Baumman for failing to attend a mandatory one-day training. The training would have included routine items like CPR re-certification. But Baumann says the decision to revoke his powers was linked to his complaints over the city's handling of a barricade situation in May. The police union chief says says no other officer has ever had a badge revoked for failing to perform training in the history of the department.

Mana Rabiee reports...

Virginia Grassroots Effort Using Tried and True Presidential Campaign Tools

July 18, 2009 - Thousands of Virginians will receive a phone call or a knock on their door by volunteers with the Democratic National Committee this weekend hoping to build local support for President Obama's health-care plan. Families, friends and neighbors having conversations about health care reform around dinner tables all across Virginia. That's the aim of the large-scale phone bank and door-to-door canvassing campaign. It's all part of a nationwide grassroots effort by the DNC this summer. The campaign relies heavily on the grassroots support created in Virginia during Mr. Obama's Presidential campaign to spread their message from the bottom-up.

Mana Rabiee reports...