News Archive - August 18, 2009

Glimmers of Hope in Local Real Estate Market

Most analysts say the country's economic recovery will be slow and likely painful -- but a report on the local real estate market holds a bit of good news.

The report from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems -- shows that home sales in July continued the upward trend the area has seen...

Maryland to Unveil Crabbing License Changes

In Maryland, proposed changes for unused crabbing licenses will be unveiled later this month in Annapolis. Maryland is hoping to reduce unused crabbing licenses. Unused licenses make it difficult to manage the crab population, which has dropped sharply in recent years.

Brenda Davis, the blu...

VA Lawmakers to Meet for Special Session

Virginia lawmakers return to the Capitol this week for a special session called by Governor Tim Kaine.

Kaine called Wednesday's special session after the Supreme Court ruled in June that prosecutors must make forensic examiners available for defense cross-examination about lab reports on dr...

Save the 216 Campaign To Keep D.C. Vouchers Program

Students who were offered scholarships to attend private and parochial schools, before the program was canceled, are planning what they call "a full scale escalation of peaceful protests." 216 low income students from failing public schools were offered scholarships through the DC Vouchers progr...

Bilingual Charter School Will Close Because of Low Enrollment

A bilingual English and Spanish charter school in D.C. has decided to close, because of low enrollment. The D.C. Public Charter School Board unanimously approved a request by the leaders of Academia Bilingue de la Communidad to relinquish their charter at the end of this month.

The school h...

"Art Beat" with Stephanie Kaye - Tuesday, August 18, 2008

(August 24) PRAY THE DEVIL Woolly Mammoth Theatre goes to the movies, hosting a screening at D.C.'s downtown E Street Cinema, Monday night at 7. The documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the story of the women who helped pull Liberia out of civil war, and are part of the "extras" as...

Police in MD Arrest 31 at Phish Concert

Police in Howard County Maryland cracked down on pot smoking over the weekend at a concert -- put on by the band Phish -- at Meriweather Post Pavilion. Howard County police say they made 31 arrests at a Phish concert over the weekend, most of them for drug possession.

Among those charged we...

Used Car Dealers in D.C. Have Bigger Problems Than Cash for Clunkers

Many used-car dealerships across the country say the popular Cash for Clunkers trade-in program is turning an already-tough year into a disaster. But in the District of Columbia, most used car sellers say losing business to new-car dealerships is the least of their worries.

"Right now, we a...

Federal Prosecutors in MD Move to Seize Criminal Proceeds

Federal prosecutors in Maryland are stepping up their efforts to go after criminals' ill-gotten gains. The U.S. attorney in Baltimore, Rod Rosenstein, says his office has established a new unit to seize criminal proceeds and to provide restitution to the victims of crimes.

The unit is compr...

Metro Ridership Falls

Fewer people rode Metro trains and buses in July than in the same period last year.

Ridership on Metrorail fell just over 2 percent in July compared to the same period last year, that's after a near 2% increase for June. Bus ridership fell by four percent compared to last July.

A yea...

Local Group Recruits For "United We Serve"

More than 61 million Americans volunteered last year despite the poor economy. A local group is at the Montgomery County Fair recruiting people to help President Obama's "United We Serve" initiative. Past the carnival rides and the livestock booths you'll find the mobile health unit. It belongs t...

D.C. Recieves Almost Nine Million Dollars In Energy Stimulus Money

D.C. has received almost nine million dollars in energy stimulus finds, most of which will be used to improve energy efficiency in government buildings. The federal money will pay for high efficiency lighting in athletic facilities and train youth in green construction.

But George Hawkins,...

Judges Sentences Maryland Homebuilder

In Maryland, a Prince George's County judge has sentenced a housing developer to spend 12 years in prison after a fraud scheme cost potential homebuyers more than one million dollars. Forty-year-old Leon Coleman of District Heights was found guilty of eight counts of theft over $500 and eight cou...