: News

Filed Under:

WASA Gets A New Boss

Play associated audio

A new boss is coming to D.C.'s water authority.

The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority is no stranger to controversy or criticism. There have been fire hydrants that don't work properly (or at all), a spate of water main breaks and a budget that's woefully inadequate for the responsibilities WASA is charged with.

Hoping to take the agency in a new direction, Mayor Adrian Fenty has tapped George Hawkins to be the new general manager. Hawkins brings years of water management experience from his time in New Jersey and most recently headed up D.C.'s Department of the Environment. Despite the challenges facing him, Hawkins appears enthusiastic about tackling what's ahead.

Reflecting on the appointment, Mayor Fenty says it's a great day for WASA but an even greater day for the city. Hawkins' first day on the job will be October 19th.

Zoe Chace reports...

NPR

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.
NPR

In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial

Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.
NPR

Lois Lerner's Brief And Awful Day On Capitol Hill

The IRS bureaucrat showed up long enough at a House hearing into the scandal engulfing her agency to declare her innocence and her constitutional right to say no more.
NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.