News Archive - September 17, 2009

Reward Grows For Virginia Tech Students' Killer

A reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the murders of two students at Virginia Tech has reached $50,000.

Virginia Tech put up $10,000 and a Lynchburg cardiologist raised $40,000. Dr. Chad Hoyt says his goal is to raise the total reward to $100,000, an amount that he...

Commentary: Mayors Against Illegal Guns

It can take courage for a citizen to stand up and voice support for a political movement. But Commentator Fred Fiske says he's especially impressed when the wallet comes out.

The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WAMU 88.5 or American University.

What do you t...

Teenage Boy Died After Being Struck By Metro Train

Metro says a teenage boy is dead after being struck by a train approaching the Columbia Heights station this afternoon.

Preliminary information suggests the boy purposely placed himself in the path of the train, according to a Metro spokeswoman. She says the boy was struck by a six-car yell...

Prince William County Looks Into Potomac Ferry

Prince William County is endorsing a study of a Potomac River commuter ferry between Woodbridge and Washington.The study found that a ferry could cut travel time significantly for some Washington commuters but it would cost local jurisdictions at least $20 million. The County is exploring how to...

Maryland Watermen Say Pollution To Blame For Declining Crab Harvests

Watermen in Maryland say pollution in the Chesapeake Bay has hurt their industry.

Captain Larry Simms is the president of the Maryland Watermen's Association. He says their ranks have thinned. Pollution in the bay has led the state to restrict when and how watermen get their catch. Simms s...

Candidates Clash Over Thesis In Virginia

With the latest polling showing the governor's race growing tighter in Virginia, attacks between the candidates are intensifying.

In his pitch to members of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds repeatedly brought up the graduate thesis Republ...

Power Breakfast for September 17, 2009

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, (D-OH) leads Day Two of a House oversight inquiry. Kucinich wants to know how private health insurance companies decide whom to cover and which claims to pay.

Plus, the Energy and Commerce Committee holds a follow-up hearing today on the economic effects of glob...

New Taxi Technology Comes To D.C. Region

A taxi company in Montgomery County, Maryland is the first in the Washington region to put interactive video screens in back seats.

Over the next year, an estimated 2-million people will hop into a cab with this man, who appears on a monitor. "Whether you're visitors or already live here, t...

White House Farmers Market Closes Stretch Of Vermont Avenue

A new farmers market launched by Michelle Obama is closing a thoroughfare in downtown D.C. once a week, until the end of next month.

Just a hop, skip and jump from the White House, the market will close Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets, every Thursday from 1 to 8 PM.

There has b...

Rare Document To Go On Display In Yorktown

A rare document from our country's history is going on display at Yorktown Victory Center in Virginia next month.

A broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence made in July 1776 was purchased with money provided by a private foundation of the center.

The Victory Center celeb...

"Art Beat" with Stephanie Kaye - Thursday, September 17, 2009

(September 17 & 18) THE TRIAL The Actor's Gang travels from L.A. to College Park, to perform The Trial of the Catonsville Nine at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center tonight and tomorrow at 8.

(Sept 17-Nov 15) GO, DOG, GO! Adventure Theatre in Maryland's Glen Echo Park pulls out th...

Debate Continues Over Health Care Reform

The debate over health care reform continues to spark interest and passion. Today the president addressed thousands at the University of Maryland.

Patrick Madden talked and listened to two men with two very different viewpoints...

Teacher Layoffs, Increased Class Sizes In D.C. Public Schools

D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee says the District's budget cuts of about $40 million will lead to teacher layoffs and increased class sizes.

Rhee could not say how many of the approximately 4,000 teachers would be laid off. But principals will consider several factors, including the n...

Some Virginia Lawmakers Question Ignoring Local Roads

By DENA POTTER Associated Press Writer

September 16, 2009 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Some Virginia lawmakers are questioning whether it's wise or legal to sacrifice the state's local roads in order to secure federal dollars to maintain and build highways.

Transportation Secretary Pierce Hom...

Census Bureau Reaches Out To Latino Community

At the office, census worker Juan Jose Callejas usually dresses in a dark, two-piece suit, accented with a conservative tie, and has one of those ubiquitous ID badges dangling from his neck.

But when he heads into the field to conduct outreach in Northern Virginia's Latino community, Callej...

D.C. Council Chairman Says Budget Cuts Not The Reason For Teacher Layoffs

The chairman of the D.C. Council Vincent Gray is challenging the assertion that council approved budget cuts are the reason for imminent teacher layoffs.

Gray says the council has funded D.C. Public Schools at exactly the same amount per pupil this year as it had last year. And while they d...

D.C. Council Weighs Water Changes

D.C.'s Water and Sewer Authority and D.C.'s Fire and Emergency Medical Services are considering changes after an investigation into the fire that destroyed the home of philanthropist Peggy Cooper Cayfritz in July.

Possible changes include revising the water flow standards required for fight...

Vietnam Memorial Fund Gathering Photos Of Veterans

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is gathering photographs of the more than 58,000 men and women whose names are listed on the Vietnam memorial wall.

Organizers say the goal of the memorial is to ensure the sacrifice of those who died there will not be forgotten. Now they want to honor fal...

D.C. Voucher Program Under Scrutiny, Congress Wants More Accountability

Advocates are pushing for Congress to reauthorize the D.C. voucher program, which allows children to use public dollars to attend private schools. But some Senators say there are too many unanswered questions about the current program.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL.) says the head of the D.C. v...