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Saturday, July 31, 2010
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October 06, 2009 - Lawmakers from Maryland say a bill making its way through Congress will help keep corrections officers and civilians safer.
The bill passed the Senate with unanimous consent, allowing states to get federal permission to jam signals from cell phones smuggled into prisons. Governor Martin O'Malley collaborated with Senator Barbara Mikulski on the legislation.
The issue has been a focus in Maryland since a drug dealer in Baltimore used a cell phone to plan the killing of a witness from a city jail two years ago.
O'Malley says the technology is another tool for law enforcement to keep Marylanders safe. Mikulski says she is hopeful the House of Representatives will move quickly on the proposal as well.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
October 06, 2009 - It's 'Fire Prevention Week' and in Loudoun County fire crews are opening up their houses to help educate people on fire safety.
Fire stations across the county are open this week with special events planned in the effort to show residents how best to prevent a fire. There are things you can do at home to help including setting the hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees, have a 'kid-free' zone around the stove and try to wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
For more information in visiting your local fire house, call Loudoun County Fire and Prevention.
Pat Brogan reports...
October 06, 2009 - As of today, Virginia homeowners can apply for rebates for energy efficient improvements to their heating and air conditioning, window replacements, insulation and programmable thermostats.
The application must be approved by the Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program being run by the state's department of mines, minerals and energy. A total of $7 million has been earmarked for the residential program. Once work is completed, successful applicants will have to provide follow-up documentation.
Homeowners will be eligible for up to 20 percent of the cost of up to $2,000 per household. They may also be eligible for as much as $250 toward the cost of an energy audit. There is a separate program for businesses.
Bill Redlin reports...
October 06, 2009 - The prevalence of Autism in American children may be going up. That's according to a study highlighted in the Journal Pediatrics.
Nora Fitzpatrick says having her 3-year-old daughter Rory diagnosed with autism was a relief in some ways. Fitzpatrick and her husband knew something was wrong; they just didn't know what.
But she says for her family it provided an answer that only brought more questions. "You get the diagnosis, and then you're on your own," she says.
Fitzpatrick considers herself lucky. She lives in Montgomery County, Maryland, which she says offers above average support for autistic children like Rory.
But a new study suggests the number of families receiving diagnoses like Rory's is higher than once thought. It suggests that 1 in 91 children has autism. That's based on data from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest estimate is 1 in 150 children.
Fitzpatrick hopes the study will push local insurance companies to offer more coverage for autism related treatments. She also hopes it makes average Americans think about how many lives autism touches.
"I think from the outside looking in, it's intimidating," she says. "It's scary and fear of what they don't know."
Authors of the study say early diagnoses and public awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders may also affect the rate.
Jonathan Wilson reports...
October 06, 2009 - When Congress eventually turns its attention back to the D.C. Voting Rights Act, House lawmakers will have a gun amendment to contend with. Dozens of District residents converged on Capitol Hill Monday for an "I am D.C." Advocacy Day.
D.C. Vote organizers are up against a wall of indifference, but they're not giving up. On this day, advocates donned matching t-shirts and delivered bundles of postcards written by D.C. residents. They targeted Democrats who previously voted in favor of the amendment that would weaken D.C. gun laws.
"People from Arkansas aren't really aware of this issue," says Dixey Bosley-Smith has become the face of voting rights, with her picture plastered on D.C. buses.
"People from Northern Virginia aren't aware of this issue, my God, right across the river," says Bosley-Smith. "People do not know that we don't have voting rights."
D.C. Vote advocates saw congressional staffers. On a Monday, most members are still in their districts and many are focused on health care.
Manuel Quinoes reports...
October 06, 2009 - Two programs that place homeless families into permanent housing in Montgomery County, Maryland are receiving financial help from mortgage giant Freddie Mac.
From 1990 until last year, Anthony Martin was homeless. But thanks to a program run by the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, he now lives in an apartment in Gaithersburg with his two sons, ages 8 and 10. Under the program, Martin pays a small percentage of his monthly rent, and must also cover all utilities.
The coalition's permanent housing program received a $450,000 grant from Freddie Mac, which also awarded a similarly sized grant to the Greentree Family Shelter in Bethesda.
Matt Bush reports...
October 06, 2009 - The prevalence of Autism may be higher than previously thought. Local advocates hope a new study will help make autism-related health care more affordable.
The study -- in the Journal Pediatrics -- estimates that 1 in 91 children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the rate at 1 in 150 children.
Ann Gibbons, with the local chapter of the advocacy group Autism Speaks -- says she hopes the new numbers lead to better insurance coverage for autism related treatments.
"This, if anything, will help the legislatures understand that this is a problem that has a severe cost to society -- if not dealt with now -- much more later," Gibbons says.
Authors of the study say the jump in the rate could be due to better public awareness and earlier diagnoses of the disorders.
Jonathan Wilson reports...
October 06, 2009 - Ridership is down on Metro, and that means a fare hike could be on the way.
A recent study revealed overall weekday train ridership down more than 3 percent compared to last year. Red line ridership fell further this summer, down more than 10 percent compared to last year.
Having fewer riders means bringing in less revenue -- and to makeup the shortfall, Metro spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel says all options are in play. "Our board of directors have already raised the specter of a possible fare increase. What that will be, we don't know yet and we won't until we know what our numbers will be."
The study suggests some riders are still uneasy about June's deadly accident on the Red line. Others like Red line commuter Diane Butts are just fed up with maintenance delays. "I was thinking about driving again."
Plans are underway to address declining ridership and cut costs.
Elliott Francis reports...
October 06, 2009 - The President of the Washington Teachers Union says the organization is pursuing legal action in response to more than 200 D.C. Public School teacher layoffs. WTU President George Parker says the issue is the list of criteria principals used to determine the cuts.
"I think that principals in this situation were given the opportunity to use criteria other than performance criteria and their own prejudices and likes and dislikes for teachers I'm sure was a part of this," Parker says.
In a memo from Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee about rating school staff, D.C.P.S. principals were told that office or school needs should account for 75 percent of an employee's score.
Parker says the statement was vague and allowed principals to target specific employees.
"Some of those teachers happened to be union representatives in the buildings and I think in some cases there was retaliation for them following through with union activities," he says.
Parker says the union will pursue legal action as well as internal grievance procedures and arbitration -- to prevent the layoffs from going into effect November 2nd.
A spokesperson for Chancellor Rhee said she was not able to comment in time for this story.
Rebecca Blatt reports...
October 06, 2009 - This morning, Congress welcomes the recipient of a brand-new human rights award. Virginia Republican Frank Wolf worked closely with the late California Democrat Tom Lantos, for whom the Lantos Human Rights Prize is named. Now Wolf is blasting President Obama for not meeting with the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet during this visit.
Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...
October 06, 2009 - (October 8 & 9) THE PLAYGROUND A coalition of choreography comes together at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park, Maryland, Thursday and Friday nights at 8 p.m. Hyattsville-based choreographer Daniel Burkholder presents an evening of improvised acrobatics and movement in My Ocean is Never Blue. This ever-changing dance incorporates African and Indian traditions, as four different companies explore water and our relationship to it.
(October 8) BIG BANG You may not have known it's World Space Week, but the folks at the Goddard Space Flight Center did - they present From the Big Bang to the James Webb Telescope, a lecture Thursday night at the Koshland Science Museum in downtown D.C. at 6:30. Astrophysicist John Mather explores the origin of the universe and discusses NASA's plans for its newest telescope to star-struck students and adults.
(October 8) HOLLYWOOD: THE EPICS The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra rolls out "Hollywood: The Epics" Thursday night at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda and Friday through Sunday in Baltimore. The BSO SuperPops kick off the new season with soundtracks from Hollywood, including scores from Lawrence of Arabia to Star Trek and Gone with the Wind.
October 06, 2009 - About 160 members of the Virginia National Guard unit are coming home after a nine month deployment in Iraq.
The members of the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company are scheduled to return today. The soldiers arrived at their demobilization station at Fort McCoy, Wis., on Friday for administrative activities to transition from active duty to traditional National Guard status in Virginia.
During their nine-month deployment, the soldiers earned 18 Bronze Stars and 135 Army Commendations. Missions included building or expanding bases used for joint security patrols with Iraqi forces, site preparation for a bridge installation and the reopening of the last stretch of Iraqi Highway One.
Members of the 180th include soldiers from the Richmond area, southwest Virginia, northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, the Shenandoah Valley and the Lynchburg area.
Meymo Lyons reports..
October 06, 2009 - The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce played host today to both candidates running for governor in Virginia.
The number one issue for both candidates today was transportation, and it's one of the issues they differ sharply on, especially when it comes to paying for it. Democrat Creigh Deeds says he'd consider new taxes if the legislature agreed.
"All funding options are on the table except for taking money from education and other general fund obligations," said Deeds.
Republican Bob McDonnell argued that that he’d consider using money from the general fund but not raising taxes. "I believe the general fund is for any purpose that the legislature says its for, transportation's a core function of government," said McDonnell.
Deeds said he wants a bipartisan commission to devise a comprehensive transportation funding plan to attract wide support. McDonnell says he has a plan that includes bonds and public-private partnerships.
Addressing a crowd of business people, both candidates brandished their pro-business credentials. McDonnell promised "to continue to find ways to reduce that regulatory burden, 'cause regulations don't get nearly enough scrutiny."
Deeds argued regulation was not the biggest threat to Virginia’s businesses. "Frankly I think the most important things we can do to improve the business climate in Virginia is to invest in transportation and to take a look at some of the shortcomings we have in our educational system," said Deeds.
The gubernatorial election is November 3rd.
Sabri Ben-Achour reports...
October 06, 2009 - FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) Fairfax County Police have charged three county employees with embezzling more than $12,000 at a landfill and transfer station.
Sixty-one-year-old Gurinder Singh of Chantilly, 47-year-old Bir Bhogal of Herndon and 52-year-old Segundo Ramon Beltran of Stafford have each been charged with felony embezzlement. They surrendered to police on Monday.
Police say the three men worked with the Division of Solid Waste Disposal and Resource Recovery, at the I-66 transfer station and the I-95 landfill complex. Police say the three kept cash payments from customers for themselves.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
October 06, 2009 - A little more than year ago, Laura Smith had a steady part-time job, and was looking forward to a career in nursing. In just one weekend that all changed.
"I went to Atlantic City for Valentine's Day, and came back pregnant. I think my whole world went upside-down," Smith says. Smith's pregnancy with her son Jonathan, now ten months old, was complicated; at one point she required two blood transfusions. Shortly before she gave birth she lost her part-time job.
But then she found Borromeo Housing, a faith-based organization reaching out to young single mothers. Borromeo had room for Smith in its new space for young, homeless mothers in the Barcroft neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia.
Joy Myers is Borromeos executive director. "We serve two generations, because their child gets to be brought up in a safe, secure, serene environment," says Myers.
Borromeo Housing has been providing apartment living to young single mothers for two decades now. But Elizabeth House, where Smith lives along with three other young mothers, is Borromeo's first house, partially paid for with a $140,000 grant from the federal government.
Smith says places such as this one should give every single mother hope. "Just have faith, just have confidence you can do this," says Smith.
Borromeo also provides counseling services, education opportunities, and infant care and supplies to its residents.
Jonathan Wilson reports...
October 06, 2009 - An appearance by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates at George Washington University last night provided students there with a rare opportunity.
It's not often that two Cabinet secretaries make joint public appearances, so for students, like G. W. freshman Kara Dunford, it was a evening well worth the effort. "At some places people camp out for concert tickets and here it's like, 'we're going to see the two secretaries,'" says Dunford. "It definitely speaks to how politically active the campus is."
Some students waited in line overnight to obtain one of the coveted tickets, which were distributed in less than five minutes.
Kristin is a grad student at the Medill School of Journalism’s Washington program.
Kristin Maiorano reports...
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