News Archive - October 7, 2009

D.C. Group Protests Afghan War

As the U.S. marks the 8th anniversary of the conflict in Afghanistan, demonstrators voiced opposition in northwest D.C. with an event that sounded more like a party than protest.

They called it a roving anti-war dance party. The music was not intended to entertain, but rather to draw attent...

"Art Beat" With Stephanie Kaye - Wednesday, October 7, 2009

(Through December 18) KARSH AT 100 The Embassy of Canada down on Pennsylvania Avenue presents Karsh at 100: Portraits of Artists, running through December 18th. The embassy shines a spotlight on both the subjects and the artist, Yousuf Karsh, in celebration of the centennial year of the Armenian...

D.C. Region's First Carbon Neutral Designer Show Home

A new eco-friendly home was unveiled in Virginia with features far beyond the unbleached and drab approach found in many green homes. The fountain-fed pool out back is just one of dozens of upscale features on this property, the region's first carbon neutral designer show home.

The idea, a...

Metro Completes Track Repairs Near June Crash Site

Metro says repairs have been completed on the red line at the site of a train crash near the Fort Totten station.

Trains had been traveling at reduced speeds or moving one at a time through the area, while Metro replaced track equipment that dated back to the 1970s. Now Metro says full serv...

Power Breakfast for October 7, 2009

There's potential for drama when the Congressional Budget Office shows up with the latest cost estimate for health care reform.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...

Security Guards Plead For Help From D.C. Leaders

Former employees of a company providing security for D.C. government buildings say the city should make sure they get unpaid wages and benefits.

Hawk One Security guarded the city's government buildings and schools for years, but recently informed city leaders it couldn't honor its contract...

Decision of Gay Rights in the District May Need to Go Through Congress

Gay rights advocates took the first step to legalizing marriage in the District. But the decision may need to go through Congress.

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton says opponents will have to overcome many legislative hurdles to stop the bill including passing a joint resolution disappro...

Students Walk The Walk At Bethesda Elementary School

Hundreds of students at Bethesda Elementary School took to the streets to celebrate International Walk to School Day. Principal Lisa Seymour led the parade. She says she'd like to see more students hoof it to school.

Jessica Gould reports...

DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee Talks About Layoffs

Almost 400 D.C. Public School employees, 60 percent of whom are teachers, will be laid off on November 2nd. And that decision has made Chancellor Michelle Rhee's relationship with some city council members, teachers and students, increasingly acrimonious. She sat down with WAMU's Kavitha Cardoza...

Virginia Adopts Water Regulation To Protect Aquaculture

WILLIS WHARF, Va. (AP) Virginia is adopting a new wastewater-disposal regulation to protect clam and oyster production in the waters off the Eastern Shore.

Gov. Timothy Kaine said Wednesday the regulation approved by the State Water Control Board requires that businesses and localities anal...

Maryland High School Closes In Response To Swine Flu

A high school in Laurel, Maryland is closed today as a precaution against swine flu infections. Approximately 100 of St. Vincent Pallotti High School's 500 students were absent Tuesday.

Principal Steve Edmonds says they were out for a variety of reasons, but at least five of them had confir...

WTU Set To File Lawsuit Today

Attorneys for the Washington Teachers Union are set to go to court today.

George Parker, President of the teacher's union, sent an email to thousands of D.C. Public School teachers saying attorneys would file a lawsuit today on behalf of the teachers who will be laid off. Last week almost 2...

Public Meeting on Need for New Schools in Loudoun County

A public meeting is set tonight in Loudoun County over the need for new schools. The meeting is to discuss where to put and what's the demand for schools in the Ashburn, Dulles and Leesburg areas. It's for all grade levels: elementary, middle and high schools. The meeting starts at six tonight at...

Metro Police Test Tricycles To Fight Crime

Metro is testing a new tool to fight crime in parking lots at stations. Passengers may start to see Metro Transit Police officers riding specialized, stand-up tricycles around stations and parking lots.

The transit agency has purchased two of the electric, Segway-like vehicles. Over the nex...

Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates Court Business Community

Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell took turns before a conference room full of business leaders in Leesburg, Virginia.

The gubernatorial candidates each gave their best pro-business pitch, with McDonnell emphasizing regulation. "We need to do more to create more entrepreneur...

Former Maryland Secretary To Serve On U.S. Justice Department

Maryland's former labor secretary is set to head up the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights division.

Thomas Perez, who served in Governor Martin O'Malley's cabinet, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. Perez is the second Hisp...

Mayors From Maryland Push For Health Care Legislation

Several of Maryland's African-American mayors came to Capitol Hill Tuesday to push for a health care bill that improves affordability for everyone.

Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant leads the state and national associations of black mayors. Grant said that for some Maryland residents, health...