News Archive - December 2, 2009

Maryland Reports First Two Drug Resistant Swine-Flu Cases

BALTIMORE (AP) Maryland health officials are reporting the state's first two known cases of swine flu resistant to Tamiflu.

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore announced Wednesday that the two patients were treated there and have been discharged.

The hospital says the federal Centers...

"Art Beat" With Stephanie Kaye - Wednesday, December 2, 2009

(December 2-January 10) SOLID GOLD CADILLAC Who needs "cash for clunkers" when you can go "gold for Caddies," during [Solid Gold Cadillac] (https://www.studiotheatre.org/boxoffice/cadillac.php). The play opens tonight at Studio Theatre near D.C.'s Dupont Circle and runs through January 10th. Thi...

Delegate Holmes Norton Fights For Needle Exchange

By Sara Sciammacco

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton wants D.C. to be able to use its own money for needle exchange programs. Pending legislation before Congress makes that illegal.

Holmes Norton cites research that shows safe disposal of needles helps reduce HIV and Hepatitis. D.C. has...

Latest D.C. Local News

WASHINGTON (AP) The attention-hungry couple who crashed the Obama administration's first state dinner have admitted to a federal official they went without a confirmed invitation just in case they got approved at the last minute. Tareq and Michaele Salahi claimed a dead cell phone battery preve...

Foundation Fights In The Dark

By Stephanie Kaye

The lights went out at a recent fundraiser. But that was all part of the plan. It was pitch black at the Ritz Carlton in Tyson's. But that's just the atmosphere volunteer Donna Burke Tehaan was going for. "People can get an idea of what it is really like for people low...

Latest Maryland Regional News

BALTIMORE (AP) Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has resumed her regular duties a day after a jury found her guilty of taking gift cards from a program meant to help the city's poor children. The city solicitor has said Dixon will remain on the job until the case comes to a legal conclusion, though th...

Loudoun County Committee Restores Christmas Display

By Elliott Francis

Now that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has reinstated the holiday display in Leesburg, Virginia, some people say they're concerned about what type of displays will appear.

When the vote was called to restore the holiday display in front of the Loudoun cou...

Latest Virginia Regional News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia's unemployment rate keeps getting better. The Virginia Employment Commission reports the seasonally unadjusted rate fell from 6.5 percent in September to 6.3 percent in October, the lowest rate so far in 2009.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) Virginia biologists are tracki...

Yoga Instructors File Federal Lawsuit Against Virginia Licensing Rules

By Jonathan Wilson

Three local yoga instructors have filed a lawsuit claiming Virginia's new licensing rules for the yoga industry are a violation of the First Amendment.

The federal lawsuit is in response to Virginia's vocational school licensing laws.

If they're applied to the...

Maryland Deer Hunters Report Taking 19,054 Deer

By Kavitha Cardoza

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says last weekend's firearms deer hunt was a large increase over last year. There was a a 20 percent increase over 2008's opening weekend harvest. O

fficials say deer hunters reported taking 19,054 deer despite windy cond...

Virginia Tax Amnesty To End Saturday, December 5

By Matt McCleskey

Virginians who are delinquent on back taxes have only a few days left to settle up with the state during the amnesty period, which began in October and ends on Saturday.

During this time, individuals and businesses in Virginia who owe back taxes can waive half the in...

Catholic Archdiocese Looks For Compromise In Same-Sex Marriage

By Sabri Ben-Achour

The D.C. Council has taken its first of two votes on the issue of allowing same-sex marriage in the nation's capital, passing the bill 11 to 2.

One of the most prominent opponents of legalizing same sex marriage has been the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. It's...

Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey Runs For Congress

By Meymo Lyons

Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey is exploring a run for Congress. Ivey is perceived by some to be the front runner for the soon to be vacated post held by Prince Georges County Executive Jack Johnson.

Ivey says he has decided not to run for county e...

On Morning Edition: Sheila Dixon Verdicts

A Baltimore jury has convicted Mayor Sheila Dixon on one count of embezzling gift cards intended for needy families. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on three other counts and couldn't reach a verdict on another.

Longtime Baltimore Sun columnist and host of Midday for WYPR, Dan Rodrick...

Nonprofit Offers HIV/AIDS Stigma Reduction Training In D.C. Schools

By Rebecca Sheir

DC has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infections in the country. A local non-profit is working to reduce the stigma among young people infected by the disease.

HIV/AIDS first came to light in the early 1980s. And yet myths about the illness live on. For instance, Andrea...

Internet Campaign Gathers Info. On Closeted Gay Priests In D.C. Area

By Jonathan Wilson

A D.C. resident has started an internet campaign to gather information about closeted gay priests in the area, and says his goal isn't to harm their careers, but to save the church.

The campaign is called ChurchOuting.org and includes a website, a Twitter feed, and...

PG County Gives Bonuses To Teachers

By Natalie Neumann

Maryland's second largest school system is rewarding teachers for good performance in the classroom.

Prince George's County is paying $1.1 million to 279 teachers and administrators from a dozen schools who volunteered for the merit pay pilot program.

The prog...

Future Uncertain For Baltimore Mayor After Conviction

Sheila Dixon is still the mayor of Baltimore--for now. Dixon could be removed from office after being found guilty of a misdemeanor.

Dixon was acquitted of two felony counts of theft. But neither Dixon nor her attorneys mentioned the word resignation after the verdict was announced.

M...

Independent Safety Inspectors On Metro Tracks

By Kavitha Cardoza

Independent safety inspectors are on Metro tracks today, for the first time since 2007. The three teams are checking safety procedures for crews working along the rails.

This comes after Metro initially said it could only allow inspectors from the Tri-State Oversigh...

Power Breakfast for December 2, 2009

The President has spoken to the American people and the world about his plans for Afghanistan. Now Senator Lamar Alexander hopes he'll do one better.

The Tennessee Republican wants President Obama to come and address Congress directly.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...

Public Asked To Comment On Spring Valley Clean Up Options

By Kavitha Cardoza

The Army Corps of Engineers has released a list of chemical warfare materials recovered from Spring Valley in northwest D.C. Now, residents are being asked to comment on the cleanup process.

The list includes 75-milimeter projectiles of Lewisite and mustard gas, whi...