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December 10, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. House has voted to let the District of Columbia use city money to fund abortions for low-income women, implement a medical marijuana law and continue a needle-exchange program. Because the city is under federal control its budget must be approved by Congress, which has long attached conditions.
WASHINGTON (AP) A Metro spokesman says four people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a Metro bus collided with a pickup truck. The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. today at 15th and I in northwest Washington.
WASHINGTON (AP) D.C. officials say firefighters have been called to Ballou High School at least 40 times since the school year began. That's more than twice a week on average. Thirteen of the calls have been for small fires in stairwells and trash cans, like one reported last week. The rest have been false alarms or other incidents, including calls for medical assistance.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
December 10, 2009 - BALTIMORE (AP) A Maryland state trooper has been convicted of double-dipping by working private security jobs while on the clock. Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced today that 36-year-old Andrew Mohan was convicted of two counts of felony theft and five counts of misconduct in office.
DARLINGTON, Md. (AP) Authorities in Harford County have arrested a man they believe is responsible for a rash of robberies and thefts in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Twenty-two-year-old William Grace Junior of Port Deposit was taken into custody yesterday in a cornfield in Darlington after a brief high-speed chase.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
December 10, 2009 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell has appointed lieutenant governor Bill Bolling his administration's new jobs czar and made it a position in his cabinet. McDonnell also appointed retired Fortune 500 CEO Bob Sledd to be his commerce secretary and named longtime aide and adviser Janet Polarek Secretary of the Commonwealth.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) President Barack Obama has approved federal aid for localities in Virginia that were affected by a nor'easter in November. The declaration announced today covers Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, and the counties of Halifax, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Northampton and Surry.
LOUISA, Va. (AP) One of two nuclear reactors at Dominion Virginia Power's North Anna Power Station is shut down because of a breaker problem. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says Unit Two was shut down Wednesday after a problem was discovered in an electrical supply breaker.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) Mill Mountain Zoo's 16-year-old female snow leopard Natasha has died from cancer. The Roanoke zoo says Natasha died yesterday. The snow leopard was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in November and the cancer spread.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
December 10, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson
The search for local clues in the case of five American Muslims from D.C. area recently arrested in Pakistan continues.
Ramy Zamzam, one of the men arrested in Pakistan, lived in the Murraygate Village apartment complex with his parents and younger brother.
Matilda Antwi says she lives directly above the Zamzams: she says Ramy always seemed polite. "He's very quiet, he don't say much," says Antwi. "I know he goes to school, but I have never said a word to him," Antwi says.
The local chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America is just a few miles away. It's where Zamzam and the four other young men reportedly prayed each day.
The local chapter is headquartered at a converted residence. The tan-brick building was locked today as worshipers arrived for midday prayers.
This afternoon, ICNA's leaders posted a statement on the group's website, saying in part: "Extremism has no place in Islam," and "We stand beside local and federal law enforcement and hope that this matter is resolved very soon."
The Islamic Circle of North America was established in 1968.
December 10, 2009 - By Sabri Ben-Achour
Amid the down economy, the National Harbor development in Maryland is welcoming business generated by a new arrival: a Peeps store, catering to fans of the sugary, marshmallow treats.
John Peterson is senior vice president of the Peterson Company, the company who built National Harbor. He says the past couple years could have been better for business.
"With this economy it's not as strong as we were expecting or hoping it to be, but on a comparative basis, we're doing better than just about any place in the country," says Peterson.
One of the reasons for the Harbor's appeal, he says, is the unique stores it's been able to attract. The Peeps store, he says, was a major get. "Without a doubt, I think they are a company who could've chosen a lot of places to go," says Peterson.
A Disney store is also coming, and business is definitely booming at the Peeps store. Phadra Milton is a manager there, and she remembers one of the store's soft openings. "We had to have police officers come and start directing people, we had so much, we had a line of people," says Milton.
The Gaylord Hotel is getting in on the action too; it's created a peep scavenger hunt for hotel guests.
December 10, 2009 - By Bill Redlin
Virginia Governor-elect Bob McDonnell is making the state's lieutenant governor part of his cabinet. McDonnell is appointing Bill Bolling the job czar in his administration.
The Republican who will soon take-over in Richmond also appointed retired Fortune 500 CEO Bob Sledd as commerce secretary, and longtime aide Janet Polarek Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Although Bolling will have an additional title, it won't mean a raise in his $36,321 state salary. The appointment puts the lieutenant governor and former Performance Food Group chairman Sledd in charge of the McDonnell primary campaign theme of creating new jobs in Virginia.
December 10, 2009 - A task force report says Montgomery County, Maryland needs to do more to attract bioscience companies.
Matt Bush reports...
December 10, 2009 - By Patrick Madden
Congress appears ready to lift the ban on D.C.'s medical marijuana law. Eleven years ago, voters in D.C. overwhelmingly approved a referendum to legalize medical marijuana. Congress immediately blocked the provision and for more than a decade, federal lawmakers have attached an amendment to the government's massive spending bill, banning the city from funding the effort.
But this year's spending bill does not include the provision, potentially paving the way for D.C. to become the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana. The legislation could be approved by the end of the week. The 11-year-old voter initiative will still have to be sent to congress by the D.C. Council, where federal lawmakers will have another chance to overturn the measure.
The spokeswoman for D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray says the council is still trying to determine the next step.
D.C. may become the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana. The legislation could be approved by the end of the week.
Courtesy of: www.ncb4.com
December 10, 2009 - By Kate Sheehy
If you see more air traffic in the skies over the D.C. area tonight, it's likely due to a flight training exercise planned by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. After several delays NORAD says it will have planes in the sky tonight for a training exercise.
The flights first were scheduled for Tuesday night but were postponed until Wednesday because of nasty weather. Then continued bad weather pushed the training back again.
It's now slated to begin late today and to continue into the early morning hours on Friday. The exercise involves a series of NORAD training flights in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Command Center, and other government agencies.
December 10, 2009 - By Natalie Neumann
The District says firefighters have been called to Ballou High School at least 40 times since the school year began.
The high occurrence of calls means firefighters have come to Ballou more than twice a week on average. The fire department says that volume of calls is beyond the norm.
Thirteen of the calls have been for small fires in stairwells and trash cans, like one reported yesterday. The rest have been false alarms or other incidents, including calls for medical assistance.
Six students have been arrested by fire investigators in three of the incidents. There've been no injuries from the fires, but they trigger evacuations that disrupt the school day.
School and fire department representatives tell the Washington Post they're forming a fire prevention team led by Ballou administrators and the D.C. police officer assigned to the school.
December 10, 2009 - By Bill Redlin
The president of Peanut Corporation of America and three former managers want part of the $1 million corporate insurance policy for legal costs that arose from an outbreak of salmonella.
The outbreak made about 700 ill, and it has been linked to at least nine deaths throughout the country. The salmonella was traced to the company's plants in Georgia and Texas.
According to federal court filings reported by the News & Advance newspaper, Peanut Corporation President Steward Parnell is seeking the largest amount: $951,000.
Three former managers at the Georgia plant also are seeking funds for legal costs, and two former members of the board of directors are asking for unspecified funds.
A salmonella outbreak that caused at least nine deaths and made about 700 ill, was traced to peanut plants in Georgia and Texas.
Courtesy of: Morgue File
December 10, 2009 - By Bill Redlin
The American Association of State Troopers is giving 171 scholarships in memory of a Virginia Tech student who was murdered, along with her boyfriend, in Jefferson National Forest.
Heidi Childs had once applied for a $500 scholarship from the troopers' association. The application was approved, but she died before receiving it. She and her boyfriend David Metzler were found shot to death in a campground parking lot in August. No one has been charged in the killings.
Childs' father is a twenty year veteran of the Virginia State police.
December 10, 2009 - A major school funding issue in Montgomery County, Maryland is threatening to split county leaders. The issue is over a school funding formula called maintenance of effort.
County council members want the state legislature to issue a waiver for this year, so that the county can spend the money in other areas to offset a projected shortfall of more than $600 million. County school superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast says he was okay with it last year, but not now.
Matt Bush reports...
December 10, 2009 - (December 11-13) SUGARLOAF SWEETS Sweet as sugar, the Sugarloaf Craft Festivals have been showcasing work from the finest artisans for 30 years. Opening tomorrow in Chantilly, Virginia, the festival provides a venue for exceptional local crafts at the Dulles Expo Center through Sunday. The eclectic mix of work attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and includes artists featured in fine galleries and museums.
(December 12-13) MESSIAH The National Philharmonic Singers present Handel's Messiah, straight up and stirring, not shaken, at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda Saturday and Sunday. The center's resident choral group shares the sounds of the season, applying its rich tones to one of the most popular choral works the world over. The doors are flung open for free to young people ages seven to 17.
(Dec 7-Jan 10) THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD "I think I can, I think I can..." If hectic holiday preparation has you nearly out of steam, The Little Engine that Could might provide some inspiration. The show is rolling along at Adventure Theatre in Maryland's Glen Echo Park through January 10th, hosting a pajama party tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and a children's book club next Saturday.
Jacket by Mo O’Grady.
Courtesy of: www.sugarloafcrafts.com
December 10, 2009 - By Jessica Gould
At a District elementary school, music students are learning to be the instruments of change. Students at Shepherd Elementary School in northwest D.C. are practicing their rendition of Old Man River, from the musical Showboat.
Every year, music instructor Ken Giles teaches his students about Paul Robeson, the African-American activist who popularized the song. But Giles always goes off book for the lessons.
Paul Robeson is not mentioned at all in the D.C. Public School music text book.
Now Giles and his students are on a campaign to make sure their next book includes Robeson. Fourth grader Autumn Parrish reads a letter she wrote to the school system's music director.
"I really want Paul Robeson in our music text books because he was an activist for peace and human rights," says Parrish.
Giles says students have delivered 120 letters pleading their case.
Shepherd Elementary School teacher Ken Giles has enlisted help from his students to get African-American activist Paul Robeson's name included in their music book. Robeson popularized the song Old Man River, from the musical Showboat.
Courtesy of: Jessica Gould
December 10, 2009 - By Patrick Madden
The District is trying to close the so-called 'digital divide' between residents who have access to high speed internet and those who don't.
The city's new chief technology officer says he wants to use federal stimulus money to open as many as 70 public computer stations around the city.
Bryan Sivak says residents will be able to use computers with free wi-fi. There will be training programs as well, which, Sivak hopes, will help reduce D.C.'s double-digit unemployment.
"If you think about digital divide, the real key thing is that we not only provide access, and training, but those things actually translate into opportunities," says Sivak.
Sivak is still waiting to hear from the federal government about the $1.6 million stimulus grant. But the former IT executive is confident. He says the city submitted a "stellar" application.
December 10, 2009 - By Patrick Madden
The general manager of Metro is expected to testify on Capitol Hill today as the federal government looks to take greater control over subway and light rail systems across the country.
The Obama Administration is asking Congress to give the Federal Transit Administration authority to set standards and inspect local rail systems. Right now, there are only volunteer standards produced by industry groups.
Metro G.M. John Catoe will join Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood and others at the senate hearing to offer input on a proposed bill.
Nine people were killed and 70 injured in a metro accident in June.
An investigation into the crash revealed the group monitoring metro, the Tri-State Oversight Committee, lacked any real regulatory authority over the transit system.
December 10, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson
Classes will resume at Northern Virginia Community Colleges Woodbridge campus for the first time since a student reportedly fired a high powered rifle at a teacher there Tuesday.
Jessica Gilbert says she was in the classroom where 20-year-old Jason Hamilton reportedly shot at his teacher twice, missing both times.
She says she couldn't sleep the night after the shooting -- but she isn't sure whether she'll visit one of the counselors who will be on campus the next few days.
"Probably not," she says. "I'm not that type. I just need my time, my time to just cope with it."
The school is bringing in mental health providers from outside organizations.
NOVA has more than 50 counselors on staff to help the 72,000 students spread over its 6 campuses.
But Dr. Beth Harper, NOVA's associate Vice Principal for student services says those counselors normally help students with academic problems or minor social issues.
She says community college students in Virginia are referred to off-campus providers if they need professional therapy.
"We're part of a statewide community college system 23 colleges. It is the system policy that we will not provide mental health services," Harper says.
She says the school had not received previous reports of concerns about Hamilton.
Police believe Hamilton was motivated by unhappiness over grades.
Police say it appears Hamilton's rifle jammed as he was attempting to reload after two shots, preventing him from firing a third round.
He was not armed at the moment police confronted him in the building.
December 10, 2009 - The climate change summit in Copenhagen is generating headlines. But commentator Fred Fiske says discussion about the real impact of climate change is taking a backseat to debates over e-mails.
December 10, 2009 - By David Schultz
Johari Abdul-Malik is the imam of a mosque in Falls Church, Va. and he leads a coalition of local mosques.
He says Muslims in the D.C. area are reeling, especially because the students are known to be bright and involved in community service.
"Secretly, our own people are engaged in something that most of us don't know about," Abdul-Malik says. "And that is sending a chill through our community."
This comes on the heels of the shooting at Fort Hood in Texas. Nidal Malik Hasan, the man charged in that shooting, attended a Mosque in suburban Maryland.
Abdul-Malik says, for Muslims in the D.C. region, the last few months have been tough.
"From a moral standpoint," he says, "This is really a moral low for our community."
But Abdul-Malik says he sees a bright spot in all of this: the students' parents are cooperating with the FBI.
"It is a testimony to this community that there are parents like that," he says.
Abdul-Malik says the families of the students are of modest means and were relying on their sons as a source of income.
December 10, 2009 - By Rebecca Sheir
You wouldn't think holiday sweaters and prom dresses have a lot in common. But a local non-profit has brought them together, to help underprivileged teenage girls in the D.C. area.
You know that sweater your Aunt Ethel gave you, the one with the sparkly snowflakes, the glittery wreaths? Ashley Taylor sure does, because, well, shes wearing it.
"It's beautiful," she says, "and especially ugly."
Taylor's hosting an Ugly Christmas Sweater benefit for Once Upon a Prom, the non-profit she founded to provide underprivileged teenage girls with prom dresses.
"I think that prom can be a defining moment for teenage girls," she explains. "And a lot of these girls cannot afford a really nice dress."
Once Upon a Prom collects hundreds of frocks from individuals and retail establishments, and distributes them across the D.C. area.
Taylor says, "You watch the faces of these girls and you feel like you've made a difference."
She hopes this benefit will make a difference too. Proceeds will go toward a scholarship fund Once Upon a Prom has started, to increase educational opportunities for teenage girls from low-income families. Because you need more than a pretty dress for a happily-ever-after prom. You need to get through the school year.
Michele Backus and Ashley Taylor, organizers of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party for Once Upon a Prom.
Courtesy of: Rebecca Sheir
December 10, 2009 - The health care debate continues in Washington. Meanwhile, climate change is being discussed in Copenhagen.
And on the hill, members of the Joint Economic Committee will be talking job-creation today.
Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...
December 10, 2009 - As part of our continuing series, "Conversations," reporter Michael Cottman speaks with Cathy Travis. She's the author of "Constitution Translated for Kids," a simple translation of the entire U.S. Constitution written on a 5th grade level. Travis worked on Capitol Hill for 25 years writing speeches and advising members of Congress...
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