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January 22, 2010 - WASHINGTON (AP) On the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, anti-abortion protesters say they are demanding that the ruling be overturned. The annual March for Life kicked off today with a rally on the National Mall.
WASHINGTON (AP) The Smithsonian Institution has named an acting director for the National Portrait Gallery while director Martin Sullivan works from home for medical reasons. Museum officials say curator Brandon Fortune has been serving as acting director since October. The museum did not announce the change for staff privacy reasons.
WASHINGTON (AP) Two Metro employees have been suspended after three passengers, including a 90-year-old woman, disappeared for five hours after leaving an adult care center. A MetroAccess vehicle left the Helping Hands Adult Services Center in Prince George's County with three passengers around 4 p.m. Tuesday, but didn't drop them off at home.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
January 22, 2010 - ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Maryland's slot machine commission is scheduled to meet today to discuss potential legislative changes. The commission chairman has been talking with members of the western Maryland delegation in Annapolis about ideas relating to a potential slot machine site at Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (AP) A Howard County jury has rejected a lawsuit against six Baltimore police officers filed by the mother of a boy arrested in 2007 for illegally riding a dirt bike. Jurors denied Lakisa Dinkins' lawsuit yesterday for more than $700,000 in compensatory damages.
BALTIMORE (AP) An Anne Arundel County police lieutenant is facing a federal child pornography charge. Court documents say 47-year-old James Cifala exchanged sexually explicit picture messages -- a practice known as "sexting"--with an underage girl.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
January 22, 2010 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Fire officials are reporting multiple fatalities in a blaze that gutted a home near the Richmond International Raceway. Authorities say there was more than one fatality in this morning's blaze but they couldn't release the number of people dead.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) A newly released search warrant shows a deputy who responded to a rural Virginia homestead where eight people were slain found two bodies on the porch and another next to a car in a driveway. The warrant said a fourth victim was found still alive on a nearby road with a gunshot wound to the torso. He later died at a hospital.
WYTHEVILLE, Va. (AP) A Wythe County man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges related to a 2008 rampage that left a neighbor dead and two others injured. Douglas Albert Jaccard is scheduled to be sentenced in March. The 59-year-old entered his plea today in Wythe County Circuit Court.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) A worker at International Paper's Lynchburg plant has died from injuries suffered in an accident. Lynchburg police say 39-year-old Jerry Wayne Evans of Forest was operating heavy equipment when the accident occurred early today. He later died at a local hospital.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
January 22, 2010 - SCRIPT:
I’m Sara Sciammacco of Capitol News Connection. This Week in Congress...
Democratic lawmakers returned from a long holiday weekend worried about the prospects of losing a seat in the U.S. Senate. Late polls showed the Republican contender Scott Brown in the lead. By Tuesday afternoon Democrats feared the worst. To their dismay they lost the super majority after having it for only seven months. Virginia Senator Mark Warner summed it up best.
WARNER: "We got walloped."
The newly-diminished majority began licking its wounds and looking for answers. The newly-emboldened minority celebrated and began contemplating its meaning. Texas Republican John Cornyn said Massachusetts voters were clear.
CORNYN: "They are simply fed up and tired of being shut out of the process."
Republicans pointed to the debate on health care, some going as far as saying the democratic bill is dead. Senator George Lemieux is from Florida, where 1 out of every 4 people under 65 is uninsured.
LEMIEUX: "The American people obviously don’t like it if in a state where the democratic registration is 3 to 1, they throw out the Democrats and put a Republican in. I mean, if Massachusetts is sending a republican to the Senate and the rest of these folks here in Congress don’t wake up, they are going to get replaced."
Meanwhile, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was all smiles in his office in the U.S. Capitol.
MCCONNELL: "I just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome Senator Brown to US Senate."
Brown took the welcome in stride.
BROWN: "When do I get a business card, when do I get an office and when will I be sworn in?"
Every time a Senator got off a Capitol elevator, reporters swarmed. Everyone wanted to know what would happen next, but many weren’t giving any specifics. West Virginia Democrat Jay Rockefeller held the press at bay.
ROCKEFELLER: "Yeah, I think a couple days to cool off on both sides."
Ideas were being tossed around about how to move forward on a health care bill without 60 votes. There is something called "reconciliation," which would allow the majority to pass a bill with only 51 votes. There is one thing that hasn’t changed--party leaders still have to worry about courting the moderates, like Ben Nelson of Nebraska. He’s concerned states will have to pay too much for a Medicaid expansion.
NELSON: "I still would like to have an opt-out so that states could make a decision at that time but not have it be an unfunded mandate."
Speaking of the mandate, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger came to Washington this week. He begged federal officials for help to pay for it.
SCHWARZENEGGER: "There were many in the congressional delegation that said this was going to be very difficult, well hello, what isn’t?"
Republicans have two words of advice on health care: "start over." They’re still calling for a less expensive package and more GOP input. But those calls may sound a bit louder now. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, can’t believe the legislation is still in limbo.
SHERROD: "This bill should have been in done in September, it is still good bill and we should be talking about jobs now, and we should be concentrating on the economy and jobs."
The Republican victory wasn’t the only thing Democrats were fuming about this week. The Supreme Court decided to strike down long-standing campaign finance laws. The move allows companies to use general funds to buy ads to support or oppose politicians. In the 5 to 4 ruling justices argued the laws infringed on free speech. Colorado Democrat Jared Polis argued it would give the wealthy even more power.
POLIS: "Corporations already have too much influence in politics. We’ve seen the impact of the special interests in health care debate among other things. This type of corporate involvement with elections actually undermines the free speech of living, breathing human beings."
Next week the Democrats will try to come up with legislation to correct what they call a huge win for corporate America. And Congress and the nation await President Obama’s State of the Union address.
That was This Week in Congress. I’m Sara Sciammacco, Capitol News Connection.
January 22, 2010 - From www.marylandreporter.com
Today, we've got the state planning to borrow money from the federal government to save the insolvent unemployment insurance fund, and lawmakers look at changing the foreclosure laws. We've also got even more people reacting to Gov. O'Malley's budget.
Aaron Davis of The Washington Post writes that Gov. Martin O'Malley says he won't raise taxes until the economy has recovered, and that might not happen until 2012.
The state plans to borrow $250 million from the federal government to protect its nearly empty unemployment insurance fund, Heather Harlan Warnack of the Baltimore Business Journal reports. State Labor Secretary Alexander Sanchez expects the state to pay back the entire loan, interest-free, by the end of the year.
Baltimore Brew has more details about the state unemployment insurance fund's problems.
Lawmakers discussed changes to foreclosure laws that would require borrowers and lenders to meet in person during the foreclosure process, Nick Sohr reports in The Daily Record. Mandatory mediation is going to be part of O'Malley's agenda this session, although the proposal is not yet finalized. And state officials blame rising foreclosures on high unemployment, WBAL-TV reports.
More budget reaction and criticism comes your way thanks to Pat Warren with WJZ-TV. Joel McCord has more for WYPR.
Allegany and Garrett counties react to funding cuts in O'Malley's budget, Kevin Spradlin reports in the Cumberland Times-News. Although most aid programs are flat-funded in the proposal, the counties' disparity grants and highway user revenue funds declined.
O�Malley will have a tough time using this year�s lean budget to swing voters in his re-election drive this year, Doug Tallman writes in The Gazette.
Experts and politicians differ about what Republican Scott Brown�s Senate Victory in Massachusetts would mean for a potential gubernatorial run for former Gov. Bob Ehrlich. However, C. Benjamin Ford writes in The Gazette that it doesn�t hurt his chances.
Sean Sedam writes that a more immediate impact of Brown�s win is that the state might not be able to count on federal Medicaid help that O�Malley was counting on in his budget.
And an editorial in The Daily Record described O'Malley's approach to budget cuts "disappointing, but not surprising."
Kevin James Shay of The Gazette writes that the Department of Business and Economic Development�s budget, as proposed by O�Malley, is the lowest it�s been since 2005. Tom LoBianco in Center Maryland has more about what the cuts mean.
Erin Cunningham takes a look in The Gazette at Thursday�s campaign finance ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, and what its effect could be on Maryland.
State schools superintendent Nancy Grasmick wants to change how teachers are tenured and compensated in order to win Race to the Top grant money, but some senators aren't convinced it's necessary, Julie Bykowicz reports in The Baltimore Sun.
Maryland has 30,000 more children who qualify for the federal school lunch program than last year, Liz Bowie reports in the sun. This is partly a result of the recession, and increased efforts to get kids signed up.
The House of Delegates will soon start putting committee votes online and streaming committee meetings, Doug Tallman writes in The Gazette.
The state slots commission could make its decision regarding allowing slots at Rocky Gap State Park, Robert Lang of WBAL Radio reports in his preview of today's meeting of the commission.
Alan Brody in The Gazette has a piece about Gov. Martin O�Malley�s decision to delay the purchase of new voting machines in his budget for next year.
Sen. Don Munson's campaign manager Ryan Miner made a Facebook posting in 2005 that some interpreted as calling homosexuality "subhuman," Erin Julius writes in The (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail. Miner, who manages Munson's campaign for reelection against challenger House Minority Whip Chris Shank, says his views have "evolved" since then.
The Sun has a long obituary on former first lady Patricia Hughes.
Good stuff in The Gazette�s �Reporters Notebook,� including a Facebook fight over credit for legislative transparency proposals. Alan Brody also has a little piece on O�Malley�s response to his loss of a bet with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels over last week�s Ravens-Colts game.
WBAL-TV's David Collins reports on Del. Jeannie Haddaway's bill requiring the sterilization of dangerous dogs.
Legislation before the General Assembly would give lawmakers final say over oyster sanctuary designations in the Chesapeake Bay, Alan Brody writes in The Gazette.
Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Upper Shore, calls out O�Malley for a �war against the Eastern Shore,� in a Gazette op-ed.
Former Prince George's County Executive Wayne Curry is considering entering the Democratic primary against Gov. O'Malley, Robert Lang reports for WBAL radio. He had a birthday party this week that many thought doubled as a campaign rally.
In his Gazette Column, Laslo Boyd calls for election finance reform.
O'Malley has asked President Barack Obama for federal disaster funding to help pay for the impact of last month's snow storm, Michelle Basch reports for WTOP.
Blair Lee has part two of his 2009 year-in-review column in The Gazette.
Corridor Inc. has a story about a $2.4 million grant to Bowie State University. It uses federal stimulus dollars for outreach to minority communities to boost participation in medical research.
January 22, 2010 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia's unemployment rate climbed higher during December but was still well below the national average.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday that Virginia's jobless rate for December was 6.9 percent, up from the 6.6 percent rate recorded in November.
The national unemployment rate was unchanged at 10 percent, but was 2.6 percentage points higher than a year earlier.
Unemployment rates rose in 43 states and the District of Columbia last month.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
January 22, 2010 - By Kavitha Cardoza
Residents of Ward 7 are hoping that when the new Deanwood Community Center opens it will create jobs and combat crime.
At the corner of 29th and Quarles street in northeast D.C., construction workers lay gravel on the ground. You can see the steel skeleton of the facility exposed and mounds of dirt piled high.
Beverly Good is a longtime resident in the area and keeps tabs on the Deanwood project's progress.
"We make it a point to come by everyday to make sure someone is working here," she says. "We can't sleep unless we see someone down here moving!"
The facility will cost $33 million and Good says in uncertain economic times, she wants to make sure construction continues. She says this will give children in the area something to do after school.
"We always used to call ourselves the plantation. This was the country of Washington D.C. There is nothing. Absolutely nothing. But we have great ideas for this!"
The center will be the largest of it's kind in the district. The 63,000 square-foot facility will house a library, swimming pool and gym, as well as several multipurpose rooms.
Yvonne Johnson says she's hoping there will be programs for seniors.
"It's well overdue. People have been here for years and years and paid taxes on top of taxes," she says. "We'd like to see a day program so people can go to work and have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are taken care of and can be protected."
The Deanwood Community Center is scheduled to open in June this year.
Construction site of Deanwood Community Center at the corner of 29th and Quarles streets in northeast D.C.
Courtesy of: Kavitha Cardoza
January 22, 2010 - By Alex Keefe
Virginia senators say Democrats will need to make some big changes if they plan to pass a health care bill any time soon.
Democratic leaders have been meeting all week to work out what happens next with health care. It took months of negotiations to pass the Senate bill, and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) says Congress could have used some more direction from the White House.
"Instead we had a piece of legislation that boiled up through five different congressional committees," says Webb. "It caused a lot of confusion in the country, so the concern that I have had has been for a long time and I think having the votes that we have taken, we need to respect the process and concern of our voters."
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) says losing a seat in Massachusetts should send a message to his party.
"There needs to be a recognition that, no matter what the substance of the health care bill includes, that folks don't feel that it's gonna be moving in a right direction," he says.
Democrats may get some direction from President Obama's State of the Union next week.
January 22, 2010 - By Stephanie Kaye
Maryland's Public Interest Research Group is looking to get new bans on certain chemicals.
"We can estimate that about 5 percent of cancer, about 10 percent of our diabetes, our Parkinson's, and actually about 30 percent of asthma, can be attributed to chemical exposure," says Jenny Levin, an environmental health advocate with the Maryland PIRG. It published a report of five independent studies.
PIRG says that exposure will cost Maryland about $9 million in health care, and $5 billion nationwide by the year 2020. That's the year the group hopes to see full implementation of upcoming state and federal bills.
"It's totally frustrating because it's like closing the barn door after the horse got out," says Ginni Cook, a registered nurse.
This session, lawmakers in Maryland are expected to consider two bills. One would ban BPA in baby bottles and toys; the other, a chemical flame retardant found in some electronics equipment.
There are approximately 80,000 chemicals registered for commerce in the U.S. Five have been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency.
January 22, 2010 - (January 22) BEATLES 1964 1964: The Tribute brings back the Beatles in a re-creation of their legendary concerts. It's at The Weinberg Center in Central Maryland tonight at 8 p.m. Mark, Gary, James and Greg become John, Paul, George and Ringo, drawing on decades of research and performance to conjure up the Fab Four's glory days.
(January 24) MOZART'S BIRTHDAY Another famous European performer is celebrated this Sunday. Mozart's 254th birthday is commemorated by 10-year- old Andrew Lu. The young violinist and pianist joins the National Chamber Ensemble at the Rosslyn Spectrum in Arlington, Virginia at 4 p.m., as a current-day prodigy honors one of the classics.
(January 22 & 23) BEETHOVEN'S THIRD PIANO CONCERTO Beethoven was one of many composers influenced by Mozart. His Third Piano Concerto is presented by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Friday in Baltimore at the Meyerhoff and Saturday in North Bethesda at Strathmore. The Third Concerto shows Beethoven clearly on his own creative path, producing a dynamic work rich in the emotional quality he became known for.
January 22, 2010 - The Washington Post recently highlighted what are characterized as serious deficiencies in the way the District of Columbia spends taxpayer money for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. But commentator Walter Smith says it's important to note that the city's efforts against HIV/AIDS are not in complete disarray. Smith is the Executive Director of DC Appleseed.
What do you think? You can tell us by joining The Conversation.
SCRIPT:
It's no secret that the district's efforts addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic have been subject to serious deficiencies. D.C. Appleseed has also repeatedly pointed out such problems.
In fact, in 2005, D.C. Appleseed published a major report documenting a number of those deficiencies and making specific recommendations for overcoming them.
We found no coordination of HIV prevention efforts across the government, an absence of city leadership making the epidemic a top health priority, insufficient services for the most vulnerable populations: youth, drug users, and the incarcerated, and a complete failure to gather data that would track the epidemic and permit the effective targeting of resources to address it.
Today, as D.C. Appleseed's periodic report cards have shown, important progress has been made on a number of these fronts.
First, the city's HIV/AIDS strategy is now driven by data. The district and George Washington University's School of Public Health have joined forces to create a top-notch HIV/AIDS data collection program. Those data show that the city's HIV/AIDS cases are staggeringly high, but at least we now know what we face and where our efforts need to be focused.
Second, the district has dramatically improved its testing for HIV/AIDS. In fact, the number of tests conducted in the district is exceeded only by two huge jurisdictions: Florida and New York City.
Third, the needs of some of the most at-risk populations are being better addressed. The D.C. jail is routinely cited as a national leader in HIV testing and support for those who test positive.
The D.C. Public Schools have instituted a health curriculum instituted that includes age-appropriate lessons on HIV/AIDS. And the overturning of the needle exchange ban on the Hill has allowed the city to significantly increase its efforts at reducing HIV/AIDS among drug users.
Finally, general condom distribution in the district has dramatically expanded, from a little over 100,000 in 2006 to nearly 3 million in 2009.
It will take many years for these and other efforts to produce a turn-around in our HIV/AIDS epidemic. And there is no question that there will be other failures along the way. But it would be unfair to the district and to the many individuals and non-profits working in the community to let those failures suggest to the public that the district's response to the epidemic is in complete chaos.
It is not.
Progress is being made.
But much, much more remains to be done.
I'm Walter Smith.
January 22, 2010 - By Kavitha Cardoza
In addition to the regular parking meters and the "pay to park" machines, the district is installing some new solar powered meters that offer a new convenience and high-tech capability.
At the intersection of U and 14th streets in northwest D.C., Paul Sbardalla and three of his friends are hopping out of their car to grab some lunch. All are fumbling in their pockets for change to feed the meter. Sbardalla says he didn't realize the meters were new. Nor that they were solar powered. Nor that he really didn't need those quarters.
"They take Visa and Mastercard," says Sbardalla, something he says he wished he'd noticed.
Gabe Klein who heads the district's Department of Transportation says they're easier to maintain as well.
"It communicates in real time if there's a problem. Sort of like if you have a child and they're sick and they tell you they're sick. It's the same thing with the meter," says Klein. "It'll say I'm full with quarters, I'm not able to transmit data or I've got a mechanical problem."
And Klein says that soon, you may even be able to use your cell phone to text the parking fee straight to the meter.
New solar powered parking meters at U and 14th street.
Courtesy of: Kavitha Cardoza
January 22, 2010 - By Peter Granitz
The superintendent of Maryland's Montgomery County schools told a Senate panel his district could use federal money to deal with billions of dollars in upgrades and construction.
Dr. Jerry Weast says his district has a backlog of construction needs totaling more than $1.5 billion. He says that's a huge burden for residents and the district could use federal money.
He touts school construction as a way to jolt the economy, not just in Montgomery County but across the country.
"I think there are about 14,000 school systems and every one of them has a problem with schools," he says. "Problems with updating them, problems with air quality, or construction. In Montgomery County we keep our schools operating for about 70 years before we modernize or take them out of service in some level."
Last year, Congress failed to approve tens of billions of dollars in school construction as part of the stimulus bill. Some are hopeful money will be included in the Senate version of a jobs bill.
January 22, 2010 - Virginia's lowest courts use substitutes to fill in for judges who are out for one reason or another. And next week, substitute judges from across Northern Virginia will gather in Alexandria for a first-of-its kind training institute.
The vast majority are defense attorneys, but not all of them. Divorce attorneys might not be familiar with the machines used in DUI. Or that land-use attorneys might not be familiar with the system that allows judges to conduct hearings over a live video feed from the jail.
That's why Alexandria General District Court Chief Judge Becky Moore created the substitute judges institute.
Michael Pope reports.
January 22, 2010 - By Kate Sheehy
Undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Virgina have filtered millions of cigarettes onto the nation's street to target smugglers.
ATF agents in Virginia say the cigarettes were released as part of sting operations that have yielded about five dozen arrests over the past three years for illegal cigarette sales on the black market.
The eastern district of Virginia including Richmond, northern Virginia and the Interstate 95 corridor is a hotbed for the crime. This is because while most states, and the district, have passed multiple tax hikes. Virginia, as part of the heart of tobacco country, only taxes pennies per pack.
The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that federal, state and local governments lose out on $5 billion a year in tax revenue from illegally sold cigarettes.
Cigarette smuggling rings sometimes provide funding for terrorists, but are more often connected to organized crime. For this reason, Virginia agents say investigations into smuggling often turn up other crimes.
January 22, 2010 - While a lot of eyes were focused on Massachusetts this week, it was still a busy one in our area. A new governor was sworn in for Virginia. Maryland's governor unveiled a new budget. Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney talks with host Matt Bush...
January 22, 2010 - By Kate Sheehy
The number of students receiving free and reduced price school meals in Maryland this year jumped by 30,000 students.
The recession is one factor, but also an effort by the city of Baltimore to encourage parents to sign their children up for the federal program.
Across Maryland 326,000 schoolchildren qualify for the program. Baltimore, at 84 percent, has the largest number of students who qualify.
City schools added more than 9,000 new students and will see more financial benefits from the state, which gives systems additional money for every poor student. Schools can also help families sign up for food stamps.
January 22, 2010 - By Rebecca Sheir
A new study suggests parents with children in foster care in Prince Georges County, Maryland, might not get the services they need to reunify their families.
A group called Advocates for Children and Youth, ACY, looked at 19 cases for the study.
Matthew Joseph, the group's executive director, says only a quarter of parents received court-ordered services, which he attributes to two things. The first is resistance,
"Parents suffering from mental illness or substance abuse treatment problems are reluctant to participate in the services that are ordered to them," says Joseph.
The second is lack of availability,
"Prince Georges County really needs extra funding to make sure the services are there," he says.
But Gloria Brown, interim director of the County's Department of Social Services, says the County already spends nearly half its available support services funds on these parents, and already invites them to play a role in selecting services. What's preventing access, she says, is lack of coordination.
"...between the parents and the Department, and the various service providers in the community."
The Department is scheduled to meet with ACY next week.
January 22, 2010 - By Rebecca Blatt
A couple from Frederick, Md., trying to adopt a 3-year-old Haitian girl, expect to meet their daughter tonight, when she is airlifted to Miami.
David and Christie Hubner have been trying to adopt Ila for more than three years. A U.S. policy change in response to last week's earthquake has brought a swift conclusion to what once felt like an interminable process.
David Hubner says it's hard to wrap his head around how such a destructive force could bring a moment of such gratitude for his family.
"I certainly don't believe that the Lord caused the earthquake," says Hubner. "But I certainly believe that he can use any circumstance for blessings to come from it and many of those blessings are going to be children going to be with their families."
The Hubners spent much of the week getting ready for Ila -- buying her winter clothes and a car seat. They have never met her, but that doesn't mean they don't have an idea of what to expect.
"This is a little girl with a lot of character and strength," he says. "She lived in an orphanage with 130 other kids, couple that with this week, to have her come out on the other side of it - it's only going to make her stronger as an adult."
The Hubners aren't the only parents expecting new little ones. More than 100 orphans will travel with Ila to Miami tonight.
January 22, 2010 - By Jonathan Wilson
School districts in Northern Virginia are struggling to balance their budgets for the second straight year.
One cut in Loudoun County is starting to hit home for many students and parents.
Chris Mijares is a senior at Potomac Falls High School in Sterling he's in three AP, or Advanced Placement classes meaning he'll probably take three AP exams this spring to try to earn college credit for his work.
Mijares is worried.
"I feel sorry for the kids who take, like, 5 APs," he says.
Mijares isn't worried about the tests themselves just yet, he's worried about the $86 fee for each one. For the first time Loudoun County schools are making students foot the bill.
Mijares says he thinks that may lead to fewer students signing up for AP classes.
"Of course its going to stop some people," he says."Its like, 'Oh, but I can't pay 86 dollars for this test.'"
School Board member John Stevens points out that the tests are optional, and the change saves the district a couple million dollars.
"For the time being, were going to focus on our core educational mission, and that means letting go of some things that in the past we could have afforded to do," says Stevens.
Montgomery County, in Maryland, doesn't cover AP testing fees either. Fairfax County's Superintendent has proposed his district stop covering the fees next year.
Loudoun County Schools Board member John Stevens says AP testing fees will have to be covered by students for at least another year.
Courtesy of: Jonathan Wilson
January 22, 2010 - We don't always get outside to enjoy nature as much as we might like in January. But naturalist Mark Garland comes to the rescue with his annual Winter Nature Reading Guide. Speaking with David Furst, he brings us some new ideas for the bookshelf.
January 22, 2010 - Time to "check in" back home - with little time to spare..
House members have mostly fled Washington to return to their home districts for the weekend. And word is the House is likely to have a lot of shorter weeks on the Hill. Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen says it's because the House has passed a slew of legislation, and now it's waiting for the Senate to act.
Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports.
January 22, 2010 - From DDOT and Metro:
Road Closures Due to March in downtown D.C. on Friday
Some downtown streets near and around the National Mall will be closed and/or congested on Friday, January 22 due to the annual March for Life event.
Temporary road closures will be in effect between 9am and 5pm as various events are scheduled to take place.
Roadways that will be affected include:
• 7th Street between I and F streets, NW
• F Street between 7th and 10th streets, NW
• 10th Street between F Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue between 10th and 12th streets, NW
• 7th Street between Constitution Avenue and Jefferson Street, NW
• Constitution between 7th Street, NW and First Street, NE
• First Street between Constitution Avenue, NE and East Capitol Street, SE
Heavy pedestrian traffic is expected throughout the day including after the events conclude around 5pm.
Minor traffic delays on Independence and Constitution avenues, and roadways near the Smithsonian, L'Enfant Plaza and Federal Triangle Metro stations are anticipated. Motorists should proceed with caution.
Fourteen Metrobus lines will be rerouted on Friday, Jan. 22, due to the annual March for Life rally in downtown Washington, which will close some streets. Customers using these Metrobus lines should add additional time for their travel.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, Metrobus routes 32, 34, 36, 42, 54, 63, 64, 70, D6, P2, P6, S2 and S4 will be detoured due to street closures at F St., NW, 10th St. Constitution Ave., and 12th St. to the National Mall.
From noon to 5 p.m., Metrobus routes 32, 34, 36, 54, 70, 96, P2 and P6 will be detoured due to street closures at 1st St., NE/SE, between Constitution and Independence Ave.
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