News Archive - February 17, 2010

Montgomery County School Budget Request Approved

The Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously approved a funding request for schools. Superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast says his budget request covers the bare minimum funding requirements.

Cuts to school programs are still possible, especially if a fine of more than $20 million against...

Statistics Speak To Health Of Counties In Maryland And Virginia

By Stephanie Kaye

A new study ranks the health of the nation's counties, showing those in poor, rural areas are less healthy than counties in urban, upper-income jurisdictions.

The project makes connections between personal wealth and factors like obesity, access to health care and li...

"Art Beat" With Stephanie Kaye - Wednesday, February 17, 2010

(February 17) THAT FACE Precocious London playwright Polly Stenham was just 19 years old when she penned the play That Face. It opens tonight at Studio Theatre near D.C.'s Logan Circle. The shocking story about a violent encounter at an all-girls school skewers the seedy side of the British bourg...

Road Salt An Environmental Concern For Plowed Snow

BALTIMORE (AP) Mountains of grimy snow piled in parking lots aren't the prettiest sight for East Coast communities, but experts say that's less toxic to the environment than dumping it into rivers, streams and creeks.

The Environmental Protection Agency doesn't have specific regulations for...

Barry Faces More Legal Troubles

By Patrick Madden

D.C. Council member Marion Barry could be facing new legal troubles. An independent investigation says the former mayor misused public funds and calls for a possible criminal investigation.

A report by former prosecutor Robert Bennett alleges Barry personally benefit...

Virginia Governor Seeks Deep Cuts To Schools, Social Services

By BOB LEWIS AP Political Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Gov. Bob McDonnell has proposed deep, unprecedented cuts to public schools, the state government work force and health and welfare safety net programs in a $2.1 billion bid to balance a critically troubled state budget.

The Republica...

Power Breakfast For February 17, 2010

On this one-year anniversary of the stimulus, Democrats mark the occasion with an all-out PR offensive.

When asked what the federal government did for the economy in 2009, Republican Congressman Bill Shuster said 'not much.'

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports.

Catholic Archdiocese Ends 80-Year Foster Care Program

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is ending the city's foster care program. It's the first official fallout over the district's decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

While it may be legal for same-sex couples to walk down the aisle, becoming a foster parent just got a little harder....

Civilization Crumbles After Blizzard

By Sabri Ben-Achour

In some cases, last week's blizzard drew people together as neighbors lent helping hands. But not everywhere.

Maureen Kacprzynski remembers the old days, last week, when the snow was fresh.

"People were having snowball fights and block parties and high-fivin...

MarylandReporter.com: State Roundup Feb. 17, 2010

From the Maryland Reporter website:

Today, we've got extensive coverage of Gov. Martin O'Malley's testimony on his foreclosure mediation proposal, as well as the fight to save millions of dollars in state aid to Prince George's County and Maryland's made a formal offer to Northrop Grumman,...

Fairfax Dilemma: Could County Really Do Better Than VDOT?

By Jonathan Wilson

The recent winter storms have reignited talks of greater local control of roads in Fairfax County, Virginia. But the massive effort to dig out is giving people on both sides of the argument a better sense of the issue's complexity.

Fairfax County supervisors say the...

Latest Maryland Regional News

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Maryland senators have turned away a Baltimore County senator's attempt to alter their legislative pensions. Republican Andy Harris wanted to submit an amendment that he said would put lawmaker pensions in a defined contribution plan.

TOWSON, Md. (AP) Teens will have to...

D.C. To Improve Access To Health Records

By Rebecca Sheir

The district is using a new stimulus grant to develop a Health Information Exchange. The network will make residents health-care records accessible electronically, in any clinical setting.

How many times have you checked in to see a new doctor, only to be handed the c...

Latest D.C. Local News

WASHINGTON (AP) Attorneys for the man charged in the slaying of federal intern Chandra Levy want his trial moved from the D.C. area. Ingmar Guandique has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts filed in Levy's death.

WASHINGTON (AP) D.C. fire official says a man is dead a...

Md. Governor Backs Solar Energy Bill

By Natalie Neumann

Maryland's governor is backing a bill that would increase the amount of solar energy electricity suppliers must use.

In 2011, electric companies would have to include more solar power in the mix of energy that they sell to customers. The amount for 2012 would double...

Snow-Altered School Bus Routes Cause Concern In Fairfax

By Jonathan Wilson

The historic snow storms may be over for now, but there's plenty of snow still left on the ground, and it's still causing problems for buses trying to take children to and from school.

JCecil Richardson's two daughters usually get dropped off by their school bus jus...

Latest Virginia Regional News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Gov. Bob McDonnell is proposing deep cuts to public schools, to the state government work force, and to health and welfare safety net programs. The move is his $2.1 billion bid to balance the state budget. It sent shock waves across the General Assembly.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP...

O'Malley Continues Foreclosure Mediation Push

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley continues his push to force banks and mortgage companies into mediation before they foreclose on a home.

O'Malley and Baltimore Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) testified before the state house environmental matters committee. O'Malley says his bill was crafted...