: News
Local Transportation Projects Temporarily Shut Down
By David Schultz
The stalling of a key piece of federal legislation is causing the U.S. Department of Transportation to furlough nearly 2,000 employees today.
As a result, dozens of ongoing projects across the country, including the 9th Street Bridge project in D.C. and the Humpback Bridge replacement on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, are at a standstill.
The blocked legislation is a short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund, which goes towards safety inspectors on nearly every transportation project.
Extension of the fund is being held up by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY). He says Congress hasn't come up with a way to pay for the extension, and he doesn't want it to increase the federal deficit.
Book News: Stephen King's New Bogeyman? Digital Publishing
Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books.Washington State Butcher Spikes Pig Feed With Weed
Despite its name, the "pot pig" experiment isn't an attempt to develop a new meaty treat for stoners. Instead, a Seattle butcher is feeding marijuana seeds, stems and root bulbs to swine as a cheeky money-saving measure.'I Was Dismayed' To Learn What Agency Did, Ex-IRS Chief Says
Under Douglas Shulman's watch, IRS personnel singled out some conservative groups for extra scrutiny. That, he conceded Tuesday, has "justifiably led to questions" about the tax agency's motivation.My Social Security Number Is Posted Where?
Sensitive personal information for thousands of applicants to a government phone program was easily available online, according to a new report. Isaac Wolf, of Scripps Howard News Service, talks to host Michel Martin about finding applicants' social security numbers, home addresses and more online.Leave a Comment
Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.
-
Deals For Developers
WAMU investigates city subsidies to developers and campaign contributions from the companies. more >> -
WAMU 88.5 Spring Membership Campaign
The Spring Membership Campaign is off and running! Donate today! more >> -
Have A Child With Special Needs?
The Kojo Nnamdi Show is exploring the challenges faced by parents and would like to hear from you. more >> -
Aging and Abuse
With an aging population, elder abuse is expected to increase. We look at the complexities of elder abuse in... more >> -
Half The Battle
A project, produced by journalism students at American University, about young veterans transitioning from... more >> -
Volunteer Recognition
The volunteer of the year award and special projects award are given to a WAMU 88.5 volunteer each year for... more >> -
Yesterday's Dropouts
This series examines the struggles adults face after they leave school without a diploma. more >> -
New Bible
Bill Cain isn't just an award-winning playwright; he's also a Jesuit priest. And he brings the two together... more >> -
Public Insight
Share your knowledge and insights about timely issues with journalists from WAMU 88.5 more >> -
In-Kind Donation Program
By providing an in-kind donation, you may be eligible for a tax deduction, without a cash commitment, and... more >> -
Follow Us On Twitter
To get the latest local stories from WAMU 88.5 News, follow us on Twitter. more >>
