News Archive - March 4, 2010

New Metro GM Lays Out Priorities

By David Schultz

News of Sarles' hiring leaked a few days ago, so today's vote officially making him Metro's new GM was, essentially, a formality. The Metro Board approved him on a unanimous vote after little debate.

The new GM hails from New Jersey. His last job was leading the state...

Latest Virginia Regional News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A bill to require anyone under 18 to wear a seat belt in a vehicle is on its way to the governor's desk. The Senate agreed to House amendments today that would exempt anyone riding in a taxicab. The bill now goes to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who can either sign it, amend it or veto i...

VA Tourism Group Sponsors Travel Sweepstakes

By Pat Brogan

The group that promotes tourism in Virginia is sponsoring a travel contest throughout the commonwealth. The 'Virginia is for Lovers Family Sweepstakes' is offering the chance to win one of four trips in the state.

The contest, which runs through early August, includes ai...

Winter Doesn't Deter Cherry Blossoms

By Rebecca Sheir

Just four more weeks until Washington's cherry blossoms bloom: that's the latest prediction of the National Park Service. After this winter, the news comes as a relief.

The Park Services chief horticulturalist, Rob DeFeo, announced the forecast at the annual National...

Maryland State Attorney Investigates Computer Hacking At High School

The Montgomery County State's Attorney is investigating a computer-hacking scheme at Winston Churchill High School, in Potomac, Maryland, where students allegedly used teachers' IDs and passwords to change grades.

In a letter dated March 3rd, school principal Joan Benz says eight students c...

Virginia Agricultural Exports Soar

By Bill Redlin

Defying a down economy and official expectations, Virginia agricultural exports reached a record $2.3 billion in 2009, ranking the state among the top 10 farm and forestry exporters in the U.S.

Gov. Bob McDonnell, who released the export numbers Wednesday, says global e...

District Makes Finalist In Race To Top

By Jessica Gould

D.C. education leaders announced today that the District is one of 16 finalists selected to compete in the Obama Administration’s Race to the Top school reform contest. The Administration plans to announce the winners of the $4 billion-dollar contest in April.

Twenty-...

District Gets Federal Aid For December Storm

President Obama says the District is eligible for federal aid to help pay for clean-up after the area's first big snowstorm, back in December.

The snowstorm that hit a week before Christmas dumped more than 23 inches around parts of the region. The Federal money is expected to cover most of...

Race To The Top Results To Be Announced Shortly

By Kavitha Cardoza

Forty states, including Virginia and the District of Columbia, will find out in a few hours whether they are finalists for a portion of $4 billion in federal grant money for education reform.

It's the first round of application finalists under the Race to the Top co...

K Street Woes: Speculation On Lost Federal Money To Fix Roads

By David Schultz

For most Washingtonians, K Street is just another street. But since it's also home to the so-called nefarious U.S. lobbying industry, many outsiders see K Street as a scapegoat for everything wrong with American politics. So when the Federal Transit Administration announced...

Power Breakfast For March 4, 2010

House and Senate work on their trust issues.

After months of hand-wringing over the question, "To reconcile, or not to reconcile?" The Senate now appears likely to exercise that option to get a health care bill passed. Reconciliation allows certain types of bills to pass by a simple 51-vote...

"Art Beat" With Stephanie Kaye - Thursday, March 4, 2010

(March 5-12) THE BLUEST EYE University of Maryland's theater department tackles Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park, Maryland, opening tomorrow and running through March 12th. The play centers on an 11-year-old African-American girl growing u...

Norton Chairs Hearing On Disaster Relief

By Matt McCleskey

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is chairing a hearing today into how the federal government provides relief to big cities following natural disasters.

Three mayors will testify before the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency...

PG County Budget Hearing Lacked Education Comments

By Natalie Neumann

Prince George's County Executive was surprised more representatives from the education community didn't voice their opinion at a public budget hearing.

A few dozen people sat scattered throughout the lecture hall at Prince George's Community College during the meeti...

Renewing The Nuclear Past (Part 2)

From The Environment Report

Producer: Shawn Allee

TRANSCRIPT

Power companies hope to extend the working life of old nuclear reactors because it's cheaper to run them than it is to build new reactors. But old reactors require federal approval to renew their licenses. For the past...

MarylandReporter.com: State Roundup Mar. 4, 2010

From the Maryland Reporter website:

Lawmakers are talking about educational policies while former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor shares her views on judicial elections. Also, Wicomico County could be seeing a hefty check if the governor has his way.

EDUCATION REFORM Leading...

VA Budget Cuts Could Hurt Dental Care For Needy

By Jonathan Wilson

Legislators in Virginia are dealing with a $4 billion budget shortfall, and dental clinics for the state's poorest residents are among those facing possible cuts.

But Virginia already receives poor marks for its dental care, and some argue now is not the time to cut...

Grandmother Questions Emergency Service After Grandchild's Death

By Natalie Neumann

Family members of a two-year-old girl are wondering why the toddler wasn't taken to the hospital immediately after a 911 call. She was taken to Children's Hospital later, but died the next day.

Stephanie Stephens's voice plays from her grandmother's answering machin...

Latest Maryland Regional News

BALTIMORE (AP) Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has been released from a hospital after experiencing chest pains and lightheadedness. She underwent a series of tests after she awoke with the symptoms early today.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Maryland natural resources officials say watermen...

George Mason University Views Video Essays From Applicants

By Kavitha Cardoza

For the first time, admissions officers at George Mason University are considering video essays as part of student applications.

Elsa Vande Vegte took approximately a week to compose the song. She's never recorded anything on video before, but says it was fun and a...

Baltimore Mayor Released From Hospital

BALTIMORE (AP) Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says drinking too much coffee is likely to blame for her brief hospitalization.

Rawlings-Blake woke up early Thursday with chest pains and lightheadedness. She underwent a series of tests at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Cent...

Latest D.C. Local News

WASHINGTON (AP) Up to four people have been arrested as a result of school abuse allegations in the District of Columbia. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier spoke of the arrests today but did not elaborate. The arrests came from a log of incidents ranging from verbal abuse to corporal punishment that...

Conversations: Michael Cottman Speaks With Charles Ellison

As part of our continuing series, "Conversations," reporter Michael Cottman speaks with Charles Ellison, director of the Center for New Politics and Policy, about President Obama's proposed health care plan.