News Archive - April 9, 2010

Maryland Passes Ban On Hand-Held Cell Phones While Driving

By Rebecca Blatt

Lawmakers in Maryland have approved a ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving. The ban allows drivers to use their hands to turn a phone on or off, but it prohibits drivers from holding cell phones during conversations while driving -- except during emergencies.

...

Small Fire Sends Smoke Through Metro Center

WASHINGTON (AP) Authorities are responding to a small electrical fire at the Metro Center station.

D.C. fire department spokesman Pete Piringer says a track insulator caught fire Friday morning and sent smoke through the tunnel. Piringer says crews briefly evacuated the station as they work...

"Art Beat" With Stephanie Kaye - Weekend Events, April 9-11, 2010

(April 10) LOCALS LINGER AT THE FRIDGE If you need to cool off this weekend you can head out to The Fridge Gallery in Southeast Washington for some art with a dark sense of humor. Black in Black, opening Saturday night, showcases the collaborative works of local artists Tim Conlon and Mark Jenkin...

In Remembrance Officer Hector I. Ayala

From the Montgomery County Police Department:

The Montgomery County Police Department is deeply saddened to announce the death of one of our officers. Officer Hector Ismael Ayala died in the line of duty at 3:19 a.m. on Sunday, April 4. He was responding to a call to provide officer assist...

The Region's Top Stories With Post Columnist Robert McCartney

The controversy sparked by Governor McDonnell's proclamation of "Confederate History Month," DCPS and Washington Teacher's Union reach a tentative contract agreement, and former Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich kicks off his campaign.

Morning Edition host Matt McCleskey talks with Washingto...

Weekend Planner: Colleen Fay's Best Bets

Spring is here, along with a fresh crop of arts and culture offerings around the D.C. region. Stephanie Kaye spoke with Colleen Fay, editor of our Arts Best Bets, for some help picking the ripest offerings.

Public Transportation Routes To Change For Upcoming Nuclear Security Summit

From the Office of the District of Columbia:

(Washington, D.C.) – The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) will take place from Monday, April 12 to Tuesday, April 13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The District in partnership with its federal partners developed a comprehensive plan...

Fenty Gives "State Of The District" Address Today

By Patrick Madden

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty will deliver his "State of the District" Address later this morning.

The speech will be delivered at the Deanwood Community Recreation Center, a new facility slated to open later this year. Right now, it’s very busy with construction, and the...

Threatened Botanical Preserve Has Been Saved

By Michael Pope

The sound of construction cuts through the Winkler Botanical Preserve, home to a handful of 100-year-old trees and thousands of blooming wildflowers. Looming over it all is a 17-story building where more than 6,000 Department of Defense employees will work starting in Septem...

MarylandReporter.com: State Roundup April 9, 2010

From the Maryland Reporter website:

BUDGET The House and Senate are set to vote on a budget compromise today that does not adopt the Senate measure shifting teacher pension costs to counties, Hayley Peterson reports for the Washington Examiner. But counties will have to do without any "high...

Lawsuit Settled Over Car Title Loans In The District

By Matt Bush

A lawsuit involving the District and a Virginia car title lender over loans to D.C. residents the city said violated its laws, has been settled.

The city says Fast Auto Loans will refund all interest paid by more than 100 D.C. borrowers and give back repossessed cars. The...

Nuclear Summit In D.C. Could Affect Locals In A Big Way

By David Schultz

Next week's summit is drawing nearly two dozen heads of state to the Washington Convention Center, including President Obama.

Consequently, security in D.C. will be at a level not seen since last year's inauguration.

Parking around the Convention Center will be...

Maryland's First Wind Farm May Be First Of Many

By Sabri Ben-Achour

Constellation Energy says that by the end of the year, 28 wind turbines will be up and running in Garrett County, in the Eastern Panhandle section of Maryland. The power generated by the wind farm will be enough to power 23,000 homes.

"You're gonna see more project...

Power Breakfast For April 9, 2010

One more day in the Garden of Good and Evil.

It's the third and final day in a series of hearings this week by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Today - top former executives of federally-backed mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac headline the witness list.

Elizabeth...

More Growth Needs More Cooperation, Says New Group

By Natalie Neumann

A new study shows the area will see close to 1.6 million new jobs and 1.7 million more people in the next 20 years. Some local business leaders are pushing for more regional cooperation to handle the growth.

A new organization called The 2030 Group says the area's j...

Make a Call, Pay For Your Parking In Bethesda

By Natalie Neumann

At some parking meters in Bethesda, Maryland, you don't have to reach for change, you can reach for your cell phone instead.

Brice Mbona puts coins in a parking meter in downtown Bethesda.

"I have this problem every time, to try and get quarters," he says.

...

Latest Maryland Regional News

BALTIMORE (AP) A suburban Baltimore pharmacist has been sentenced to six years in prison for illegally selling tens of thousands of prescription painkiller pills. Forty-eight-year-old Ketankumar Patel of Eldersburg was also ordered at sentencing today to forfeit $400,000.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP...

Public Housing Tenants Push For Forced-Move Reimbursements

By Peter Granitz

Some public housing residents in Alexandria who were forced to move say the city owes them money for the cost of relocating.

Sharlene Walker lived alone at the James Bland homes in a two-bedroom apartment. Because she had extra space, the Alexandria Redevelopment and...

Maryland's New Environmental Laws

By Sabri Ben-Achour

Maryland's General Assembly wraps up its 2010 session Monday. Lawmakers this session have considered some important pieces of legislation affecting the Chesapeake Bay.

One of the major things to come out of this session was money: $22.5 million for the Chesapeake B...

Latest Virginia Regional News

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) A teenager who was allowed to leave jail with his mother for a dentist appointment is one of three people accused of beating a 16-year-old to death in Fairfax County. The body of Christian Perez of Lorton was found in a park last month.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Eight people face...

City Council Promises Fair Treatment For Public Housing Tenants

By Peter Granitz

Elected officials in Alexandria are pushing to assure public housing tenants will be given fair notice when they have to relocate.

Hattie Thompson lived in the James Bland housing homes for three years. Last year, the Walgreen’s employee received a 120 day warning tha...

This Week In Congress - April 9, 2010

SCRIPT:

I’m Elizabeth Wynne Johnson of Capitol News Connection.

This Week in Congress...featured three full days devoted to the ongoing economic autopsy that is the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The FCIC is a bipartisan panel appointed by Congress to "examine" the causes of the...

Latest D.C. Local News

WASHINGTON (AP) D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is slated to deliver his "State of the District Address." Fenty will make his remarks at 10:30 a.m. today at the Deanwood Community Recreation Center, which plans to open in northeast Washington this summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) The city's Office of Cam...

Georgetown Fraternity Wins National Service Challenge

By Rebecca Sheir

A co-ed fraternity at Georgetown University is among the winners of a national contest geared toward community service. Phi Omega will use its winnings from the Pepsi Refresh Project to mentor scout troops.

Pepsi is doling out $1.3 million to fund dozens of service pr...