News Archive - December 16, 2010

New Stimulus Money To Fuel N. Va. Transportation

As congestion gets worse in Northern Virginia, buses can sit in traffic and run late. That creates the need for more buses, which contributes to traffic congestion.

Transportation officials hope tens of millions of dollars in new stimulus money will result in a solution.

"The stimulus...

Longtime Falls Church Resident Reflects On City's Success

The U.S. Census Bureau says the city of Falls Church, in Northern Virginia, has the highest median household income in the country, and the highest percentage of residents with a college degree.

One longtime resident says the data doesn't surprise him.

Ninety-three-year-old Lou Olom c...

Airports Experience Weather-Related Delays

By Courtney Collins

Airport officials say travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport Thursday. While Washington Dulles, Reagan National Airport and Baltimore Washington International are all up and running, delays and cancellations are happening at all three lo...

Personnel Management Office Tweaks Language, Use Of Telework

The federal government's Office of Personnel Management is changing the language it uses when notifying federal employees of its status during bad weather.

What used to be referred to by the federal government as "open with unscheduled leave" will now be classified as "open with unscheduled...

Maryland News Roundup

From MarylandReporter.com:

STATE BUDGET Gov. Martin O'Malley said that the state budget he proposes next month would be "more painful" than the last two, and hinted at deep cuts in spending, Annie Linskey reports for the Sun.

CUTS LIKELY And four state delegates from Howard County sai...

McDonnell Aims To Cut Public Broadcasting Funding

Virginia's governor, Bob McDonnell, is proposing $191 million in new spending cuts, and the elimination of funding for public broadcasting is at the top of the governor's list.

McDonnell says eliminating the funding by fiscal year 2013 would save the state $4 million.

"In the free mar...

Latest Maryland News

BALTIMORE (AP) Investigators say a five-alarm fire in Baltimore's adult entertainment district was not accidental, but they haven't yet determined if it was arson. The Dec. 6 fire destroyed a building that was home to two strip bars and an adult bookstore and formed a cloud of black smoke over...

Busted Drug Ring Has Ties To 'Dangerous' Mexican Cartel

Authorities say they have broken up a Mexican drug cartel's attempt to set up a crystal meth operation in the D.C. region.

Nine illegal immigrants were indicted and charged with trying to distribute more than 50 pounds of crystal meth –- it was easily the largest seizure of meth in D.C. his...

Latest D.C. News

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Attorney's Office says a D.C. grand jury has indicted a Maryland woman on charges of involuntary manslaughter in a fatal drunken-driving accident in Adams Morgan. The office says 24-four-year-old Chamica Adams of Mitchellville has also been indicted on charges of aggrav...

Holiday Traditions, Presidential Style

With the winter holidays upon us, many families have special traditions they carry out this time of year. And in Washington, D.C., the spotlight has been shining especially brightly on the traditions of one family in particular: the Obamas.

WAMU's Rebecca Sheir spoke with historian Paul Dic...

Metro To Start Random Inspections

The Washington Metro system will start randomly inspecting bags at subway entrances within the next few days.

Metro says the program is based on similar policies in Boston and New York and is just another part of the system's continuous effort to improve security.

Metro police and off...

Latest Virginia News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Another winter storm is trekking through Virginia. The storm is on a path through the central, southern and southwestern portions of the state. The National Weather Service says a winter storm warning is in effect until 7 p.m. today from Richmond south to the North Carolina b...

'Art Beat' With Sean Rameswaram

(Dec. 16) LOTS OF HALLELUJAHS With Christmas nine days away, you'll have no trouble finding a choir standing by with a rapturous performance of Handel's Messiah. The National Symphony Orchestra handles the oratorio Thursday through Sunday at The Kennedy Center's Concert Hall with the help of the...

Gray Keeps Lanier, Announces Other Public Safety Picks

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier is keeping her job. Mayor-elect Vincent Gray has asked the popular police chief to stay on in his administration. Gray is rolling out a number of other public safety appointments as well.

Besides Lanier, Gray says he's also tapping Kenneth Ellerbe to run the F...

Winter Weather Advisory Hits D.C.

A winter weather advisory goes into effect Thursday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., bringing snowfall that's expected to stick to roadways -- possibly making morning and evening commutes difficult.

The freezing temperatures coupled with precipitation are likely to produce icy roadways, bridges,...

Arlington County Tries To Prepare Workers For BRAC

The Defense Department's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, is forcing tens of thousands of government workers in Northern Virginia to make some difficult choices. Arlington County is coordinating career fairs to help employees find other work.

Derrick Dortch coordinates BRAC Care...

Power Breakfast: Congress of American Indians Supports Obama

From Capitol News Connection:

Here's something the president of the United States doesn't hear every day about his administration.