News Archive - February 2, 2012

Arlingtonians Still Concerned About VDOT's I-66 Plans

Residents of Arlington have not seen eye to eye with VDOT over their plans to address I-66 congestion by expanding the number of lanes on the road.

Study: D.C. Ranks Fifth Amongst Terrorism Hotspots In U.S.

Accoring to a study, D.C. ranks as the fifth most active terrorist hotspot in the United States, behind other major metropolitan areas like New York and San Francisco.

Gray Pursues Bond Rating Upgrade For D.C.

Mayor Vincent Gray is visiting ratings agencies in New York City to try and persuade them to upgrade the District's credit rating based on the relative health of the local economy.

School Bus Cameras One Step Closer In Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Council's public safety committee has approved a plan to put traffic cameras on school buses, removing one more obstacle to its implementation.

Exelon Corp. Expands To Baltimore

The Exelon Corporation is looking to make its new headquarters at a waterfront property in Baltimore, as part of its buyout of Constellation Energy.

A New Home For WAMU 88.5

American University has signed a contract to purchase a building to become the new home for WAMU 88.5, the public radio news and information station licensed to American University.

Researchers Say Malaria Deaths Are Twice The Official Count

If the new numbers are right, it means there's little chance that malaria deaths can be cut to near-zero by 2015, just three years from now. That was the goal set last year by the World Health Organization.

PHOTOS: Why Students Drop Out

Teachers at schools like Turner at Green Elementary in Southeast D.C. try to instill in young students that they can grow up to achieve their goals. However, the reality is many public school students in D.C. will not graduate. Educators and researchers are now working to identify the early warning signs that a student may eventually drop out, and address those issues at an early age.  

People's Prayer Breakfast Speaks To Social Justice

The National Prayer Breakfast is a D.C. institution, catering to the country's elite. A People's Prayer Breakfast was also held this morning -- a more humble gathering united behind the message of social justice.

U.S. No-Fly List Doubles To 21,000 In The Past Year

The increase resulted because of the loosening of standards to place people on the list. About 500 Americans are banned from flying in or to the U.S.

Student Sexually Assaulted At SE Elementary School

Ketcham Elementary School in Southeast D.C. is on alert after a student reported being sexually assaulted by a man on Wednesday.

Gingrich Challenges Florida's Winner-Take-All Delegate Scheme

If Florida had allocated its delegates on a proportional basis, Newt Gingrich would be leading the delegate race right now.

Tenths Of A Second: NHL Will Investigate Clock Error Leading To Kings' Win

If it weren't for a mysterious clock freeze, the Kings would not have won. Some say it could have a great impact on the post-season.

New Donations Help Planned Parenthood Make Up Most Of Komen's Funding

Over the past two days, Planned Parenthood received about $650,000 in gifts, made up of donations from individuals and at least one major gift.

Law Limiting Gun Purchases In Virginia Passes Senate

A decades old legislation to repeal a law that limits handgun purchases in Virginia has advanced in both the House and the Senate.

Federal Worker Pay Freeze Passes House

The U.S. House passed a bill Wednesday that would freeze federal workers' pay for the next year. 

Obama, Perhaps Tweaking Romney, Emphasizes Duty To Poor In Speech

Obama made a number of statements grounded in the religious imperative to help the poor. It's not surprising that he would make such observations at a prayer breakfast. But there appeared to be more of an emphasis on society's obligation to the poor in Thursday's version of the prayer breakfast speech than in the past.

Professors Aid Veterans From Service To Classroom

With the end of the war in Iraq, thousands of soldiers have returned home, and many of them are going to college. Two writing professors in Virginia have taken on a special project to help veterans transition from the service to the classroom.

Computerized Tests For Concussions May Be Unreliable

Computerized testing of athletes for concussion isn't a reliable gauge of their brain health or fitness to return to play, according to new research. The computerized tests are used in the NFL and NHL, and in many colleges and high schools.

Virginia House Passes Voter ID Bill

A law requiring Virginia voters to show photo ID at polling places has passed the Virginia House. 

30 Years Later, Photos Emerge From Killings In Syria

When Syrian ruler Hafez Assad brutally crushed an uprising in the city of Hama in 1982, details emerged slowly and there were virtually no photos. Now, Syrians are marking the event three decades later amid a new uprising. And a few photos from the 1982 crackdown are now appearing, though their origins are hard to trace.

Is That CEO Being Honest? Tone Of Voice May Tell A Lot

Software can reportedly detect when a CEO might be trying to hide something during a conference call with investment analysts

Group Galvanizes Men To Stop Violence Against Women

A D.C.-based nonprofit is hoping to combat sexual violence against women on college campuses on a national scale.

Iran Warns That Major Currency Speculators Could Face Death Penalty

The new punishment is a sign that international economic sanctions are squeezing the country.

Ca. Veteran Sues For Benefits For Her Same-Sex Spouse

A lesbian couple from California is suing the Department of Defense for veterans' benefits. Another couple from Alexandria did the same thing this past November.

Trump's Announcement Set For Midafternoon: Gingrich? Romney?

The never-shy reality TV star/real estate mogul says he has something big to say. Early reports were he would endorse Newt Gingrich's bid for the White House. Now there's word he might endorse Mitt Romney.

A Butter Ad That Will Get You To Eat More Vegetables

A Danish butter company pays homage to the diverse and colorful world of vegetables in a new ad for the U.K. market.

Angelo Dundee, 'Savvy Cornerman' For Ali And Others, Has Died

He trained not only Muhammad Ali, but also 14 other world champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman. Dundee was 90.

Top Stories: Ferry Sinking; Anger In Egypt; Jobless Claims Fall

Also: Donald Trump may endorse Newt Gingrich; same-sex marriage advances in Washington State; Facebook IPO will make many rich; Mitt Romney explains his comment about the "very poor."

Komen Says Efficiency, Not Politics, Drove Planned Parenthood Change

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation said it regretted the effect of its new funding policy on groups such as Planned Parenthood. But the group denied politics played any role in its decision and said such allegations were a distraction from the search for cancer cures.

Obama Campaign Tries To One (Million) Up Romney's 'One-Term' Cash Effort

Coming off its huge victory in the Florida Republican presidential primary Tuesday, Mitt Romney's campaign announced a new fundraising effort, a "One-Term Fund" to raise $1 million to defeat President Obama. Not to be outdone, Obama's campaign established a "Two-Term Fund" to double the Romney campaign's goal.

Jobless Claims Fell By 12,000 Last Week

First-time applications for unemployment insurance are running at the lowest pace since mid-2008. On Friday, the government will report on the January unemployment rate.

Same-Sex Marriage Bill Easily Clears Key Hurdle In Washington State

By a 28-21 vote late Wednesday, the Washington State Senate approved a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state. The state House is expected to do the same next week and Gov. Christine Gregoire has said she will sign the legislation.

Anger, Blame And Protests In Egypt After Deadly Soccer Riot

The tragic riot following a soccer game Wednesday in Port Said, Egypt, which left more than 70 people dead and at least 1,000 wounded, highlights the problems with security in the country.

Punxsutawney Phil Sees Six More Weeks Of Winter

It's that time again. Time for Americans to pause and watch as a groundhog supposedly tells us whether winter's going to continue. He saw his shadow, so Phil says it will.

Ferry Sinks Off Papua New Guinea: 200+ Rescued, But 100+ Missing

The ferry was headed from Kimbe, a popular diving site, to Lae. It isn't known yet what caused the disaster. Rescuers are confronting high winds and rough seas as they search for survivors.

Report Blames ATF Agents For Botched Gun-Trafficking Operation

The report by congressional Republicans says ATF agents and supervisors should have realized two targets of their criminal case along the Southwest border had already been under investigation by the DEA and the FBI. It comes the same day the attorney general faces questions on Capitol Hill about the debacle.