News Archive - December 11, 2012

Analysis: Maryland Lawmakers Look To Bring In Federal Disaster Funds

President Obama has submitted a supplemental spending request calling for $60 billion in relief funds for Hurricane Sandy. Maryland lawmakers are looking to secure funds for ravaged areas on the Eastern Shore and elsewhere.

Sitar Virtuoso Ravi Shankar Dies At 92

He was responsible for making Indian classical music popular in the West, collaborating with artists as diverse as The Beatles and Yehudi Menuhin.

Battle Expected Over Montgomery County School Budget

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr laid out his budget proposal for fiscal 2014. County council members are already saying the plan, which restores many previously eliminated positions, is too expensive.

North Korea Launches Long-Range Rocket

The launch, which defies warnings from both the U.N. and the U.S., comes just days before the presidential election in South Korea. There was no immediate word if Wednesday's launch was successful. A previous attempt in April failed.

Central Mission Making Christmas Happen For Needy Families

A mission in downtown D.C. is collecting toys for the less fortunate over the holidays, and they're hoping some last-minute donations can cover a shortfall for certain children.

Obama Recognizes Rebels As 'Legitimate Representative' Of Syrian People

The announcement, which was made on ABC, grants new legitimacy to the rebel coalition and marks a new phase in U.S. efforts against the Assad regime. Britain, France, Turkey and several Gulf Arab nations have already recognized the coalition as effectively being a government in exile.

Safety Board Calls For Dashboard Breathalyzers For Convicted Drunk Drivers

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued recommendations for all states that would require convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlock devices to test for the presence of alcohol.

Boehner Sends 'Fiscal Cliff' Counteroffer To White House

The offer from the speaker follows his remarks on the House floor in which he said the White House was slow-walking the process. Unless a deal is reached, automatic across-the-board spending cuts and sweeping tax increases are scheduled to go into effect at the first of the year.

Comptroller Franchot Opts Out Of Run For Maryland Governor

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's name has been in consideration for a run for governor in 2014, but on Tuesday, he announced his intention to run for the office of comptroller.

Seafood Sleuthing Reveals Pervasive Fish Fraud In New York City

Red snapper, wild salmon, and other fish sold in some outlets were other, cheaper species, according to DNA tests done by an ocean conservation group. The report is just the latest in a string of investigations revealing that seafood mislabeling is commonplace.

Lawyer For WikiLeaks Suspect Says Client Was Treated As 'Zoo Animal'

The pretrial hearing for Wikileaks suspect Pfc. Bradley Manning ended on Tuesday, but the massive amounts of documents he is accused of leaking were hardly mentioned in the 10-day hearing. Instead, the focus was Manning's treatment at the hands of the military.

Inscription On Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial To Be Removed

The quote will be removed instead of replaced to avoid harming the monument's structural integrity. Critics, including poet Maya Angelou, had criticized the current iteration of the "Drum Major" quote, saying it made King sound arrogant.

Kids' Eating Binges Could Signal Other Problems Ahead

Children between the ages of 9 and 15 who went on eating binges at least once a week were more likely to use marijuana or to show strong signs of depression as those who didn't. There's no proof of cause and effect, but the researchers say it's another reason parents and doctors should keep an eye on kids' eating habits.

Anita Bonds Elected To At-Large D.C. Council Seat

The head of the D.C. Democratic party was appointed to an open D.C. Council seat last night, and she balked at a question on whether her employment with a major city contractor is a conflict of interest.

Rush Is In! The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, That Is

The Canadian trio was among the bands that many fans thought had been unfairly excluded. Now, though, Rush is being inducted along with Heart, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, Donna Summer, Quincy Jones and Lou Adler.

Renters' Association Brings Concerns To Maryland Lawmakers

A group of tenants who rent their homes in Montgomery County are trying to bring renters' issues — including the all-important one of excessive rent increases — to lawmakers' attention.

Sick Of Year-End Lists Yet? Or Do You Love Them?

From "golden tweets" to "most annoying memes," the subjects for 2012 "best of" and "worst of" lists are multiplying. Where do they rank among your favorites?

WikiLeaks: Pretrial Hearing For Bradley Manning Ends

Closing arguments have wrapped up in the pretrial hearing for Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, accused of leaking U.S. secrets to Wikileaks. A judge will rule in February on whether his treatment in a Quantico brig justifies dismissal of charges.

NFL Players' 'Bountygate' Suspensions Vacated

Though he said the NFL did prove that the players took part in a scheme that paid them bonuses for hurting opponents, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the cases against them had been "contaminated" by their team — the New Orleans Saints.

Taxi Commission Chief Wants To 'Speed Up' Modernization Plans

,

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is gung-ho for taxi modernization, but there are still a number of hurdles to clear before the plan is fully implemented. 

Delta Makes Deal To Buy 49 Percent Of Virgin Atlantic

The American carrier is hoping to crack into the lucrative New York-to-London route. The deal, which needs regulators' approvals, would also let Delta's passengers connect with Virgin's flights out of London.

Fiscal Cliff Calendar: What Happens When

Without a solution to the so-called fiscal cliff, every person who gets a paycheck or has investments will see his or her taxes rise. And some could see their jobs disappear. Here is a timeline of changes in store in the absence of action from the president and Congress.

Calorie Tracking Apps May Help Boost Weight Loss

A new study concludes that a mobile app can help boost weight loss, if it's used as part of a more comprehensive strategy. The findings speak to the importance of blending two successful weight loss strategies: tracking and group support.

How A Health Insurer's Overpayment Can Become Your Problem

Health insurers sometimes pay too much to a doctor or hospital for services rendered. When insurers look to get their money back, patients may be surprised to get stuck with the bills.

World's Most Expensive Whisky? It's Not The One We Toasted

While one bottle of a special Glenfiddich recently sold for $94,000, a Macallan was bought at auction for much more than that in 2010. It's the real record-holder, according to Guinness. Our apologies for earlier reporting that the Glenfiddich had set a new standard.

Michigan Lawmakers Pass Right-To-Work Bills, Over Unions' Protests

The GOP-backed measures now go to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who has indicated he will sign them. As lawmakers voted today, protesters gathered in and around the state capitol.

Today's Three Stories To Read About The 'Fiscal Cliff'

As the White House and Congressional leaders negotiate, we're watching for the best stories about what's going on. Here are some of the latest.

Syrian Defector: Assad Will Use Chemical Weapons If He's Desperate

The major general who was head of Syria's chemical weapons division until he defected in July says that if rebels advance on Damascus, President Bashar Assad will deploy his deadly arsenal.