News Archive - January 18, 2013

Thousands Of National Guard Members Join Police For Inauguration

With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected in D.C. for Inauguration Day, the District is welcoming thousands of members of the National Guard to assist with security and logistics.

Live Blog: Inauguration 2013

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The WAMU news team was on the ground in downtown D.C., bringing you the latest in Inauguration Day news, traffic, weather and tips from around the District on this historic day. Check out the transcript.

National Day Of Service: Volunteers Assemble Care Packages For Troops

Heeding President Obama's call for a National Day of Service on Sunday, volunteers are assembling care packages for service members. It's not too late to sign up.

New Director Of District Department Of Environment Appointed

The D.C. Department of Environment officially has a new director, after Keith Anderson, who has been serving as interim director, was officially appointed full-time.

Fierce Fight Over Additional BRT Study In Montgomery County

A request for money to study the potential effects of an expanded bus rapid transit system in Montgomery County is meeting resistance on the county council.

Getting Personal, Armstrong Recounts Difficult Talk With His Kids

Armstrong turns emotional when he recalls how he had to explain to his children that the allegations against him were true.

Stephen Colbert's Sister Will Run For Congress

Elizabeth Colbert-Busch — a.k.a. Stephen Colbert's big sister — shook things up in South Carolina Friday, with the news that she will seek the House seat that was recently vacated by Sen. Tim Scott. The field already includes former Gov. Mark Sanford and Teddy Turner.

'Invasive' Body Scanners Will Be Removed From Airports

Body scanners that have been criticized as producing images of travelers that are too revealing are being removed from airport security check points, after a supplier did not rewrite the machines' software to make the images they produce less revealing.

O'Malley's Gun Control Plan: Licensing, Assault Weapons Ban

A sweeping proposal to enhance gun control measures was introduced by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley Friday, including a ban on military-style assault weapons and stringent licensing requirements for gun buyers.

When To Act? The Dilemma In Every Hostage Crisis

The Algerian authorities moved quickly after hostages were taken at a gas plant in the Sahara desert. While details of that operation are still fuzzy, such actions are inherently risky.

Analysis: D.C. Preps For Inauguration Day, O'Malley Takes On Death Penalty

Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney talks about how D.C. planning officials are preparing for the expected crowds on Inauguration Day.

The 2013 Presidential Inauguration, By The Numbers

An estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people attended President Obama's second inaugural Monday, Jan. 21, a much smaller crowd than the 1.8 million that attended in 2009. Here are some other fascinating numbers related to the 2013 inauguration.

A Worm's Ovary Cells Become A Flu Vaccine Machine

The Food and Drug Administration just approved a flu vaccine made by cells taken from the fall armyworm, an agricultural pest. The cells produce copies of a piece of the flu virus's outer coat that primes the immune system. Conventional vaccines use the whole virus and take longer to produce.

Virginia Delegate Brings AK-47 To State House Floor

A Virginia state lawmaker chose to make his point about gun control in an unconventional way Thursday: by brandishing an AK-47 during his speech on the state House floor.

More Tears For Notre Dame's 'Fake Tragedy' Than A Real Girl's Death?

Those who have been pushing for the university to take more action about reports of football players sexually assaulted young women are asking why so much attention was given to the story of star Manti Te'o's fictitious girlfriend.

Grand Jury Indicts Ray Nagin On Corruption Charges

Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin has been indicted on 21 counts of bribery and other corruption charges by a federal grand jury. When he became the city's mayor in 2002, Nagin, a former cable TV executive, promised to revive New Orleans' economy, and its trust in the city's government.

Analysis: Bill Proposes Federal Pay Freeze As Inauguration Looms

The District is a flurry of preparations for the presidential inauguration, federal workers throughout the D.C. region are also watching the negotiations over federal compensation — and continuation of a pay freeze — closely.

Republicans Offer Three-Month Increase In Debt Ceiling

GOP leaders in the House say that will give Democrats in the Senate time to pass a budget that cuts spending. And if Congress doesn't pass a budget, they say, lawmakers shouldn't get their full pay. The move could put off another bruising battle over the borrowing limit.

National Guard To Help On Inauguration Day

The police force will be growing by thousands very soon, but just temporarily.

Listen Carefully Or You'll Miss It: We've Got Justice Thomas On Tape

Known for not speaking from the bench, Justice Clarence Thomas spoke four words this week. For the record, here's what it sounded like.

CDC: Flu Season Is Especially Tough On The Elderly

According to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people age 65 and older who are getting the flu jumped sharply in the last week or so. But even though 48 states are reporting widespread activity, the agency says there are signs the flu may be easing in some parts of the country.

Teacher Evaluation Impasse Costs New York City Hundreds Of Millions

In New York City, the failure to agree on a plan for evaluating its teachers is being widely criticized, especially because the city will now miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars in state financing. At stake was $250 million in aid, and another $200 million in grants, according to WNYC's Schoolbook education blog.

Opening Statements Expected Today In Leopold Trial

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold waived his right to a jury trial in his misconduct case.

Metro To Replace A Quarter Of System's Escalators By 2020

Metro will replace a quarter of its escalators during the remainder of this decade in a move Metro's general manager calls "reconstructive surgery" on one of the system's most problematic elements.

D.C. Mayor Would Consider Putting Armed Guards In Schools

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is open to the idea of putting armed guards in all of D.C.'s public schools, although he wouldn't support arming teachers.

Inauguration Mashup: The Speech In 11 Easy Steps

Talk about new stuff, and gripe just a little: A handy video guide gives indispensable advice to inaugural speakers.

Body Exhumed Of Lottery Winner Who Suffered Cyanide-Related Death

Urooj Khan died one day after his $425,000 Illinois Lottery check was cut. It wasn't until much later, though, that authorities determined there was a lethal level of cyanide in his blood. Now, they're doing a full autopsy. And police are investigating his death.

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, Jan. 18

A fashion and performance art event features burquas, bikinis, and six scandalous ways to wear a sari and a piano battle. 

Mixed Pickle: The Sweet And Sour Legacy Of Dutch Trade

What do salt, ancient Jewish pickle carts, the sometimes brutal Indonesian spice trade and Vincent Van Gogh have in common? They brought life to Dutch cuisine, specifically, the Dutch pickle.

Acid Thrown In Face Of Bolshoi Ballet's Artistic Director; He May Lose Sight

Sergei Filin may have been attacked by someone who is angry about which dancers he has chosen for starring roles, his family and colleagues tell news outlets.

Te'o Spoke Of 'Girlfriend' As If She Existed After He Supposedly Learned Of Hoax

Notre Dame football star Manti Te'o's story of a girlfriend who died last September broke his fan's hearts. This week, he said she never existed and that he had been duped into believing the woman he was having an "online relationship" with was real. But many questions and contradictions remain.

Deadly Hostage Crisis Continues In Algeria

Militants seized hostages earlier this week at a gas plant in eastern Algeria. A military raid freed some and reportedly caused the deaths of others. American officials believe 10 Americans were there when the plant was attacked. Some Americans reportedly escaped.