Local News from WAMU 88.5

Friday, May 17, 2013

Shawn Westfall Celebrates A Decade Of Teaching Improv Comedy

Ten years after the D.C. Improv Comedy School started with a handful of students, more than 1,800 people have trained here.

On The Coast: Making Music On the Fly With Angela Sheik

Singer-songwriter Angela Sheik teaches us how she uses a theremin, flute and loop pedal to create an unusual tapestry of sounds.

DCPS Tries New Strategy In Educating Special Ed Students

A year after DCPS started sending special ed students to private schools, we'll check in and see how the strategy is working.

Shock Trauma Docs Grapple With Real-Life Medical Drama

More than 8,000 severely injured patients are brought to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore each year, where quick life-or-death decisions are made by the minute.

Backpacks For Dragonflies: Inside The Janelia Farm Research Campus

In a simulated indoor forest at the Janelia Farm Research Campus, scientist Anthony Leonardo uses tiny "telemetry backpacks" to study how dragonflies hunt down fruit flies.

This Week On Metro Connection: Winging It

We're "Winging It" this week, as we bring you stories about experimentation, play, and winged creatures of all sorts.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

O'Malley Signs Sweeping Gun Control Bill

The law bans 45 assault weapons and institutes strict licensing requirements, but opponents have pledged to try and stop it through lawsuits and petition drives.

At Washington & Lee, Dancers Practice Their Art 40 Feet Above The Ground

Aerial dancing is a physically demanding art form developed in the 1970s and only taught at Virginia's Washington & Lee. The troupe will be at the Corcoran on May 30.

More D.C. Workers Choosing To Live Within City Limits

From 2000 to 2011, 90 percent of new D.C. workers chose to live in the city instead of surrounding jurisdictions.

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, May 16, 2013

You can celebrate the fine arts at a local festival, or see a theater event and contemporary dance performance.

Terry McAuliffe Opens Up Narrow Lead In Virginia Gubernatorial Race

Democrat Terry McAuliffe is up 43-38 over Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, according to a new poll.

Residents Ordered To Vacate Site Of Possible Fort Washington Casino

Pennsylvania-based Parx Casino has submitted a bid to build a $800 million gaming facility in Ft. Washington, the sixth casino in the state.

Razing Of Abandoned Homes To Increase In Prince George's County

Forty more abandoned homes are set to be razed this year due to a bureaucratic change that makes the process easier.

Group Fighting Closure of 15 D.C. Public Schools Vows To Press On

Despite a federal ruling against its claims, Empower D.C. says it will continue to fight the planned closure of 15 D.C. public schools.

D.C. Again Takes On Upstart Competitor To Taxicabs

Much like Uber before it, the D.C. Taxicab Commission says that SideCar, a new app-based service that connects residents looking for a ride to regular drivers willing to offer one, is illegal.

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