Local News from WAMU 88.5

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Latest Maryland News

Maryland Senate approves a scaled-back marijuana bill.

Latest Virginia News

The governor has vetoed a bill that would require public schools to require physical education in elementary and middle schools.

Cherry Blossom Festival Organizers To Hold Fundraising Walk

Organizers of this year's Cherry Blossom Festival are holding a fundraising walk Thursday night to help raise money for the relief effort in Japan.

Maryland Budget Debate Begins In The House

The Maryland House of Delegates is scheduled to take a final vote on the state's $34 billion budget. The House is set to begin debating the budget at 4 p.m.

Between The Lines: Improving D.C.'s Literacy Rate

More than one-third of District residents lack basic literacy skills, according to a recently published report from D.C. Learns, a coalition focused improving D.C.'s literacy rate. That puts D.C. illiteracy rate about 20 percent higher than the national average.

Air Traffic Controller Fell Asleep While On Duty

UPDATE: The nation's top aviation official says he's suspended a control tower supervisor while investigating why no controller was available to aid two planes that landed at Washington's Reagan airport earlier this week, according to The Associated Press.

Power Breakfast: States Are Cautiomistic About Budgets

From Capitol News Connection:

With budgets everywhere in a vise, states are calculating, recalculating, and bracing for what comes next.

O'Malley Disputes Report On Debt In Maryland

Maryland governor Martin O'Malley is defending his administration's actions regarding the state's rising debt.

Wind Power Bill In Maryland Sees Changes

In Maryland, supporters of wind power are offering changes to a bill in the general assembly designed to bring such energy to the state.

Chipotle At Odds with Immigration Activists

Immigration and worker activists are targeting area Chipotle stores after the restaurant chain abruptly fired 40 workers suspected of being undocumented.

After Crackdown, ICE Still Has Critics On Both Sides

In Virginia, tensions between Prince William County leaders and the federal immigration enforcement arm, ICE, have eased at least a little in the wake of more than 100 arrests by ICE agents in Northern Virginia this week.

Virginia Outlawed Synthetic Marijuana

Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed two bills that make possession of synthetic marijuana a misdemeanor. But distribution would be a felony and manufacturing the drug would be punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

MetroAccess Contract Extension Tabled After Lobbying Reports

Metro is delaying the extension of a nearly $500 million contract after reports that the contractor may have hired one of Metro's former top executives to lobby on its behalf.

'Prize Patrol' Doles Out Scholarships To D.C. Students

The George Washington University "prize patrol" is offering full-ride scholarships to a handful of outstanding D.C. high school seniors for their academic achievements and leadership qualities.

'Art Beat' With Sean Rameswaram

Aerial photography, Shakespearean tragedy, and autumn love.

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