Local News from WAMU 88.5

Thursday, March 24, 2011

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.

McDonnell Vetoes Physical Education Legislation

Virginia's governor, Bob McDonnell, is vetoing a bill to require 150 minutes of physical education per week for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade.

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.

Maryland Reviews Case Of Olney Murder Suspect

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is reviewing the case of a man from Olney with a history of mental illness who was arrested Wednesday for shooting two people to death.

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.

Arlington Receives Pentagon Stone Recovered On 9/11

In Virginia, the Arlington County Fire Department is receiving an 800-pound stone that was recovered from the Pentagon on 9/11.

'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.

Maryland News Roundup

The state's largest teachers' union has offered to go along with the governor's proposed higher pension contribution rate.

'Art Beat' With Sean Rameswaram

Aerial photography, Shakespearean tragedy, and autumn love.

Latest D.C. News

Census data shows D.C.'s on the brink of losing its black majority for the first time in 60 years.

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