Local News from WAMU 88.5

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Maryland News Roundup

The House education appropriates subcommittee boosted school aid for the next fiscal year, and University of Maryland lobbies in favor of in-state tuition for undocumented students, while College Park has taken a quieter, but favorable, position.

Anne Arundel County Executive Under Investigation

In Maryland, Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold is under investigation for using his police security detail to campaign, including picking up campaign checks and removing an opponent's yard signs.

Latest Maryland News

House lawmakers are slated to take up a bill to increase the bonding authority of the University System of Maryland and the Constellation is heading back to Baltimore's Inner Harbor following repairs.

Latest D.C. News

Four children are at a hospital after reportedly swallowing or sniffing cocaine at Thomson Elementary School in D.C. on Thursday.

Latest Virginia News

The tobacco industry argues menthol cigarettes aren't riskier than regular cigarettes, and eight children and one adult were injured when a Suffolk elementary school bus collided with a van.

SoberRide Offers Free Cab Rides

Those who drink too much celebrating St. Patrick's Day can avoid getting behind the wheel by dialing up a free cab service.

Power Breakfast: Gas Price Hearings On Capitol Hill

From Capitol News Connection:

High fuel prices are more than a seasonal consumer nuisance. Prices of all kinds of goods, including food, go up. Poor and rural communities take the brunt of it.

Suburban Hunger Problems Start To Rival Needs Inside D.C.

A large donation from a major food corporation is helping 12 area food banks cope with rising demand.

Japan Crisis Puts Md. Power Plant In Question

As concern grows over the endangered Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, questions are being raised about a proposed expansion for Maryland's only nuclear power plant.

Activists Call For Enhanced Early Education

Researchers say infants and toddlers who receive quality care are more likely to stay in school, graduate, get jobs, and build strong relationships. But access to quality programs in D.C. can be difficult, especially in these tough economic times.

D.C. Men Charged With Dozens Of Violent Crimes

Local law enforcement authorities say the people behind several deadly gun battles last year are now behind bars, after the arrest of more than half a dozen alleged gang members in Southeast D.C.

Gray's Chief Of Staff Is Out, Administration Looks To Move Past Scandals

Mayor Vincent Gray is shaking up his staff as he tries to help his administration regain its footing after a rocky start. The mayor fired his chief of staff Gerri Mason Hall during another chaotic day at the Wilson Building.

Maryland Delegation Urged To Fight Cuts, Get Money For Roads

Money for mass transit projects like the Purple Line in suburban D.C. topped Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's wish list when he traveled to Capitol Hill.

D.C. Tries To Find Solutions For 20 Percent Truancy Rate

D.C. leaders say students skipping school is a major challenge for education and public safety and they're looking for ways to address the problem.

One-Quarter Of Those Arrested On Metro Are Younger Than 20

Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn says there's been a spike in crime committed by youth on Metrorail and Metrobuses; last year they made up a little more than 500 of the approximately 2,000 arrests.

Pages