WAMU 88.5 : Morning Edition

Filed Under:

Washington Monument Opening Date Still Unclear

By: Patrick Madden // September 26, 2011
Play associated audio
comments
A view of one of the cracks the Washington Monument sustained in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region in August.
National Park Service
A view of one of the cracks the Washington Monument sustained in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region in August.

 

Engineers continue to assess the damage at the Washington Monument after last month’s earthquake, according to the Associated Press.

The 555-foot stone obelisk has been closed to the public since the quake, and later today, the National Park Service is expected to provide an update on the monument’s status. After the quake, engineers discovered several cracks near the top of the structure.  Later, heavy rain from Hurricane Irene also caused some problems with minor flooding.

The National Park Service says an assessment of the damage at the monument is continuing, and engineers are still a long way from saying when the obelisk can reopen to the public. A spokesman tells AP this year's "winterization" of the monument will be especially important, meaning cracks in the structure will be filled in temporarily so water and snow don’t get in.

The National Park Service is holding a press conference later today to talk about the repairs and the damage assessment.

Arts & Culture

NPR

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.

Food

NPR

In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial

Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.

Politics

NPR

Lois Lerner's Brief And Awful Day On Capitol Hill

The IRS's Lois Lerner showed up long enough at a House hearing into the scandal engulfing her agency to declare her innocence and her constitutional right to say no more.

Technology

NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.