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Little League and Baseball in D.C.

Major League Baseball fever has officially hit the District. Many area residents are already looking forward to heading out the stadium, grabbing a hot dog, kicking back and watching a big league game on warm summer night. But people who have been working hard to get more youngsters to actually play the game are hoping for more than that. They say with the right commitment from ownership, a professional team can help get more city kids out on the field.

Baseball has been declining in popularity in most urban areas. But D.C. youth baseball supporters say the old ball game has actually achieved a modest revival in the District in recent years. And they say an infusion of money from the owners of the new team would keep the game growing. WAMU's James Jones spoke with two leading D.C. youth baseball boosters and the head of the city's sports commission to talk about how the big league could help the little league.

Trinity University

A few weeks ago Trinity College, a small Catholic women's college tucked into a leafy corner of northeast D.C., changed its name to Trinity University. The purpose of the name change was to show how this college of nearly 2,000 students, founded by a group of enterprising nuns, has adapted with the times and added more graduate level courses for working adults seeking degrees. But the new name also serves to highlight another evolution at the school: over the years Trinity made significant changes to keep its enrollment up and to keep true to its mission of empowering women through higher education. It courted an entirely new population of young women. WAMU's Sarah Hughes has more.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - Automatic Weapons Ban

Fred takes on the legislation affecting D.C.'s automatic weapons ban.

Potomac Video

With the increasing popularity of video-on-demand, Netflix and DVD sales it should come as no surprise to learn that traditional brick-and-mortar video stores are struggling. But it still shocked some residents in D.C.'s Cleveland Park neighborhood when they learned that Potomac Video's uptown store would likely be closing its doors. In the face of competition from large chains, Potomac Video found its niche. The chain built a reputation for having knowledgeable staff and for being the place to go for hard-to-find movies. The Cleveland Park store has become something of a neighborhood institution for connoisseurs of foreign films and the works of local filmmakers. And while the chain itself is not folding, the potential loss of this location has neighbors ready to get involved. We visited the Uptown location, right next to the Uptown Theatre, and spoke with the Manager, "Vas," who explained the situation.

The Colored Pencil Society

Colored pencils. You probably used them as a kid in art class and haven't picked one up since. And colored pencil art doesn't usually line the walls of the world’s major art museums. But some local artists have made it their mission to spread the word on colored pencils. Their organization, the Metro Washington Colored Pencil Society, promotes colored pencil art, has monthly meetings and even lobbies manufacturers for better quality pencils. The group is part of the nation-wide Colored Pencil Society of America. WAMU's Stephanie Kaye spoke with Blair Jackson, founder of the local chapter.

Nightlife with Fritz Hahn

There are countless sports bars in the region and on college football Saturdays and NFL Sundays you can be sure to find large crowds huddled around massive big screen TVs. But if you're a fan of the Redskins you might not want to stumble into the Rhino Bar and Pump House in Georgetown, where every Sunday a crowd of rabid Eagles fans gather to watch the games. Joining us today to talk about bars that provide a home away from home for football fans that have moved here from around the country is Fritz Hahn. He writes a column called "This Week In Nightlife" for Washingtonpost.com and writes for the 'Nightwatch' column in the Weekend section of the Post.

Music Review by Mark Jenkins - Q and Not U

For 24 years Dischord has been D.C.'s most famous and influential punk-rock label. Even today, when there are more local bands and labels than ever, Dischord's relatively small lineup remains preeminent. Critic Mark Jenkins says with the label's visible band Fugazi on long-term hiatus, Dischord's most important act is "Q and Not U." The band's new CD is called "Power." Mark Jenkins also reviews music for Blender and The Washington Post.