Latest D.C. Local News

November 20, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) Metro is delaying planned changes to its SmartBenefits program to the relief of many participants. The program allows employers to set aside money for commuting costs on Metro smart cards.

WASHINGTON (AP) The FBI says the former head of the D.C. Taxicab Commission participated in a long-running bribery scheme involving taxi licenses. Causton Toney hasn't been charged with a crime, but the accusation appears in a request for a warrant to search his home.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Maryland Regional News

November 20, 2009 - BALTIMORE (AP) Jury deliberations have resumed for a second day in Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's trial on theft charges. This morning jurors asked the judge for the legal definition of "misappropriation." The judge said they should look in the jury instructions.

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) A former state correctional officer convicted of assaults on inmates has been sentenced to three months in jail. Thirty-six-year-old Jason Weaver, of Cumberland, was convicted of conspiracy to commit assault in September.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Virginia Regional News

November 20, 2009 - CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) A man accused of bilking more than $3 million from customers in a computer-purchase scheme has agreed to accept liability and negotiate with the state to make restitution. Financing Alternatives founder George Christian's admission of liability came today in Chesapeake Circuit Court in a two-year-old civil case.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) A Charlottesville police officer whose unmarked vehicle hit another car as he responded to a bank robbery faces a traffic charge. Authorities say 25-year-old Officer Kyle Boynton was attempting to exit a shopping center when the accident occurred earlier this week.

ANNANDALE, Va. (AP) A 71-year-old woman has died after being run over by her own car in the driveway of her home. Fairfax County police say the accident happened early this morning. The woman, Emma A. Cabrera of Annandale, was backing out of her driveway.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Congressional Report: Allegations Against Fiance Of D.C. Schools Chancellor

November 20, 2009 - By Manuel Quinones

A newly released Congressional report says D.C. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee was involved in dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct against her fiance, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

The report, by a Republican Senator and Congressman, concerns the firing of a federal inspector general who was investigating Johnson's actions when he led a Sacramento charter school. Johnson allegedly misused government money and was accused of improper sexual conduct by female students.

A former school employee says Rhee played the role of a fixer, doing damage control after the allegations surfaced. She was a school board member at the time.

A spokeswoman for Rhee says the report rehashes old allegations that have long been dismissed and only mentions the chancellor in one paragraph out of more than sixty pages.

Activists Slam Mismanagement Of Gay And Lesbian Police Unit

November 20, 2009 - By Peter Granitz

Crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people have accounted for at least eighty percent of hate crimes in D.C. this year. Activist Peter Rosenstein says D.C. Police Cheif Cathy Lanier has mismanaged the department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit.

"It won a $100,000 award from Harvard. It was a model of community policing. She's basically destroyed that," says Rosenstein.

Rosenstein says only two officers work full-time with the GLLU. At a public safety committee hearing, Lanier said she's had trouble staffing the unit but never planned to nix it.

"Let me go a little further. In 2007 I announced a vacancy in that unit. Citywide with 400 sergeants, I got one applicant. One," says Lanier.

Fifty-seven patrol officers have volunteered to help the unit, but they will still work in their own districts.

Second Day Of Deliberations Ends Without Verdict In Trial Of Baltimore Mayor

November 20, 2009 - The jury in the theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has been sent home for the weekend without a verdict.

Cathy Duchamp reports from Baltimore Circuit Court...

Adoption Brings Hope In Montgomery County MD

November 20, 2009 - By Sabri Ben-Achour

It's national adoption month, and Maryland's Montgomery County opened its courthouse to the public as 22 children were adopted.

Three-year-old Joshua Williams banged the gavel himself as he and his adoptive mother Dietrice Williams officially became a family.

Twenty two children became brothers, sisters, daughters and sons today in Rockville. Yvonne and Melvin Jacobs adopted little Shayla who is four-years-old, and even littler Dante who is three-years-old. Jacobs couldn't be more proud. "I tell you it's the greatest thing I ever did, these babies to come into my heart are the greatest things that could happen to me," says Jacobs.

Some of the children in the courtroom were abandoned as infants. Others are teenagers who fled abusive homes. "The kids that are in our system have been abused or neglected and they were removed from their parents," says Catherine Robinson, supervisor of Adoption for Montgomery County.

That means it takes a special kind of family to adopt. "Clearly they need to have a lot of patience and love for these children, and fortunately, they do," says Agnes Leshner, head of child welfare services for the county.

There are more than 500 children in foster care in Montgomery County. The county expects 55 will get adopted.

This Week In Congress - November 20, 2009

November 20, 2009 - By Elizabeth Wynne Johnson Capitol News Connection

SCRIPT:

Early on, Republican Senators like John McCain were all stoic resolve and resignation on the health care bill...

McCain: The majority leader is now corralling the final three Democrats...sure he'll get...in order to move forward.

Things would get more complicated by week's end. But before that...

Senator Robert Byrd broke a record on Wednesday. The 92-year old Democrat has a history that is as complex as it is long. As a young man in the South, Byrd once burned crosses with the Ku Klux Klan.

He lived on to support Barack Obama for President.

Byrd: My only regret...[sniffs] is that my dear wife, Irma, is not here to enjoy this moment with me...

After the shooting rampage earlier this month at Fort Hood, Senator Joe Lieberman decided to launch a probe. The administration has its own investigation underway.

Lieberman: But that does not mean that the rest of us, including the Senate Committee on Homeland Security can just sit back and watch.

Lieberman said his committee's inquiry would focus on whether the government could have done more to prevent the massacre. At the hearing on Thursday, ranking Republican Susan Collins of Maine drew parallels between Fort Hood and intelligence failures before the September 11th terror attacks.

Collins: If you look at Maj. Hasan's...there are warning signs galore.

Lieberman's critics, including the White House, let it be known they'd prefer Congress wait. Not the first time Lieberman has irked leading democrats. And certainly not the last.

Speaking of the Senate health care bill...The long-awaited cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office finally came out. Just shy of 850 billion over ten years. Democrats who support the bill say it reduces the deficit by $130 billion over the next decade.

Mukowski: But then you have Republicans stand up and say when you actually take into account $2.5 trillion.

That's Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska.

Mukowski: So the American public is saying, well, which is it? What's real? How much is this costing me?

Good question. According to Democrat Kent Conrad, don't look to Republicans for the answer.

Conrad: When people talk about two trillion, they're just making numbers up [snorts]. Let's use the official number... put out by the non-partisan CBO.

Bickering over budget numbers aside...abortion has become the emotional core of the health care overhaul debate. On the heels of the House vote with its groundswell of support for restrictive new language on federal funding. This week Republican Senators took aim squarely at what they hope may be the majority's Achilles heel.

Johanns: Today in the Senate we don't need 40 Democrats to stand up--we just need one.

The first big vote, the motion to proceed, takes place Saturday night.

Metro Delays SmartBenefits Program Changes

November 20, 2009 - By Natalie Neumann

Metro is delaying planned changes to its SmartBenefits program to the relief of many participants.

The program lets employers set aside money for commuting costs on Metro smart cards. In some cases, employers subsidize the costs, while in others, the employee's own pretax payroll dollars are set aside.

Metro had announced that because of an IRS requirement, money for transit and parking would be kept in separate accounts as of January 1. And it said any unused benefits would be credited back to employers at the end of each month, instead of being rolled over. That change upset many riders who feared they would end up losing money.

Now Metro is asking the IRS for a one-year extension to implement the new rules so that employers can adjust.

Virginia To Receive More Doses Of H1N1 Vaccine

November 20, 2009 - By Bill Redlin

Just over one million doses of the H1N1 vaccine are being allocated to sites in Virginia in the state's effort to vaccinate people against the swine flu.

Virginia health commissioner Dr. Karen Remley says while influenza-related illness has gone down to five percent of visits to emergency rooms, there are many who are ill, and that 27 deaths have now been reported around the commonwealth.

Shipments of the vaccine went out this week to colleges and universities, including the University of Virginia, which held a vaccination clinic Thursday. Remley says influenza cases reported this fall are typically H1N1. Remley says samples taken from patients have not detected the seasonal flu virus yet.

Montgomery County Streets Safer For Pedestrians

November 20, 2009 - By Jamila Bey

More than 400 pedestrians are struck by cars annually in Montgomery County, and twelve people this year have been killed. The county has started a campaign to educate walkers how to stay safe.

On the mile and a half stretch, Piney Branch Road between Flower Avenue and the Prince Georges County line, more pedestrians are hit than anywhere else in the county.

Volunteers will be on Piney Branch most days of the week to intercept jaywalkers. Gustavo Andrade organizes the Spanish language effort. "Our plan is to go up to people who are crossing where they're not supposed to and educate them about how to be safer," says Andrade. "So crossing on the crosswalks, especially now that it's getting darker earlier."

Jeff Dunkle is Montgomery County's Pedestrian Safety Coordinator. He says visibility is key. "Why is it that when it's dark out everybody wears dark clothing? It does make things more dangerous for pedestrians on the street when they cannot be seen by drivers," says Dunkle. "Cross where you're supposed to cross and cars will know where you're likely to be and will be able to avoid hitting you."

The safety effort will also crack down on drivers. And as the press conference was underway, attendees witnessed the plan in action.

A car ran a red light and policemen handing out fliers ticketed the driver on the spot.

Alexandria Retailers Prepare For Black Friday

November 20, 2009 - With the official start of the Christmas shopping season just one week away, area retailers are divided over how successful it will be.

Some Alexandria retailers say they are expecting their best holiday season ever while others say they're almost ready to close their doors forever. Alexandria Chamber of Commerce President Tina Leone says her organization lost about a third of her membership since the recession began.

Michael Pope reports...

Child Care Costs Skyrocket For Several D.C. Families After Budget Cuts

November 20, 2009 - By Kavitha Cardoza

Outside the Wilson Building in D.C., dozens of little children carried signs that read "I'm three, don't forget about me." They and their parents were protesting cuts in child care subsidies.

The city has cut millions of dollars from the Child Care Subsidy program, which provides vouchers for eligible low income families to offset costs.

Fahim Shabazz says he has a four and five year old who attend St. Philip's Child Care Center in South East D.C. He says his costs jumped from less than 10 dollars a week to more than 110 dollars for each child. And Shabazz says he doesn't know what to do.

"Should the day care bills be paid or should the house bills be paid? Now I say the child care is more important than my bills. I'm looking at being evicted, lights being cut off, not eating any food," Shabazz says.

Parents at the rally say they aren't sure how long they'll be able to keep paying the increased child-care costs.

No Word Yet on Why Fairfax Police Shot and Killed David A. Masters

November 20, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

A spokesman for the Fairfax Police Department says investigators aren't ready to say why Fairfax officers shot and killed an unarmed man a week ago.

Fairfax Police say three officers suspected 52-year-old David Alan Masters had stolen items from a nearby business. They say they made two attempts at traffic stops, but Masters drove off. After the second attempt, they say one officer shot him.

After a preliminary investigation, Fairfax Police say Masters did not have gun in his car.

Officer Bud Walker says the department is asking the public for patience.

"We want to know the story as much as they do," Walker says, "but we don't want to put out information prematurely that could compromise the investigation or be inaccurate."

Walker says the Fairfax homicide squad and internal affairs detectives are investigating Masters' death.

Program Aims to Create Better Leaders in Prince William Co.

November 20, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

A nonprofit program in Prince William County, Virginia is trying to give the county a bigger voice in the Washington region.

Leadership Prince William is based on programs in Arlington and Fairfax that bring together successful people who want to learn and do more in their communities.

Kathy Ellington, the programs executive director says Prince William faces unique challenges.

"One of the challenges that Prince William faces is just the perception that other people have of Prince William," she says.

Ellington says right now most people know Prince William for the long commute into D.C. rather than its scenery or strong small business community.

Leadership Prince William may help change that, by teaching participants more about important local issues through monthly visits from speakers including Congressman Gerry Connolly.

A few past graduates have gone on to run for local office themselves Steven Witt, a member of this years class is thinking about being the next.

"I've made some great connections through Leadership Prince William on the political side. Hopefully I can do that in the future," he says.

At 30 years old, Witt, a community banker, says he has time.

Despite New Technology, Internet Accessibility Lags for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

November 20, 2009 - By Sabri Ben-Achour

New technology from Google is making Youtube more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing, but some leaders of the deaf community say most online multimedia is still inaccessible.

Google recently announced technology that uses speech recognition technology to create captions automatically for Youtube videos. It's starting as a pilot program at several universities including Gallaudet.

Cheryl Heppner is Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons.

"I love it, I'm so excited!"

Video and multimedia are making up more and more of the Internet. Heppner says -- without captions -- that means the Internet is becoming less accessible to the hard of hearing.

The new technology for now applies only to Youtube. Shane Feldman heads the national Association of the Deaf. He hopes the technology will spur TV networks to caption the programs they put on line - he says most don't.

"They're pretty behind right now, so we're not able to watch TV on the internet. That's pretty important," says Feldman, speaking through an interpreter.

According to Google, there are almost as many deaf or hard of hearing internet users as there are French speaking internet users.

Power Breakfast for November 20, 2009

November 20, 2009 - Yesterday on the Senate floor, Majority Leader Harry Reid set out a schedule to debate the health care bill from 10 o'clock this morning until 11pm tonight.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...

On Morning Edition: Sheila Dixon Trial

November 20, 2009 - Today is day two of jury deliberations in the theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.

City hall reporter for the Baltimore Sun, Annie Linksey, has been covering the trial and talks about it with WAMU's Morning Edition Host Matt McCleskey.

The Region's Top Stories With Washington Post Columnist Robert McCartney

November 20, 2009 - Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney joins WAMU's Morning Edition Host Matt McCleskey to talk about some of the region's top stories...

Latest D.C. Local News

November 19, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) A new Newseum exhibit that opens tomorrow will allow visitors in Washington will get the chance to step into ``Meet the Press'' moderator Tim Russert's old NBC office. The office appears as it was in June 2008 when Russert died of a heart attack at age 58.

WASHINGTON (AP) National Park Service park rangers who have worked at the Lincoln Memorial for decades are helping the memorial expand beyond its marble temple. A new interactive Web site has been launched wityh videos, panoramas and oral histories from park rangers.

WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a 45-day review of the circumstances surrounding the Fort Hood, Texas shootings. The review will examine gaps into how the military identifies service members who might be a threat to others.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Maryland Regional News

November 19, 2009 - BALTIMORE (AP) The jury is deliberating in the theft and misconduct trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. During closing arguments, defense attorney Arnold Weiner drew applause from Dixon supporters and occasional laughter from the crowded gallery as he mocked the state's case as a thin and worthless web of reckless fabrications.

BALTIMORE (AP) The Public Service Commission has approved an application to build a 50-megawatt wind energy farm atop Backbone Mountain near Oakland in Garrett County. The commission approved the application by Synergics Wind Energy yesterday. The project will be built on a three-mile site on the mountain, about 14 miles south of Oakland.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Virginia Regional News

November 19, 2009 - McLEAN, Va. (AP) The wife of Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana has been charged with drunken driving and hit-and-run after hitting a parked car in northern Virginia. Fairfax County police say 76-year-old Charlene Lugar was stopped yesterday evening after they saw damage to her car and smoke coming from the hood.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) State health officials say they've allocated a total of 1.2 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine to Virginia sites in their overall campaign to vaccinate people against the so-called swine flu. Health officials say 27 deaths from the swine flu have been reported statewide.

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) Police are investigating the death of a hunter whose body was found in a wooded area in Chesterfield County. Authorities say the body of 52-year-old Carl Walls Senior was found early this morning on private property off River Road.

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) A bankruptcy trustee says claims have been filed for 154 people who say they were sickened by a salmonella outbreak traced to a Virginia peanut company. Peanut Corporation of America filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid fallout from the outbreak, which left about 700 people sick and was linked to at least nine deaths.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Civil rights organizations are asking Governor Tim Kaine to sign an executive order restoring the rights of nearly 300,000 felons before he leaves office in January. Virginia and Kentucky are the only states that permanently strip felons of their civil rights, such as voting, serving on juries or holding public office.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Gallaudet Uses New Technology, Opening Youtube To Deaf And Hard Of Hearing

November 19, 2009 - By Sabri Ben-Achour

Gallaudet University is trying out new software from Google that will make Youtube videos more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing.

According to Google, 23 hours of video are uploaded to Youtube every minute. Some of it is educational. Some of it is.. not.

The vastness of online video is not only a sign of how the internet is changing, but also of how that change threatens to leave certain groups behind. That's because the vast majority of content is not captioned.

"The internet used to be text, and maybe some pictures. Well now as it's becoming multimedia and video, you've got a huge impact where it becomes inaccessible again for deaf people," says Cindy King, dean of academic technology at Gallaudet University.

Gallaudet university will be part of a pilot program that Google is launching at 13 academic institutions. It will pair its speech recognition software with Youtube, so it automatically will create captions for videos. It will also create a transcript that Google will include in online searches.

"It was really amazing, another indication for what technology can do to improve quality of life for people who are deaf and hard of hearing," says Robert Davila, president of Gallaudet.

The technology isn't perfect, it makes mistakes on one out of five words. But engineers say they're working to improve it.

Jury Begins Deliberation In Baltimore Mayor's Theft Trial

November 19, 2009 - By Matt Bush

Jury deliberations are underway in the theft trial of Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon.

Dixon faces charges she spent gift cards on personal shopping that were meant to be given to needy children. Dixon claims she unknowingly used the cards, thinking they were for her.

During closing arguments late this morning, prosecutors alleged Dixon could not have gotten as far in life as she has if she got confused by things like this. Defense attorneys countered such statements show the state has little evidence against Dixon, who also faces allegations she misused cards while president of the city council.

Dixon faces five charges in total but because some are based on different legal theories, she can only be convicted of three.

Environmental Groups Threatening Lawsuit

November 19, 2009 - By Meymo Lyons

Four environmental groups are threatening to sue subsidiaries of Mirant Corp. over coal ash. Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Patuxent Riverkeeper informed Mirant that they intend to sue over what they say are violations of the Clean Water Act.

They say the energy company has been illegally discharging pollutants into a creek near Mirant's Brandywine landfill. The groups also say Mirant has failed to submit a required report about how it will eliminate toxic discharges at Brandywine.

In a statement, Mirant Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Misty Allen says the company received the notice but does not comment on pending legal matters.

Rap Group Public Enemy Raises Awareness For Homeless Teens In D.C.

November 19, 2009 - By Patrick Madden

The legendary rap group Public Enemy is in D.C. to raise awareness about homeless youth. The first stop for the band was the Sasha Bruce House, a facility for homeless teens in Northeast D.C. They helped deliver an early Thanksgiving dinner to the 30 or so teens that stay there.

After the dinner, Public Enemy headed to Foggy Bottom in downtown D.C., where they hopped on to the back of a flatbed truck and rocked out. The truck rolled through the streets. They later performed a concert George Washington University.

Proceeds from the night will go to Sasha Bruce.

Washington Times Denies Discrimination Accusation

November 19, 2009 - By Natalie Neumann

The Washington Times is denying a religious discrimination claim by the paper's former opinion editor.

Richard Miniter filed a complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Miniter says he was coerced into attending a Unification Church event that included a mass wedding. And he says the Times investigated him after he joked about the church to a co-worker.

The Times was founded by the leader of the Unification Church, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, in 1982.

In a note to readers in today's edition, the Times' acting president and publisher Jonathan Slevin says the paper doesn't discriminate.

Referring to a recent management shake-up that involved the ousting of three top executives and the resignation of the executive editor, Slevin said there would likely be further changes but said the Times will continue to provide "spirited reporting" and "a robust alternative voice."

Slevin assumed his current role last week in the wake of the shake-up.

Teaching Local Clergy The ABCs Of Affordable Housing

November 19, 2009 - By Rebecca Sheir

Some local clergy members are working to solve what some see as a spiritual crisis in affordable housing.

Angeloyd Fenrick, the founding pastor of Higher Ground Church in Southeast D.C., believes affordable housing, and houses of worship go hand in hand. "If we really believe that God provides for all of our needs, if we're his representative on earth, we ought to be about doing that," says Fenrick.

But the problem, says Fenrick, is most clergy members don't know much about the housing business. That's where David Bowers comes in. His group, Enterprise Community Partners, has helped faith leaders launch the development of nearly 700 units in the D.C. area through a series of workshops. He calls this week's "the ABCs of development."

"Participants really get a flavor for from the time I have an idea to the time we cut the ribbon, and then after that, what do we need to be thinking about," says Bowers.

Fenrick says her church has built 11 units for the working homeless. "And now we'd like to expand the number of units that we have," she explains. "Using these sessions, I've learned about some mistakes I've made and how not to make those mistakes in going forward."

Fenrick's goal is to add 50 new units within the next year.

Conversations...Michael Cottman Speaks With Neuropsychologist Stephanie Johnson

November 19, 2009 - As part of our continuing series "Conversations," reporter Michael Cottman speaks with Dr. Stephanie Johnson, a neuropsychologist and founder of the International Dementia Research Foundation, during Alzheimers Awareness Month.

Army Corps Of Engineers Gauges Storm Damage

November 19, 2009 - By Bill Redlin

The Army Corps of Engineers is wrapping up its survey of the beaches in Ocean City, Maryland to determine how much damage the Nor'Easter did last week.

City engineer Terry McGean says a three-person team was expected to finish its work yesterday. McGean says he will probably know by Monday how much sand the beach had lost as a result of the storm that came through the area.

The storm was the remnant of tropical storm Ida. It caused considerable damage in Virginia as it moved up from North Carolina.

In Ocean City, the city had a dredging project planned for 2010. McGean says that will be moved up to replenish the beaches with sand.

Montgomery County Struggles To Meet H1N1 Vaccine Demand

November 19, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

Health department directors are still urging people to get the H1N1 vaccine, but responses from residents have varied across the region.

D.C.'s health director Dr. Pierre Vigilance says some of the district's clinics have been packed, while others, especially in the eastern part of the city, have not. "The further east that we've gone, and in ward seven and ward eight particularly, I've noticed that we've not had as much uptake of the vaccine in those areas," says Vigilance.

Mark Hodge, with the health department in Montgomery County, Maryland is facing a different issue. Wednesday morning's appointment-only clinic filled up in 25 minutes. "Every clinic we've done so far we've had to turn people away because we've run out of vaccine," says Hodge.

Hodge says Maryland is relying more heavily on hospitals and private providers. That means Montgomery County's health department has received a smaller percentage of available vaccines than health departments in the district and Virginia have.

But Hodge and Vigilance say there's nothing stopping residents from crossing state or county lines to get H1N1 vaccines.

Third Round Of Budget Cuts In Maryland

November 19, 2009 - By Matt Bush

Cuts to Maryland's state budget for this fiscal year now top $1 billion. In its third round of reductions since the budget took effect July first, the state's board of public works approved more than $360 million in cuts.

The new round of cuts also eliminates 112 state jobs, including 21 at a facility for emotionally disturbed adolescents in Gaithersburg.

Montgomery County Executive Wants New Building Codes

November 19, 2009 - By Matt Bush

Montgomery County executive Isiah Leggett is pushing the county council to pass new building codes.

Leggett pushed for a series of changes earlier this year, and the council has only passed a few of them. One building code still being debated would ban commercial vehicles from parking on residential streets.

The council is looking at exempting small tow trucks, which Leggett opposes. Another change would limit permits for unfinished building construction to 18 months. Currently, there isn't a limit.

Recovery In Store For Holiday Travel

November 19, 2009 - By David Schultz

Last year, more people than usual elected to stay home for the holidays. But this year might be different.

Damion Gardner delivers magazines to the newsstands and bookstores at Reagan National Airport. He says despite the crowds full of stressed-out people, he loves working at the airport during the holiday rush. "It's joyful around here," says Gardner. "You get to see a lot of different cultures coming through in and out the airport."

Travelers who face long waits and delayed flights might not share Damion's enthusiasm. Nationwide, AAA predicts a one percent increase in holiday travelers. AAA spokesperson John Townshend says that's good news given last year's anemic travel season, when the number of travelers plummeted by 25 percent. "Now we see some glimmer of hope, a glint of things returning to normalcy," says Townshend.

AAA mid-Atlantic predicts this year's holiday travel season will be busy in the D.C. region.

D.C. Council Considers Proposal To Reduce Unexcused Absences In Schools

November 19, 2009 - By Kavitha Cardoza

The D.C. council is considering a proposal to reduce the number of unexcused absences students can have before authorities investigate.

Children in D.C. public schools can have 20 total days of unexcused absences within a school year before a referral is made to Child and Family services. At least seven council members support changes to the District's truancy regulations; they want children between the ages of five and 13 to have just 10 unexcused absences within a school year before authorities are contacted.

Council member Tommy Wells says truancy can be an early indicator that a child is having problems. "This is part of the safety net of keeping children safe, holding parents accountable for seeing that their children are not getting into mischief," says Wells.

Wells says in Minnesota, the state was required to intervene after seven unexcused absences and a year later studies showed more than 70 percent had improved school attendance.

Coalition Wants Streetcar Network Across Northern VA

November 19, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

A newly formed coalition in Northern Virginia is trying to build momentum for a network of streetcar lines stretching across several counties.

The group held it's first meeting Wednesday night.

Tim Lovain is co-founder of the Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition. He says the streetcar line planned for Columbia Pike should be just the beginning of a streetcar comeback across Northern Virginia.

"Too often we think jurisdiction by jurisdiction," Lovain says. "This really cries out for a regional response and we'd really like to start especially with extensions from that initial Columbia Pike line."

Lovain and the night's other speakers stressed that though excitement for new transit projects is nearly unprecedented, funding the projects still presents a challenge.

Linda Vitello, who sat in the audience, says she's encouraged by the new coalition.

But she also says the region needs more public transportation as soon as possible, whether its streetcars or something else.

"Streetcars are great, buses are great, metro is great," Vitello says. "Cars are not so great around here."

Arlington and Fairfax Counties have spent $4 million on the planning phase of the Columbia Pike Streetcar line construction funding hasn't been secured.

Power Breakfast for November 19, 2009

November 19, 2009 - Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee revisits an old question: Is it time to lift the ban on travel to Cuba? Cuban-born Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen says no.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...

On Morning Edition: Sheila Dixon Trial

November 19, 2009 - Closing arguments are expected today in the criminal theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. Dixon has been accused of personally using gift cards prosecutors say were intended for charity.

Professor Doug Colbert from the University of Maryland School of Law joins WAMU's Morning Edition Host Matt McCleskey to talk about the trial. He has been watching the proceedings.

Latest D.C. Local News

November 18, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are holding a hearing on whether Washington should be able to handle its budget and write laws without oversight by Congress. The city's budget and laws currently have to pass a review by Congress. A House subcommittee holds a hearing today called "Greater Autonomy for the Nation's Capital."

WASHINGTON (AP) The staff of the shuttered Washington Blade plans to publish a revived edition this week, investigating who killed the gay weekly newspaper. The paper was abruptly closed Monday by Atlanta-based Window Media, along with other gay publications in Atlanta and Miami.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Maryland Regional News

November 18, 2009 - ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) A state panel has approved more than $361 million in spending reductions and reversions recommended by Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration to help meet Maryland's budget shortfall. The cuts were higher than the $300 million in revisions that had been expected.

WHEATON, Md. (AP) Montgomery County police say the death of a man whose body was found in the road early today is a homicide. Police identified the victim as 34-year-old Samuel Dejesus Chacon of New Carrollton.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs will miss Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts because of a knee injury. Ravens coach John Harbaugh says Suggs has a sprained ligament in his right knee.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Virginia Regional News

November 18, 2009 - ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) First Lady Michelle Obama received a few gardening tips from some children as she toured a northern Virginia elementary school's vegetable garden. Mrs. Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Hollin Meadows Elementary in Alexandria today to promote the Obama administration's Healthier U.S. Schools initiative.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia health officials are advising against consuming walleye fish caught in Lake Gaston because of mercury contamination. State officials say recent fish-tissue sample results show levels of the toxic metal in walleye exceed the amount considered safe for long-term human consumption.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) An apartment building fire in Richmond sent nine people to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Officials say one woman jumped from a window to escape the flames. She suffered a leg injury.

FERRUM, Va. (AP) A hunter faces manslaughter and other charges after authorities say he fired at college students he mistook for a deer, leaving one dead and another wounded. Authorities say 31-year-old Jason David Cloutier of Ferrum was charged with manslaughter, reckless handling of a firearm and trespassing.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

D.C.'s LGBT Community Skeptical About Police Expansion Of Gay And Lesbian Unit

November 18, 2009 - By Rebecca Sheir

Members of D.C.'s LGBT community are skeptical about the Metropolitan Police Department's plans to expand its gay and lesbian liaison unit.

The GLLU had seven members when it began nine years ago. As MPD Assistant Chief Diane Groomes explained Tuesday at a public meeting, now "there are four officers assigned; however, only two are full duty." So MPD is offering voluntary GLLU training to officers later this month. "And I think with this expansion there will be more outreach," says Groomes, "more availability, you know, more contact for the community."

Still, some members of the community aren't so sure. Like Todd Metrokin, of Gays and Lesbians Opposed to Violence, or GLOV. He says MPD statistics indicate a rise in anti-gay hate crimes.

"So I hope that your reorganization of the MPD is truly going to be able to address this problem," says Metrokin. "I fear that it's not, but I hope for the best."

June Crenshaw, another activist, has fears of her own. "So the Chief's goal is for all of the 4,000-plus officers to be culturally competent in specialty areas, says Crenshaw. "Why is this training optional and not mandatory?"

Groomes says MPD wants to train officers who are especially motivated to tackle LGBT issues. So far, nearly two-dozen officers are interested in taking part. "Maybe more would want to once they learn what it's about, but I think it's good for a start," says Groomes.

The training is scheduled to begin November 30th.

D.C. Same-Sex Marriage Opponents Take Case Back To Superior Court

November 18, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

Supporters of a measure to ban same-sex marriage in Washington are taking their case to D.C.'s Superior Court--again.

Lawyers for the Alliance Defense Fund and Stand 4 Marriage D.C. have filed a lawsuit challenging Tuesday's ruling by the city's board of elections and ethics.

The ruling stated that putting a same-sex marriage ban on the a ballot would violate the city's Human Rights Act. The Alliance Defense Fund and Stand 4 Marriage D.C. say the board's reasoning is invalid.

Both the ruling and the court challenge were expected. A Superior Court Judge rejected a similar request from same-sex marriage opponents in June.

D.C. Leader Press Congress For More Autonomy

November 18, 2009 - By Megan Hughes

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and City Council Chair Vincent Gray pressed Congress to give the district more autonomy.

District resident Nikolas Schiller wore colonial garb to today's hearing, a protest that D.C. still has no representation. But Capitol police ordered him to remove his tri-cornered hat.

"The police escorted me out, checked my ID and they let me back in with the understanding I would not put the hat back on," says Schiller.

Currently, the district's budgets and any laws passed by city council have to be reviewed by Congress. Fenty says that creates problems for city schools. "We approve a budget that's not actually passed until more than a month after the school year begins," says Fenty. "Imagine if you had to manage your bank account by spending money you haven't even got yet."

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton's proposal removes that requirement. Congress would have the option to review D.C. laws.

Holiday Travel Season To Be Robust In D.C. Region

November 18, 2009 - By David Schultz

For holiday travelers, it's that time of year again, when roads become clogged and airports get frantic.

Susanna Quinn is killing time in a gift shop at Reagan National Airport before her flight departs. She's traveling today, and she'll be traveling again next week with her husband and children. "We have family in Colorado," says Quinn, "And it's nice to get out there and ski before it gets really crowded."

Quinn isn't worried about long lines and delayed flights. Her family is leaving on Monday instead of Thanksgiving Day, which is Thursday. Quinn says it was difficult to get time off from work and school, "but ultimately it's worth it, in terms of having to fight the crowds and definitely paying less airfare."

John Townshend with AAA's mid-Atlantic division says Quinn made a wise choice. "It is going to be crunch city here next week," says Townshend. Townshend predicts a large increase in the number of travelers leaving the D.C. region compared with last year's holiday season, much larger than in the rest of the country. "And I think the reason for that," says Townshend, "is that so many Washingtonians are not really Washingtonians. They're from other parts of the country."

Townshend says Wednesday will be the busiest day for airports, but roads won't get really crowded until late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Dixon Defense Only Calls Four Witnesses

November 18, 2009 - By Meymo Lyons

The defense has rested in Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's theft trial after calling four witness. The defense called two witnesses this morning, Dixon's pastor and a florist who testified about an anonymous delivery from Dixon's former boyfriend, developer Ronald Lipscomb. The testimony was allowed even though counts involving Lipscomb were dismissed and jurors were instructed to disregard testimony that involved him.

Prosecutors say Dixon used gift cards for the needy on personal shopping sprees. The defense says Lipscomb anonymously gave Dixon gift cards for her own use, and she thought a gift card delivery from another developer was from Lipscomb. The mayor is also accused of misusing cards from a charity event.

Virginia's Exports To Cuba On The Rise

November 18, 2009 - By Natalie Neumann

Virginia expects its food exports to Cuba to increase this year.

The state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says Virginia's exports to Cuba are expected to rise by more than 10 percent this year. The department's preliminary figures show agricultural exports to Cuba, including apples, poultry and soybeans, were worth about $45 million in the first nine months of 2009. That compares with just under $41 million worth of exports in all of 2008. The increase comes at a time when overall U.S. food exports to the communist country are on the decline.

A state delegation including Agriculture Commissioner Todd Haymore recently visted Cuba. Haymore tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Cuban representatives told the delegation overall agricultural imports from the U.S. would be down about 37 percent in 2009.

More H1N1 Flu Vaccine Becoming Available Around D.C. Region

November 18, 2009 - By Matt McCleskey

More doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine are coming to parts the Washington area.

Virginia's Fairfax County is planning a mass vaccination clinic this Saturday at the County Government Center. It will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the county says it has the capacity to vaccinate up to 12,000 people. Still, due to limited supplies, the vaccine will be available only to people in priority groups including pregnant women, health care workers, those who live with or care for infants younger than six months, children between 6 months and 24 years old, and people with certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk.

Prince William County has scheduled clinics this week at the Manassas Mall from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Monday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. There's also a clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Gar-Field Senior High School and at various times at county health clinics in Woodbridge and Manassas. All are for people in priority groups.

Maryland's Montgomery County will have 5,000 doses of the vaccine, also for priority groups, this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rockville campus of Montgomery College.

Dixon Defense Rests

November 18, 2009 - By Meymo Lyons

The defense has rested in the theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.

Prosecutors allege Dixon used gift cards intended for the needy for her personal shopping sprees. The defense took only Tuesday afternoon and part of Wednesday morning to present its case.

Earlier Tuesday, visiting Judge Dennis Sweeney agreed with the defense that the evidence was insufficient to proceed with two charges related to gift cards provided by the mayor's former boyfriend, developer Ronald Lipscomb. He dismissed two of the seven charges the mayor faced.

Prince George's County Cab Drivers On Strike

November 18, 2009 - By Elliott Francis

Cab drivers in Prince George's County, Maryland are on a two-day strike to protest job conditions. They park their cabs outside the county office in Upper Marlboro, and get to work. But instead of shuttling passengers, they're driving home a point.

Attorneys for the drivers say, cab companies are breaking the rules and the county has failed to take action.

The cabbies cite inadequate insurance, a dysfunctional voucher program and the resale of taxi certifications. Strike organizer George Lawson says sub-letting the authorization is illegal.

"On the back of the certificate it says, '...not for leasing' but in fact they're leased in mass to one another between the two or three cab companies."

Tony Jackson lives in the county. He agrees cabbies should demand accountability from owners.

"They're not going to see that the cab drivers have everything that they need and make sure they're protected," Jackson says.

Cab drivers want comprehensive legislative action from the county council.

D.C. Board Of Elections Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage Opponents

November 18, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics has decided not to put a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot in the District, but same-sex marriage opponents say they're ready to appeal the decision.

The board says putting the measure on the ballot would violate D.C. law. "There are certain subject matters that cannot be put on the ballot," says Ken Mcghie, the board's general counsel. "One of them is something that would discriminate or authorize discrimination in violation of the city's Human Rights Act."

Stand 4 Marriage D.C., the group that proposed the measure, has ten days to file an appeal with the D.C. Superior Court. Pastor Derek McCoy, a member of the coalition, says the group is prepared to appeal the case all the way to the Supreme Court.

"We believe that one of these courts are going to hear our case and rule favorably," says McCoy. "We are going to be pressing full steam ahead to make forward progress on this issue."

McCoy says the decision is part of a concerted effort by city leaders to silence local residents on the same-sex marriage debate.

Residents In Columbia Heights Say Building Plagued By Gangs

November 18, 2009 - By Patrick Madden

Police in D.C. say the killing of nine-year-old Oscar Fuentes was not gang related. But Police Chief Cathy Lanier says the suspect had ties to MS-13. Residents in the building where the boy was killed say they are terrified by the gangs.

Outside the building where Oscar Fuentes once lived, candles burn from a late-night vigil. City workers are throwing a quick coat of whitewash over the front of the building. They've painted over about two dozen gang graffiti signs. Residents watch from the front steps. Mariah Arias is there with her young daughter. She says the graffiti will be back up in a week.

The police have painted the killing as a robbery attempt gone bad. The mayor blasted the landlord for not replacing the broken front door. But residents at 1433 Columbia Road say the building needs more than a face-lift. They say they've complained to police for years about the gangs. But Chief Lanier says until a gang member commits an actual crime, there is little police can do to get them out of the neighborhood.

Advertising Industry Objects To Moran's Obesity Bill

November 18, 2009 - By Sara Sciammacco

Virginia Congressman Jim Moran has introduced a bill to combat obesity among kids. But some in the advertising industry say it goes too far.

Moran's bill lets the federal government regulate the advertising and marketing of food and beverages to children. Obesity numbers in Virginia aren't as bad as other states, with 23 percent of the population obese. Still, Moran says the problem is national and the government needs to step in.

"Children are very susceptible to commercials that advertise snack food and sugar pop and they are influenced by them and they tell their parents to buy them and their parents, if they don't know any better, do buy them and even sell them through some of the school systems," says Moran.

Under Moran's bill, the government decides which foods and beverages can be labeled as healthy and acceptable to children. It limits exposure of those that are not deemed nutritional. An executive for the Association of National Advertisers says the bill will likely violate the First Amendment.

The Blade Expected to Publish a Revived Edition

November 18, 2009 - By Kavitha Cardoza

The former editor of the Washington Blade says the newspaper will publish a revived edition this week. Kevin Naff is the former editor of the Blade. He says he and his staff are determined to publish a print and online edition this Friday.

The Blade was the oldest newspaper in the country for gays and lesbians and had just celebrated its 40th anniversary. It was abruptly closed Monday by Window Media, along with other gay publications in Atlanta and Miami.

Naff says he can't reveal the new publication's name as yet and says it will be "modest."

"It's not going to be 100 pages of newsprint it might be four pages of something copied at Kinko's but something will be out on the streets and we will grow it from there."

Naff says they will try to find out why two offers from prospective publishers to buy the Blade were not accepted earlier this year.

Power Breakfast For November 18, 2009

November 18, 2009 - The gunfire at Fort Hood has just begun to ricochet in Washington.

Today, the leaders of several Senate committees go behind closed doors with Attorney General Eric Holder for another briefing about who knew what, when before the massacre at Fort Hood.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...

Latest D.C. Local News

November 17, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) D.C.'s Board of Ethics and Elections has ruled that a measure giving voters the option to ban same-sex unions cannot go on the city's ballot. The elections board says putting the measure on the ballot would conflict with the city's Human Rights Act.

WASHINGTON (AP) Police have made an arrest in the case of a nine-year-old boy who was fatally shot when a bullet pierced the door of his northwest Washington home. D.C. police say 26-year-old Josue Pena was arrested in Hyattsville, Maryland, today and charged with first-degree murder.

WASHINGTON (AP) A D.C. Council member says he will subpoena two employees who didn't testify during hearings on a park projects contract that council members have questioned as improper. Council member Harry Thomas Junior wants the employees to explain their part in an arrangement in which millions of dollars were transferred from the parks department to the housing authority via the deputy mayor's office.

WASHINGTON (AP) A teenager has been charged with premeditated first-degree murder for shooting a man last week as he boarded a Metrobus in northeast Washington. Seventeen-year-old Jeffrey Britt appeared in court Saturday on charges he killed 21-year-old George Rawlings.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Maryland Regional News

November 17, 2009 - BALTIMORE (AP) The judge in Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's theft trial has dismissed two of the seven charges against her. A judge ruled the evidence was insufficient to proceed with charges related to gift cards provided by the mayor's former boyfriend, developer Ronald Lipscomb.

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) The Montgomery County Council has approved a bill that would force chain restaurants to post calorie counts on their menus. The measure was approved today and the regulations would take effect in July 2010.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Virginia Regional News

November 17, 2009 - RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Gov. Kaine will not stop the execution of a former Army counterintelligence worker from Maryland who is set to die by electrocution for killing a northern Virginia couple. Sixty-year-old Larry Bill Elliott is scheduled to be executed at 9 p.m. today at for the January 2001 shooting deaths of 25-year-old Dana Thrall and 30-year-old Robert Finch.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia lawmakers have learned that state government could experience a budget shortfall of nearly $3 billion in the next two fiscal years. The grim forecast for the next state budget comes on top of $5.6 billion in reductions to the current two-year state budget.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Gov. Kaine is commending the Virginia Board of Education for its efforts to improve education for the state's 1 million-plus students. Kaine met with board members at their monthly meeting today to talk about the panel's work during his term.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) A 570-foot barge that went aground in the surf off of Virginia Beach is making its way back to open waters. Salvage crews began towing the barge with two tugs this morning. They plan to use a third tug at high tide this evening to move the barge even more.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Calorie Counts Could Be On The Menu In Montgomery County

November 17, 2009 - By Natalie Neumann

Calorie counts could be the newest item on some menus in Maryland's Montgomery County. The County Council is expected to pass the bill which would force chain restaurants to post calorie counts on their menus.

Proponents tell the Washington Examiner the rule would give consumers the information they need to make healthy eating choices. But restaurant owners say revising menus will cost them money. And they say it's the wrong time for such a change because many restaurants are struggling in the recession.

Earlier versions of the bill required restaurants with 10 or more locations nationally to post fat, sodium and calorie contents on their menus. The latest version would apply to restaurants with 20 or more facilities nationally and would only require calorie information.

A similar law is in effect in New York City.

Palin's "Going Rogue" Is Not A Best-seller Among D.C. Residents

November 17, 2009 - By Alex Keefe

Sarah Palin's highly anticipated autobiography hit bookstores this morning. Pre-sales have made the book by the former Republican Vice Presidential candidate a bestseller on Amazon.com, but there seems to be less excitement at D.C. bookstores.

Outside a Border's bookstore on a busy street corner in downtown Washington this morning, people weren't exactly lining up to buy Sarah Palin's new book, "Going Rogue." One employee says, despite all the press, only three copies were sold in the first hour.

Debbie Collins, who works in downtown D.C., came out of the bookstore with a breakfast pastry, but without a copy of Palin's book. "She grates my nerves, so I don't like her at all," says Collins.

D.C. resident Gary Winstead, who was doing some Christmas shopping, says "Going Rogue" isn't on his list. "I live with two Republicans," says Winstead. "I'm a Democrat and they will definitely be buying the book. If I want to read it, I'll probably read theirs."

Several Washington bookstores say, with Democrats in control of Congress and the White House, they are not expecting big sales. According to the D.C. Board of Elections, roughly seventy-five percent of D.C. voters are currently registered democrats.

Sir Paul McCartney In Line For Prize

November 17, 2009 - By Bill Redlin

Sir Paul McCartney is returning to Washington next year. The former Beatle is going to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress. An all-star tribute concert will also be staged in his honor in the spring of 2010, although the library has not announced who will be taking part.

The 67-year-old music legend recently completed a five-week summer tour of the United States, and a stop in Washington was included. James Billington of the Library of Congress says it's hard to think of another performer and composer who has had a more transformative effect than the lad from Liverpool.

Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon won the first two Gershwin prizes. The library houses the manuscripts of the songwriting duet George and Ira Gershwin.

Montgomery County Council Takes Votes On Transportation Issues Today

November 17, 2009 - Montgomery County Council will make its final recommendations later this morning on three major transportation projects. The council will vote on whether to recommend lower tolls on the Intercounty Connector.

The body will also vote on the expansion of I-270, and whether the Corridor Cities Transit-way should be light rail or buses.

Matt Bush reports...

D.C. Distributes Free Re-Usable Bags

November 17, 2009 - The District is handing out more than a hundred thousand re-usable bags... a few weeks before residents have to pay for most plastic and paper ones.

When the so-called "bag bill" becomes law on Jan. 1st, shoppers will be have to pay a five-cent fee for every bag they use at shops and stores. Until then, the city says it will distribute free re-usable bags to seniors and low-income residents.

D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells says the goal of the legislation is to reduce plastic bag trash in the Anacostia River. He expects the city to raise between three and four million dollars in fees. Most of that money will go to cleaning up the river.

Patrick Madden reports...

Virginia Democrat Supports Republican Bill To Boost Nuclear Power

November 17, 2009 - By Eric Niiler

Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb has thrown his support behind a Republican bill to boost nuclear power in the U.S. Webb says he doesn't like the Democrat's climate change legislation. He says the cap and trade bill with its pollution credit market is too complex.

Webb is co-sponsoring a plan with a Republican from Tennessee that doubles U.S. nuclear plants with federal loan guarantees. He says building one hundred new reactors is more realistic than running a cap and trade system.

"What we have here is something that is targeted. It's achievable. These are things we know we can do; that's what is so important about it to me. It will increase our ability to resolve carbon dioxide emissions outside of this other bill."

The bill also provides one and a half billion dollars to develop ways of recycling nuclear waste. But critics say the government needs to figure out the waste issue before building more nuclear plants.

Local Non-Profits Urged to Collaborate

November 17, 2009 - By Rebecca Sheir

Leaders of non-profit groups in the D.C. area are looking to each other to help weather the current economic storm.

As the recession forces non-profits to provide more services with less funds, Chuck Bean of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington has an idea: "We need something like e-harmony.com, non-profit speed-dating," he says.

In other words, more ways for non-profits to partner up.

Bean is a member of the WAMU 88.5 community council. At an event titled Nonprofit 911: Whats Next, he was among several speakers to applaud recent partnerships, such as N Street Village and Unity Healthcare, and Dance Place and Artspace.

Bean says in this economy, sharing facilities, capital and other resources will help local non-profits tighten their belts without losing their shirts.

Fairfax Co. to Get 415 Biotech Jobs Starting in January

November 17, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

In Virginia Governor Tim Kaine says Fairfax County will get 415 new jobs starting in January. This comes after a year that saw the states unemployment rate hit a 17 year high.

Governor Kaine joined local politicians in front of a large crowd inside the Fairfax County Government Center to announce 415 high paying, biotech jobs coming to Fairfax.

They'll come from the Ignite Institute, a new non-profit medical research center closely linked with Inova Health Systems.

Jerry Gordon, president of Fairfax County's Economic Development Authority calls Ignite's $200 million investment in Fairfax an economy changer.

"This is something that is going to create jobs, wealth, tax base, and renown for Fairfax County as this organization gets off the ground," Gordon said.

Also on hand was the governor-elect, Bob McDonnell. He says luring companies like Ignite help the state move away from its current 6.7 percent unemployment rate.

"Obviously, the best thing that we can do for all of our citizens is to find more projects like this to bring to VA to bring jobs and opportunity," McDonnell says.

The state gave the company 25 million dollars in incentive grants.

Power Breakfast for November 17, 2009

November 17, 2009 - The Senate hunkers down this week to advance a health care overhaul bill.

Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports...

Taxicab Drivers in Prince George's Co. MD on Strike

November 17, 2009 - By Elliott Francis

Taxicab drivers in Prince George's County are on strike. They claim the county is not enforcing certain guidelines that protect their livelihood.

One of the issues driving the work stoppage today and Wednesday is focused on the certificates which allow a vehicle to legally operate as a taxi.

Advancement Project is a legal advocacy group representing the taxi driver's alliance. They claim that of the 785 certificates issued to taxicab companies in the county, approximately two thirds have been sub-leased to other companies, in violation of county's taxicab code.

Aurora Vasquez is senior Attorney for Advancement Project.

"What it means to the individual taxicab driver is that their opportunity to own one of these certificates becomes non-existent...especially when the county doesn't require someone who's misusing the certificate to return it," Vasquez says.

County spokesperson Jim Carrey says the charges are unsupported.

"They've made allegations and we're asked them for specifics, and we're not getting those specifics," Carrey says.

Drivers are also demanding the county enforce rules for comprehensive insurance coverage, and review of the voucher system of payment.

Some D.C. Council Members Want Expanded Insurance Coverage Of Autism

November 17, 2009 - By Kavitha Cardoza

Some council members in D.C. want children with autism to have access to expanded therapies to reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life. Council Tommy Wells says insurance plans cover some but not all therapies. Families that can afford to can spend tens of thousands of dollars, while low income families simply have to go without care. He says expanding coverage for autism also makes financial sense.

"We know that for some youth depending on where they are in the spectrum, they'll actually be able to avoid going into special education. Special education costs at a minimum costs $ 21,000 a year while traditional public schools cost about eight or nine," Wells says.

Insurance companies will have a chance to talk about how this proposal will affect them in the coming months.

Fifteen states have required autism be included in coverage plans. Maryland and Virginia have bills pending in their legislatures.

A School's Turnaround Offers Lessons

November 17, 2009 - By Sabri Ben-Achour

A school district in Richmond, VA says a novel approach to school violence has yielded dramatic results.

17-year old Keion Daniel remembers how his high school years began in Richmond.

"It was crazy. We had a drive-by my freshman year," Daniel says.

Gangs ran amok. Fights, drugs and truancy were a part of daily life for thousands of students, including Daniel, who was suspended 13 times. But not anymore.

"It's been a big change, I'll tell you that," he says.

The change has been dramatic and school-wide. Truancy dropped from 60% to 19%.

How did this happen?

A very special type of mentoring.

"We're using young adults, maybe five or six years older than the young people, who were drug dealers, who were gang members, who were troubled kids," says Robert Woodson.

He helped develop what's called the Violence Free Zone program. It doesn't use social workers who work nine-to-five or drop in just once a week. These mentors are available around the clock, they socialize with the students, relate to them, and gain their trust.

David McCoy is Assistant Police Chief for Richmond he says his truancy officers used to haul kids back to school in droves, but the roots of the problem went unaddressed. Until now.

"We've seen a reduction in truancy, a reduction in suspensions, hopefully an increase in graduates," says McCoy.

Studies in Milwaukee show the same drastic results, the school district voted this year to invest $1.7 million dollars to bring the program to 8 schools there.

On Morning Edition: Sheila Dixon Trial

November 17, 2009 - The criminal theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon continues today. The Democrat has been accused of personally using gift cards prosecutors say were intended for charity. Dixon has pleaded not guilty to seven theft-related charges, and she would lose her office if convicted.

Baltimore Sun Columnist Jean Marbella joins WAMU's Morning Edition Host Matt McCleskey to talk about the trial.

Montgomery County Staffer Alleges Discrimination

November 17, 2009 - By Sabri Ben-Achour

A Montgomery County Council staffer is filing the first ever discrimination complaint against the county under it's new human rights law.

Dana Beyer says she has been unfairly targeted by the Montgomery County Ethics Commission because of her private work to protect transgendered people like herself from discrimination.

"The ethics committee has made a blatant political attack on me because I am the first transgendered staffer in Maryland," says Beyer. Beyer says the ethics commission is investigating her because she was accused of using her job with the county to intimidate activists opposed to a bill protecting transgendered people from discrimination. Beyer says the commission is investigating her private advocacy work.

Beyer is a member of Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg's staff. Beyer says the commission secretly searched her computer illegally without her boss's knowledge, and then leaked the existence of the investigation to her colleagues. The Commission did not return calls by press time.

D.C. Board Of Elections Says No To Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Measure

November 17, 2009 - By Jonathan Wilson

The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics has decided not to let voters decide on a same-sex marriage ban.

Opponents of same-sex marriage, called the Stand 4 Marriage D.C. Coalition, wanted to put a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot in the District.

But the city's elections board says putting the measure to a vote would violate the city's Human Rights Act. "Voting on something, a human rights issue, is not something that can be on a ballot in the District of Columbia," says Ken McGhie the Board of Election's General Counsel.

Pastor Derek McCoy with the Stand 4 Marriage DC Coalition says the decision is part of a concerted effort by city leaders to make sure local residents are silenced on the issue of same-sex marriage.

"We see that this is not one of those issues that the city council is being reflective of its constituents in any means, or that the board of elections is even thinking about the citizens of the District of Columbia," says McCoy.

The coalition has ten days to file an appeal with the D.C. Superior Court.