December 8, 2006
Morning Roundup: Answer's In the Wind Edition
UPDATE: WTOP is reporting that part of a building under construction in Rosslyn has collapsed, and that there are reported injuries, but at this point they don't know how severe. The building is at the corner of North Lynn Street and 19th Street. We'll update again when we learn more. MORE: "Arlington Police spokesman John Lisle says a slab of wet concrete partially collapsed on the 24th floor of the building on North Lynn Street." There are 2 or 3 workers believed to be trapped in the building, the extent of their injuries still unknown. WTOP Traffic reports access to the Key Bridge from Rosslyn is closed, along with Fort Myer Drive. MORE: Looks like a total of 16 workers were injured in the collapse, with three now in critical condition. Full story here.
Whew, it's cold and windy out there, eh Washington? At least it's Friday, and we're pleased to report it should be a pretty spectacular weekend, with sunny skies, less wind, and highs reaching up to the lower 50s on Sunday. So have a great time at the various holiday parties you'll no doubt be attending, and take solace in the mild weather, and the fact that your partying ways (and how you're paying for them) aren't being scrutinized by the Washington Post.
Eastern High School Principal Fired: Back in October we told you about Eastern High School's principal Shawn Hearn, and the allegations against him that he had physically assaulted several students and a parent. This morning we read in the WaPo that an investigation by D.C. Schools has resulted in him being fired. We hope the students at Eastern are able to move on quickly and finish the school year with a new principal who's the source of less drama.
Speaking of Schools: Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty, along with 10 members of the incoming D.C. City Council, are in New York City for the day on a field trip to meet with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Public Schools chancellor Joel Klein and check out how some of the city's school reform policies have taken effect first hand. This is the second time Fenty has met with Bloomberg about schools, and the new mayor is widely expected to pattern his own school reform plan after Bloomberg's — which includes taking personal control over the school system. Also in the WTOP report — apparently Fenty and the Council have agreed to a challenge from members of media to play a game of basketball. Which has us thinking: could the DCist team successfully challenge the Council to a game of say, dodgeball?
Briefly Noted: Rock Creek Parkway open again after deadly accident ... Second Metro worker dies from injuries after being hit by train ... CFO Gandhi blames Carolyn Graham for scandal.
This Day in DCist: In 2005 we started the cheering section for the Nationals' move to acquire Alfonso Soriano, and in 2004 we anticipated the opening of IndeBleu.
Photo by DottieboBottie.
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Does anyone have more details about the Rock Creek accident? I passed it on my way home about 11:30 last night, and thought that it was the remains of an earlier wreck.
"Hearn was Eastern's eighth principal since 1997."
With retention rates like this I wonder why DC schools are not doing better?
When I first read that line about the basketball game, all I pictured was Carol Schwartz and David Catania in shorts. After regaining consciousness, I was relieved to see that only CMs with a modicum of athletic appearance are playing.
The article doesn't say who the media representatives are, but I can already foresee Mark Plotkin paying and taking it WAY TOO seriously. You know, like driving the lane hard, using incredibly inappropriate language, trying to start a fist fight with a spectator, stuff like that.
And for some reason, I see Vincent Gray in a full-on Harlem Globetrotters uniform, doing the whole schtick.
"...and the fact that you're partying ways (and how you're paying for them) aren't being scrutinized..."
you're partying ways?
You're means YOU ARE.
I love reading DCist, but come on... you should have had this down back in 3rd-grade.
Gee, thanks for pointing out my typo in such a friendly, constructive manner. YOU ARE the best reader ever!
grammarpuss, it is kinda funny how you called DCist out for the wrong bit of grammar... "you're" was used twice in that sentence. The first time should have been just "your." However, the second usage of "you're" was perfectly fine. Unless you're outlawing contractions.
I didn't come here for lectures by the grammar police. I came here to find out what happened last night at Rod's House of Semen. Anybody know? the grammar police cars and helicopters were everywhere.
If you spend your days policing DCist for grammar errors, that is quite sad. Typos happen, people. I'm sure the editors at DCist have grasped the confusing difference between "you're" and "your".
Anyone know when the new DC Council Committee assignments will be made public? I'm dying to know what Barry gets to chair.
Not to elevate grammar and spelling to sacred status, but they're kind of, well, important. Mistakes of that sort can actually change the entire meaning of a sentence. When I worked for a newspaper, where we didn't have the luxury of changing our boo-boos with a few keystrokes, I always took it in stride when people noticed our mistakes, because all that really meant was (a) they had actually read what we had to say (always a good thing), and (b) they cared enough to mention it to us.
That's it. I'm outta here. Gotta get lunch.
(Eats, shoots, and leaves.)
(Eats shoots and leaves.)
To me the big news of this morning is that Dan Snyder is planning to buy WGMS and change its format from classical music to sports. AAARRRGGGGHHHHHHH This means the only remaining classical station in D.C. will no longer exist. I didn't even like GMS all that much - they play way too many standards and have a really annoying tendency to play only single movements of major works (Scherzo from Beethoven's 7th Symphony anyone?) without telling you what you just heard...but in a town like this, that has a major symphony, local orchestras in every community, a dynamic chamber music and choral scene, it's just awful. I am so sad. I already disliked Snyder but this is that last straw.
A few pics from the scene of the accident here and contributed to the DCist pool.
OH my, losing WGMS would be a tragedy. That's the only station a lot of people listen to.
Is this the same building the FAA was pitching a fit for being too tall (WaPo today)....talk about irony...or was it?
I would guess that they're different buildings. The photo in Express this morning was of computer renderings, and the caption referred to the buildings as "planned" rather than underway or some such thing. Sounds very preliminary.
Rosslynn and Courthouse have a history of wind problems. Being right on top of that hill creates some pretty powerful gusts. I remember a bunch of problems they had back in the winter of 99 when wind was blowing some pretty big pieces of construction off the tops of buildings there. I can't remember whether anyone was hurt.
Re: GMS. I appreciate having classical music on the dial, even when it's watered down like GMS. But I always hated that pompous ass that did the morning shift. How can you be that pompous when you're spinning Pachelbel's Cannon every hour?