Go Home Already: Shouts and Murmurs
Man Stops Traffic at 17th and K to Demand $200 Million
Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
Judge Throws Out WTU Suit Over Teacher Layoffs
Vegetate to Close at the End of the Month
Good morning, Washington. As we all learned last night, an investigation is now underway into the murder of Prince George's County prisoner Ronnie White. White was in custody on charges of murdering a PG County police officer, and less than 36 hours after he was taken to a PG County jail -- even through procedure states he should have been taken to a jail in another jurisdiction due to the nature of his charges against a PG officer -- he was strangled in his cell. The FBI is now conducting a civil rights probe, and Maryland State Police took over the investigation of White's death. The Post details some of the history of problems this particular correctional center has had (guns disappearing, inmates have keys, etc.) as well as the history of relations between the mostly white police department and the mostly black population of the county. This story is already national news, so don't expect it to go away anytime soon.
Mendelson Introduces New Gun Bill: At-large D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson introduced legislation yesterday that would repeal the city's handgun ban and create an exception for "immediate self-defense" for District residents to be able to keep loaded, unlocked guns in their homes. The move was slightly surprising, given that Mendelson had said he wouldn't introduce such a bill until after the Council came back in the fall. It's unlikely this exact bill will be voted on until September -- Mendelson says he's just trying to get city officials to get the ball rolling on figuring out how to comply with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Graham Goes After Nightclubs: The Post looks at what Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham has been up to as he leads the city's effort to crackdown on nightclub liquor licenses. The District has permanently closed two clubs and suspended 94 other licenses. Platinum and Lime are both no longer in business, and Club Five has been temporarily shut down since a stabbing there on Memorial Day weekend.
Briefly Noted: Council urged to approve school repair funds ... Jay Votel, Home editor of the Washington Times, dies ... A D.C. foreclosure inspector found an elderly woman living inside an abandoned house ... D.C. police captain claiming retaliation against him in a lawsuit.
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And in breaking news, Mike Green has re-signed with the Caps!
Are we already calling Ronnie White's death a murder? Not accusing, just wondering.
Oh sorry, didn't read down for the blurb about the homocide...
It's been ruled a homicide, so yeah, that would justify saying he was murdered.
As for Mendelson's bill, it sounds like it's pretty hastily put together. I don't think it's really anything more than his attempt to get some press attention, step on the mayor's turf, and demand a seat at the table for drafting the final version of the gun laws.
Smith07- The Examiner reported today that it was ruled a homicide. Or at least a Pr. George's official said it was, based on a medical examiner's report.
OK, but no, that actually does NOT yet justify calling it murder, at least not in the legal sense. "Murder" in the legal sense does NOT cover all homicides. (The boring old MSM are sticklers about this.) Was the guy probably murdered? The evidence certainly looks pretty bad, but that still doesn't make it OK for a media source to use the word as fact at this stage of the game. A prosecutor may CHARGE someone at the jail with this guy's murder, and then that person may be tried for murder, and possibly convicted.
Is this splitting hairs, especially in a case like this where the evidence so far looks very damning to the jail/cops? Yup, but I still can't let it go. No one ever seems to understand the legal difference between homicide and murder, and cases do happen where the distinction is a lot less clear. (Saying someone was murdered before there are charges or a trial could in some situations be libelous!)
I love to hate on Jim Graham for shuttering clubs, but Platinum and Five had it coming, between the thuggy clientel and serving liquor to kids who aren't old enough to drive Bigwheels let alone hooptys.
I agree with gmg, the tendancy to conflate murder and homicide is sloppy and should be avoided (and that's not even considering whether it's libelous). Murder requires a certain state of mind in the killer and a medical examiner is in not position to make that assesment. They can merely say that in their opinion, he was killed by someone else. That's a homicide, but not necessarily a murder. Only a court of law can decide whether someone was murdered.
If you feel so inclined to use the word "murder", you should hedge it with words like "possible" or "alleged".
Also you should say Muhhh-derrr.
Is the plural of hoopty hooptys or hoopties?
I'm pretty sure that drivers of hooptys/ies are not sticklers for grammar, so you're safe with either. So long as you don't talk 'bout how they momma so fat, she think JarJar come with pigsfeet pigsfeet.
Oh no he di' 'int!
"And in breaking news, Mike Green has re-signed with the Caps!"
A big relief, DC Guy, to be sure - though Caps need to be concerned about the lack of a deal with Huet. There aren't many great choices of netminders on the free agent market, and with Olie on his way out, the loss of Huet to free agency would likely be a huge blow.
Can someone create a flash animation/youtube video of Jim Graham and images of the clubs he's closed? The background music should be 'Love in this Club' by Usher. Much thanks.
If everything was left up to Jim Graham, our only exciting option on a Friday night would be reading War & Peace at the MLK Library.