Morning Roundup: Rain on My Parade Edition
Good morning, Washington. It's not bound to be a particularly good day when words like "soaking," "relentless rain," "flooding" and "monsoon of Biblical proportions that will drown all but our souls" makes it into every weather forecast. OK, so maybe that last one was made up, but it's what I'm feeling right now after waking up to water coming through the ceiling into my room. Awesome. At least there's no mold. Oh wait, there is. Awesome. Thankfully that one prized framed picture of mine isn't wet. Oh hey, it is. AWESOME. Is it too early for coffee and a drink?
Prison Guards Relieved Over Decision in Inmate Death Case: The Post is reporting that two prison guards at the center of the jail death of inmate Ronnie White last year are relieved with this week's decision by Prince George's County prosecutors not to press charges in the case. Lawyers for the two prison guards claim that neither had any motive or opportunity to kill White, and that the confusion over who found White first was caused by panic.
Virginia Rep. Calls DDOT "Criminal": We're used to being called any number of things by members of Congress, but criminal? That might be a new one. WTOP writes that Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) is none-too-happy with the impact roadwork on the Chain Bridge and 14th Street Bridge has had on Virginia commuters, accusing the District Department of Transportation of not communicating its plans. "The failure to communicate with a quarter-of-million people, who use these two bridges -- and with your counterpart in Virginia, is almost criminal," he is quoted as saying. District officials have admitted that work on the Chain Bridge started earlier than expected (which, to be fair, should be a pleasant surprise in the world of public works) but that argue VDOT officials were kept in the loop for years on the work being done to the heavily used 14th Street Bridge.
Not Even City Officials Can Figure Out Federal Forms: If you ever feel confused by local or federal government forms, don't fret -- you're not the only one. The Examiner is reporting that D.C. officials have twice screwed up forms required to request stimulus funds from the federal government, threatening $123 million that was set aside for the District Department of Transportation. In related news, the District's road construction fund is facing increasing deficits, meaning that much-needed projects on area roadways and bridges may have to be delayed or set aside.
Briefly Noted: Hallway in Capitol Visitors Center flooded ... Man found dead in Metro bathroom ... Police parking at Judiciary Square gets harder to find.
On This Day in DCist: On this day in 2008, the Post hilariously misspelled the winning word from the National Spelling Bee and the Nissan Pavilion again proved to be the last place crowds should ever want to go. In 2007, we debated whether D.C. would ever get same-sex marriage, questions remained over the suspension of H2O's liquor license and the Dupont Circle Metro station got some poetry.
Picture snapped by axelhonkrod