News

The Pittsburgh Penguins claimed Chris Bourque off waivers today. more ›

Click on over to www.washingtonpost.com/local to take a look at the new Washingtonpost.com 'Local' homepage, which launched in Beta at 4 p.m. this afternoon. Surprisingly enough, the design actually does look significantly different from the regular home page, a far cry from previous WaPo attempts to differentiate between the local and national editions of the paper by offering minor, barely noticeable differences for online readers with local IP addresses. more ›

Thinking about making a major purchase in the District this week? You might want to go ahead and pull the trigger tonight, because starting Thursday, the D.C. general sales and use tax rate increases from 5.75 percent to 6 percent. It's not a massive jump, but that additional .25 percent can and will add up. more ›

After first merely postponing a hearing on his recently proposed taxicab legislation in the wake of related federal bribery charges against his chief of staff, Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham has gone ahead and withdrawn the bill entirely, Tim Craig is reporting at D.C. Wire. In a rich bit of political theater, Graham is also apparently trying to sell reporters on the notion that this decision has "nothing to do" with the charges against Ted Loza. "Graham said he is pulling the bill because of confusion and opposition within the taxicab industry to a medallion system." Suuuuuure. more ›

We've written about the sizzling drama inside the Cleveland Park Citizens Association before, and now the Ward3DC blog reports that the "UNITY" slate, headed by longtime resident John Chelen, has been declared the winner of Tuesday's election. Chelen replaces long-serving president George Idelson, the man who was ridiculed by local media earlier this year for accusing new members of CPCA, drawn to join due to the endless bickering over the Wisconsin Ave. Giant grocery store plans, among other development issues, of attempting a coup. Idelson eventually chose not to run again, leaving Jeff Davis and his "Reform" slate to oppose Chelen. more ›

If you're concerned about average D.C. street crime (and who isn't), you really need to be reading Borderstan on a regular basis. The blog has been doing a consistently great job of warning residents about the everyday muggings and burglaries that mostly go unreported by larger media outlets, and this week has been no exception. Note this report of a 9 a.m. mugging bank robbery on K Street: D.C. police were searching for a suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying robbery suspect on Monday who successfully mugged some unsuspecting pedestrian. "And you have to love the irony of mugger in a suit on K Street." Indeed. (Hat tip City Desk). UPDATE: As noted in comments, this particular crime appears to have been a bank robbery and not a mugging. My praise of Borderstan's general vigilance about street crime still stands, though. more ›

Two big updates today on the ongoing federal bribery probe into Ted Loza, chief of staff to Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham. more ›

The hugely delayed Washington Convention Center Hotel deal, which in July appeared to be back on track thanks to a city-brokered public financing deal with developers, is once again in trouble. Developer JBG Cos. is suing to stall the start of construction, claiming that the contracting process that gave a 99-year lease to Marriott was not up to snuff, the Washington Business Journal is reporting. The lawsuit could very well mean that the sale of bonds for the project could be delayed, which would in turn push back ground breaking on the project. The city's only hope to keep things on track will be if a judge agrees to toss out the case in short order, as construction has been slated to begin this fall. more ›

The Wall Street Journal has one of their career trends by ordinal list pieces today on where young people in the United States are deciding to move during the recession, and once again Washington, D.C. is at the top of the list. We've heard almost all of this before, but here's why the newspaper says the D.C. area is the best option for young job seekers:

Government hiring is projected to grow fast, and jobs in lobbying, aerospace, defense contracting and professional services are also a draw. Mr. DeVol calls Washington the national leader in high-tech services, surpassing Silicon Valley. Washington's 4,000-plus nonprofits hold appeal for service-minded youth. And amid rising regulation of financial markets, says Barbara Lang, president of the DC Chamber of Commerce, "much of Wall Street is now moving to K Street."

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to the return of sweater weather! Last night, we felt downright chilly for the first time since spring. Also scheduled to be left out in the cold this week: an unknown number of DCPS teachers and staff. D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee had previously announced that layoffs due to an expected $40 million budget shortfall would be handed down by today, but as FOX 5 points out, there still has been no announcement. Students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts were the first out of the gate with a "save our teachers" rally on Tuesday. We're hearing the pink slips probably won't be handed out until the end of this week now. more ›

Nationals 4, Mets 3: Could the Nationals actually end the season on a positive note? Seems like a possibility after they earned their first back-to-back home victories since early August with a win against the Mets last night. The boys from Queens jumped out to a 3-0 lead against starter J.D. Martin. But the young righty calmed considerably, and looked good after the second inning, going six in total. Middle infielder Ian Desmond -- who has impressed since his callup -- went deep in the fifth to get things moving offensively. (We're excited to see what Desmond can do with a whole year at this level: his .333/.473/.806 in 16 games at the major league level shows a bit of promise, even if his five errors in middle infield will do nothing to help solve the Nats' considerable defensive woes.) Ryan Zimmerman then pushed the Nats into a tie with a two-out base knock. A wild endgame ensued, in which two Mets errors allowed the Nats to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth (hey, it feels good to have this happen to our opponents for a change!), and Elijah Dukes made a fantastic play on a long David Wright fly to end the game. The Nats will go for the sweep tomorrow in 2009's home finale. more ›

Remember when D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier told the Washington Times that she believed the District of Columbia could end up with fewer than 100 homicides in 2009? more ›

WMATA released its October weekend track maintenance schedule on Monday, which details the Columbus Day Weekend closures of the Waterfront-SEU, Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter and L’Enfant Plaza stations on the Yellow and Green lines they had previously warned us about, in addition to myriad other work that will affect the Red and Orange Lines during three other weekends throughout the month. It'll be a busy month for weekend track work, but considering the average month, par for the course. more ›

Two different suspicious package investigations shut down several downtown streets and the Foggy Bottom Metro station today. The first, inside a bank in the 800 block of Pennsylvania Ave., was called in just after 11 a.m. and forced the partial closure of 9th, Pennsylvania and D Street in the area. That package has already been cleared. The second incident is an unclaimed suitcase in the Foggy Bottom Metro station, and police have since shut down the station itself, along with 23rd Street from G to I Streets and I Street from 21-23rd Streets NW. The Metro station remained closed as of about 3 p.m. UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: Foggy Bottom Metro and all related streets have been reopened.
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The NFL's second most reviled quarterback is in D.C. today, the Associated Press is reporting, in order to speak to local youngsters about how dogfighting is bad. Michael Vick has been making appearances like this in cities around the country since he was released from prison after being convicted of running a dogfighting ring in Smithfield, Va., as part of a Humane Society campaign against the sport. His talk will take place at Covenant Baptist Church in Southwest this afternoon, where a group of area students have been invited to listen. Hopefully any hardcore Redskins fans in the audience have already had their spirits crushed to the point that Vick, now a member of the rival Philadelphia Eagles, won't get booed. more ›

Sad news for workers in the 19th and L area: the old standby watering hole Black Rooster Pub will be forced to close its doors by Nov. 3, the Washington Business Journal is reporting. The bar, located at 1919 L Street NW, is being kicked out by the building's owner, who has decided to lease the space to the Peace Corps. instead. Since opening in 1970, Black Rooster has long been the sort of place that's no one's absolute favorite bar, but that anyone would feel comfortable going to. Regulars describe the Rooster's charm as having a lot to do with the diversity of the crowd – older folks, full-time drunks, young office workers, lawyers – everyone ended up at the Rooster at some point or another. more ›

In an announcement today from Cologne, Germany — host city of the 2010 Gay Games — the Federation of Gay Games named Cleveland the host for their 2014 multi-sport event. Nearly one year ago, the organization selected Washington, D.C. as one of four finalists, pared down from 14 entries. D.C., Boston and Cleveland all submitted formal bids earlier this year; Miami, the fourth city, missed the bid submission deadline and was therefore no longer in contention. more ›

It feels like it was only a couple weeks ago that the District Department of Transportation confirmed that they would be altering the Georgetown Circulator bus route so that it no longer traveled north on Wisconsin Ave. And the official announcement of the change, wasn't that just last week? Yes, and, oh yeah, that's right. But this morning, city officials announced that they have changed their minds, and the current Circulator route will stay intact. more ›

Last week's arrest and indictment of Ted Loza, Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham's chief of staff, continues to put Graham in a rather unpleasant spotlight this morning. After WUSA9 first reported on Monday that the FBI investigation was also targeting the councilman, FOX-5 followed up last night with its own story, noting that Graham refused to go on the record all day on Monday in response to the allegations (earlier that morning when we saw him, Graham claimed he still hadn't read the story). more ›

The National Zoo announced way back in April that "Happy," its 28-year-old Nile hippopotamus, would be leaving this year and moving to the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. Well this morning we received word that Happy sneaked off in the dead of night on Monday and is already in Wisconsin, arriving at about 3 a.m. this morning. Did we mean so little to you, Happy, that you had to run away like this? Not even a fare thee well? more ›

Good morning, Washington. No doubt many of you have been following the news of longtime fugitive and admitted sex offender Roman Polanski's recent arrest in Switzerland. For many — including some at our hometown paper — the case has revealed a confounding moral dilemma: should we punish those who break the law even when we sort of like them? Truly, this is a question with no easy answers, as two area governments are discovering for entirely different reasons: D.C. Considers Giving Funeral Attendees a Pass on Parking: Councilman Michael Brown has introduced legislation that would exempt funeral attendees from parking enforcement for five hours, according to WJLA. Critics have called the five hour window too long, and pointed out that many of the church congregations likely to benefit from the legislation have largely suburban memberships. Montgomery County Cops May Have to Pay Speed Camera Tickets: The Examiner updates us on the ongoing argument between Montgomery County and its police officers. A lower court found that four on-duty officers who were caught speeding by automatic cameras did not have to pay the accompanying fines. The county is seeking to have that overturned. Be sure to check out the comment left at WJLA's site by Fraternal Order of Police representative Walter Bader, who claims that the real issue is the county's improper transfer of liability from the vehicle owner (the county) to the driver (the officer). See, normally the ticket goes to the vehicle owner, who can then offer proof that someone else was driving, who may then be ticketed. Since the county knew who was driving, they skipped straight to ticketing that person, which Mr. Bader appears to consider improper. Briefly Noted: Metro announces plans for more cameras on buses, trains and elsewhere... License of gun shop connected to D.C. Sniper to remain revoked... Accused Holocaust Museum shooter being evaluated for competence to stand trial in N.C.... Naked man's body found on playground of P.G. County church... D.C. parents protest city's decision to remove students from Virginia special ed academy... "Oh my God...the PTA has disbanded!"... String of burglaries hits Southeast neighborhood... City fires school database vendor... This Day In DCist: One year ago we checked out the big names at the book festival and D.C. Vote released a music video. more ›

Dimmed luster, my ass! Regardless of the brewing Ted Loza/Jim Graham scandal, the folks who participated in this year's Fiesta DC did a great job putting on a colorful, fun, well-attended event that deserves to be judged apart from anything else. Here's just a few of the shots our Flickr contributors grabbed on Sunday in Mt. Pleasant. more ›

It's been a year since D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty shut down the Franklin Shelter, and while homeless advocates are still fighting in court to get the historic Franklin School reopened as a shelter, the Fenty administration is moving ahead with its redevelopment plans. As Ruth Samuelson recently reported over at Housing Complex, the Franklin School RFP seeks "Highly-qualified development teams with experience in planning, financing, building, and operating small to medium scale mixed-use, commercial, hotel, residential, or retail use development projects and experience in working with community stakeholders are strongly encouraged to respond to this RFP." The Business Journal followed up today with a story of its own. more ›

New trends and fads follow a predictable path in the Washington area. First there are pioneers, next come early adopters, then the general public and eventually, some time after that, the Washington Post. Once the Post gets around to publishing an article on the new trend or fad, you can bet that it's only a matter of months before it's completely over. more ›

In case you missed this story from FOX 5 on Friday night, reporter Ron Plater found that Carla Proctor, the former Metrobus driver behind the wheel of the bus that struck 30-year-old Amanda Mahnke on Sept. 3, is being accused of running the light at the intersection of Connecticut and Florida Avenues before she hit Mahnke.

FOX 5 has learned that police concluded the light was already yellow when the bus driver entered the intersection, and that light turned red when she was midway through the intersection. more ›

Last week we told you about the Save WEAVE initiative, an effort to prevent local non-profit Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) from being forced to permanently close its doors as it faced the loss of nearly all of its funding from the District. Today the group, which offers assistance to victims of domestic violence, announced that it has already brought in $85,000, its initial target, two days ahead of schedule, and is now turning its eyes on raising an additional $100,000 by the end of the year. The Save WEAVE folks also say they are now "in serious talks with foundation and government stakeholders to cement WEAVE’s leadership role in the DC domestic violence community." All of this hopefully means that WEAVE will not have to close its doors on Sept. 30 after all, but it doesn't mean the organization is out of danger. You can still contribute to WEAVE's ongoing campaign through the Save WEAVE web site. more ›

The fountain water flowed as District officials gathered this morning to formally dedicate the completion of the first phase of the new Columbia Heights Plaza, located at the intersection of 14th Street, Park Road and Kenyon Street NW. more ›

The DC Rollergirls' fourth season kicked off at the D.C. Armory on Sunday afternoon, as reigning champs DC DemonCats held on in a tight contest to beat former perennial winners Scare Force One. The lead changed multiple times, but the ladies in red pulled away in the final five minutes, holding off a last-ditch comeback attempt to remain unbeaten since October 2008. To think: you were probably stuck inside watching the Redskins lose, when you could have been taking in this awesome spectacle. more ›

The D.C. Council is taking up a bill this session that would expand parts of the existing citywide smoking ban, including a provision that would allow property owners to legally prohibit smoking within 25 feet of any building entrance, even if that area includes public areas like sidewalks, Michael Neibauer reports today in the Examiner. The idea is to cut down on the number of times city residents are forced to walk through a gauntlet of smokers standing outside office building doors, an experience that's admittedly unpleasant for plenty of folks. But the question then becomes: if every business follows through on such a ban, where are smokers supposed to go? Not to mention: who would be responsible for enforcing this rule? Could individuals end up being ticketed by police for smoking on the sidewalk? There's going to be a lot of details to iron out on this one. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Did you manage to get out and enjoy your weekend despite all the rain? You might have been best served by spending some quality time pulling your fall jackets and sweaters out of the back of your closet. After this weekend's dreary but still kinda warm drizzles, we appear to be in store for sincerely cooler temperatures. Jason Samenow describes his forecast thusly: "After today, for the better part of the week ahead, day time temperatures will be in the 60s to near 70, with overnight lows in the 40s and low 50s." That's a big change, so plan accordingly. more ›

Lions 19, Redskins 14: "It was one that got away from us," said Jason Campbell. more ›

Have you had your bike stolen recently? Has the lack of breeze in your face been causing you to break down in long periods of longing and caused you to endlessly peruse Craigslist for junkers? You're not alone. So not alone, in fact, that the police have recovered enough in-tact sets of wheels from Washington's ubiquitous bike thieves that they might be able to provide you with a cure for your bikeless malady. The Second District Police Station, located at 3320 Idaho Ave., NW, will host a "bike viewing" on Wednesday between 3:30pm until 6:30pm in the community room of the building. For those who have had their bicycle stolen: be sure to bring receipts, serial numbers, and any other identifying information to the station. We'll cross our fingers for you. more ›

In addition to being Free Museum Day, today is also National Public Lands Day. Hook 'em public lands I guess! To make this National Public Lands Day a rockin' one, the National Park Service is extending hours at some of the monuments on the National Mall, ABC 7 reports. The Washington Monument will stay open two hours later, and there's going to be an outside party at the Ellipse from 5 to 8:30 p.m. where you can catch your death. It's seriously too bad that the weather didn't cooperate with NPLD this year, seeing as how the National Park Service is screening a sneak preview of Ken Burns's latest documentary thriller, Don't worry if you miss the preview: You can catch the premiere on PBS tomorrow at 8 p.m., or at jury duty for many years to come. more ›

That's the route that a couple hundred area bad-asses on bikes are taking through the District today for the 50 States Ride, a commanding 65-mile tour of the city. From Alabama Avenue SE to Wyoming Avenue NW -- though not necessarily in that order -- bikers are riding through all 8 Wards in order to visit each of the District's 50 avenues named after a United State. Organized by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the 50 States Ride can be a brutal ride. It's a rain-or-shine event, which is a real threat on a day like this, and the District isn't closing off all 50 state avenues to car traffic for the ride. It's not a race, the organizers say (though two participants I spoke to this morning said pffft, 'course it's a race). more ›

While most fans in the area, if not the country, will be watching the marquee ACC matchup of Virginia Tech vs. Miami, two struggling programs will take the field in College Park when Maryland (1-2, 0-0 ACC) faces Rutgers (2-1, 0-1 Big East) in the Terps' final non-conference game of the season. more ›

Morning, Washington. After last weekend brought us some glorious weather, the expert weather prognosticators have busted out the 100% chance of rain prediction, beginning sometime this afternoon. If you're got any chores or plans which involve being outside, we'd recommend you either finish them this morning or plan on packing your sturdiest umbrella. And don't forget, if you're outside and see a large contingent of emergency vehicles -- don't fret! We're getting updates that in addition to a large exercise on 19th Street, other National Preparedness Month trainings are occurring at 12th and F Streets, NW and 4th and D Streets, SW. Expect to hear intermittent sirens in those areas until 3 or 4 p.m. more ›

Did you know it's National Preparedness Month? (Yeah, neither did I, but so it is!) As a result, there's going to be plenty of emergency workers out and about in the D.C. area this weekend, running drills to make sure that in the event something awful happens, they'll be ready. WTOP's Adam Tuss notes that there will be numerous spots in Northern Virginia where scenario training will occur. The District has not officially announced where they will be conducting training, but a tipster alerts us that one of the locations will be on 19th Street NW, between K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The exercise is scheduled to occur between 8 a.m. and noon, but the 19th Street closure could last until approximately 4 p.m., as the District's Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency conducts a private training drill in and around 900 19th Street. No live weapons will be used in the exercise. more ›

• Maryland 1, North Carolina 0: Leading with college soccer? You bet. 6,946 -- an attendance record for a Maryland soccer match, and more than 1,500 more spectators than last night's D.C. United match -- and soccer nuts watching on Fox Soccer Channel saw the Terrapins win a rematch of last season's NCAA men's championship game, which they also won by the same score. It was pure drama at the expanded Ludwig Field, as fifth-year senior captain Kevin Tangney headed in with two minutes left to settle matters. North Carolina's Billy Schuler, who has scored as a member of the United States' U-20 team (soccer fans, don't forget: the U.S. opens their 2010 U-20 World Cup tomorrow against Germany in Egypt) missed a penalty kick in the 55th minute to set up the dramatic ending. Said Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski, "that was one of the best moments of my 17 years here."
• Braves 4, Nationals 1: The Nationals got some ink earlier this year for statistically being the unluckiest team in the bigs, though losses like last night's only reinforce that idea is influenced by a lot of errors. John Lannan allowed but two unearned runs in the first inning thanks to two errors, and still found himself with a loss. Braves starter Javier Vazquez went the distance to keep Atlanta's slim hopes of a playoff berth alive. Vazquez worked quickly and shut down the Nats' offense, allowing only three hits in his third complete game of the year.

Attention, Columbia Heights! The official word has just come down that D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty will formally dedicate the new Columbia Heights Plaza and "Resonance" Fountain on Monday, Sept. 28 at 10:30 a.m. So let all the endless speculation cease. It does seem, however, that the plaza itself was pretty much mostly done and open last night. more ›

Freshly delivered to our inbox is a press release from the office of D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1). The title? "Councilmember Graham Postpones Hearing on Taxicabs." Yeah, good call. more ›

At least two more suspects have now been arrested in the Aug. 18 slaying of a pizza restaurant owner in the Edgewood neighborhood, WTOP's Mark Segraves reports. One suspect, Shanika Robinson, had already been arrested in the killing of Pizza Mart co-owner Shahabuddin Rana a few weeks ago, but now her brother, Leon Robinson, has also been taken into custody and charged with first degree murder. Segraves also tells DCist that a third suspect, whose name we still don't know, has been arrested in the time since this initial report. Police allege that Rana was killed after a false marriage arrangement between Shanika Robinson and Rana's brother fell apart. Rana had been paying Robinson $500 a week to be married to his brother so that he could get a green card, according to police, but at some point Rana stopped the payments. Further complicating the sordid case is the death of Terrance Green, a D.C. police officer who committed suicide earlier this month after he was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in the case.
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A majority of D.C. voters disapprove of the job D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is doing, according to the results of a WJLA/SurveyUSA poll released this afternoon. Of 500 D.C. voters surveyed, 51 percent disapproved of his job performance, while 40 percent approved. more ›

WMATA sent out word today that it will be keeping the Metro system station open late on Tuesday night in order to accommodate U2 fans coming home from FedEx Field. All stations except Morgan Boulevard will be exit-only after midnight, but those who enter at Morgan Boulevard after midnight will find both trains waiting for them at that station, and additional trains at all transfer points on the Blue Line to take them to their destinations, Metro spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel said. more ›

D.C. Police announced Thursday that they have made an arrest in the April 6 sexual assault of a female victim inside her home in the 1500 block of Marion Street NW. Police say physical evidence linked a suspect to the attack, and 25-year-old George Leroy Clowers of no fixed address has since been arrested and charged with first degree sexual abuse and burglary one. The crime was the sort that gives city-dwelling women everywhere nightmares: at around 3 a.m., the suspect broke into the victim's house in the Shaw neighborhood, sexually assaulted her and then stole some of her stuff before fleeing. more ›

Sure, I could be negative. I could tell you that last night was the quietest I've heard RFK Stadium in some time. I could talk about how secondary the reputation of the CONCACAF Champions League appears to be, even for those involved in the competition. I could harp on the poor finishing in the first half of the match, an effort so indicative of numerous D.C. United matches this season -- full of exciting offensive potential, but so little return. more ›

Not surprisingly, yesterday's arrest of Ted Loza, the chief of staff for Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), on bribery charges related to taxicab legislation is the big news of the day. The Post sums up the allegations against Loza nicely and explores more about a man long known as one of the city's leading advocates for the Latino community (but even that, it seems, is not without controversy.) The Examiner and Washington Times are also running their own stories on the arrest, and we're betting today's installment of the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU will delve into the issue too. What remains is to be seen is how wide the fallout of Loza's arrest will be; the City Paper digs into the links to Fiesta D.C., the non-profit that puts on the annual Latino festival in Mt. Pleasant (which, awkwardly enough, is this Sunday). more ›

• Dodgers 7, Nationals 6: Did you know that, as of last official count, there were 96,548 Americans who had lived to be 100 years old? You know, I hear that when an American turns 100, they get a letter from the President, thanking them for staying alive and paying taxes for so long. At the same time, there have been a large number of major league baseball teams who have lost 100 games in a single season. I'm pretty sure that such examples of the suckiest bunches of sucks that ever sucked don't get a letter from the President, at least not the one who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Yes, instead of being celebrated, these squads inherit one of two difficult to swallow legacies: either they are written off as hardball experiments gone wrong and forgotten or remembered as terrible abominations, a stain on the fabric of the American pasttime. Only time will tell which category the 2009 Washington Nationals -- the newest member of this ineptitude brigade with Thursday night's loss -- will be lumped in. One thing that is certain? No one will shed a tear after this centenarian season passes away.
• Rangers 3, Capitals 2: Jose Theodore let one slip with 1:10 left, and the Caps dropped this exhibition their second-to-last tune up before the season begins. Keith Aucoin and Alexander Semin scored for Washington.

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray just released his official statement regarding today's arrest of Jim Graham chief-of-staff Ted Loza on bribery charges: "Consistent with the standard practice in criminal investigations not to reveal in advance the issuance or execution of an arrest warrant or a search warrant, I was not made aware of the arrest of Mr. Loza nor the search of his office in the John A. Wilson Building before that happened. I will leave the criminal investigation in the hands of law enforcement authorities and let the justice process take its course. I plan to have a conversation with Councilmember Graham to determine if the investigation will have any bearing on the broad operations of the Council, and how this may affect the work of his office and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, which Mr. Graham chairs." more ›

Metro's board of directors voted to renew General Manager John Catoe's contract for another three years at their meeting today, the Post is reporting. Presumably they managed to come to that decision before board chairman Jim Graham was pulled out of the meeting to deal with the fact that his chief of staff had been arrested. WTOP says the only vote against Catoe came from City Administrator Neil Albert. Catoe's annual salary of $315,000 will remain the same, according to WTOP. more ›

Perhaps you caught this WUSA9 story about a large tree smashing into a house in Falls Church on Wednesday. Turns out, the house is owned by the parents of former DCist Food & Drink Editor Eddie Kim, who was the only person there at the time of the incident. Eddie only recently returned from a graduate studies program in Sweden, and has been staying with his parents while he looks for a job and an apartment. more ›

Major, major news from D.C. Wire:

The chief-of-staff to D.C. Council Member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) was arrested Thursday morning by federal agents on bribery charges, according to a source familiar with the investigation. more ›

That's the word from WTOP's Adam Tuss, who reports that the specific reasons for the termination of 43-year-old Metrobus operator Carla Proctor have not been disclosed. But Proctor, who struck 30-year-old Amanda Mahnke while she was jogging near the intersection of Florida and Connecticut Avenues on Sept. 3, has indeed reportedly been let go by the transit agency. The Washington Post recently reported that Proctor had been involved in two previous, more minor on the job accidents. UPDATE 2:50 p.m. WMATA has put out a statement saying that Proctor was "dismissed for failing to follow standard operating procedures." more ›

Not much more to report at this time on the body found this morning at the Capital Yacht Club, located in the 900 block of Water St. in Southwest. D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer was able to confirm that the body, which was found near Pier 5 at about 9 a.m., was that of an adult woman, and not a man as had been initially reported. D.C. Police confirm that they are investigating, but could offer no details. more ›

Nice scoop from Fritz Hahn: the empty basement space at 1115 U Street NW, formerly occupied by Cue Bar, will be taken over by an all-star group of local nightlife veterans and transformed into a dance club dubbed the U Street Music Hall. Among the owners are ubiquitous local DJs Will Eastman and Jesse Tittsworth, Eric Hilton and Farid Ali of Eighteenth Street Lounge, and Marvin chef James Hilton. Nice to hear that the space, which has been the site of many a failed bar venture and been sitting empty for over a year, will see some new life. There definitely seems like there's room for something like this on U Street, as well. As Eastman noted when he spoke to Hahn, some kinds of dance nights don't fit in at either the Black Cat or the 9:30 Club, so this project could potentially fill that void. more ›

The Caps' roster may be leaner (six cuts Tuesday trimmed the roster down to 36) but it showed some serious muscle offensively and defensively in a 6-2 preseason win over Chicago Wednesday at the Verizon Center. more ›

The Post has a story today reporting the installation of touch-screen video credit card machines inside 200 area taxi cabs, the first we've heard of such devices being adopted by a local cab company. Granted, it's a Maryland cab company, Barwood Taxi, but we've gotta be willing to start somewhere, we suppose. By all accounts based on the experiences of other cities, like New York and Philadelphia, that have mandated credit card machines in taxis, the devices are a win-win for drivers and passengers alike. The self-use machines have a tendency to increase tipping, and drivers no longer have to carry around so much cash to make change, something any semi-regular D.C. taxi customer can tell you is often an issue inside this city. more ›

Good morning, Washington. It's been a busy morning for the city's emergency responders. Two suspicious package calls, one in the 900 block of 7th Street NW and another in front of the Islamic Center at 2551 Massachusetts Ave., had police and fire fighters out to inspect them during the rush hour this morning, tripping up traffic in those areas in the process. There's also been a small hazmat incident at the First District police station at 101 M Street SW, which looks to have been caused by gas fumes coming out of an emergency generator. And finally there's early word of a body found on a boat just before 9 a.m. at the Capital Yacht Club in Southwest. We'll update on that story when there are more details available. more ›

Nationals 5, Dodgers 4: I've got to be honest, I thought that I'd be talking all about the number 100 in this space tonight -- the Nats have looked especially poor as of late and were stuck on 99 losses. I mean, there's been no question since, well, May or so, that this team would lose 100 games. Eventually, I'd have to write about it. So, color me surprised that particular post will have to wait until another day (probably tomorrow). The Nationals can savor one more day as a non-member of the 100-loss club, defeating the Dodgers with a walk-off sacrifice fly by Pete Orr. For a team that has such a terrible record, the Nats once again confirmed their penchant for resilience -- it was the 27th come-from-behind win this season. He didn't get the win, but starter Ross Detweiler was solid, if unspectacular, allowing the Dodgers to three runs in nearly six innings. And I get to write about 100 after all: with his three-run homer in the sixth, Ryan Zimmerman not only broke up Chad Billingsley's no-hitter, but he also eclipsed 100 RBI on the season; Zim and Adam Dunn are the first pair of Washington franchise (that is, from 1969 on) hitters to both eclipse that figure in a single season. more ›

In the history of the Washington Capitals, only one goalie has carried the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. That goalie retired today, after a decade in D.C. and a brief curtain call with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Olaf Kolzig may not play in the NHL any longer, but Caps fans will always remember him as one of the most dedicated, team-focused players in Washington history. more ›

Local non-profit WEAVE (Women Empowered Against Violence) is on the verge of shutting its doors. The group, which has helped literally tens of thousands of local women and children escape domestic violence over the last decade, has lost more or less all of its city funding this year, and WEAVE's board of directors were recently forced to move ahead with the process of shutting down. The Post ran a big story about WEAVE's plight last weekend, and buried at the bottom is mention of a last-ditch effort to raise $85,000 by Sept. 30. The money wouldn't solve all of WEAVE's problems, but it would let them keep their doors open for another month while they try to convince larger funders to step up as well. Impressively, the Save WEAVE web site has already managed to bring in over $53,000 since last weekend. If you can afford to make a small (or a large) donation to their cause, click through and find an online method to chip in. There will also be a fundraising happy hour at Topaz Bar in Dupont on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5-7 p.m. that will benefit WEAVE, so you can stop by there to make a donation as well. If WEAVE doesn't manage to meet its goal, they say all money will be returned to donors. more ›

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History held a press conference this morning (the Post even sent someone to cover it) to show off the Hope Diamond, now on display for the first time ever without any kind of setting. The 45.52-carat diamond has been at the museum for 50 years, but always in its traditional setting, a pendant circled by smaller diamonds on a diamond necklace. The naked blue gem will now remain on display until April 2010, when it will be placed into a temporary new setting, and then sometime later, returned to its original setting. more ›

Did you know that Segway riders are banned from riding on sidewalks within the Central Business District? What about that some small fraction of disabled people regularly ride Segways? These are the true and exciting facts that can be learned from this Examiner story today on a little bit of D.C. Council business that went down yesterday. See, it turns out that Miles Groves, the president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, is a chronic pain sufferer and a Segway rider. Groves uses a Segway to get around the city easier, and was recently given "a polite warning" by a police officer that he wasn't supposed to be riding on the sidewalk. Not included in the Examiner story: the phone call Groves presumably placed to Tommy Wells, champion of alternative transportation. And Wells came to the rescue yesterday, convincing the Council to pass emergency legislation to give disabled Segway riders a pass on being forced to ride in the street. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Remember yesterday's taxi strike that no one noticed? We barely do, too! The Post has a story explaining what it was all about: apparently drivers are protesting a scheme proposed by Jim Graham to require medallions or a similar certification system — a measure explicitly designed to contain the number of cabs operating in the city. As with the switch to meters, we predict that our city's questionably professional, arguably overpriced and definitely numerous taxi drivers will have a hard time mobilizing much public support. NTSB Issues Recommendations to Metro: The National Transit Safety Board isn't done with its investigation of the June 22 Metro crash, but they've gone ahead and issued a series of recommendations to WMATA, saying that the situation is sufficiently urgent to merit immediate action, according to NBC4. The specific recommendations involve various technical aspects of the automated system that Metro used prior to the crash ("parasitic oscillations" are the most lyrical of the bunch) and apply to systems across the country, not just Washington's. Metro is working with vendors to implement the changes, and continuing to run trains manually in the meantime. Relatedly, Metro has also just announced that it'll be working to repair the doors on 1000-series railcars after a few incidents in which they opened on the wrong side of the station. BRAC Move Delayed: WJLA reports that a rule change may provide a reprieve from the loss of military jobs that Northern Virginia was set to experience as part of the base realignment process. DoD departments will be allowed to lease their current office spaces for an additional three years, delaying the departure of an estimated 20,000 local jobs to 2014. Briefly Noted: Arlington full of smarty pants... Pedestrian fatally struck near Iwo Jima Memorial... Skateboarding: still a crime... Howard County considers banning tanning for teens... Shots fired, NY Ave. shut down last night after man tried to run over MPD officer... This Day In DCist: One year ago we headed to Wheaton for some great Thai food while a trucker protest of gasoline prices failed to impress. more ›

Dodgers 14, Nationals 2: Alright, there's four series left in the season. The Nationals, having little else to play for the rest of this season, should take the next 13 games and just try to win more than half. You know, baby steps to a better ballclub. Well, that meager goal didn't get off to the best start last night. Two six-plus run innings buried the Nationals, and the Nats suffered their worst loss since a July 25th drubbing against San Diego last night. The boys from L.A. were red-hot during the fourth and seventh innings, beating up several Washington pitchers in the process, notably Livan Hernandez (8-12) and Saul Rivera. Meanwhile, Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda looked nearly unhittable. Adam Dunn did smash his 38th longball of the season -- and with it, a great chance to be the only guy not named Soriano to post a forty-homer season in a Nationals uni -- but that was the only mistake that Kuroda made in six stellar innings of work, so even without the huge innings, the Nats were swimming upstream from the start. Winless wonder Ross Detweiler will attempt to stave off the odometer clicking over to 100 losses tomorrow. more ›

And we love these quotes from the Ward 8 rep on the passage of emergency legislation today that lays out ethics rules for D.C. Council members, courtesy the Post's Tim Craig:

"This is a step forward," Barry said. "This part of a series of efforts to try to make sure the council is moving forward." ... more ›

Greater Greater Washington has been following the selection process for a planned public art installation that's going in at the northeast corner of 18th and Columbia Road for at least a few months now, so we tip our hats to them for first drawing our attention to it. Despite the call for artists having been initiated over a year ago, a list of semi-finalists having been selected back in March, a community survey posted online at the end of April, and a decision on the artist made in June, the thing simply managed to go largely under our radar until Friday, when GGW posted an announcement that the selection had been finalized. The chosen artist, James Simon, is planning a large set piece of statues called "The Bicycle Musician," depicting a musician playing a guitar while perched on a bicycle, with a little dog looking up at him. It hasn't been a popular choice with everyone. Writes David Alpert:

Many residents dislike the piece, and KCA President Denis James editorialized against it. It was my least favorite of the three, as well, and doesn't provide seating while the other two do. In our poll, it came in last.

The Union Station Bike Transit Center, which is set to have its grand opening on October 2 and be available for use shortly thereafter, is now accepting membership applications online. If you're interested in joining, head to the Bikestation web site, click "Join Now," and fill out the application for the Washington, D.C. location. more ›

WJLA ran a piece last night on a sudden spike in shoplifting in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, citing a 70 percent increase in just the last month. That's a pretty shocking number, and reporter Stephen Tschida lays the blame mostly on the same sort of large groups of teens who have been caught on tape recently at Logan area stores like Rue 14 and Universal Gear. Small retail operators have little defense against a large group of determined young thieves apart from installing seriously expensive theft-deterrent systems, something most small businesses likely can't afford. more ›

Last week, we reported that the Georgetown/Union Station route of the popular Circulator bus would cease traveling up Wisconsin Ave. beginning Oct. 4, and Monday the District Department of Transportation announced several other route changes to the Circulator buses. The changes will result in the complete cancellation of the National Mall loop during the off-season, plus the loss or addition of service to some stops on other routes. more ›

We've heard from several readers who spotted fliers around town in the last week advertising a taxi cab strike in the District today. The strike is reportedly to protest the effect the current taxi meter rates have on cabbie income (many argue they now make less money). WTOP has also heard about the strike, but they say participation is spotty, so you can still get a cab if you need one. Given the unique nature of D.C.'s taxi business, it's almost impossible to account for all the different taxi driver alliances and groups out there, let alone the independent, unaffiliated drivers. So you tell us: were there fewer cabs on the streets this morning, or did you not even notice? more ›

Good morning, Washington. There's a lot going on today in the District. Besides it being Car Free Day and the official first day of autumn (which has also brought with it some clouds and showers), it's also the first day back in session for the D.C. Council. Apart from considering emergency legislation on Council ethics, the Council also plans to agree on a compromise on State Board of Education staffing. This is one of those sticky issues that's led to a lot of back-and-forth posturing between the Mayor's office and the Council, with Fenty previously pulling out his veto to smack down any attempt at giving the education board more autonomy, so it's nice to see that an agreement appears to be on the table today. more ›

The 1300 block of Kenyon Street NW (between 13th and 14th streets) closed beginning this morning as part of the ongoing Columbia Heights Streetscape Project. DDOT is advising motorists that crews are scheduled to complete an asphalt overlay on that block of Kenyon by close of business on Wednesday (9/23), weather permitting. Traffic is being detoured to Park Road or Columbia Road. more ›

Our hearts are heavy as word reaches us that Bruce Robey, the co-founder of the Voice of the Hill newspaper and the H Street Playhouse, died Sunday night of an apparent heart attack. He was 65. Mark Segraves has a lovely tribute to Bruce up online already. The last time DCist spoke to Bruce, he was telling us all about his newly relaunched version of Hill-Talk, the online bulletin board that used to be an integral part of Voice of the Hill before it was sold to the Current newspapers. Bruce and his wife Adele have long been tireless advocates of improving the quality of life of District residents, and Bruce will be sadly missed. more ›

City workers on Friday collected and removed what remained of the 22 "ghost bikes" that had been placed around Connecticut and R Streets, the Post is reporting, including the locked-up bike that was put in the spot where the original memorial to Alice Swanson was located. Activist Legba Carrefour, the Columbia Heights resident behind the bikes, had pledged to ensure that the single memorial bike was replaced each time the city removed it, and he says he plans to keep his word. It just might take him a couple days. more ›

Chinatown's famed Friendship Arch got a bit of a sprucing up this summer, and today city officials gathered to formally reintroduce the landmark. more ›

Virginia vs Southern Miss: I gather that the U. of Virginia took note when Southern Miss adopted the rugby-style punt last year. The Golden Eagles soared on that tricksy-looking punt, turning the season around after an awful start marked by dreadful special-teams performances and eventually nabbing a ticket to a bowl game. When the 0-3 Cavs deploy the rugby punt, though, it doesn't feel like Southern Miss's quick-fix for a special-teams problem. Of course, nothing against UVa sophomore kicker Jimmy Howell; hell, the rugby punt's the best play that offense has. more ›

With Car Free Day coming up tomorrow, it's as good a time as ever to remind everyone of another two-wheeled celebration -- Bike DC. The October 17 event will feature two routes -- the 25-mile Capital Ride and the 12-mile Family Ride -- that weave their way through parts of the District and Arlington, including a stretch on the George Washington Parkway. more ›

Ever since the queen of all local government crooks, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue embezzler Harriette Walters, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison, there's been a tiny little hole in our collective hearts. We'd been following the $50 million tax scam case, and all its twists and turns along the way, since it first broke in 2007. Now that's it's over, to where will we turn when we feel like shaking our fists in disgust at governmental corruption? Luckily, we live in the District of Columbia, where corruption in local government is as common as dirt. more ›

Virginia Railway Express is thinking about no longer selling its discounted youth tickets because they believe more and more adults are abusing the system by pretending to be younger than they really are, the Examiner reports today. Currently, anyone under 21 can get VRE tickets for half-price, so it's not too hard to imagine a number of 20-somethings are getting away with paying less than they should. There will have to be a public hearing before anything more happens, but VRE is proposing raising the age of children who ride for free when accompanied by an adult to 10, up from 6, in order to make up for the change. The commuter rail agency estimates eliminating the youth discount could generate $300,000 per year. more ›

Good morning, Washington. It's more than a little bittersweet to be back in the confines of our offices this morning when it's still so sunny and gorgeous out. It's hard to imagine a more perfect weekend to have been strolling through street festivals or ... staying inside to watch football. Well in retrospect, maybe that last one could have been better spent. But do enjoy the heavenly breezes and blue skies while you can – summer may feel like it's still here, but fall is literally just a day away. more ›

Redskins 9, Rams 7: First things first: the Redskins won. Rather than rehashing the few highlights that were to be found (see: the fine effort provided by the defense, those of you with Shaun Suisham on your fantasy team), let's address the fact that, apparently, many of the Skins offensive players had their fragile feelings hurt by the sizable boos which rained down from all levels of FedEx Field. more ›

Transit nerds rejoice! The District's long-long-long-awaited return to streetcars -- the vehicles for which have lied in a state of chrysalis in the Czech Republic for several years -- has begun to take form, as tracks are beginning to be laid in Southeast D.C. Although the streetcar plans have been kicked around in some shape or form for quite some time, the visible laying of tracks, beams, and the such is certainly the project's most exciting development, as the Post notes. Neighborhood blog Barry Farm (Re)Mixed brings us the visual evidence that, yes, we're well on our way to combining the least annoying parts about Metrorail, taking the bus and walking into one easy to use moving solution. more ›

Best wishes go out to rock-n-roller Olivia Mancini, whose appendix was removed on Wednesday while she was vacationing in the Cape. What a drag! On one of her songs with the Mates, she sings that she always takes the easy way. She must not have been talking about vacation (or her internal organs). more ›

• Middle Tennessee State 32, Maryland 31
  Southern Mississippi 37, Virginia 34
  
  These are not typos, I swear. Sorry, Cavs and Terps fans -- it might be time to pack it in until hoops season kicks off. In other scores, #13 Virginia Tech dramatically beat #19 Nebraska after going 91 yards on two plays in the final minute of the game and Georgetown (yes, they have a football team) lost.
• Fever 81, Mystics 74 (OT): The Mystics' season came to an end after losing a decisive Game 2 to Indiana on the road. The Fever sank Washington thanks to a 17 point advantage from the free-throw line and Tamika Catchings' 24 points and 16 rebounds. While the loss ended the Mystics season, they can at least say they went out with a good fight against a team that was almost unbeatable at home during the regular season. Crystal Langhorne highlighted for Washington with 15 points and 10 boards.
• Mets 3, Nationals 2: Man, this one was a snoozer which had some fans questioning the sanity of the manager; appropo for two teams whose fans have endured two of the more star-crossed seasons in recent memory. On the positive end: Adam Dunn earned his 100th RBI of the year, a pretty good number for a guy that seemingly nobody else wanted to sign in the offseason.

WTOP has the latest in the kerfuffle between the D.C. Police Department and the Fraternal Order of Police: Chief Cathy Lanier confirms that MPD has filed an appeal in an attempt to overturn a September 9th arbiter's ruling that the "All Hands On Deck" program violates the police union's contract with the city. (The FOP claims, among other issues, that overtime pay as a result of AHOD efforts was never paid to deserving officers.) As a result of the appeal, the police department will continue with plans to hold AHOD efforts in November and December. Depending on which agency's statistics one chooses to believe, it's been a pretty good year for Lanier and the police -- a large labor dispute is probably not the note the Chief envisioned ending the calendar year on. more ›

News you can lose? The Washington Post runs down a list of local-media ventures that have failed in Loudoun County. The Loudoun Easterner, WAGE, the Blue Ridge Leader, the Post's own LoudounExtra site, the Loudoun Times-Mirror, and LoudounPrepSports.com have all collapsed, cut staff, or reduced coverage. What makes Loudoun County a graveyard of media empires? It can't be because Loudoun County isn't a fascinating place! Loudonites say that in fact the hyperlocal is hyperscrewed because projects like the LoudounExtra never focused finely enough. Loudounites, you see, don't want to read stories about the yard sale in the next subdivision over -- no matter how thorough the coverage. But ultralocal coverage creates a condundrum: How do advertisers reach audiences that are so finely circumscribed they're little more than micro-neighborhoods? It would appear that they don't. For what it's worth, a site called Livin' la Vida LoCo would be too big to fail. more ›

Due to celebrations on H Street NE and U Streets NW, there will be several roads near major intersections which will be closed to cars today. The Greater U Street Parade and Festival kicked off at 11 this morning: the parade route winds from 10th to 13th Streets, 13th Street from U to V Streets, and then on V Street from 13th to 14th Street -- the latter of which will be closed to traffic until 6 p.m., after its official renaming to "Langston Hughes Way" at noon by Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham. H Street NE, meanwhile, will be closed to traffic between 10th and 14th Streets NE for the 2009 H Street Festival until 9 p.m. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Scientifically speaking, you've got three more days to enjoy summer, but the beautiful autumn weather isn't waiting for the official change of season to show itself. Today should be an absolutely glorious day to do, well, anything outdoors -- the forecast calls for sunny, clear skies and a high in the mid 70s. It's a near perfect day to check out today's H Street Festival, check out the goods on display at your local farmers market, or just take a stroll and explore a part of the city which you've never seen before. more ›

You know, with all the recent, well-publicized difficulties that professional athletes seem to be having with laws involving driving and guns, perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised that one would eventually combine reckless behavior with both in one fell swoop. Enter Delonte West, a member of the Cleveland LeBrons Cavaliers and a former area high school standout. According to the Post, when West was pulled over on his motorcycle for cutting off a Prince George's County police officer on I-95 Thursday night, he was packing "a Beretta 9mm in his waistband, a Ruger .357 strapped to his leg and a shotgun in a guitar case slung over his back" -- a ridiculous amount of iron to be hauling around. Police also noted that it was "unclear" where West was going, and why exactly he felt the need to engage his inner El Mariachi. West, who was named the Post's All-Met High School Basketball Player of the Year in the 2000-01 season, is from nearby Greenbelt and was released under his own recognizance, possibly (but hopefully not) to go figure out ways to strap more weaponry to his body. more ›

The August unemployment numbers for the District are out, courtesy the Department of Employment Services, and the news is rather dreary. After dropping slightly in July to 10.6 percent (down from 10.9 percent in June), D.C.'s unemployment rate for August was a whopping 11.1 percent, the worst number the city has seen since the recession began. The jump corresponds to an increase in jobless figures nationwide. The August national unemployment rate was 9.7 percent, compared to 9.4 percent in July. Maryland’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in August, unchanged from July, while Virginia posted a solid 6.5 percent rate, actually down from 6.9 percent. more ›

The Embassy of Canada in Washington has canceled its plans to stage a series of Hollywood-style pyrotechnic explosions on the grounds of its compound on Pennsylvania Ave. next week. more ›

First lady Michelle Obama presided over the first day of the new White House farmers market on Thursday afternoon, speaking to an energetic, enthusiastic crowd despite the dreary weather. more ›

The Post is reporting that Robert Hannah has indeed pleaded guilty on simple assault charges in the beating death of Tony Hunter. Word of a plea agreement in the case first leaked out two weeks ago, which prompted D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson to fire off a letter to Acting U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips, urging him to take the case to trial. The deal, it turns out, came about because Hannah was arrested for shoplifting last month for allegedly trying to steal items from an H&M, according to the Post. In exchange for his guilty plea, the shoplifting charge was dropped. Hannah's case has been controversial since the original charges against him were reduced from a felony to misdemeanor, based on his assertion that he only hit Hunter, a gay Maryland man, because Hunter sexually assaulted him before the attack. A friend of Hunter's who was with him at the time has maintained that Hannah's actions were unprovoked. Hannah will be sentenced on Oct. 14. He faces a maximum of 180 days in jail. more ›

I've never been to the National Harbor -- I don't think I can stand to see "The Awakening" anywhere but at Hains Point -- but from what little I knew, it's not a place you live. Sure, you'd go there for a conference, maybe to shop, and possibly to enjoy their groundbreaking local restaurants and character-infused bars. Or not. But people actually do seem to live there. The Post reports today on some of the people that have begun filling what will eventually be 2,500 residential units in the development, including a couple that gave up their Eastern Shore home for a 900-square-foot one-bedroom condo. (Yes, I did a double-take on that one too.) Sure, they have a world of entertainment options at their disposal, but they also have to bike across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to get groceries. more ›

• Mystics 79, Fever 88: The Mystics let their first playoff game of the 2009 season slip away in the fourth quarter, as the Indiana Fever -- who had the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference -- outscored Washington 32 to 21 in the final period. Leading the scoring for Washington with 18 points was Crystal Langhorne, who was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player of the Year on Thursday. The Mystics will travel to Indiana for Game 2 in the best-of-three series (Game 3, if needed, will be played in Indiana). Overall, the teams looked surprisingly well-matched -- they had the same 3 point shooting percentage, the same points in the paint (36), and committed almost the same amount of turnovers, though the Fever had a slight edge on the boards and at the line.
  
  For the people watchers, Alex Ovechkin was reportedly celebrating his 24th birthday by watching the Mystics play at the Comcast Center. Of note: Ovie is younger than almost 75% of the Mystics' roster.
• Capitals 4, Sabres 3: Speaking of Capitals, the local hockey outfit won its first exhibition game of the preseason over Buffalo. A Brian Pothier tally with a two-man advantage in overtime was enough to settle matters, but Alexandre Giroux, Mike Knuble, and Jay Beagle also scored for the Caps. Semyon Varlamov played the entire game in net and looked good through the first two periods, but then allowed three goals in the third.
• Phililes 4, Nationals 2: The Nats got five innings of solid work from Ross Detwiler (0-6), but the bats went quiet once again, only pushing across two runs against the Phils combo of starter Cole Hamels (10-9) and always volatile Brad Lidge. Hamels struck out 10, and had a perfect game going until the sixth inning.

Oh boy! If this actually succeeds, how can we not get a seat in the House? The New York Times reports today on a lawsuit that just might increase the size of the House of Representatives, and dramatically so. The lawsuit claims that the current system of apportioning seats in the House leaves some voters with more representation than others. For example, while one district in Nevada has 960,000 voters, Wyoming's single district only has 523,000. The solution? Increase the size of the House to as few as 932 or as many as 1,761 seats so that voting districts are smaller and voting power distributed more equitably. Jesus. The prospect of 1,761 members of the House and their respective staffs gives us a headache just thinking about it. On the other hand, we'd have to get at least one of those seats, right? Just out of pity? Please? But seriously, while we feel for the poor residents of Nevada's 3rd District, we'd like to point out that no one is less represented in the U.S. than District residents. Sure, there's almost a million of you out there, but at least you have a representative. more ›

A man was struck by a Yellow Line train at the Columbia Heights station at around 2 p.m. this afternoon, Metro officials have confirmed. Preliminary reports indicate this appears to be another suicide attempt, making this the ninth such attempt this year on the D.C. Metro system. Trains are currently stopped while rescue workers attempt to reach the man, who is under the train. More soon. UPDATE 2:27: Reader Matthew writes in to say that while traveling between Fort Totten and U Street stations just after the incident, a crowd of people got on at Columbia Heights and some of them said that they had witnessed a man jump in front of the Yellow Line train. D.C. Fire/EMS confirms rescue and treatment attempts are still ongoing, so no word yet on the man's condition. 2:39 p.m.The Columbia Heights station is now closed, according to Metro. Green Line trains are single-tracking between Georgia Ave. and U St./Cardozo, but for now they are not stopping at Columbia Heights. 3 p.m. Columbia Heights station has reopened, but trains continue to share the same track. 3:10 p.m.D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer said the person struck was a teenage male. He was removed from under the train by firefighters, treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital with serious and life threatening injuries. 3:40 p.m. Metro is saying the teen was "fatally struck," which is the first we've heard that he died from his injuries. Columbia Heights station is now open, but Green Line trains are single tracking between Georgia Ave-Petworth and Shaw. more ›

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reported last night that Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) has fired off a letter to WMATA General Manager John Catoe complaining that the transit agency did not adequately prepare for last Saturday's 9/12 Tea Party protests, in some cases leaving participants stranded. The Post also has the story. more ›

As we mentioned in the Morning Roundup, the D.C. public schools announced yesterday that an unexpected $40 million budget shortfall will require spending cuts and personnel reductions by the end of October. In a letter to teachers, George Parker, president of the Washington Teachers' Union, expressed anger that the WTU was not notified of the cuts prior to yesterday's announcement, and suggested that the coming layoffs could jeopardize the ongoing contract negotiations. Contract talks were recently rumored to be nearing to a close after almost two years of stalemate. more ›

In advance of the release of Metro's latest crime data later this month, there's this teaser from FOX 5's Wisdom Martin on escalating crime in the D.C. Metro system. The three worst stations for crime right now break down like this, according to the report: in D.C., the highest crime station is Gallery Place, where the most common crimes are thefts of electronic devices; while in the suburbs, it's the stations with the largest parking lots, New Carrollton in Maryland and Franconia-Springfield in Virginia, which are largely related to automobiles thefts and break-ins. Metro Transit Police told FOX 5 that arrests are also up this year, with 989 arrests made and 3,164 citations issued so far in 2009. WMATA is expected to release its most recent crime stats on Sept. 24. more ›

The much discussed FRESHFARM Market, By the White House kicks off its first day in operation this afternoon. DDOT sent out a reminder that Vermont Ave. NW between H and I Streets will be closed from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. today, but keep in mind that the market itself only runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – the extra time built in is for setting up and taking down the stands. The market, which is open rain or shine, will continue every Thursday afternoon through October 29. Expect the usual FRESHFARM market fair: meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, flowers, and the like. more ›

Breaking right now from the Washington Times: Former Vice President Dick Cheney is at The George Washington University Hospital this morning to undergo elective surgery on his spine. Cheney visited GWU Hospital something like 643 times over the course of the Bush administration, typically taking his massive motorcade along for the ride, the Secret Service keen on shutting down nearby streets. But now that he's no longer in office, we're curious to hear from Foggy Bottom denizens about whether any security presence is even noticeable around the hospital today. Can you tell Cheney is in the house? more ›

Good morning, Washington. If you thought the Bee Menace or the Deer Menace or the ever-present Rat Menace was bad, get a load of the impending Stink Bug Menace. WUSA9 warns us all of this latest, notably smelly threat, reporting that the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is getting ready to make its way inside our homes. And no one is safe. Especially THE CHILDREN. The only thing to be done? Seal up "any cracks around the home with caulk" and use "weather stripping around windows and doors." We'll get through this together, D.C. more ›

Phillies 6, Nationals 1: Pop quiz, hot shot. There's only six games you can lose before hitting 100. You've got bases loaded, one out, down by two, against a team you haven't scored against in 16 innings. If this lead goes any higher than it is now, the game is blown up. What do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO? Well, if you're Nationals reliever Jason Bergmann, you groove a two-strike pitch right down the middle to Jayson Werth and he absolutely crushes the ball into the left-center stands for a killer grand slam. (Good thing that Bergmann wasn't the negotiator in Speed, eh?) The trooper of the night award goes to starter Livan Hernandez (8-11), who was solid: two runs in six innings should be enough to give your team a good chance to win. But the Nationals' run production was, once again, anemic. They finally broke their scoreless streak against Phillie pitching in the ninth inning, but Joe Blanton (10-7) -- who had a rough go of it at Nationals Park one week ago -- benefited from numerous base-running mistakes, including Ian Desmond being thrown out at third on a safety squeeze and Cristian Guzman getting doubled off first base on a line drive with two men in scoring position. more ›

The shop in question is in the 800 block of H Street NE, located in the same strip mall as a McDonald's. more ›

The Georgetown/Union Station route of the popular Circulator bus is slated to cease traveling up Wisconsin Ave. to Whitehaven St. before it turns around, DDOT spokesperson John Lisle confirmed today. more ›

WMATA broke ground today on a new Metrobus facility in Southwest that could eventually house and maintain 250 Metrobuses (to start, it'll only hold 114 buses). The new facility is intended to replace the 72-year-old Southeastern Bus Garage – that's the one the agency had to sell and vacate last year because it was so close to Nationals Park. The building isn't yet fully funded but is being financed through a combination of the proceeds from the sale of the Southeastern Bus Garage plus another $30 million from stimulus funds. more ›

Are you plagued by the worry that all your friends make more money than you? Well Reuters's Patricia Reaney has filed this story to confirm all those fears! The D.C. area has "the nation's highest percentage of 25-34 year-olds making more than $100,000 a year," according to The Nielsen Company. more ›

The Associated Press is reporting that convicted D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad has been given an execution date: Prince William County Circuit Judge Mary Grace O'Brien ordered the execution will take place November 10, a Tuesday, so that "courts would be open the day before in case they have to take up last-minute appeals." Muhammad attorney told reporters that his client will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and ask Gov. Tim Kaine for clemency. Muhammad was sentence to death for the killing of Dean Meyers, one of ten people who were shot dead by the sniper in the Washington metro area during a three-week period in October, 2002. Lee Boyd Malvo, his accomplice, was sentenced to life in prison. more ›

This is the picture of a Town Hall Meeting on health-care reform hosted by D.C.'s non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, Eleanor Holmes Norton. No offensive signs. No angry shouting. No vaguely racist mob clamoring to get inside. more ›

The Washington Post's James Hohmann digs into the driving record of Carla Proctor, the Metrobus driver who was behind the wheel of the bus that struck 30-year-old jogger Amanda Mahnke on Sept. 3. Proctor had two previous on-the-job accidents: one in 2004, when she crashed a Metrobus into the back of a parked vehicle on the 1300 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW, and another in 2003, when she allegedly failed to properly apply a brake before she exited a bus to inspect a faulty door. That bus "rolled down a hill and struck a car, setting off a chain of crashes that damaged seven vehicles as well as the bus." more ›

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to a relatively slow news day. Top story: former President Jimmy Carter implied that Rep. Joe Wilson is a racist. Not only will this elicit outrage from Wilson's allies (his son helpfully points out that dad doesn't even laugh at racist jokes), but, by hinting at the continued existence of racism, Carter's remarks seem sure to upset a bunch of my fellow white people. Enjoy the stupid news cycle, everybody! Fairfax Not Paying Its Public Defenders: Today's Post has a troubling story indicating that Fairfax has been failing to pay court-appointed juvenile defenders even the shamefully low compensation that other Virginia municipalities offer. A number of lawyers are singling out Juvenile Court clerk Jennifer Flanagan for failing to send the necessary payment vouchers to Richmond. Flanagan claims she's never heard of the problem, despite several lawyers' claims that they've spoken to her about it directly. Judge Lets Cora Masters Barry Hang On To Tennis Center: WJLA reports that Marion Barry's estranged wife has won a victory in her fight with the city over the facility used by her organization, the Recreation Wish List Committee. The RWLC was evicted from a city facility in Southeast after losing its corporate status. Yesterday afternoon a judge declared that the city has a lease with the organization and can't simply evict it. The most interesting tidbit: Masters Barry turned the mayor-for-life himself away from the hearing, apparently out of concern that his presence would be counterproductive. Drug Ring Busted in Southern Maryland: DEA work has led to the indictment of twelve men in connection to a cocaine ring in St. Mary's County, according to Fox 5. Among the accused is an MPD veteran who allegedly ran a high-stakes gambling ring for the dealers. Briefly Noted: Fatal shooting in P.G. County... Beleaguered X1/2/3 customers will get a chance to vent... Children's Hospital to receive $150m from Abu Dhabi... Local secretary plans to become king when she retires... This Year in DCist: One year ago protestors disrupted a D.C. Council meeting. Trendsetting! more ›

• Phillies 5, Nationals 0: It always seems like the teams who succeed in the playoffs have two big time starters. Well, the defending champs have a whole bunch of candidates in their rotation for that 1-2 punch -- but Cliff Lee certainly made his case to be the number one guy against the Nationals on Tuesday night. Lee (14-11) absolutely dominated the Nationals lineup, tossing a complete game shutout. Unfortunately for Washington, Garrett Mock (3-8) couldn't have looked further from an ace, allowing five runs in the first two innings. Homer-happy Philadelphia didn't even need to go yard against Mock to take the lead; instead, balance was the key, as every Phillie hitter but Lee reached base during the game.
• United 1, San Juan Jabloteh 0: Christian Gomez's first half penalty kick led United to their first victory in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, although they had plenty of chances to bury the scrappy Trinidad and Tobago league champions. It was a homecoming for United defenders Avery John -- who captained the side -- and Julius James, two Trinidadian natives who, despite the fact that there seemed to be only 100 people in attendance, must have been excited to play in Port-of-Spain. But Gomez was the engine behind what was certainly D.C.'s B-team. Heck, even Danny Szetela, who's been in Tom Soehn's doghouse for some time, played the full ninety. Gomez expertly nailed the lone goal of the match from the spot after Jabloteh defender Noel Williams handled the ball in the penalty area early in the first half. With the three points, United stays alive in the competition; with three games remaining in group play (next Thursday at home against Marathon of Honduras, a home date with Jabloteh later this month and an incredibly tough fixture on the road against Toluca of Mexico in October), they likely still need to take at least six points to advance to the knockout stages.

Venerable D.C. music venue the Black Cat announced today that it will stop selling advance tickets through Ticketmaster, instead switching to competitor Ticket Alternative. The change will become effective September 25, so all shows that are taking place after that date are already on sale via Ticket Alternative. more ›

We finally have an exact date for the official opening of the $4 million Union Station Bike Transit Center: October 2 will mark the grand opening for the long-awaited (and somewhat delayed) facility, a spokesperson for Mobis/Bikestation confirmed today. The Bike Transit Center, paid for by the U.S. Department of Transportation and DDOT, will offer secure bike parking, a changing room, lockers, bike rentals, repairs and a small retail shop selling bike accessories, for about $1 a day. The facility will be the first of its kind on the East Coast, and cyclists all over the metro area have been anticipating the opening of the station for some time. See this story from the Washington Post last month for more background on the BTC. more ›

A Metrobus driver and a bicyclist had a minor collision at the intersection of 14th Street and New York Ave. NW this morning, Metro's Taryn McNeil confirmed. The incident occurred at about 11:45 a.m. this morning. more ›

What constitutes a violent crime? That's the question at the root of this report from the Examiner's Scott McCabe, which notes that an FBI report released on Monday shows that violent crime in the District actually increased by 2.3 percent in 2008, despite D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier's triumphant announcement earlier this year that it had dropped by 5 percent. The FBI and the MPD use different measurements, you see, when it comes to counting violent crimes. "Under the D.C. Code, a punch is considered a simple assault; under the FBI's definition, it's considered an aggravated assault, or a violent crime, D.C. police said." So according to the MPD, if someone punches you in the face and steals your wallet, that's not a violent crime? Or a man beating his wife is not a violent crime? more ›

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The last two smoking rooms on Capitol Hill, in the Cannon and Longworth House Office Buildings, will close for good this week, The Hill reports. more ›

Beginning today, every fifth person you see on the Metro for the next nine months will be reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. And for the next year or two, every third tourist you see will be on a quixotic quest to see for themselves all the D.C. "locations" where the fictional events in the book took place. more ›

Good morning, Washington. We realize that the Morning Roundup is often filled with depressing, disheartening news about what's happening across the D.C. area, whether it's crime, transportation accidents, under-performing schools, you name it. But we keep filling 'er up with the news of the day, however bleak, and you keep coming back for more, so we were surprised this morning to read that Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth thinks the Post's readers want "happier stories, not 'depressing' ones." That quote comes via a Howard Kurtz piece exploring the extent of Weymouth's involvement in spiking a Post Magazine story about a woman whose arms and legs had been amputated. Weymouth may have only tangentially influenced the newsroom decision to kill the piece, but the larger sentiment is what's disconcerting. Freelance writer Matt Mendelsohn spent more than a year with Lindsay Ess, a Richmond resident who had been close to death and was finally receiving four prosthetics. Here's the quote from Mendelsohn: "To label Lindsay's life 'depressing,' especially as if she needs to make some advertiser comfortable, is, well, depressing in its own right." more ›

The Metro Transit Police Department has identified the man who was fatally struck by a Red Line train on Sunday morning as Joshua Fueston, 19, of Bellingham, WA. A preliminary investigation indicated Fueston placed himself in the path of the train just before 8 a.m., but Metro Transit Police continues to investigate. The aftermath of the incident caused major delays on the Red Line until just after 11 a.m. on Sunday.
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D.C. Police officers shot and killed a man in Southeast D.C. at about 1:30 p.m. this afternoon. Police were responding to what appears to be a strange 911 call to 1767 Trenton Place SE, not far from the Southern Ave. Metro station, when the shooting occurred. more ›

As the battle over gay marriage in the District heats up -- the Washington Blade reports today that D.C. Council member David Catania (I-At Large) may introduce a bill before the end of the month -- a number of politics watchers have warned of political tension and conflict that may ensue. more ›

D.C. police say they are investigating a daytime shooting in the 1200 block of H Street NE. An adult female was shot at about 12:54 p.m. at 1275 H Street NE. more ›

The elevator that goes to the top of the Washington Monument malfunctioned at about 1 p.m. this afternoon, with a number of tourists who had already reached the viewing area still inside the building. more ›

There was no lack of big names on the ice for the start of Capitals training camp Sunday, but everyone was talking about the one guy who wasn't skating -- veteran center Tomas Fleischmann, who spent all last season with the Capitals after yo-yoing on and off their roster for the previous three. Fleishmann was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg (a deep vein thrombosis) this summer, and is out of contact workouts until the first week of the regular season. more ›

In case you hadn't heard already, Southeastern University in Southwest D.C. lost its accreditation on Aug. 31, the Washington Post is just reporting now. A message on the school's web site simply states, "Southeastern will not be offering a Fall Session. We are not accepting students at this time." more ›

Good morning, Washington. We realize we're risking speaking too soon here, but the 9/12 crowd appears to mostly be gone from the city as of this morning. Approach with caution, but the National Mall, Union Station, and various other tourist haunts may be considered cleared for normal use. We repeat, the National Mall is 'OK to go.' more ›

• Giants 23, Redskins 17: So did anyone happen to read the Post's ombudsman's thoughts on the paper's overwhelming amount of Redskins coverage? Don't get me wrong, it was a decent read; but perhaps the people weren't complaining about the amount of coverage, so much as having early visions of having to read a whole lot of reporting about the stinker that the Skins laid in the swamps of Jersey yesterday. Don't let the score fool you -- the Giants owned this game from start to finish. If it wasn't for a late Chris Cooley touchdown after Washington went hurry-up late on and the Giants' utterly shocking inability to finish inside the red zone, the scoreline would have been much more lopsided. On a bright note, the defense -- led by London Fletcher's 18 tackles -- played fairly well. But on a day when Jason Campbell (the fact that he had a 93.6 rating in this game just proves that the rating equation is nearly beyond fixing) couldn't manage the clock, couldn't locate receivers downfield, and turned over the ball twice, including a fumble returned for a touchdown, anything other than a perfect game from the D was going to lead to a loss.
  
  You know, when the best offensive play until quasi-garbage time comes from your punter on a fake field goal, well, it's probably time to revisit a few things on the practice field.
  
  It's hardly anything to jump off a cliff about -- after all, winning on the road in the NFC East is always a struggle and Washington gets the just terrible Rams at home next week -- but based on the reactions that the team's having (DeAngelo Hall's post-game reaction, which one can probably apply to the whole team: "I feel like the guy that just couldn't make a play to save my life....I just didn't execute and play to my ability at all"), you can tell that they know that plenty of improvement is needed. And hey, on the plus side, we now know what Jim Zorn's face looks like before he vomits.
  
• Nationals 7, Marlins 2: What's that? They're still playing baseball? Oh, yes, right. Well, the Nationals won, so that's good. John Lannan (9-11) got off a bit of a slide and tossed five good innings for the win, and the bats were in gear. Christian Guzman had three hits after Ryan Zimmerman was given the day off, and callup Pete Orr capped a memorable series for young Nationals with a double and a homer. With 19 games left, the real question is for how long the Nats can stave off 100 losses -- or if you're being optimistic, how quickly they can get to 62 wins.
• Liberty 86, Mystics 65: So, a completely meaningless game against the last-place team in the conference, with the playoffs right around the corner? Enough said.

WUSA9 reports that at nine-frakking-thirty in the evening, police found one 16-year-old Antonio Ward dead from gunshot wounds at the 5000 block of Just Street NE, along with two other men who had been shot. Both of those men were transported to the hospital in stable condition. Much later into Saturday night/Sunday morning, police found one 32-year-old Bowie resident Jason Liser at around 4000 Minnesota Ave NE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds -- which would take his life a short time later. Another hour into the night, police found three men in Southeast with multiple gunshot wounds, who were transported to the hospital with non–life threatening injuries. With as many shots that found targets as did last night, it's a wonder more people weren't seriously hurt. more ›

Tens of thousands of people gathered at the National Mall on a drizzly day to celebrate the day after the day that changed everything. At least, that's what brought Fox News broadcaster and Republican Party opinion leader Glenn Beck to the District. Beck organized this year's 9/12 Project, a campaign to return the nation to the mindset it held the day after the attacks on September 11, 2001. For his first annual 9/12 convention, he brought the campaign to Washington, D.C., a city that had a really great day on the day after 9/11. The Web site reveals that there are 9 principles and 12 values associated with the 9/12 Project, but doesn't share them. It does explain, "Any time you mention the words Marxism or communism, the left paints you as some sort of nutjob, a McCarthyite." more ›

It looked more like the NHL than basketball, but despite the bumps and bruises on both benches, the Mystics pulled out a must-win over the visiting Atlanta Dream on Saturday. Washington led the entire game and clinched a playoff spot with the 82-64 victory. more ›

The Red Line is a total mess this morning after a man died after being struck by a train at the Gallery Place-Chinatown station around 8 a.m. this morning. Metro reports that the man placed himself on the tracks intentionally. There is no Red Line service moving through bothe Gallery Place and Metro Center -- Metro is operating shuttle buses between Farragut North and Judiciary Square while police conduct an investigation. Service on other lines at Metro Center and Gallery Place has not been affected. While Sunday is usually the slowest day of the week for Metro, today was already chock full of delays for track maintenance -- those of you taking the Red Line anywhere this morning would be wise to factor in quite a bit of extra time to get to your destination. UPDATE: As of 11:11 a.m., Metro reports that regular Red Line service has been restored to both stations. more ›

Sounders 2, United 1: Same two teams, same result, same player with a big goal. United dropped another fixture to Seattle at RFK Stadium last night 2-1, after doing the exact same a week and a half ago. It's certainly arguable which defeat is more damaging to the club -- the loss 10 days ago with the Open Cup on the line, or this one, which really puts D.C. in a bind as far as the race for the MLS playoffs are concerned. Seattle went ahead early on a fifth-minute strike from Steve Zakuani, who got on the end of a nice pass from Peter Vagenas and megged Josh Wicks for the lead. Rodney Wallace equalized for the Black-and-Red about ten minutes into the second half, but it was Sounders striker Freddy Montero who really stuck the dagger into United. (I mean, again.) After the home side had chances to take the lead, Montero hit an upper 90 blast to lead Seattle to the victory. United still find themselves with playoff possibilities, but they hold several games in hand over most of the teams competing for those final positions and will find themselves at the mercy of the fates if they can't hit a hot streak soon. more ›

Look, far be it from me to downplay the importance of monitoring young college students to prevent them from overindulging in alcohol -- but sweet fancy Moses, this Post piece about policing the University of Maryland's drinking scene is nearly laughable. Some of the lowlights recorded by reporter Jenna Johnson: "But the most obvious clue that they are freshmen? No red cups in hand, Ecker said. They haven't learned to bring their own cups to keggers." (Oh, those adorable freshmen! When will they ever learn that wearing high school shirts and not carrying your own cup is a dead giveaway for the po-po?) How about the anecdote in which the two underaged women walk directly past the Lieutenant which Johnson interviewed, openly discussing where to procure fake IDs -- to which the officer can only muster an "I am standing right here!" Much less hilarious: the department's Homer Simpson-esque solution to a brick wall where men gather to cat call and assault women: lobbying College Park to install "no loitering" signs and reminding officers to please crack down on "undesirables" who routinely get grabby with ladies. Why not just, you know, assign a police officer to stand at the wall? College Park, it's a hell of a town. more ›

So, you decided to take a nice leisurely stroll around the National Mall today, eh? You probably ran into a sizable contingent of tea party protesters. The AP and WTOP are reporting that somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 people made their way towards the Mall, completely obstructing Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 14th Street and the Capitol building along the way. more ›

Those of you looking to move around the city by car tomorrow morning, take note: the fourth annual Nation's Triathlon will close down various streets from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. The triathlon involves a swim in the Potomac, a bike ride through D.C. and a 10K around the monuments, all winding up at the banks of the Tidal Basin. more ›

Good morning, Washington. For those who tire of the regurgitated lines that mainstream media usually spout about blogs not doing their due diligence when it comes to reporting, Howard Kurtz and Paul Duggan's review of yesterday's Coast Guard kerfuffle is a reassuring read. Describing it as an perfect example of the "media echo chamber," Kurtz and Duggan blame the fallout from the entire hubbub on CNN. The network initially reported that "shots" had been fired on a vessel on the Potomac, which then made the rounds to other news organizations like Reuters and Fox News. Of course, whether or not the Coast Guard should have been running scenario training so close to the Pentagon on September 11 is one question; but one would expect CNN to at least call the Coast Guard to confirm that the "shooting" -- which was part of an exercise which the Guard engages in four times a week -- was not planned, before running with a story on a very sensitive day for thousands, if not millions, of people. more ›

Nationals 5, Marlins 3: Baseball has always been a haven for the interestingly named. While Mike Morse might not have a name that stands out that much, his is a dream for those who can't help but indulge in far-too-simple puns. Morse tapped out (see?) a big pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth inning and the Nats made it two in a row against the Marlins in Miami. Although they only had five hits, the Nationals made sure that each one counted: in addition to Morse's big hit, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn also added longballs to account for Washington's runs. Starter J.D. Martin (4-4) also made the most of his five innings on the hill, allowing but two hits. Fortunately, Morse's game was so positive -- I can tuck away the cheap S-O-S lines for another day. more ›

It was just earlier this week that Prince George's County was warning its residents of a marked increase in rabid bat activity, and now the District of Columbia Department of Health is following suit. The rabid bat menace has reached D.C.'s borders. more ›

Normally we wouldn't care about something like this much, but this is the District's representative in Congress we're talking about here. Nope, not D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, but Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-D.C.Texas). During President Obama's Wednesday night speech on health care, Gohmert managed not to violate age-old rules of congressional decorum, though he did spend the better part of the speech waving a sign that said "What Bill" on one side and "What Plan" on the other. more ›

Red Line service has been temporarily suspended between the Van Ness-UDC and Dupont Circle stations from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Metro announced the closure less than an hour ago, explaining that it was necessary while they secure a loose communications cable hanging from the tunnel ceiling between the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle stations. Free shuttle buses are operating between Van Ness-UDC and Dupont Circle during this time. The loose cable was discovered during rush hour this morning, and Metro says Red Line trains have been at reduced speeds in the area since then. more ›

The District Department of Transportation reports that as of about 11:45 a.m., a water main break has forced 16th Street NW to close in both directions between V Street and Euclid Street. The main break occurred in the 2400 block of 16th Street NW. more ›

When The Real World D.C. cast came to town a few months ago, we heard that they'd be doing what so many folks in the city do -- working for a number of non-profit and advocacy organizations. Noble as that is, we wouldn't have necessarily guessed it likely that they'd be working on any local causes. But it turns out, they did. more ›

View White House Farmers Market in a larger map more ›

CNN originally reported that the U.S. Coast Guard had opened fire on a boat in the Potomac River this morning, but the incident was actually a training exercise. Given the exercise's timing and location, on the morning of September 11, near the Pentagon, at a time when President Obama was laying a wreath to honor the victims of 9/11, the incident initially caused panic across the area. more ›

It was eight years ago today that New York, Washington and Pennsylvania suffered the terrorist attacks that are said to have changed America, both inside and out. The further away we get from those events, the more they seem like an abstract memory and the more we find ourselves returning to the sense of normalcy that we may have felt on September 10, 2001. That's probably a good thing. Being vigilant in a complex and dangerous world is important, but constantly being ready for the next attack to come may not have been terribly good for the country's psyche. Policy opinions aside, today we remember the close to 3,000 people that lost their lives on 9/11. It was a tragic and difficult day, and though it becomes hazier with each passing year, it remains a day that affected us all. more ›

Nationals 8, Phillies 7: Everyone knows those moments in life where you find yourself saying "whew, that was close" out loud, directed no one in particular. Well, if they could speak collectively, the Nationals would have certainly had one of those moments on Thursday evening: despite a pair of relievers allowing five runs in the top of the ninth, the Nats still managed to salvage a win in the finale of their last home series of the year against Philadelphia. Until the ninth, though, things looked great for the Nats. Starter Livan Hernandez navigated through a rocky first inning, and didn't allow the potent Phils lineup to cross the plate between the second and the eighth innings. And thanks in part to the impressive debut of shortstop Ian Desmond (2-4, double, home run, 4 RBI), the home team found themselves with a comfortable six-run lead after chasing the normally reliable Joe Blanton from the game during a five-run fifth. Somehow, though, that big lead was reduced to one after Zack Segovia and closer Mike MacDougal just couldn't get any Phillies out; the big blow obviously being Matt Stairs' pinch-hit grand slam, which sent the stadium -- chock full of red Phillies hats -- into a state of nervous excitement. But Nats setup man Ron Villone literally saved the day; truly earning his first save of the season by coaxing big slugger Ryan Howard into a game-ending double play with the tying run on third and one out. Whew, that was close, indeed. more ›

The D.C. Department of Public Works finally got back to us on our question about what will be done with the 22 brand new ghost bikes that have been placed around the intersection of Connecticut and R Streets NW by activist Legba Carrefour ... kinda. Here's the boilerplate statement we received via email from DPW spokesperson Linda Grant:

"... the DC Department of Public Works is responsible for removing sidewalk memorials, which usually recognize residents who have died unexpectedly, and includes anything from flowers and stuffed animals to empty bottles of alcohol and bicycles. After 30 days, DPW removes all memorial items found at the site. As part of our policy, a sign is posted at the memorial to notify family and friends that they have 30 days to remove any personal effects."

At-large D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson today sent a letter to acting U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips urging him to "please reconsider and proceed to trial" with Robert Hannah, the man accused in the beating death of Tony Hunter. Hannah has reportedly been in talks to reach a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office. more ›

Five Years On: On Wednesday we gathered to celebrate DCist's fifth anniversary, which caused me to reflect on how in those five years I've written countless posts and gotten into innumerable arguments with some in the commentariat -- all over D.C. voting rights. In the last five years -- which, in the grand scheme of 200 years of injustice is nothing -- the voting rights movement has had hope and seen defeat, but never really achieved any of its goals. This isn't to criticize the selfless and noble work of those who advocate on behalf of the District's enfranchisement more than it is to say that, well, we're still unrepresented in Congress. Yet the fight continues, and with each passing day comes a new reminder of the ways big and small that our particular injustice is rubbed in. Maybe it will take another five years before the plight of the District's residents is remedied. Maybe it'll take 50. Who knows. But as the city comes alive again after the August break, another cycle of hoping, organizing and advocating begins anew. Let's just hope that by the time DCist turns 10 or 15, I'm not still writing about how it sucks not to have voting rights. more ›

D.C. Public Schools confirmed yesterday that student enrollment in its 127 schools was at 44,397, up from the roughly 37,000 who were registered when classes resumed on August 24. Enrollment counts typically fluctuate at the start of the year, as parents enroll children late, and transfers are finalized. more ›

When I ordered this cake for our little 5th anniversary staff party last night (and we really do wish we could have invited all our readers! But we just didn't have the funds for something of that scale, I'm afraid), I went in person to a popular local bakery and wrote down "DCist" on the order form. The idea, I explained verbally to the woman taking my order, was to put the letters "DCist" across the whole cake, as big as possible. But at some point between when I paid for the cake and when the order got handed to the decorator, someone else wrote down these "instructions" on the order slip, indicating that "DCist" was to be written "on a whole cake." Sloppy handwriting made this spectacularly funny mistake even better by turning the message into "DCist on a Whale Cake." We could never have made this up. more ›

Metro reports that as of 12:43 p.m., regular service has resumed on the Blue and Yellow Lines after this morning's collision. A Metro employee is believed to have been struck by a six-car train while on the tracks between the Braddock Road and National Airport stations. The male employee, whose identity has not been released, is said to be alive but in serious condition at a nearby hospital. The incident is currently under investigation, but earlier delays on the Blue and Yellow lines should soon be abating. more ›

A man who is believed to be a Metro employee was struck by a train at about 10:40 a.m this morning on the tracks between the Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations. The employee, whose identity Metro has not yet released, was taken to a local hospital and is in unknown condition at this time. and is believed to be in serious condition. more ›

Early this morning, 22 new ghost bikes appeared around the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, R and 20th Streets NW. There were put there by Columbia Heights resident Legba Carrefour, in an effort to protest the city's recent removal of the Alice Swanson ghost bike by the city. Alice's original ghost bike was placed in front of the La Tomate restaurant by the Washington Area Bicycle Association shortly after her death a little over a year ago, though WABA as an organization is not taking credit for this latest, much larger stunt. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Bear with us while we get our motors running today. We'll have some photographic evidence of last night's DCist 5th anniversary party up soon as proof why it's a little slow going around these parts just yet. Hopefully the rest of you didn't fall victim to health-care speech related drinking games, or we're going to have a heck of day all together. It does seem, at least, that we're probably not having as bad a morning as Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). more ›

The Metrobus driver who struck 30-year-old jogger Amanda Mahnke at the intersection of Connecticut and Florida Avenues NW last week was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to a statement given to WTOP's Adam Tuss by Metro spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. No charges have been filed in the crash, and the identity of the driver has not yet been released. Mahnke, who is the communications director for Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), is reported to be in stable condition currently at George Washington University Hospital. An MPD investigation into the collision is ongoing. more ›

We missed this one from the Washington Business Journal earlier this week: Harris Teeter is looking at a fourth location in the District, this time at the mixed-use Capitol Riverfront development The Yards, nearby Nationals Park. The lease has yet to be signed and the BizJo estimates it would take at least three years before the store could open thanks to the current financing market, but word of a grocery store coming to the area understandably elicits breathless comments from neighborhood officials. '“We're thrilled there's going to be a Harris Teeter in the neighborhood,” said Michael Stevens, director of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District ... “They all bought into the vision of the neighborhood and a grocery store is part of that vision,” he said.' more ›

The final tally is in on this year's Summer Youth Employment Program, courtesy the Washington Post's Nikita Stewart. The program cost $41 million this year, which is "significantly less than last year, when the mayor promised a job to any youth who wanted one, but enough to eclipse similar programs in most big cities." This year's program was criticized less for payroll problems and more for employed kids either doing a crummy job or appearing to be doing not much at all. And of course, remember that the D.C. Council has limited the 2010 program to only $20 million, which would hardly cover the kind of all-inclusive program for which Mayor Fenty has always pushed. For his part, Fenty appears unconcerned: 'Fenty said he is determined to find a way around the council's caps on next year's program. "There's a long time between now and next summer," he said.' more ›

On Tuesday we picked up a WTOP report that First Lady Michelle Obama's office was behind an application to close Vermont Ave. between H and I Streets NW one a week for a new White House farmers market. But this morning the Examiner's Bill Myers follows up with word that FLOTUS isn't necessarily the driving force behind this proposal. Instead, it appears that prolific local market purveyors FreshFarm put in the application, and Obama's involvement is a little fuzzier than first thought.

White House staff have been in talks with FreshFarm officials, but the first lady's office declined to answer questions about whether Obama was endorsing the Vermont Avenue market. After WTOP reported that the plan was the first lady's, the White House called the station to deny it.

President Barack Obama will be addressing a joint session of Congress tonight to make his big health care speech, so the usual security perimeter around the U.S. Capitol for such events will be in effect. The president's speech is set to begin at 8 p.m., but the Capitol Square will be restricted beginning at 6 p.m. The United States Capitol Police are also advising that the following streets will be closed beginning at 6:30 p.m. until the end of the speech. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Yesterday President Obama headed to Wakefield High in Arlington to address the nation's schoolchildren. In a cunning last-minute switch he refrained from urging them to overthrow the landed bourgeoisie through violent revolution, and instead delivered a surprisingly banal message about the merits of education. You win this one, Mr. President. But don't think that we aren't on to Secretary Napolitano's plan to construct a Marxist fifth column of deadly female assassins. Tonight the president will address the country in a speech about healthcare reform, but it seems unlikely that anyone will get upset over that. Kaine Announces Cuts: The Examiner reports on Gov. Tim Kaine's plan to close Virginia's remaining $1.35 billion budget shortfall. It looks like higher education is being hit the hardest, though state government employees will also be dealing with almost 600 laid-off positions, 336 unfilled positions and a furlough day. Two state prisons and a juvenile facility will also be closed. Swine Flu Infection Numbers Climb at UMD: The outbreak of the H1N1 virus in College Park continues to get worse. WJLA reports that there are now 172 suspected cases at Maryland, and the number is likely to continue to rise. University health officials say that everything's well in hand, but it sounds like it may be a somewhat weird semester for students — for one thing, the clinic has started to hand hand out flu kits that include surgical masks. Briefly Noted: Urban chicken enthusiasts busted by the city, vow to get law changed... McDonnell draws fire for 2003 remarks that questioned whether homosexuality could disqualify a judge... Baltimore pushes ahead with slots; Anne Arundel County slows things down... Woman found shot to death in Silver Spring... Jack Evans says that if the White House gets its farmer's market, E Street ought to be reopened... Water taxi service to Nats games begins... more ›

Phillies 5, Nationals 3: Everything was smooth sailing for John Lannan and the Nationals. Willie Harris and Cristian Guzman were hitting at the top of the order, the Nats capitalized on an error by Chase Utley, and Lannan retired 14 of 15 batters between the second and the sixth innings. Sadly, in the majors, they play a full nine, and the WFC brought their lumber come the seventh inning. After Ryan Howard grounded out to start the inning, three of the next four batters -- Jason Werth, Raul Ibanez, and Carlos Ruiz -- crushed solo home runs. Walking opposing pitcher Pedro Martinez (4-0) was just the icing on the cake for Lannan (8-11), all his fantastic ace-level work firmly erased on three bad pitches. Willie Harris pulled one back on -- what else? -- a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but Utley canceled that out with another longball for the Phils. Counting Ibanez's earlier dinger, Philadelphia scored all five of their runs on solo home runs -- fitting for a team who is now only the 12th team in major league history to feature four batters (Werth, Howard, Utley, and Ibanez) with over 30 home runs in a season. As far as the Nationals go, the game is pretty much a fair assessment of the team as a whole. There's about two-thirds of a moderately decent, even at times good, baseball team in there -- it's just a matter of finding that other third that's the really elusive part. more ›

Drivers may be suffering from Terrible Traffic Tuesday, but Metrorail riders don't look to be having an easy night of it, either. The Blue and Orange Lines are delayed (we're hearing some trains are just completely stopped right now) as of about 6:30 p.m. in both directions due to a train experiencing mechanical difficulties outside Farragut West. Add that to the expected delays on the Red Line due to ongoing track circuit repairs at Fort Totten, plus track maintenance-related delays at the Braddock Road station on the Blue and Yellow Lines, and it makes for a not so comforting graphic on WMATA's web site right now. Good luck out there. more ›

The American Institute for Economic Research put out its 2009-2010 college destination rankings today (hat tip to the Post), and D.C. was named fourth most desirable for college students on a list of large metropolitan areas in the country, ranked behind only New York, San Francisco and Boston. The news that D.C. is a top college destination comes as no big surprise to us. Not only does the area have a large number of desirable universities and a high percentage of college students compared to the overall population, it also has a large number desirable post-college jobs, making the city quite frankly (in our minds) a smarter choice than places like San Francisco or New York this particular year. more ›

Bats can do more than shape-shift and turn you into a vampire — they can also give you rabies! And Prince George's County health officials are now warning residents that they've recorded an increase in rabid bat activity in the area, the Post reports. Nine PG County bats have tested positive for rabies since the beginning of August, and at least one person has come into contact with one and been subsequently preemptively treated for rabies. County officials are urging residents to bat proof their homes by repairing any holes, using window screens and closing doors tightly. more ›

WMATA announced today it completed the work it intended to do during this past holiday weekend, work which forced the complete closure of three Metro stations, including National Airport, Pentagon City and Crystal City. Metro's track workers replaced four track switches at the Pentagon City station, along with 2,000 feet of rail and more than 735 ties. They also performed repairs along the National Airport station's aerial structure, conducted fire line maintenance and installed cable to upgrade cell phone service at those stations. more ›

Rejoice, hockey fans, for the season is almost upon us. On Monday, head coach Bruce Boudreau led some of his charges out onto the ice, as Caps rookies started working off summer rust Monday during the first day of the team's rookie camp at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The team spent the morning working through on-ice drills and receiving pointers from the coaching staff, including head coach Bruce Boudreau. more ›

The First Lady's office has put in a request to close Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets NW between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., every Thursday, for the market. The day of the week and time of the proposed market certainly fits in with what DCist commenters were saying they'd like to see in terms of a White House farmers market, but the proposed location was up until this point unknown. This block of Vermont stretches between the far corners of Lafayette Square and McPherson Square. The WTOP article makes mention of some concern from residents about the potential for further traffic congestion in an already clogged area. We gather the Secret Service would prefer not to set up a weekly market right on Pennsylvania Ave., where the street is already closed to vehicular traffic. more ›

We couldn't help but notice that perennial loser Teddy Roosevelt was absent from the Presidents Race during the Nationals' game against the Marlins on Saturday. Given how badly the game went, it was just another disappointment among many for Nats fans that night. But what happened? Had Teddy finally succumbed to the crippling depression of never winning? Did he run off to establish another national park? more ›

Over the long weekend, DCist spotted the first yard sign we've seen so far for D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's re-election campaign. This sign, with its trademark Fenty green, was planted in front of a home in the Logan Circle neighborhood. We've also seen a few blue and white Clark Ray for D.C. Council At-large signs popping up outside businesses in the Dupont Circle neighborhood's 17th Street corridor. more ›

And another local business bites the dust. Big Monkey Comics on 14th Street announced Monday that it will close its doors for good at the end of the month, blaming the recession.

It wasn't Galactus, Lex Luthor, or Dr. Doom that defeated us, but simple dollars and cents. The economy has adversely affected so many people, and we are the latest casualty. Last year alone Virginia last [sic] 45% of its comic book shops due to the economic downturn and we are sad to say that we now join their number.

Good morning, Washington. We hope each and every one of you was able to honor the labor movement yesterday by sleeping in, taking in a matinee, or attempting to barbecue through the rain. It's what Samuel Gompers would have wanted! But with Labor Day come and gone comes several crushing realities: Congress is back in town, school is now in session across the greater metro area, and summer is rapidly bidding us goodbye until next year. All things, as they inevitably do, are returning to their same busy routines – including, naturally, Republicans calling President Obama a socialist. Despite this recent slow-news cycle skirmish over what ended up amounting to a slightly more nuanced way of saying, "Kids, stay in school!", Obama will go ahead and deliver his back-to-school speech later today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, home of the Warriors. The Examiner covers how school districts across the metro area are handling the speech, including Loudoun County, which has since changed its mind and decided to show it to students who choose to watch. more ›

Nationals 5, Marlins 4: It was probably the most exciting home game of the season: even though it seemed like the Nationals thought that yesterday's game was a 3 p.m. start, numerous late-inning heroics led the team to their first win in over a week over the always-pesky Marlins. The first seven frames were about as forgettable as it gets at Nationals Park, the only bit of entertainment being Hanley Ramirez's fourth inning solo home run for the visitors. But the Nationals turned things on in the eighth, loading the bases on two walks and a single. Pinch hitter Mike Morse tied the score with a two-strike single up the gut off Florida reliever Kiko Calero. But that was merely an appetizer for the ninth inning. Normally-reliable closer Mike MacDougal allowed the Fins to retake a two-run lead on former National Nick Johnson's RBI single; but Willie Harris and Ryan Zimmerman homered in dramatic fashion, placing whatever fans who stuck it out into a frenzy. For Zim, it was the fifth walk-off of his career -- and two comebacks in two innings is certainly one of the better highlights of a season mostly spent in the doldrums. more ›

Virginia vs William & Mary: Good news, Tribe alumni! Those of you who survived your education and its notoriously high (if maybe misleading) suicide rate have a reason to keep on keepin' on after the season opener against UVa's Cavaliers. W&M officials ought to think about hiring on cornerback B.W. Webb as a campus counselor for at-risk students following his performance in the game. He was on call for three passes from Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell, turning the last of these picks around for a touchdown. Sewell was just one of three quarterbacks (in addition to Vic Hall and Marc Verica) to take the helm of an offense that coach Al Groh promised was all-new and all-different -- but proved to be all-slippery at best. In its 26-14 loss, Virginia committed a whopping seven turnovers, as if they were trying to catalog the possibilities for losing the ball. A bad snap, a fumble, a confusing backward pass, and a total punt fail contributed to Virginia's efforts to do 9999 damage to its season's prospects. more ›

Hoo, boy -- if you thought that it had already been a laborious weekend for Metro, you ain't seen nothing yet. WMATA isn't taking too kindly to the Post's big report this morning, an expose about the previous failures of Metrorail's much-maligned crash avoidance system. The Post's report leads with a terrifying story about a 2005 incident in which not two, but three trains' avoidance systems failed, and gut feelings were the only thing separating Metro from having a three-train, rush hour pileup between Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom, underneath the Potomac River: more ›

Since it's Saturday night, let's keep it light and have some fun, eh? Here's your nightly sports recap, comprised entirely of easily digestible haikus. more ›

Sarah Krouse at the WaBizJo reports that Metro authorities will meet on Thursday to discuss a 4 to 6 percent fare hike and other uncomfortable features associated with balancing the budget for fiscal year 2011. That discussion comes after a holiday weekend over which WMATA didn't make any new friends. Metro authorities are defending their decision to close three critical Metro stations in Northern Virginia for the holiday weekend, saying that the decision was planned well in advance. Labor Day was slapped on the calendar in 1882, but never mind that. Premeditation only enhances the crime in the eyes of frustrated Metro users, would-be mall shoppers, and diverted travelers. more ›

We've highlighted the oddball tendencies of WTOP's weekend web reporting in the past. But if you aren't reading this stuff over the weekend, you're missing out on a veritable goldmine of obscure and odd "news" -- some culled from the AP wire, others reported on in house, most of it good for a laugh. For example: did you know that the Maryland State Fair in Timonium is debuting a free arm wrestling competition this weekend? (Or that arm wrestling competitions have weight classes and that there is actually a national ranking system?) Rather than trudging out another long-winded story about unemployment figures, WTOP's weekend crew proactively gets out the word on opportunities: here's a comprehensive roundup of all the theme parks in the area that are hiring folks to wear costumes scare patrons at Halloween! (Hey, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.) Lest we forget the McDonald's blood cone story that we mentioned in today's Saturday Morning Post. WTOP: a must-read for the person in your life who feels the need to spout quirky stories throughout the weekend's social gatherings. more ›

For those who decided to postpone their weekend travel plans until today in hopes of avoiding the initial vehicular exodus from the District, here's the current traffic scene: the Beltway looks fairly clear, despite a slow-up at the Springfield interchange and a messy morning. On the whole, traffic seems pretty smooth as soon as you actually get out of D.C. But it wouldn't be Labor Day weekend without a big delay at the Bay Bridge, now would it? The Google eye in the sky says that the holdup is due to "vehicles slowing down to look at an accident," which means that those of you heading to the shore should still budget out a sizable chunk of time to cross the Chesapeake. more ›

by DCist contributor Brett Gellman more ›

Good morning, Washington, and thanks for sticking around. Whether you were just too lazy to make beach plans, are engaging in a little staycationing, or simply forgot that Monday was Labor Day until a couple of days ago, it's one of those weekends that feels like a good time to get something done that you've been meaning to do. For instance: making sure that if you're attending one of the D.C.'s universities, that you're actually validated as a student. Seems like an easy enough task, right? Not so for attendees at Howard University. WJLA reports on protests at the historic campus, where students' frustration over slow financial aid processing, guaranteed housing which is nowhere to be found and "all-around bureaucratic sloth" boiled over at a protest yesterday. The President of the college has said that he will meet with students next week -- hopefully before validation deadlines pass and students who are rightfully enrolled at the school have to vacate. more ›

Marlins 9, Nationals 6: Giving up 11 hits to the opposition's first five hitters in the lineup is a sure way to get yourself in some serious trouble; such was the case for Garrett Mock and the Nationals last night at Nationals Park. The Nats couldn't hang with the Marlins' hot bats last night and dropped their seventh straight game. Washington's unbelievably ugly alternate "American" uniforms did little to distract Florida hitters, and Mock (3-7) struggled through three innings, allowing six runs. The home team certainly wasn't out of the game, though, as they scored five runs themselves in the first three frames -- Josh Willingham hammered his 22nd home run of the season and Ryan Zimmerman and Alberto Gonzalez had triples. But long reliever Saul Rivera couldn't stop the bleeding, and allowed three more runs in the next couple of innings. Perhaps the Nats could have got back into it with some clutch hitting -- culprit number one: catcher Josh Bard, who left 10 men on base -- but five Florida relievers kept the bats quiet. more ›

We had to read through this article from Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail three times before we decided it wasn't necessarily an elaborate prank. According to reporter Paul Koring, it seems that during a two-day military conference set to convene at the Embassy of Canada in Washington Sept. 23-24, Canadian officials plan to stage a mock Afghan village in the courtyard of the embassy, in which they will set off a series of fake explosions. The pyrotechnical spectacle is apparently intended as a demonstration of Canadian military might, and especially their troops' activities in Afghanistan. The paper reports that American military officials, U.S. Congressmen and Afghan experts are expected to attend the conference. Here's what they'll be treated to:

The mock village, complete with a small souk and peopled by nearly a dozen Afghan actors, will be created in the courtyard of the Canadian embassy, halfway between the Capitol and the White House. A handful of Canadian soldiers and, Col. Martin hopes, U.S. Marines will arrive to "see the village leader" just as the IED blows up, "critically injuring" at least one Afghan, who will get immediate first aid from a Canadian medic. more ›

Despite the hubbub that initially came pouring out of Metro's board this week after WMATA announced it would close three Metro stations, including the one that serves National Airport, for the entire Labor Day holiday weekend, the closures are set to go into effect tonight at 9:30 p.m. A majority of the board got on the phone with Metro General Manager John Catoe last night for a conference call (a seekrit conference call!), and the consensus is reportedly that they agree with the decision to do the major track work in question this weekend (Labor Day, it turns out, is one of the slowest holiday weekends for WMATA), but are now pledging to make sure the public is given more notice before anything like this happens again. more ›

Over at the Washington Blade, Lou Chibbaro, Jr. reports that the man who has been charged with misdemeanor assault in the beating death of Tony Randolph Hunter may be about to negotiate a plea bargain that could reduce or eliminate the time he spends in jail. D.C. resident Robert Hannah had initially been charged with voluntary manslaughter, but the charges against him were later reduced, and now the suspect might end up not even serving the maximum 180 days in jail associated with that crime. Hunter, a gay Maryland man, died last year after an altercation with Hannah near the former BeBar gay bar in the Shaw neighborhood. The killing has been charged with controversy due to Hannah's claim that Hunter sexually assaulted him prior to the attack. A friend of Hunter's who was with him at the time has maintained that Hannah's actions were unprovoked. more ›

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty presided over the opening of a fabulously-appointed new dog park at 17th and S Streets NW yesterday (along with a refurbished park for all living things at 17th and T, but the focus was clearly on the pooches' new playground). As theses photographs illustrate, the park features a hill-shaped, artificial grass surface and a water fountain designed specifically for dogs. more ›

Read this fascinating story from The New York Times on the D.C. Fire Department's Engine Company 10, by all accounts the busiest firehouse in the country. These Trinidad firefighters at the "House of Pain" spend most of their time not fighting fires, but rather serving as emergency medical responders.

About 80 percent of the calls handled by Engine Company 10 are medical emergencies because the firehouse serves one of the city’s poorest areas, where few residents have health insurance, doctors’ checkups are rare, and medical problems are left to fester until someone dials 911.

Imagine being under .500 and facing down a 19-11 team that you lost to by 10 points a week ago. Their leading scorer is out with an injury -- but so is yours. You're trying to beat a team that's won six straight, while you've gone 2-4. more ›

We mentioned Montgomery College President Brian K. Johnson's troubles in yesterday's roundup, and now today comes word that Johnson has been fired by the school's Board of Trustees. Here's the statement from the board:

"We, as a Board, have decided to make a change in the leadership of the College. The Board voted not to renew Dr. Johnson's contract. We also voted to place Dr. Johnson on administrative leave, with pay, effective immediately so that the Board can consider further action. more ›

Good morning, Washington. It's the Friday before Labor Day, which generally means one of two things for workplace productivity in our city: you're either scrambling to finish some huge project before the holiday weekend, or you're merely planning on doing the bare minimum amount of email answering and tidying of computer files before cutting out early. But if you happen to work in the Yates building, located at 201 14th Street SW, which houses the USDA and the United States Forest Service offices, you'll probably spend at least part of your pre-three day weekend Friday puzzling over how and why a man driving a Cadillac managed to drive right in to your office building. The driver, no surprise here, turns out to be a DUI suspect, but the story of the slow-moving police chase that led to the Caddy vs. building confrontation is certainly strange sounding. The man allegedly evaded a traffic stop earlier in the evening and crashed into another vehicle at 13th Street and Independence Avenue SW before destroying some scaffolding and construction barriers at the Yates, according to WUSA9, and all of this happened at a relatively low speed. Sounds like this guy started his Labor Day weekend celebrating a little too early. Kids, don't drink and drive! more ›

Jaguars 24, Redskins 17: Now, we can move on to the important stuff. The Redskins finished out their preseason schedule with a loss to the Jags, who decided to play their first-team for most of the first half, while Washington didn't bother risking anyone important -- Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Albert Haynesworth -- so close to the season opener. Jacksonville hopped out to a 21-0 lead, but since the Redskins were basically just holding auditions for the final few roster spots, the score really doesn't matter. more ›

D.C. Police still do not know the identity of the woman who struck by a Metrobus at the corner of Connecticut and Florida Avenues this morning. WTOP has reported that the woman was a jogger who was wearing earbuds at the time she was hit, which would help explain why she was not carrying any identification. The woman, who is currently listed as a Jane Doe, is in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital. She is described as a white female, with brown hair, approximately 25 years of age, and 5'5" inches tall. She was wearing a white T-shirt, faded gray jogging shorts with white trim, white sneakers and white ankle socks. Anyone with information on the identity of this woman is asked to call D.C. police at (202) 727-9099. more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Lauren Evans more ›

When I was but a wee lad, I loved watching the game show Press Your Luck. The most exciting part of the show was watching someone get their last whammy and crapping out -- for whatever reason, it was just far more entertaining to watch someone with thousands of dollars lose their money because they stopped the moving lights on a small red...thing. The tension, it was palpable. more ›

We frequently hear complaints during the school year about groups of kids on their way home from school misbehaving and causing problems on the city's public transit system. And now WMATA is encouraging you to lodge those complaints with Metro Transit Police. Metro has designated a specific phone number, 202-962-2118, to report disruptive behavior on the part of kids. The transit agency also says it will be deploying additional officers to trouble spots during the after-school hours, in an effort to break up trouble before it escalates. “We want to start off the new school year right, and let students and all of our riders know that their safety is our top priority. Everyone should feel secure while riding Metro,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael A. Taborn in a statement. more ›

The Examiner reports today that there's a little bit of controversy brewing over the design for the new Washington Highlands public library branch in Southwest. No big surprise there: when it comes to public libraries in the District, suddenly everyone's an architecture critic. The main arguments presented in the Examiner story seem to be that the design, by famous British architect David Adjaye, is just too weird and doesn't "fit the neighborhood." Presumably, the ANC commissioner quoted in the story would rather have some kind of more classical, square brick building that blends in with the rowhouses around it. Personally, I think it looks pretty rad, but that's the thing about aesthetics, I guess. You can't ever please everyone. more ›

A pedestrian was struck by a Metrobus just after 8:30 a.m. this morning at Connecticut and Florida Avenues, according to D.C. police. D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer confirmed that the victim was transported to the hospital, but the extent of the person's injuries, who passersby say was female, are unknown at this time. The MPD's major crash unit is currently is on the scene investigating. We'll update when we have more information. more ›

Montgomery County police say that one of two men currently wanted for murder in an Aug. 30 killing managed to walk out of Washington Hospital Center and is currently at-large. more ›

Good morning, Washington. We've long argued that college and university presidents in the D.C. metro area seem to be more embattled than anywhere else, and today's headlines once again play into that theory. First up is Montgomery College President Brian K. Johnson, who of late is facing allegations of mismanagement and overspending and has already been subject to a no-confidence vote from the full-time faculty there. What exactly is Johnson accused of? As the Post writes it, "Johnson was frequently absent from his office, skipped important meetings, intimidated staff and overspent with his corporate credit card." Oh, and he has a warrant our for his arrest in Arizona for unpaid child support. For his part, Johnson is denying any wrongdoing. The school's trustees are expected to decide what to do about Johnson today. more ›

Or so says the Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area, which is the source for this Washington Business Journal story proclaiming it to be so. Considering how many people we talk to who say that they, due to the recession, didn't get raises this year, the 3.4 percent number just kinda feels slightly high, doesn't it? Oh wait, that explains it:

The financial services industry saw the highest salary increases at 9.3 percent. Publishing and broadcasting jobs saw the lowest raises, at 1.5 percent. more ›

Given the crime he stands accused of, this doesn't come as a big surprise: the AP is reporting that accused U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum shooter James von Brunn has been ordered held without bail today in federal court. This is the first time von Brunn has been able to appear in court in person, as he was still recovering from the gunshot wounds he received from one of the museum guards on June 10. The alleged gunman reportedly decided to say a few words at the short arraignment hearing. Among them: "I'm a United States citizen, and as a U.S. naval officer I swore to protect my country. I take my vows very seriously." James von Brunn has been charged with first-degree murder and related hate crime and gun violations in the death of security guard Stephen T. Johns. more ›

There's been a lot of hand-wringing on many a D.C. neighborhood blog this summer about the U.S. Postal Service's plans to shut down many of their branches in an effort to trim costs. Today the USPS announced that it has trimmed its list down to 413 retail offices nationwide, with nine of those located inside the District (that's down from 13 in the previous list of 677). These are the local post offices still in danger: more ›

A Prince George's County police officer shot and seriously wounded a man in Southeast D.C. today after following the man into the District, the Post is reporting. The victim, who has not been identified, was a suspect in the killing of two people in Anne Arundel County earlier this morning, according to police. The police-involved shooting took place at Minnesota Avenue and Ridge Road SE. more ›

The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics released the petition documents today of those individuals who filed initiative measure applications for the so-called "Marriage Initiative of 2009." This is the petition put together by a group of D.C. area Baptist ministers, led by the outspoken Bishop Harry Jackson, who are seeking to put the question of whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the District up for a popular vote. Applicants for initiative measures to the BOEE are required to provide proof of D.C. residence, and the papers indicate that Jackson now claims to reside at 1100 First Street SE, Apt. 1310. That's the Onyx on First luxury apartment building, right by the Navy Yard Metro station and not far from Nationals Park. more ›

Last week, in our end of the day roundup, we linked to an NBCWashington.com story about that guy who had been standing at a busy intersection in Tysons Corner wearing a sign that read, "I CHEATED. THIS IS MY PUNISHMENT." Tailor made for local broadcast news, the story was picked by nearly every outlet in town, and ended up getting some national and international coverage as well. But, it turns out, the whole thing was a practical joke. FOX 5, the first TV station to actually interview the man who identified himself as William Taylor, reports this morning that Taylor was really a plant of Washington's Hot 99.5 Kane In The Morning show, who sent the sign-wearing philanderer out there just to see "how much media coverage it would receive." We can think of a few signs we'd like to see this Kane guy wear along the side of the road. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Last night's airwaves were filled with news of a carjacking, chase and crash in Virginia. A man apparently forced a woman into the trunk of her car in the Franconia-Springfield Metro station parking garage. He then drove around for about an hour, then released her unharmed. She called police, who spotted the car and gave chase; the suspect then crashed the car on the side of the road in Lorton. A search for the suspect initially failed to produce results, but around midnight a man emerged from the woods. It's not yet clear whether he has been charged. Another Georgetown Sexual Assault: On Monday we mentioned an assault that happened on Sunday: the victim — a Georgetown student — woke to find a man lying on top of her, screamed, and her attacker fled. Late last night news of another such incident emerged. This one happened early Tuesday morning, and on the actual campus of Georgetown. And although WJLA's account is somewhat vague, there is some indication that the specifics of this incident represent an escalation beyond Sunday's crime. Police remain uncertain whether the same perpetrator is responsible for both, or whether the incidents are connected to similar ones from the past. Georgetown has stepped up on-campus security. FiOS Finally Finalized: We've known for a while that FiOS would be coming to the District; now, via Fox 5, we know that the details have been finalized. The basic order of the rollout will be the same that we've heard before: beginning at the wealthy periphery of the city and moving inward. But the timeline for complete coverage of the District has now been moved up — citywide FiOS should be available in just under a decade — and some of the fees, free service and other handouts demanded by the city government have been nailed down. If nothing else, it's good to know that I'll be able to make a really satisfying (and profane!) call to Comcast in six years. Briefly Noted: Gas for grass plan attracts unwanted police attention... Teen struck and seriously injured in P.G. County multi-car collision... Maryland gets reimbursed for the inauguration... Rep. Steny Hoyer held a healthcare town hall; it went about how you'd expect... Va. unemployment rate was below seven percent in July... NCPC says overhead lines will be a problem for streetcars on the Eleventh Street Bridge, too... Montgomery College president in hot water for lavish spending, absenteeism... Holocaust Museum shooter scheduled to be in court today... more ›

Padres 4, Nationals 1: Washington's bats could barely muster a whimper last night -- generating but one run for the second straight evening -- and the Nationals lost their fifth straight. Only Josh Bard, who bashed a solo home run in the seventh inning, could manage to undo Padres starter Clayton Richard (8-4), who exited after a sterling 6.2 innings. The dinger was of little import, really, as San Diego proceeded to get fantastic relief work from three pitchers to nail down the victory. Nats rookie pitcher J.D. Martin (3-4) continued to show improvement, allowing only two earned runs over six full innings, and picked up where a solid August left off. But the wilting offense gave Martin no chance to go over .500 on the season -- Josh Willingham struck out four times, and Elijah Dukes was thrown out on the basepaths twice. The Nationals finish their series with the Padres tomorrow, when John Lannan will certainly be hoping for more than one run of support. more ›

D.C. police made an arrest today in the fatal shooting of 48-year-old Deborah Ann Brown. Brown died Saturday evening in the 2900 block of 14th Street NW, after being struck in what appears to have been gunfire aimed at someone else. more ›

We've been giving the largely lame-o @MayorFenty Twitter feed a hard time for a couple of days now. This is after word of the presumed official mayoral feed first came out earlier in August. But now, weeks later, the Mayor's Office is saying that the @MayorFenty feed isn't actually theirs, City Desk reports. more ›

As expected, Bishop Harry Jackson filed his petition with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics today to request a ballot initiative on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District. It's a move designed to preempt legislative action from the D.C. Council on the issue later this year (At-large councilmember David Catania has promised to introduce such a bill this fall), with Jackson betting on a redux of California's Prop 8. Perhaps more surprising, however, is that the Archdiocese of Washington has also gotten involved in the movement, although without officially joining Jackson's Stand4MarriageDC coalition. The Post reports that Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl also submitted a letter to the elections board today calling for a referendum. Via Tim Craig:

"It is ironic that at the same time the city is asking for voting representation in the U.S. Congress, its leaders are denying residents the opportunity to participate in the Democratic process for an issue with widespread implications for children and families," Ronald Jackson, executive director of the D.C. Catholic Conference, said in a statement.

WMATA announced this afternoon that it intends to make the holiday weekend travel plans of people who will be flying in and out of National Airport a lot more difficult. more ›

The ongoing saga of the abrupt eviction of the Recreation Wish List Committee, run by Cora Masters Barry, from the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center keeps attracting more and more big guns. D.C. Wire updates today that none other than Maya Angelou and Dorothy Height were trying to get a meeting with D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty this past week to discuss the matter. And to make matters worse, sources are telling the Post that Fenty canceled not one, but two meetings with the women. And just when you thought Fenty's office couldn't appear to be any more callous on this issue. But wait! What's that you say, @MayorFenty?

Missed meeting with Dr. Maya Angelou & Dorothy Height was due to scheduling conflicts and not disrespect :-)

This is a question I often ask myself when strolling by the intersection of 14th and U Streets NW (though thankfully a little less often now, since the long-awaited redevelopment of the buildings on the northeast corner nears completion). Matt Yglesias offers up the vacant building next door, however, as a case study in why, even accounting for the current recession, so many city storefronts in seemingly ideal locations remain vacant for so long. Assuming that a landlord has difficulty attracting a new tenant at the current rent, shouldn't there be an incentive then to lower the rent? Isn't some rent better than no rent at all? more ›

A quick update on last night's quadruple shooting in the Brightwood Park area. Four people were shot, one fatally, in the 900 block of Hamilton Street NW, and now police have released the identity of the deceased: Michael Harris, 24, of the 4000 block of 4th Street NW, was shot and killed at around 6:30 p.m. last night, WJLA reports. At least one of the other three victims is reported to have sustained serious injuries as well. The shooting appears to have erupted due to some kind of argument. "A relative of Harris told ABC 7 News the victims were all friends and were just hanging out when the violence erupted." Police were searching for an older model blue station wagon in the area last night in relation to the shooting. more ›

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to September! As a sign that the region's politics may be slowly coming back to life now that the summer is drawing to a close, it looks like Virginia Democrats are having a whole lotta fun with the Washington Post's big scoop from the weekend, about how Republican candidate for governor Bob McDonnell wrote his masters thesis on how "feminists," i.e. women who work, people who have sex out of wedlock, and gays are basically ruining America. In the paper's follow-up this morning, they note that all the big lefty blogs have since picked up the story, but it's still too early to tell how much of an impact this 20 year-old thesis could end up having on the race. Polls conducted shortly before this story broke put McDonnell in a comfortable lead, and the candidate insists his views have changed since he was a student in 1989. more ›

Padres 3, Nationals 1: If you're a sports fan, chances are that you've experienced that feeling of blind loyalty -- you know, that conscious urge commanding you to watch your team, despite their lack of competitiveness or the fact that they are playing the late game on the West Coast. "Hey," that voice will tell you, "you never know; something exciting might happen!" Sadly, more often than not, that voice is very, very wrong. And so it was on Monday night, as whatever Nationals fans who could claim themselves die-hard enough to stay up past midnight in order to watch a team with nothing to play for certainly found nothing exciting in last night's 3-1 loss against the Padres. Oh, there were plenty of conclusions to be had, mind you -- just none of them particularly enthralling: Willie Harris sure is no Nyjer Morgan at the top of the lineup; Livan Hernandez (7-9) has got to be bummed that another decent outing ended in defeat; and -- don't ask me how -- the Nationals may be the only team in professional baseball who are capable of hitting into a 1-2-3 double play with the squeeze on. All this against a team consisting of Adrian Gonzalez, Tony Gwynn's son, David Eckstein and six guys you've probably never heard of. Yup, sometimes that inner voice of loyalty is just a no-good, dirty liar. more ›