December 1 is World AIDS Day, and several vigils and protests are planned in D.C. today and through the weekend to mark the occasion. In the wake of the recent report by the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration calling the HIV infection rate in the city "a modern epidemic," over 40 protesters are planning to drape themselves in red tape and stage a sit-in on the White House sidewalk by Lafayette Square at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.... more ›

The condom saga continues, as community groups have returned as many as 70,000 of the D.C.-branded condoms provided by the health department. Despite assuring the public that the condoms, which bear the slogan "Coming Together to Stop HIV in D.C.", are safe and effective, the city eventually gave in and agreed to phase them out, agreeing that they were now so mistrusted as to no longer be effective, de facto. The uproar began when the Post published a story saying demand for the condoms had gone way down in recent months as people reported that the integrity of their packaging was questionable. more ›

>> Mayor Fenty has named Shannon Lee Hader, an epidemiologist and public health physician who has directed the U.S. AIDS program in Zimbabwe, to head the District's HIV/AIDS Administration. [WaPo] >> D.C. Law enforcement officials are trying to seize control of a house at 1923 Rhode Island Avenue NE, a long-time location for illicit activity. [WJLA] >> A small plane crash landed in the Hollywood area of St. Mary's County. Two of three passengers... more ›

We get it: Mayor Fenty is one helluva busy guy. In his first few months on the job, he's hit the ground running on issues ranging from public safety to schools to Congressional representation. One area where some residents feel he's been curiously quiet, though, is on the District's ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis. Among them is the newly formed Metro D.C.chapter of The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA), which writes that with "Adrian Fenty's first 100 Days more than half over, it is clear that he has failed to lead on HIV/AIDS in the District." more ›

We noted earlier this month that D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty planned to overhaul the D.C. Department of Health in his first 100 days, and the Examiner reports that this is well under way. Earlier this week the pyramid underneath reappointed Director Gregg Pane got a little narrower, as the eleven agencies were consolidated into seven, and a number of senior deputies and chiefs of staff were let go. Notably, pregnancy prevention and care and school... more ›

When we last checked in on the state of HIV/AIDS in the District last August, things were looking rather grim. more ›

World AIDS Day, observed today, has particular relevance and importance for the District. The city has the distinction of suffering from one of the nation's highest rates of HIV infection, afflicting 1 in 20 residents, ten times the national average, and 1 in 7 African-American men. The District's response to the problem has been so ineffectual (some say the city is 10 to 15 years behind where it should be) that in August D.C. Mayor... more ›

The Washington Business Journal broke the news late last night that the director of the District Department of Health, Gregg Pane, has chosen Marsha Martin, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist and director of the non-profit organization AIDS Action, to head up the city's troubled HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA). more ›

While D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams touted the success of his government reform initiatives by celebrating the millionth caller to the Citywide Call Center yesterday, he was similarly forced to acknowledge failure in a simmering, city-wide health crisis. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Today will be partly cloudy in the morning and then clearing with highs in the 80s. This photo of the Potomac at sunset was posted to DCist photos by the flickr user "adrummer_boy" who also uploaded a couple others we liked - one of the C&O Canal at dawn and another Potomac sunset photo. If you've got a blog you can get your meetup on tonight at the monthly meetup.com event for... more ›

City officials are reeling after a member of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' cabinet was found dead in her home. Wanda Alston had served as advisor to the mayor as director of the D.C. Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. She is pictured to the right in a photo from the Washington Blade printed in a story from last July about the selection of a new head for the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration. The AP... more ›