Maurice Dews, who stands accused of three counts of arson, including one fire which led to the injury of several firefighters on April 8, will appear in court tomorrow morning after being ruled competent to stand trial. more ›

A Middletown man has been charged with attempted arson after he tried to set fire to the house of a Bureau of Alcohol Tabacco and Firearms agent in Frederick. John Christopher Woods, a volunteer firefighter, tried to add fuel to the flames of a gas grill outside of the ATF agent's house. Woods told police he is in love with the agent and she had been ignoring his attempts to contact her. more ›

The United States Attorney's Office has indicted Vasile Graure on murder charges in connection to the fire he set at the Good Guys strip club in November 2007. Graure was charged with the murder of Vladimir Djordjevic in September; Djordjevic, a manager at the club, suffered burns over 80 percent of his body in the blaze and died in May. Graure is already serving a 30-year sentence on arson and assault charges -- with the indictment, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. more ›

Sad news from the Associated Press (via WaPo). Vladimir Djordjevic, the former manager of the Good Guys strip club in Glover Park, has died. Regular readers will recall the scary incident in November of 2007, when assailant Vasile Graure returned to Good Guys with a can of gasoline after having been kicked out of the club, and proceeded to set Djordjevic on fire. Graure was convicted of arson and assault a year later, and was eventually sentenced to 30 years in prison. Djordjevic, meanwhile, remained in the hospital, going through dozens of surgeries as doctors attempted to help him recover from the burns he had suffered to 90 percent of his body. He passed away on Monday, according to the AP. Graure could now face additional murder charges. more ›

There have been three trash receptacle fires in the last four weeks in the same alley behind a section of 3rd Street SE, WJLA reports. A string of fires like that in the same location makes it tough to speculate that a carelessly tossed cigarette butt might be to blame; odds are some pyro is setting the bins ablaze. So far, no buildings have become victims of the flames, but residents over there are understandably a bit freaked that eventually, one of these fires can and will spread. Fire officials are investigating, and asking the public to keep an eye out. Trash can and dumpster fires are no joke, folks. more ›

A fire broke out in a second floor classroom at Anacostia Senior High School, located at 1601 16th Street SE, this morning. more ›

City Desk reported earlier that a fire had broken out at Woodson Senior High School in Northeast this morning, forcing an evacuation and the disruption of classes. Mike DeBonis reported that the fire erupted in a janitor’s closet on the 5th floor of the school, located at 5500 Eads St. NE, and that fire department officials were investigating the incident as a possible act of arson. more ›

>> A gas main break closed Route 1 in Alexandria this afternoon. Expect delays. [WaPo] >> The suspicious death of a two-year-old Silver Spring boy has been ruled a homicide. [WTOP] >> Authorities have arrested and charged a Clinton, Md., woman with attempted murder and other arson-related charges for her involvement starting fire in a Gaithersburg apartment building on Thanksgiving morning. [NBC4] >> An Oak Hill Thanksgiving: "Just days before, a riot broke out... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Have a good Halloween? We have to admit, this year's midweek scheduling kind of put a damper on the holiday's opportunities for costumed revelry. It didn't stop us from eating a ridiculous amount of candy, though. Naturally, we feel that the children are to blame: if more kids had stopped by we wouldn't be stuck with this glut of chocolate and dearth of willpower. Perhaps this is why our childhood neighbors... more ›

>> Lieutenant Sean M. Egan of the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department has emailed out a citywide call for blood donations in the wake of four D.C. firefighters having been seriously burned yesterday at a rowhouse fire at 621 4th St. NE. You can find a blood donation center here. >> George Clooney is in D.C., and still hott. [GossipGirls] >> Police are investigating an arson at Western Presbyterian Church on Virginia... more ›

Courtney Mabeus over at The Examiner says that Capitol Lounge should reopen today after getting the go ahead from health inspectors. The bar suffered its second fire in two years on Wednesday, but damage this time, estimated at about $15,000, looks to have been largely limited to the back patio. The Trover Gift Shop on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Ave. SE was also damaged in the blaze, which started in a dumpster behind the... more ›

Good morning, D.C. Did any of you stay up watching the filibuster, or pre-filibuster, or anti-filibuster, or whatever the heck we're calling it? Yeah, us neither. We did manage to catch a moment of it while en route to the Daily Show, and were greeted with a slightly disheveled-looking legislator gesticulating wildly at a chart of a Humvee. Unfortunately, we have no idea whether the sleepless showdown is likely to produce anything other than entertaining... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Looks like we have two new D.C. Council members this morning: Muriel Bowser, a 34-year-old ANC, took the Ward 4 seat vacated by Mayor Adrian Fenty, and Yvette M. Alexander, a 45-year-old former insurance regulator, took the Ward 7 seat left behind by Council Chair Vincent Gray. Both women ran in extremely crowded fields, but received the endorsements of their predecessors which allowed them to stand out from the pack (and raise... more ›

Good morning, Washington. We really wish we had some good news to share in regards to the local weather forecast, but it's starting to seem as though the more often we refresh the weather page, the worse the predictions actually get. So new rule this morning. We'll only talk about kittens and lollipops and pretty pretty ribbons until we get at least two days in a row with sunshine. Our strategy is clear: annoy the... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Need something to warm your funny bone (or at least your sense of outrage) on this appropriately cold winter morning? Well, look no further that the hijinks of Virginia's legislators. We thought that Virgil Goode's silly attacks on Rep. Keith Ellison were all the entertainment that the commonwealth was likely to offer in the short term. But, as NBC4 reports, state representative Frank Hargrove has come to the rescue, committing two enormous... more ›

Morning, Washington. First things first: how freaking awesome was that field goal? Second, how wonderful was the gorgeous fall weather we had all weekend? Hope you all got out to enjoy the colors of the trees a bit -- 25,000 of which Mayor Williams has planted since he first took office eight years ago. This past Sunday, the city's biggest tree was honored (which begs the question of how one honors a tree, exactly).... more ›

Good morning, Washington. We hope you're as excited as we are to read about how we're going to have lower heating bills this winter, due to predictions of a mild winter ahead. Hooray! We think we'll put that extra money towards a nice vacation. But hey, errr, wait a minute. Does this mean we're not going to get any full snow days again this year? Noooooo! Increase in Crime on Metro Slowing?: The Examiner reports... more ›

Good morning, D.C. How are you feeling this morning? Tired? Did you stay up late to watch the old Wilson Bridge be demolished? Yeah, us too. After waiting for what seemed like forever (due to, it turns out, some real geniuses who broke through the fence to get closer to the action) , the Bridge was finally blown, though we have to admit to being somewhat disappointed with the spectacle. Sure, the explosions were loud... more ›

A basement electrical fire at the IRS Headquarters on Constitution Avenue sent about 4,000 out of the building and home for the day. The building apparently filled with smoke around 9:30 this morning, but no injuries have been reported, and the fire is currently under investigation. Should arson emerge as a possibility, it is expected that everyone in the country will be named a suspect. more ›

Good morning, Washington, and happy St. Patrick's Day. One day into the tournament, we hope your NCAA bracket is shaping up well. We know it is for the GW Colonials — they eked out a three-point win over UNC Wilmington in overtime last night. Their next game will be against Duke at 1:10 on Saturday. Maryland Mulls Response To Utility Rate Hikes: Last week we discussed the steep electricity rate increase that will likely face... more ›

Hi there, Washington. Check out this lovely photo from Flickr user LaTur. It looks like we're in for more of that kind of sunny weather — today's going to be clear, windy and cold. Kaine Aide's Remarks Draw Republican Ire: William Leighty, Governor Tim Kaine's Chief of Staff has gotten his boss in trouble with Virginia Republicans after implying that the governor would discriminate against legislation drafted by lawmakers hostile to his transportation agenda. Leighty... more ›

We don't often report on the happenings of our neighbor to the north, Baltimore. But the picture above -- which I snapped on the Orange Line on Friday night -- reflects a sentiment and phenomenon that has plagued Baltimore in recent years and has been receiving national billing since. This week's Time features an article on the 'Stop Snitching' movement that has swept Baltimore's rough-and-tumble neighborhoods, and has thus far complicated the efforts of... more ›

Crime levels in the District improved, for the most part, in 2005, continuing a 15-year trend of improved public safety in Washington. While the capital's surrounding municipalities all experienced an increase in homicides from 2004 (with Prince George's County posting its highest toll ever at 168), the District saw a drop for the year to 195 homicides, down from 198 in 2004. It was the lowest number killed in the city since 1986. The Metropolitan... more ›

Good morning, Washington. It's time for us to let you in on a secret: some of us start work on these roundups the night before they go online. In fact, as we write this we're watching FOX5's 10PM storm coverage — and we're afraid that, at the moment, the weather prognosis does not look good. Judging solely by WTTG's graphics packages and the number of personnel on their Snow Patrol, we're facing a bona fide snowpocalypse. For those lucky few who have hoarded enough bread, milk and toilet paper to (briefly) forestall an icy demise: here's your morning roundup.

Storm Aftermath: Last night's storm dumped a whopping — well, we don't actually know how much snow came down. It certainly looks like less than an inch here in Northwest, but the local news outlets seem to be too embarassed by their doomsaying to fess up about the actual amount. Nevertheless, an icy coating may mean problems for your morning commute. WMATA crews worked through the night to make sure Metro runs smoothly, but it does look like the roads are slippery. Be careful out there. And, if you're still hoping that you might not have to venture out at all, NBC4 has a list of area closings here — most noteworthy is the federal government's two hour delay/unscheduled leave policy. Finally, all weatherphiles should be sure to check out CapitalWeather's liveblogging of the storm.

WMATA Board Considers Firing Chief Executive: Today's Post reports that members of the transit agency's board of directors are quietly considering removing CEO Richard White from his position. White has been with the agency since 1996, but his image has recently been hurt by a number of small scandals — and some mismanagement of funds large enough to attract Congressional attention. The board had asked to see improvement; apparently they haven't seen enough. In some good news (for riders, anyway), White has just announced his 2007 spending plan — and it doesn't include fare hikes.

Two Women Charged With Soliciting Assassins: In a truly bizarre story, two different Fairfax women — both named April — have been charged with trying to hire someone to kill their respective boyfriends. In both cases the solicitor's inquiries were answered by undercover police. The incidents aren't related, but there are even more similarities. The Post has all of the weird details.

Briefly Noted: Montgomery Blair H.S. student arrested for arson... Man spoiling for fight with city over nativity scene... Woman assaulted on way home from Metro... Sex Ed curriculum in Montgomery County sparks controversy...

Picture posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user erin m

If you’ve ever spent a Saturday evening home alone watching a “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” marathon on ABC’s Family Channel (not..that...this DCist...has), you probably know that when it comes to improv theatre, it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen. Actors never know what kind of suggestions they’ll get from the audience, and how well their team will respond under pressure. This can make for exciting, if uneven, entertainment, and Washington Improv Theater appears to be a troupe of pros who do an admirable job dealing with curve balls and spontaneity. more ›

You've been warned: your iPod may well be stolen while you ride the rails to and from home and work. What was once a phenomena limited to Boston and New York, iPod-related thefts have made their way down I-95 and are now affecting Metrorail commuters. Police recommend being discrete with your iPod, especially by avoiding the now infamous and easily recognizable white headphones. Butterstick Becomes Hottest Ticket in Town: Yesterday we complained of not... more ›

Good morning, Washington. We were happy to see today will be partly cloudy and slighly cooler than recently - highs in the upper 80s, and a 30 percent chance of rain. We thought this photo of Georgetown at dusk, snapped and Photoshopped by DCBlogs' Patrick Thibodeau, captures D.C.'s August haze and heat. Reader Services Department: A reader wrote to us last week asking us to post a link to a Craigslist posting about his stolen... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Today will bring a slight break in humidity, giving a preview of the weekend's promised relief from the unpleasant heat. But for some folks whose trade is naturally hot and unpleasant, today's news is not as good. Not only have D.C. firefighters recently had to deal with a possible maritime arson and mysteriously cancelled health insurance, but now one of their leaders is making unfortunate headlines. Thiry-one year veteran and assistant chief of operations James B. Martin was arrested yesterday after being caught driving a DCFD vehicle while intoxicated. At his request, he has been placed on indefinite leave.

Boys Injured by Lightning: Two eleven year old boys were hurt by lightning at Camp Tockwogh, a YMCA facility on the Eastern Shore. One of the two went into cardiac arrest, but thanks to well-trained teenage staffers and a recently purchased portable defibrillator the boy was revived. Both victims transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. One was admitted in serious condition; the other boy's status is classified as critical.

Loudoun Votes to Restrict Growth: The Post reports that the county's board voted last night to enact curbs on development that would raise the required lot size for houses in the western part of the county from three acres to twenty to forty, depending on location. Opponents say the policy is a violation of property owners' rights; supporters pushed for the regulation as a means of controlling the county's rapid growth.

Briefly Noted: More area bases slated for closure... YADCPSCS (yet another D.C. public school chemical spill)... Metro may switch to fewer trains with more cars... Dulles baggage handler pleads guilty to stealing thousands of credit cards...

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Good morning, Washington. Today's looking to be rainy, according to our friends at Capital Weather. But beyond watching for rain, you should be aware of the air quality forecast for the region, as our lead story makes clear. more ›

Good morning, Washington. We start with this photo on Flickr of L Street posted by Burnt Pixel, aka Keith Jenkins, the photo editor of The Washington Post Magazine. From the streetscape, we think that it was taken outside the Post's main office. Speaking of the Post, congrats to Steve Coll, who was the only person from the news organization to score a Pulitzer yesterday. As FishbowlDC puts it, the Post "got shut out" although Coll's book "got a nod" for best general nonfiction for "Ghost Wars." Although those in the newsroom may be peeved over the lack of wins this year, a Pulitzer is a Pulitzer, and congratulations are due to Mr. Coll. more ›