UPDATE: NPR spokesperson Anna Christopher Bross contacted us this afternoon to clarify that NPR did not have a direct role in any decision to remove Simeone from the hosting duties of Soundprint.
NPR Host Fired Due to D.C. Protest Involvement
DOES Manager Fired Amid Fraud Investigation
Another day, another investigation into potential fraud inside a city agency which has led to the termination of another city employee. This time around, it's the Department of Employment Services, which has fired interim associate director of unemployment compensation Gaby Fraser amid a D.C. Inspector General investigation into possible fraud.
Fired Chipotle Workers To March in Protest This Evening
Last month, we reported on a protest attended by several dozen people, including D.C. Councilmembers Jim Graham and Michael A. Brown, regarding the the firing of approximately 40 workers from Chipotle's Columbia Heights, Woodley Park and Chinatown locations. Tonight, on the 20th anniversary of violent clashes between police and the Latino community in Mount Pleasant, the same group will march from Sacred Heart Church at 16th Street and Park Road NW to the Chipotle at 3113 14th Street NW in another demonstration against the mass firings.
DOES Director Rochelle Webb Fired
Loose Lips was first to the news this afternoon that Rochelle Webb, the acting Department of Employment Services Director who recently made headlines for living on the taxpayer dime at the W Hotel for a month and having a city-provided chauffeur during that same period, has been fired.
Placed On "Administrative Leave" This Morning, Sulaimon Brown Reportedly Became "Disorderly"
Everyone's still trying to sort out what precisely happened this morning which led to former mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown being led out of a D.C. government office by police. (On the plus side, the whole story gives us one dandy excuse to run this image of Brown photobombing the hell out of President Obama.) Here's what we know for sure: the Gray administration has confirmed that Brown was indeed escorted by police out of the Department of Health Care Finance offices at 899 North Capitol Street NE this morning and is on "administrative leave"...but that's pretty much it. But there sure are some intriguing puzzle pieces to sift through so far!
No Really, Clean Out That Desk
When I accepted the offer to become DCist's new editor a couple of months ago, I was really only dreading one thing: cleaning out the desk at my old office job, which I had worked at for nearly four years. I had no idea what I'd pull out of those dark, cavernous cells which usually served as a place for me to shove things when I was in a rush. The task didn't disappoint. Some old socks, long-expired cough syrup and prescription medications and several pieces of food in unmentionable condition were but some of the discoveries. (I probably should have been wearing gloves, now that I reflect on it.) But as disgusting as it may have been, I was reasonably sure that I wouldn't end up finding anything illegal inside the guts of my trusty desk.
Acta Out, Riggleman In: Breaking Down The Nats Managerial Change
It took a little bit longer than expected, but Manny Acta is officially no longer the manager of the Washington Nationals, as first reported by ESPN Deportes and confirmed by the Associated Press. It was certainly time for the Nationals to make the switch: between a downward spiral of poor performances, color commentators (usually some of the game's biggest cheerleaders) questioning the team's effort, local media fondly reminiscing about the old manager, the dismissal of the team's pitching coach, and the jettisoning of several underperforming players, there was simply no one left to take the bullet for the team's recent run of form. That the Nationals (aside from Ryan Zimmerman, who'll be in St. Louis for the All-Star Game) will get a full three days to digest the change helps to explain the timing.
Acta Out As Nationals Manager This Week
Ken Rosenthal at FOXsports.com had the scoop that beleaguered Nationals manager Manny Acta will be relieved of his duties at some point this week, replaced by current bench coach and former major league manager Jim Riggleman. The forty-year-old Acta, the youngest active manager in the bigs when he was hired in 2007, has accumulated a 148-235 record in his two-plus seasons with the team -- but has seen a steady negative decline since his inaugural campaign in 2007, when the Nats won 73 games. It was seemingly a matter of time before Acta was let go; at 16-44, there's not much else to do but can the guy in charge.

