A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland was jointly approved by two House committees yesterday. more ›

Yesterday afternoon some 60 protesters gathered in a newly barren McPherson Square to discuss how a movement that so closely linked its message to its tactics could transition in a post-camping world. No longer was a presence enough to remind the one percent that the 99 percent was watching; from this point on, Occupy D.C. has to make its point without actually occupying. more ›

Really big news from Virginia. The Post is reporting that Gov. Tim Kaine and House Speaker William Howell (R) announced this morning that they have struck a deal on legislation that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars across the entire state. The agreement is one that some thought would never come, given the importance of tobacco to the state's economy. more ›

Everyone knows by now that talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving in the District is illegal -- even if it is a poorly enforced and largely ignored law. But given the increasing popularity of SMS (and really, who actually talks on the phone anymore? I recently found myself incredibly frustrated that a close friend left me a voicemail. Who leaves garbled voicemail when you can shoot a quick, clear text? You want me to call who? Just send me a text, ZOMG!!1!), what's the rule on the arguably more dangerous practice of texting while driving? Turns out, there is none, and in Virginia at least, some legislators would like to change that. more ›

Now is the time of year when we all get to start complaining about how stupid standard time is and how walking out of our offices last night into pitch black darkness was weird and uncomfortable and made us confused about what time happy hour was supposed to start. That is all. 'Fat Gap' Between Whites and Blacks in D.C. High: We've certainly talked about the income gap between whites and blacks in our city... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Can you feel the excitement in the air? That's right: it's Taxi Decision Day. Will District residents get a shiny new meter system, or have to make our peace with zones for the foreseeable future? Or will we be treated to a metered zone hybrid/abomination? It'll be just a few hours until we find out. Immigration Measures Elicit Passion, Lawsuits: The Post reports on the scene in Prince William County, where... more ›

This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King, and appreciated their beautiful skyline. Chicagoist knows what it's like to like the Cubs. But naming your kid Wrigley Fields? At least they can breathe a little easier now that Grossman's out and... more ›

Two of our favorite local acts, Le Loup and These United States are taking the main stage of the Black Cat tomorrow night, in celebration of the release of Le Loup's album, The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly. Both bands have graced the pages and stages of DCist in the past, so today we're trying something different. Le Loup's Sam Simkoff and Dan Ryan and TUS' Jesse Elliot and... more ›

Good morning, D.C. With much of the hot political action this week taking place at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, it's our job to pull your focus away from trivial issues the mainstream media seem obsessed with, like global climate change, and bring it back down to what's really important at the local level, like complaining about how gasoline could be about to get really, really expensive in Maryland. What's that you... more ›

Since they popped onto the local scene just a few months ago, Le Loup has been making major waves. They were filling local music venues, getting signed to a great label, and setting up tours with big name artists in the time it takes most bands to decide on a name and set up a MySpace page. They've worked their way into our hearts here at DCist too, as a Three Stars band and headlining... more ›

The Alexandria City Council passed a bill on Saturday that would effectively ban smoking in restaurants in the city. The council has to vote again on the measure, which makes changes to use permit regulations that would require restaurants to go smoke free, before it would go into effect, and that vote isn't planned until after the next Virginia General Assembly session ends. Alexandria officials are hoping the General Assembly will pass its own state-wide... more ›

Those of you anxiously waiting to hear if you'll have to permanently crush out your butts in Virginia eateries can happily light up another. Yesterday, the state's General Assembly voted to reject Governor Tim Kaine's proposed smoking ban in Viriginia's restaurants. In their very last session before they break for the rest of 2007, Assembly members urged the Governor to reconsider what some claim would be too-widely sweeping a restriction -- making it illegal to... more ›

Whether you are legitimately concerned about the future of transportation development in Virginia or simply sick of the endless debate clogging column inches in your local paper, the end is finally in sight. When the General Assembly finally compromised on a transportation funding package earlier this month, Governor Tim Kaine was not particularly pleased with what he saw. The Governor had promised to exercise his option to amend the bill and send it back to... more ›

Ever since legislation was introduced in the D.C. Council that would mandate vaccinations for the HPV virus, the issue has moved to the forefront of the public health debate around the country. With an increasing number of states considering a mandatory vaccine -- at least 20 to date -- debate has raged between advocates that believe that a vaccine could prevent a serious public health crisis, opponents who claim that it infringes upon the rights... more ›

Sad news, Washington. Fox 5 brings us a heartbreaking story from a Maryland farm. Apparently someone broke into a barn in Yellow Springs, Md. and cut off a sheep's head. As Shawn Yancy lamented, this left "an adorable lamb... motherless". Just think! What kind of monster would harm a helpless farm animal? Fortunately, Brian Bolter was on the case, outlining the possibilities: it seems to either be a "sick joke" or — far more likely... more ›

Good morning, Washington. February's almost upon us, and the D.C. Board of Education is still here. But for how much longer? Yesterday we mentioned the board's attempt at self-preservation. Today the Post brings word that their counter-proposal may be a tougher sell than they had anticipated: an audit of the city's finances returned generally positive results... except in the school system. Within it auditors found resistance and sloppiness that, if not corrected, could ultimately... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher Opponents to Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, including Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin and D.C. Council-member David Catania (I-At Large), will host a benefit tonight at the Human Rights Campaign's D.C. headquarters. The event is designed to bring together both members of the Virginia community who oppose the marriage ban, as well as District and Maryland residents who support their efforts. The benefit will raise money for... more ›

Dear Neighbors, Is there any chance you guys could get on this? It seems like it could be important. The House of Representatives passed legislation yesterday that would commit $1.5 billion over 10 years to improve the Metro transit system as long as the District, Maryland and Virginia guarantee to match that money. The vote was 242 to 120, just exceeding the needed two-thirds majority. The District has approved a measure to dedicate 0.5 percent... more ›

We've all seen the signs around the District -- by city law, pedestrians in crosswalks without crossing signals have the right of way. But will we ever get caught zooming through intersections while pedestrians try to cross? According to the Post, we just might. Provoked by the 10 pedestrian deaths so far this year, police have started going undercover to enforce the District's pedestrian laws, often to the chagrin of city drivers oblivious to... more ›

Houstonist reports on cross-dressing thieves and undressing educators this week. A Peeping Tom defends himself with a papaya and an outraged onlooker asks Ken Lay, "TATER TOTS OR FRIES?" Also, FEMA wants it's money back. LAist are a bug bunch of geeks. They're Star Trek geeks, David Duchovny geeks and Frank Gehry geeks. During their Cochella preview their readers reveal themselves to be Depeche Mode geeks. Seattlest saw their basketball team preparing to leave for... more ›

Today's evening commute could be a wild one as around 180,000 demonstrators are expected to gather on the Mall this afternoon, many after marching through the downtown area from Meridian Hill Park. The National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice is expected to draw large crowds of supporters in cities across the nation (and has already begun to do so -- some 300,000 gathered yesterday in Dallas). The march through the city will begin around... more ›

In the complicated scheme of Metro's multi-jurisdictional funding, there are some counties in Maryland and Virginia that we could term "freeloaders." They're the transit equivalent of the roommates that never pay for the beer but have no trouble drinking it. Let's call them Anne, Howard, William and Loudoun. Metro's Board of Directors yesterday expressed its annoyance that Anne, Howard, William and Loudoun, which add 73,500 daily riders to the already congested system, aren't paying... more ›

Millions of dollars of security improvements just don't seem to be enough -- Metro is asking that riders be their "eyes and ears" in protecting the transit system against terrorist attack, writes the Examiner. To that end, Metro's System Safety and Risk Protection Department and Transit Police have announced a series of Emergency Management Outreach events, the first taking place tomorrow from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at Union Station. We feel we've done our part -- our "Overheard in D.C." feature has encouraged, celebrated even, nosy commuters. more ›

John Reid, a Virginia Delegate representing Henrico (and pictured at right), accidentally discharged a gun in his General Assembly office today. Reid has a valid permit for keeping a concealed weapon, and, according to the Post, he usually carries the gun with him into legislative sessions, albeit unloaded. The embarrassed Delegate apologized to his fellow legislators and called the discharge an accident which occured while he was unloading the gun. We find it suspicious, however, that the fired weapon hit a bulletproof vest that Reid kept in his office. Pretty lucky, no? more ›

The morning after the United States celebrated 229 years of independence, the General Assembly of the 55-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) voted to endorse a resolution calling on the U.S. Congress to pass the legislation necessary to granting District residents full voting rights. more ›

It seems that the governor of our oft-neglected neighbor to the north -- the first Republican governor Maryland has had in 36 years -- is having little luck in shaping state politics these days. Recent legislative moves in the state's Democratic-controlled General Assembly have pushed progressive causes that favor labor over industry and may force Gov. Robert Ehrlich into the uncomfortable position of using his veto power -- and possibly having it overriden. more ›

Good morning, Washington. There's already snow on the ground, as you can see in this DDOT traffic camera shot (around 8:45 a.m.) of the corner of Alabama and Pennsylvania avenues in Southeast. And more will be falling all morning and into the afternoon. Check out Capital Weather for all the details. We heard stirrings of weather bets in comments yesterday. How did you fare? Schools Out, for More Reasons Than Just Snow: The threat of... more ›

We did a double take upon hearing that members of the Virginia General Assembly objected to the prayer that opened the session this past Friday. Then we learned about the content of the prayer. We were less surprised. During her invocation, Rev. Deborah Peevey was heard to say, "Holy One, convict those who are using their power not to lead or to guide but to harm the gay and lesbian citizens, a small minority in... more ›

New legislative excitement from Richmond! The Post reports that the Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill that has raised the ire of gun-rights advocates accusing proponents of a hunting-blood alcohol level clarification measure of trying to limit their Second Amendment protections. From the Post: ... Senate Bill 1149 further clarifies the state code so that a hunter who had a blood alcohol content of .02 would be guilty of a misdemeanor. That's tougher than... more ›

Watch out D.C. drivers, the District is deploying four new photo radar cameras for "final testing." That means that while the cameras will flash and take your photo if you are speeding, you will not be issued a ticket. more ›