The Associated Press reports that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the District a share of $3.4 billion in federal "Race to the Top" grant funds. It is the largest-ever federal investment in school reform. D.C. will share the funds with nine states, including Maryland; the exact amount that the District will receive (and what it will be used for) will be announced at a later date. The Department of Education judged applications for funding based on "ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform." The District, with its new teacher evaluation system and the current administration's commitment to reform obviously made for a very strong application. It's a certainty that you'll also be hearing plenty of boasting about the award from Mayor Adrian Fenty as the primary election gets closer. UPDATE: D.C. will receive a $75 million share of the funds, according to a DCPS press release. more ›

The AP has a short-on-details report on news that a program called Safe City, funded by Target and Sprint Nextel, has decided to purchase crime cameras for the Trinidad neighborhood. Trinidad will apparently receive nearly 30 privately funded crime cameras, with installation beginning in May. more ›

In the NoMa BID's ongoing quest to spruce up their neighborhood, they now have a $50,000 matching grant awarded by the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities for the installation of public art. They intend to use it for artwork along First Street NE, an area currently zoned for mixed-use development. The cash is through the Public Art Building Communities grant program, "which offers funds to eligible artists and nonprofit organizations for the creation and installation of permanent public art projects in the District, including sculptures, mosaics, murals, special paving, custom benches, artistic gates, and more." Local artists, take note: the NoMa BID is putting out a call for artists very soon (keep your eye on their web site), with hopes to have the work completed by fall of 2009. more ›