Good morning, Washington. For those of you who were inconvenienced by yesterday afternoon's Red line mishap, we're sure you'll be glad to hear that the suspect who Montgomery County police chased into the tunnel got away. The whole incident started just after 2 p.m. when officers, acting on a suspicious-person call, spotted Michael J. Brown, a man known by area police and who is wanted in Baltimore for several charges of theft. After a chase... more ›

Start making last minute happy hour plans immediately if your ride home includes the Red line. WMATA is reporting that there is no train service at either Bethesda or Medical Center due to a police situation. Shuttle bus service is up and running, but really, it's Thursday. Just go get a drink after work and wait for this crap to blow over. Super fun Red line delays should be expected in both directions. more ›

A couple of odd and/or disturbing crimes that happened in the District this morning are making headlines. >> Metro Transit Police are investigating a stabbing outside the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station that took place early this morning. There are conflicting reports about exactly what happened. ABC7 says the unidentified victim told police he was stabbed from behind while he was going down the escalator at the metro entrance at 7th and H Streets NW. But... more ›

Good Morning, Washington. It looks like another fine spring day from our vantage point at DCist headquarters -- weather fit for a queen, as it were. Thanks to Flickr user Jon-Miles for sharing some of his shots with us from yesterday's press event with President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II. Today is the final day of the Queen's tour of the region. Before a private dinner with the Bushes, she'll spend it by visiting the... more ›

Good morning D.C., and thanks for sticking with us. We realize that there may be some confusion about our legal status as a website in light of our failure, to date, to post the HD-DVD decryption key that 95% of the web seems to now be busy defiantly reproducing. Rest assured: we are still an internet website. As soon as we figure out a way to photoshop the 16-byte hexadecimal number into a picture... more ›

>> Metrobus driver and five passengers injured in bus crash. No charges filed. [NBC4] more ›

If you've been itching for a day of pampering but can't seem to justify the cost after sending in that check to the IRS, DCist found the perfect excuse. Thursday, Washington women are invited to Beauty Night Out, a event highlighting style and beauty trends along with facials, hair consultations and cocktails. Best of all, a portion of the proceeds from the to do benefit Dress for Success, a program to help disadvantaged women flourish... more ›

Well Washington, it's been a fun week, but this Friday the 13th leaves us a little jittery. To combat any bad mojo, we decided to start the day on a bright note are share a snapshot of DCist headquarters, or at least a reasonable facsimile therein. Reader Lara Marks-Finder sent us this yummy scene in response to the Post's Peep diorama contest. She also accurately depicts the inner workings of D.C.'s other top-notch blogs.... 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, D.C. Are you one of those people who counts on regular weather patterns to plan your week and travel? Ha! After a week of wintry mix horrors and an odd weekend in the 50's, temperatures are back in the 30's today, with winds causing spotty power outages in our area. If you miss the fluffy white stuff, then hold your breath for about 24 hours and enjoy a wet snow front tomorrow. But... more ›

And a glorious Friday to you, Washington. Granted, it's not exactly pleasant out right now, but we're going to boldly agree completely with the National Weather Service about tomorrow: highs in the mid-50s, with plenty of sun (peeking through a few clouds). We'll take it. After the week we've had, we would have taken Antarctica, just as long as we got to sleep in a little and not have to think about work for at... more ›

>> The DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF) opens tonight with a special tribute to Academy Award winning Executive Producer John Daly (Terminator, Platoon), and DCist will be there. Daly will be presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the film industry. Having trouble choosing between which of the 139 films being offered this year? DCist will have a slew of reviews over the course of the festival. We're especially excited about DCIFF's move... more ›

It's another nice day out there, Washington. Or, is it? Actually forecasters are calling for rain (but no wintry mix here) in the late part of the day, so bring your umbrella even though it doesn't seem like you really need one right now. And while you're searching the depths of your closet for one, consider this question: Now that the plans for a new Madame Tussauds wax museum in downtown Washington are officially coming... more ›

Heads up to anyone who may be thinking of even trying to get on the Red Line today, you're in for one heck of a wait. WMATA is reporting that a man was struck and killed by a train at the Bethesda station. DCist tipster Blake sent us word of the incident which occurred at approximately 9:10 a.m. According to the official WMATA statement:

Eyewitnesses report that the man jumped in front of the six-car train, which was headed toward Glenmont station...While the investigation continues, Bethesda station is closed. Trains are sharing one track between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights stations on the Red Line. Customers can expect significant delays in that area.

Last month, Inside Higher Ed had a story you might have missed about a local effort to establish a U.S. Public Service Academy. Two veterans of Teach for America, Shawn Raymond and Chris Myers Asch, have put together a proposal for an elite national university modeled after the U.S. Armed Services academies (West Point, Air Force Academy, etc.), but instead of military service, students would receive a federally-subsidized education in exchange for 5 years of civilian public service. You can download their entire proposal here. more ›

Forgetful drivers be warned -- this is not the week to not wear your seatbelt. The Metropolitan Police Department has announced that through June 4 they will be stepping up enforcement of the city's seatbelt laws, violations of which can result in a $50 fine and two points on your license. The District Department of Transportation has reported that seatbelt usage in the District stands at 89 percent -- leaving 11 percent of drivers... more ›

It was a tantalizing prospect. The news that Walter Reed Army Medical Center would close in 2011 had District residents and officials dreaming of the possible uses for the 113 acres of land located between 16th Street and Georgia Avenue in residential Northwest Washington. Getting their hands on the land was always a longshot, however, and news organizations are reporting today that the Feds have lowered the boom on the idea -- deciding instead to... more ›

The owners of Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse in the downtown Capital Hilton recently learned what Lorelai and Rory Gilmore have known all along: regularly scheduled Friday night dinners are contentious affairs. more ›

Well, someone else said it first. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams is a lame duck, or so said Howard University President Patrick Swygert in an email sent on Wednesday to students and staff. WTOP is reporting that Swygert, none-too-happy that Williams stepped back from supporting a controversial plan to partner with Howard and build a new $400 million hospital in Southeast, fired off an email in which he took Williams to task, writing: Anthony Williams, who... more ›

While he may spend much of his time clogging up traffic with his expensive motorcades to and from work, Vice President Dick Cheney really does seem to have a soft spot for the District. more ›

So, we've heard mixed reviews about the moving picture ads in the Metro tunnels; after seeing them on my commute home yesterday, I have to say I thought they were pretty damn cool. Granted, if I hadn't known already what was being advertised, it would have been tough to figure out the exact content of the ads, but I found it stunning to see a grainy image where there would normally be darkness. more ›

If you've got a council of city representatives nervous about spending over $500 million for a stadium, what's the best way to soothe their nerves? Throw another huge, risky capital project their way, of course! more ›

Good morning, Washington. The Post reports today that an agreement has been reached on the development of the National Capital Medical Center. Howard University and city officials yesterday told the paper that a deal is complete outlining the placement of the $400 million hospital on the site of the former D.C. General Hospital in Southeast. The city will contribute $212 million toward construction, though Howard remains noncommital on how much care will be made available to the uninsured. more ›

DCist can finally claim it has reached a journalistic zenith -- in a first, we received a tip from a well-placed source that D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams is set to make an announcement today concerning his political future. While we tried to tease more info out of our source -- is Williams running for re-election, or is he stepping aside? -- the most we can say is that today is the day that will decide the future of the two-term pol and the three candidates seeking to take his place. According to the Post, who also picked up the story, Williams is set to announce at noon at the Hillcrest Recreation Center in Southeast. WTOP already jumped on the news -- they claim Williams won't run again. We're betting the same. more ›

In a huge blow to the region’s economy, a federal commission charged with choosing which armed forces bases to close decided Walter Reed Army Medical Center (named after the Civil War doctor and major at right) will likely admit its last patient soon. The closure, which includes the Northwest center as well as office space in Northern Virginia, means 9,000 jobs will go elsewhere. The decision means that those jobs will shift to exurban bases,... more ›

Abandon all hope, ye who enter the Red line: there's going to be some serious track work this weekend that could affect your plans and goings-on, so listen up. A huge track rehabilitation project (something to do with, er, grout pad? Sounds uncomfortable) on the Red Line will disrupt service between Grosvenor-Strathmore and the Medical Center; the stations will remain open but without service. WMATA will operate free shuttle bus service every five minutes between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center. more ›

10:30 A.M. -- WTOP is reporting that the Medical Center Metro station is closed due to a suspicious package. The shutdown occurred at 10 AM and a bus line is being set up to transport passengers between Grosvenor and Bethesda. The Red line is delayed at least ten minutes in both directions, so plan your travels accordingly. more ›

Mayor Williams got his wish. After planning to consolidate regional hearings in Baltimore, the Defense Department will hold Base Realignment and Closure Commission hearings in the District to look at the impact of the proposed closure or realignment of Defense Department facilities in D.C. From the mayor: “I am pleased that Secretary Rumsfeld and BRAC Chairman Principi have heeded my call to engage in a dialog with District residents on how closing Walter Reed will... more ›

As the Post notes this morning, Mayor Williams wants the Defense Department to hold at least one Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission meeting in the District to discuss the proposed move of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on 16th Street NW to Maryland and other BRAC moves that would shift 6,000 jobs out of the District. (Walter Reed himself, is pictured here.) Currently a hearing for the region is proposed for Baltimore on... more ›