Prince George's County police this afternoon released the identities of the victims of two nearby homicides Monday night.
Prince George's Police Identify Victims of Monday Homicides
Two Deaths in New Carrollton Ruled Homicides
The deaths of two young men whose bodies were discovered last night in New Carrollton have been ruled homicides, Prince George's County Police said.
Go Home Already: Before You Wreck Yourself
>> "Florida's top police agency said Wednesday its investigation into former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley's lurid Internet communications with teenage boys has been hindered because neither Foley nor the House will let investigators examine his congressional computers." [AP via TPM] >> "A New Carrollton mother accused of leaving her five young children in filth pleaded guilty in the case on Thursday." [NBC4] >> "A D.C. Superior Court judge today sentenced a former D.C. police...
Transit on Thursday: After the Storm Edition
As Metro emerges from yesterday's deep freeze, it's getting mixed reviews on its transportation response. Mayor Fenty is also under the microscope for his response to the snow according to local media. But with a power outage reported to have knocked out traffic lights throughout downtown earlier today, we're clearly not out of the woods yet. Meanwhile, the big news at Metro is the roll out of brand spankin' new information display screens outside...
Mapping Metro's Future
With all the bad news surrounding Metro recently, it is sometimes tough to remember how much we rely on it. The D.C area has the third highest transit ridership in the country, behind San Francisco and New York, and more than a third of District residents commute on Metro. Possible fare increases, tragic accidents, late, crowded trains, and other gripes are legitimate, but all transit systems have problems. When it comes down to it, Metro...
Woman Hit on Orange Line
A woman was hit by a train on Metro's Orange Line just before 10:30 this morning. The accident occurred at the Deanwood station on the inbound track. Emergency personel are on the scene, but there is no information about the condition of the victim. The Post is reporting the posibility of a suicide. Trains are sharing one track from New Carrollton to Stadium-Armory station, creating a 10-15 minute delay in both directions of the...
Purple State Transit Politics
Politically, Maryland may be more blue than purple. However, when it comes to transit this election season, our neighbors to the north are turning a lovely shade of lavender. The Washington Post reports today that the Purple Line, the proposed transit link between New Carrollton and Bethesda, has emerged as a key issue in the Maryland gubernatorial race. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, the Democratic candidate for governor, described the project as one of his top...
Flananigans!!!
The Purple Line transit link between New Carrollton and Bethesda has been the subject of quite a few shenanigans lately. Last Friday, The Washington Post ran an editorial arguing that now that plans for the Intercounty Connector are finalized, the Purple Line must be the next priority. The following Thursday, we questioned just how committed to the Purple Line Maryland and the Ehrlich administration really are. However, neither piece offered quite as much insight into...
Transit on Thursday: Lavender Line Edition
The Purple Line, a transit project that would link New Carrollton and Bethesda, is an idea that has been bandied about for years. As the Post noted last week, shifting growth patterns and economic trends make the need for just this kind of inter-burb transit even more urgent. For a while, Maryland seemed to have pushed the Purple Line off the table with the decision to support the multi-billion dollar Intercounty Connector instead. However, state...
Plotting Out July Fourth
For those who will be around town this weekend, it's probably safe to assume that you'll run into some sort of July Fourth crowd. We used to go down to the Mall, but sitting around for hours to secure a patch of grass in the sun isn't what we call fun. We've mixed up our fireworks-watching spots from year to year and here, we want to start a conversation with our readers as to different...
WMATA: We're Lovin' It?
If you're riding the Orange Line today, you may come across metrorail's first ad-wrapped train car. And which advertiser will you see sprawled out on the side of the train car? McDonald's. But don't worry "Super Size Me" fans, you won't see a Big Mac. Fries won't be there either. It's a healthier option: Locally, McDonald's is working with Metro in their efforts to generate additional revenue as the first advertiser as they launch the...
Morning Roundup: Another Cold Monday Edition
Today will be mostly sunny with highs around 40. The National Weather Service has issued an advisory warning commuters to watch out for icy patches on roads as temperatures dipped below freezing last night. The photo is a fish at The Reef in Adams Morgan.
Iraqis Vote in P.G. County
WUSA reported last week that Iraqi citizens living on the East Coast will have a chance to register and vote in their motherland's elections (taking place at the end of this week) at the Ramada Inn in New Carrollton. To register, prospective voters must prove Iraqi citizenship and show that they were born before Dec. 31, 1986. At first, the suburban location of the center seems slightly illogical; however, the hotel's proximity to New Carrollton's Amtrak services and relative distance from central D.C. seem to satisfy both convenience and safety concerns. The location is one of five in the United States, the others located in Nashville, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Train Service Suspended at Union Station
Just a quick commuter update ...
Morning Roundup: Homeless and Housing Edition
Hotel Talks Off: The AP, via WJLA, reports that contract talks between the union representing hotel workers and their employers have gotten stuck and have broken off, a week before Inauguration Day when the city's top hotels will be filled with impressionable out-of-town visitors.
Sidenotes From Metro Center Incident
Yesterday's incident at the Metro Center involving a person being struck and killed by an Orange Line train has highlighted two unconnected, but important issues. First, suicide and second, WMATA's continuing communication problems.
Weekend Track Work
WMATA is warning weekend riders that they may experience delays on the Red Line and Orange Line for track work.

