Results tagged “theap”

Good morning, D.C. The federal government is observing Veteran's Day today, which means Washington is much quieter than normal this morning. The chilly, wet weather certainly isn't helping make the work day, for those of us who are at our desks, any more inviting. Keep in mind that post offices, banks, schools and local government offices are closed for the day as well. Coal Train Clean-up Continues: Workers are still out cleaning up the site...

The Associated Press is reporting that a dark cherry red Peterbilt tanker truck hauling gasoline was stolen at gunpoint this morning in Baltimore. ABC News follows up with word that police believe it to be a straight-up robbery and not connected to terrorism in any way, but that the Joint Terrorism Task Forces from Washington and Baltimore are assisting local Police in the investigation as a precaution. The suspect was last seen driving the truck...

The recent antics of the anti-war ANSWER Coalition, including pasting signs on utility boxes advertising their planned protest this Saturday on the National Mall despite orders from the city not to, resulting in several arrests and thousands of dollars in fines, haven't won the group many new fans among locals. Even though the District is a heavily liberal town populated by people who mainly agree with their stand on the war, ANSWER's attitude toward the...

Good morning, Washington. Yesterday we started the Morning Roundup by noting the early stages of what seems likely to be the end of Sen. Larry Craig's political career. Today we have cheerier news: the resumption of another senator's work. Sen. Tim Johnson is back on the job after suffering a brain hemorrhage eight months ago. D.C. Has A Budget Surplus: NBC4 has the goods. Apparently the city collected about $100 million more in tax...

Good morning, Washington. Well, it couldn't last forever: this week's temperatures are edging up after all. And while things are still relatively pleasant, tomorrow's high of 98 still sounds unappealing to our recently-spoiled selves. D.C. Goes After Posters: WJLA brings encouraging news for anyone who's been sorry to see a lingering ad for a years-passed protest event: the city government is cracking down those who illegally post notices on traffic and utility boxes. Among...

Maybe we just have a short memory, but yesterday was the first day of the summer that felt oppressively awful in that distinctly D.C.-ish way. Apparently we weren't the only ones — NBC4 says that a bunch of kids from the National Student Leadership Council who were visiting Capitol Hill became sick from the heat, requiring treatment in a Senate office building (they're all fine). Today promises to be two degrees hotter. Md. Teacher Sentenced...

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...

Yesterday, we told you about the Associated Press' story that claimed Smithsonian officials altered a Museum of Natural History exhibit on climate change in order to make it less controversial. Subsequently, the Smithsonian issued a statement denouncing the AP report and the allegations made by Robert Sullivan, a former associate director at the National Museum of Natural History. The statement also claimed that the exhibit was not the subject of either internal or external political...

As if things couldn't get any more rocky for the Smithsonian Institution, it is the subject of yet another controversy. The AP reports that an ex-Smithsonian official says the institution toned down an exhibit on the effects of climate change in the Arctic out of fear that the exhibit would draw the ire of Congress and the Bush administration. Among other things, the script, or official text, of last year's exhibit was rewritten to...

The AP has a good piece this morning on the debate over whether D.C.'s regulations are too tough on older drivers who are trying to renew their driver's licenses. Currently, D.C. law requires drivers over 75 to again pass a road test and a written exam of driving rules. A year ago, D.C. began imposing what are among the nation's most stringent requirements on drivers 75 and older. Only two states, Illinois and New Hampshire,...

Good morning, Washington. Hopefully you're getting the day off, especially because it seems Monday will be just as beautiful weather-wise as Sunday was. Did you spend your weekend in a productive manner? Running the Army 10-Miler, perhaps? I spent it playing flag football and drunk, so I'm going to go with "non-productive." But still nice. I mean, at least we didn't spend it at George Allen's fundraising hoedown. Lord. It's a Day That Ends...

It's a familiar script for the George Washington mens' basketball team. Let an inferior team hang around -- maybe even lead -- until midway through the second half, then go on a devastating run. In the case of last night's 89-78 win at St. Bonaventure, the Colonials trailed by four with under eight minutes left before reeling off 13 straight points to take control. Three Colonials finished in double figures in both points and...

The AP reports that D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams travels today to New York to serve on the three-judge tasting panel at tonight's taping of an episode of the Food Network's Iron Chef America. Back in October, Williams was a member of the local tasting panel that picked former Signatures chef Morou to compete in the nationally televised cooking competition over Washington food luminary Ris Lacoste (formerly of 1789) and Ristorante Tosca’s Cesare Lanfranconi. Tonight, the...

Good morning, Washington. We spotted this dazzling fall photo posted to DCist over the weekend of fall leaves in Georgetown. It may look quite different outside very soon, as the National Weather Service has issued a Snow Advisory to take effect noon today and last through 7 a.m. tomorrow. Officials are predicting total accumulation of 2 to 4 inches of snow, which was enough to activate the city's emergency text alert system. DC government has...

Anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan and a number of protestors has been arrested at the White House. The AP reports that Sheehan and over 50 other supporters were arrested earlier today for demonstrating without a permit, a misdemeanor. Police said they will be moved to an offsite location for processing and will be issued tickets and released in several hours. The Post also has a short story up on her arrest. We thought it was interesting...

Dude, Where's My Car? While car theft isn't a laughing matter, we chuckled for a very brief moment when we heard that Police Chief Charles Ramsey's car was stolen over the weekend. The AP, via WTOP, reports that the chief's 1999 Ford Crown Victoria was stolen after being parked near his house by a police officer when Ramsey was out of town. On Ramsey's way to church Sunday morning, the car was nowhere to be...

Good morning Washington. This photo by FurCafe, posted in DCist Photos via Flickr, was taken in Court House across the street from Summer's (we think, correct us if we're wrong). The weather today, according to Capital Weather, will see showers maybe moving in by evening. (And be sure to check out all the buzz about two certain meteorologists: AccuWeather's Joe Bastardi is "not as smart as he thinks" and Joe Witte of WJLA is apparently...

Apparently, we don't need to fear the local infestation of northern snakehead in our local waters as we once did. So perhaps we shouldn't be calling it an infestation. But that doesn't mean there isn't a long-term threat from the invasive species from China. The AP, via the W.Times, reports that the frankenfish, which has the ability to breath out of water, probably isn't traveling on its own very easily between different bodies of water...

Moving into the weekend -- which is set to be beautiful, according to Capital Weather -- today's news is particularly heavy on the transportation front. (This photo is from Melissa, who posted this photo on DCist's Flickr page of a sunrise over the campus of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast.) First, DCist anxiously awaits the results of a meeting held late last night concerning whether Georgetown's Whitehurst Freeway will be torn down...

Good morning D.C. As you all very well know, it's cherry blossom season. And just to prove it to those who may be allergic to either the cherry blossoms, or the visitors, here is a photo contributed by Alphanumeric on DCist's Flickr photo page. Tourists Hurting Cherry Trees: Lots of feet equal harmful pressure on tree root zones, says the Post. And for the cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin, the root zone for...

Looking at Merriweather Post Pavilion's Future: What to do with Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland ... General Growth Properties, which owns the outdoor music venue wants to redevelop the property with a smaller, enclosed performing facility, the Post reports. A community board wants it to remain much like it is, with its stage serving as the center of a performing arts village. Tracking the Kids: The W.Times, which has been closely following the issue of...

Sad News at the Zoo. No, we don't have any word about the status of possible panda babies at the National Zoo, but you can check for pregnancy watch updates here. Sadly, we must turn to camels. The Post reports that the zoo's only camel died. It was an 18-year-old Bactrian camel, an endangered animal native to northwestern China and Mongolia that typically lives 35-50 years. Just to be clear, we don't know if...

City officials are reeling after a member of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' cabinet was found dead in her home. Wanda Alston had served as advisor to the mayor as director of the D.C. Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. She is pictured to the right in a photo from the Washington Blade printed in a story from last July about the selection of a new head for the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration. The AP...

The Ides of March are upon us, and we have a possible bioterror attack on our hands. More on that in just a second. First, we turn to the corner of North Capitol and F streets. Last week, we told you about how St. Patrick's Day port-a-johns outside the Dubliner signaled the first sign of spring. Well, the drinking tent went up this past weekend, as you can see from this DCist photo we...

An Undeclared Williams Plays Offensive: Mayor Anthony Williams, who has yet to say whether he will seek a third term, has called out a few people who are eyeing his position. According to the Post, Ward 4's eager councilmember, Adrian Fenty, was at the top of the mayor's list saying there should be "some threshold qualifications that you bring to the table." Also on Williams hit list: troubled lobbyist Michael Brown who the mayor says...

(Editor's Note: In Part III of our look at the state of WMATA's metrobus system, we look forward to what could be. Granted, questions about money and political initiative will certainly dictate the future non-metrorail transit in the Washington area. So to the WMATA and political officials who may be reading this, consider this our wish list. We know you have other problems and complicated jurisdictional stuff to deal with. We know you want to...

Today will be mostly cloudy with highs around 40 and a chance of snow showers. The photo is by John W. via Flickr. Snow Storm Falls Short Predictions: The area papers noted yesterday's storm fell short predictions, but closed schools in the area, to the frustration of parents. WTOP notes the snowfall set a record at Dulles Airport. Indian Lobbying Up: The Examiner reports that lobbying expenditures by Native American tribes is up recently. They...

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...

New WMATA Chairman Wants Rider Input: We can hear applause somewhere. WMATA's new board chairman, Dana Kauffman, says that he wants the system to be accountable to the riders who use it and is proposing many new external relations efforts that will boost the weight of rider's input into upper-level decisions regarding the transit system. The Post reports that these efforts will include a riders' advisory board, public comments at WMATA board meetings, regular town...

There are certain celebrations that would be considered a faux pas in the nation's capital, considering U.S. foreign relations and post-Sept. 11, 2001, sensitivities. For instance, a potluck dinner commemorating the Taliban's destruction of the Bamiyan Buddahs would probably be in bad taste. And if Jenna or Barbara showed up to a costume ball at Smith Point wearing swastika arm bands in honor of Eva Braun's birthday in the style of Prince Harry, that too...