Martin Austermuhle
For the first time since 1999, the suddenly hot Washington Redskins are going to the playoffs after a sweet but hard fought new year victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. Eat it, Phillyist!
Murders in Washington Area Increase: While the District’s murder tally for 2005 dropped for the second year running, homicides in the area rose as Prince George’s County and Fairfax County increased their share, writes the Post. The region recorded 466 killings in 2005, an 11 percent rise over 2004, with PG County suffering 173 (up from 148) and Fairfax County adding 24 (up from 11). And while the District can be proud to no longer be called the murder capital of the country, it’s murder rate of 35 per 100,000 residents still outpaces cities of comparable size nationwide. The numbers seem to bear out what we said last May — it’s not that the region is getting safer, it’s that murders are migrating away from the city.
Smoking Ban Takes Effect in PG County: Providing a glimpse of what’s to come in the District in the coming year, a smoking ban in bars and restaurants took effect in Prince George’s County yesterday. And while smokers seemed to have griped about the new restrictions, business didn’t flatline as some anti-ban activists warned. The District is set to go smoke-free next year, part of a growing nationwide trend and one that has fast taken over area municipalities.
District May Become More Gay Friendly: The District has always been known for an active and well-accepted gay community. According to the Post, that acceptance may soon take a turn for the official. The D.C. Council, currently considering legislation to expand tax and inheritance benefits for same-sex couples, may also soon begin discussions as to whether or not to legalize gay marriage. Council-member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) is leading the push, though he has met with skepticism and debate within the gay community and from fellow council-member David Catania, who is openly gay and renounced his membership to the Republican Party two years ago over the endorsement of a ban on gay marriage. Gay rights activists worry that Congress, which has the ability to veto District legislation, would act against expansion of rights and may even scale back existing domestic partnership rights, which were passed in 1992 but implemented a decade later due to Congressional opposition.
Briefly Noted: Tolls on Dulles Greenway increase … Fire in Southeast leaves two dead … Lobbyists in Annapolis to avoid security measures.
Picture snapped by Peter F. Martin.
