Car-Jacking, Robbery Wave Hit District, Maryland: WTOP and the Post , among others, report that at least nine robberies and four carjackings took place yesterday, within four to five miles of each other. The spree began at 11:30 p.m. Sunday on Fairmont Street NW near Howard University, and ended with two suspects running into the National Zoo around 1 a.m. this morning. One was caught; police are still looking for the other in the area of the Zoo, and trying to see if a later crime, a car-jacking, was tied to the earlier ones. Anyone with any information regarding this rash of crime are urged to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099. Compared to yesterday’s carjackings and robberies in the District, today’s begun as a slow news day: let’s see if it stays that way.
Hoping to Curtail Child Hunger, District Meal Plan Goes to Three-a-Day: With childhood hunger affecting around 35,000 kids in the District, Mayor Anthony A. Williams has teamed up with D.C. Hunger Solutions, the Food Research and Action Center, and Share Our Strength to try and stamp out child hunger in the area in 10 years. As noted in the Post, a 10-part plan will be released today that details the logistics behind expanding the city’s meal program so that as many as 20,000 District children will be eating three government-subsidized meals a day. The additional $14 million for the added dinner will come from Federal programs. Sounds like a smart reallocation, we’re all about kids getting the nutritious foods they need to keep on growing.
Possible Bill Would Help Minor Offenders Clean Up Record: The Examiner tells us that next week, a bill will be introduced to the D.C. Council that would allow folks with minor convictions to start with a clean slate once they have “paid their debt to society.” The bill would also help people who have been arrested for crimes but not convicted, to start with a clean record, as well. June Kress, from the Council for Court Excellence, noted in the Examiner, “It is very difficult for people to obtain employment and in some cases obtain housing with criminal records. This is a very big problem in the District.” Councilmember Phil Mendelson wants to make sure the wording of the bill is watched closely; we’ll see where it goes.
Briefly Noted: Turn out for, understanding of Emancipation Day low…Housing prices could go up in Prince William County…Is Maryland tuition a good deal?…Gay and Lesbian Families make statement at White House Easter Egg Roll…Fairfax County Libraries might be open on Sundays.
This Day in DCist: Wal-Mart was the target of some District legislation, and we talked about Mother Earth.
Picture taken by furcafe.
