Martin Austermuhle
Webb Wins Virginia Primary: Jim Webb, a war hero who only recently became a Democrat, handily won Virginia’s Democratic primary yesterday, reports the Post. Webb, who campaigned on the anger around the war in Iraq, defeated well-funded opponent Harris Miller, making him the designated competitor to Senator George Allen in November’s election.
Council Friends Spared Tickets: As George Orwell once wrote, “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.” That seems to be the case with the District’s low-numbered license plates, many of which are handed out as political prizes by members of the D.C. Council. The Washington Times has found that many of the plates tend to carry large amount of parking tickets with them, very few of which are paid and most of which are expunged when the plates change hands. According to the Times, 72 holders of the 459 available plates owed the city money for parking tickets, adding up to some $20,000.
District Murder Rate on Decline: The District’s murder rate has seen a 20 percent decrease since 2003, though it remains third highest in cities with over 500,000 residents in the nation, reports the Times. The District’s murder rate stood at 35.23 per 100,000 residents in 2004, behind Baltimore’s 42.41 and Detroit’s 39.26.
This Day in DCist: On this day last year, we spied Borat Sagdiyev in the Capital Pride parade and checked out SILVERDOCS.
Briefly Noted: Annapolis Starbucks gets green light … Finalists for Anacostia waterfront development chosen … Montgomery County crime on rise … Rockville doctor sues KFC … Another graduation lockout? … No cookies for milk spill on highway.
Picture snapped by bwill352
