Good morning, D.C. It was an eventful weekend across the District, with big to-do’s tying up traffic in every direction. We hope you didn’t spend too much time stuck in it. While we’re genuinely thrilled to hear that Oprah Winfrey’s commencement speech at Howard University was a big hit and was reported on all over the world, we’re pretty disappointed to have it be Monday morning and still have zero reports from any of our readers of an actual Oprah sighting. Didn’t the woman stop to eat anywhere? Buy a pack of gum? Sure sure, we’re grateful for the reports on damage after the Chili Cook-Off and photos of the colorfieldremix painting of 8th St. NW between D and E above. But people. We’re talking Oprah here. The most powerful woman in the United States (sorry, Speaker Pelosi). All we wanted was a shot of her at Ben’s Chili Bowl, scarfing down a half-smoke. Is that too much to ask?
Fenty Already Looking for New Schools Head: The Examiner brings word that Mayor Adrian Fenty has already been reaching out to prospective school superintendents even though he hasn’t “officially” decided to fire current Superintendent Clifford B. Janey Jr. Victor Reinoso, Fenty’s deputy mayor for education, has already spoken with Miami-Dade Superintendent Rudy Crew and Philadelphia schools’ Chief Operating Officer (and former Janey protégé) Tom Brady.
WASA Plans to Speed Up Hydrant Inspections: The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority announced over the weekend it will increase the pace of inspections of the city’s fire hydrants after problems came to light during the Georgetown public library. “If the public is concerned about our knowledge of the conditions of hydrants, we want to take those concerns away,” WASA General Manager Jerry N. Johnson told the WaPo.
Briefly Noted: Hospitals battle antibiotic resistant bacterium … Weekend drive-by wounds seven in PG County … Police have no clues in murder of firefighter.
This Day in DCist: Last year we said a final farewell to the West Wing.
Photo by ectsue
