Good morning, Washington. We pestered you yesterday about your Memorial Day plans. Today, a word of warning: make sure they don’t include flip-flops. As FOX5 helpfully warns us, the sandals can lead to sprains, broken bones or even the dreaded Flipflop-Induced Foot Failure Syndrome (aka FIFFS). We had no idea we were in such peril.
Bad Day For Bobb: Yesterday the U.S. Senate unanimously approved Mayor Fenty’s school takeover plan. Rest assured, we’ll have more to say about it later today. But for now, a moment of sympathy for newly-irrelevant school board president Robert Bobb. Not only did face condemnation for his role in the hold on the legislation, but he’s now been fired from his other job working for a real estate development firm, according to WTOP. Also, his name is Bob Bobb — that’s got to be rough. Recent unpleasantness aside, we’ve always enjoyed Bobb’s appearances on the D.C. Politics Hour. Here’s wishing him better days ahead.
Guilty Pleas In Senitt Murder: You probably recall the headlines from last summer when Alan Senitt, a young British man active in politics, was brutally killed on the streets of Georgetown. The case attracted considerable attention, both for its contribution to 2006’s declared “crime emergency” and for highlighting the varying levels of concern that crime in Northwest generates versus crime in the rest of the city. Today the Post brings word of what will hopefully be the final chapter in Senitt’s tragic death: Christopher Piper and Jeffrey Rice have pled guilty to second degree murder, along with several other charges.
Pellet Gun Problems in Fairfax: If you nodded off before hearing the payoff on the evening news’ urgent teasers about GUN SALES! IN OUR SCHOOLS!, rest easy. The guns in question turn out to be pellet guns, according to WTOP. Five kids are now in trouble over them (and a sixth is facing a drug charge after his pot was found during the gun search). Pellet guns certainly qualify as dangerous contraband, but this don’t exactly live up to the Doogie Howser/Miami Vice mashup scenario we’d been encouraged to imagine.
Briefly Noted: Alexandria’s dismissal of school superintendent draws criticism… Maryland says no to pet monkeys and may say no to text-messaging while driving… Fairfax once again seeks to ban guns in public buildings… D.C.-based XM Radio resolves widespread service disruption…
This Day In DCist: One year ago we got ready for Unbuckled and welcomed a baby sloth bear to the zoo. Two years ago the Dulles Toll Road was increasing its fare and Gawker was promising that Ana Marie Cox would keep helming Wonkette.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user SuperTopher
