As is usually the case on this day in D.C., there is very little news to roundup, thus our rather loose definition of ‘morning’ today. We certainly hope you’re having a relaxing and fun holiday so far. As you gather up beer and meat (or faux-meat) and head to your respective barbecues, take care. We’ve mentioned it before, but the entire city will be under added security measures today in the wake of the attempted car bomb attacks in Great Britain. Lots of extra restrictions on parking will be in place, and police will be keeping a special eye out for suspicious vehicles, especially those with an ‘acrid odor.’ So, if your car is so filthy it actually stinks, today might be a good day to clean it, or you could find yourself on the wrong end of a bomb-sniffing dog. Happy Fourth of July, Washington!
High Pay for Rhee Questioned: Some D.C. Council members are questioning the high salary Schools Chancellor nominee Michelle Rhee would be paid if they confirm her this month. Rhee would be paid $275,000 annually and receive a $41,250 signing bonus, making her the highest-paid school leader in the metro area.
Operation Fast Forward III Test Tonight: DDOT will carry out a limited test of its emergency traffic signal timing patterns and emergency traffic operations capabilities tonight. The Operation Fast Forward III test will include setting traffic signals on Georgia Avenue on timers that allow for efficient exit from the city – while reviewing police/DDOT intersection contol, designed to help increase the route’s overall traffic flow. The test is incorporated into the District’s July 4th traffic management plan.
Panda Pregnancy Still Unconfirmed: Zookeepers at the National Zoo should be able to tell whether Mei Xiang is pregnant with a new panda cub before next week — they still have been unable to confirm a pregnancy, and if she is pregnant, she could give birth anytime between the end of this week through the end of next week. Mei Xiang’s only previous surviving cub, Butterstick, will celebrate his second birthday on July 9.
Briefly Noted: A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the theft of a cache of weapons from an FBI agent’s vehicle in Capitol Hill … Metro braces for heavy holiday ridership … Illegal fireworks seized in raid.
Photo by timkelley
