Good morning, Washington. It’s just a gorgeous day outside right now, with temperatures currently in the 70s and only predicted to reach the upper 80s later this afternoon, which is about the best we can hope for in mid-August. Please make plans to eat your lunch outside accordingly, as this surely won’t last through the week. Need a good story to gab about with your officemates as you head out into the sunshine? A federal judge has ordered five journalists to identify the government officials who leaked them details about a scientist under scrutiny in the 2001 anthrax attacks — we’re guessing those reporters probably won’t be taking leisurely lunch breaks along with rest of you this afternoon.
D.C. Schools Misused Migrant Grants: The Examiner reports that District of Columbia Public Schools officials “misused” federal grants designed to help the children of migrant workers — children which the city had claimed on the rolls since the 1980s, but in fact appear never to have existed. The D.C. attorney general says the city will now cooperate with an ongoing federal investigation, but the admission of guilt could end up costing the District millions if the Federal government makes good on its threat to file a fraud suit. Interestingly, apparently Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee only learned about the federal investigation recently.
Contracting Office Official Suspended: Also in the Examiner, Karen Hester, a commodity manager in the city’s often controversial Office of Contracting and Procurement, was suspended last week, though no one from the office has yet to comment officially. Hester supervises millions in contracts for the city libraries and police department — two areas of government oversight which have been roundly criticized in recent years.
Briefly Noted: A D.C. synagogue found three swastikas painted on the wall of its parking lot … All lanes on Outerloop open after overturned tractor trailer crash cleared … ‘Mahogany tide’ algae blooms in Va. rivers … D.C. cop blames bad advice from colleagues for tax-evasion charges.
This Day in DCist: Last year we took a closer look at the food carts of Mt. Pleasant and noted the MPD couldn’t catch a break from the local media.
Photo by lifeinthedistrict
