Martin Austermuhle
Today tens of thousands of District children return to school, leaving behind the late-morning starts, extended curfews and breaks at the public swimming pool that summer afforded them. And though the year will proceed as it usually does, they will be part of a school system that has seen drastic changes over the last few months. Now under mayoral control and led by new chancellor Michelle Rhee, the District’s public schools have entered a new era. But like every school leader to come before Rhee, past eras have yielded little by way of positive and sustainable change. Will this one be different? We’ll discuss the question today in two posts. Until then, this is what’s what in D.C. today:
One Less Texan: In breaking news, it seems that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned. A press conference is set for 10:30 a.m. to make the announcement official.
Purple Line Fate Up To Feds: According to the Post, the fate and design of Maryland’s Purple Line — which would connect Bethesda to New Carrolton — is in the hands of the Federal Transit Administration. In an effort to secure all-important federal funds, state officials have delayed the construction of the 16-mile line and made a number of changes to its design, including opting for light rail or express buses instead of traditional heavy trains. Virginia officials recently nixed a tunnel beneath Tysons Corner to save $900 million in federal funds for the Orange Line extension to Dulles. The Purple Line is set to cost $1.6 billion and be completed by 2015.
Metro Has Tough Weekend: Five separate incidents over a two-hour period yesterday left six Metro stations closed and all five lines affected, reports the Post. Reports of smoke and fire forced the stations to close, including Foggy Bottom, Farragut West, Farragut North, Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center, Huntington and Reagan National Airport.
Hydrant Testing Completed: Almost all of the District’s 10,000 fire hydrants have been tested, reports WTOP. After an April fire at the Georgetown public library was prolonged due to broken hydrants, city officials announced that over 25 percent of the District’s hydrants, most of which are controlled by the Water and Sewer Authority, did not work. They have promised to fix them.
Briefly Noted: New front opens in Virginia immigration battle … MoCo students get to carry cell phones … Actor pleads for end to violence in District … Some companies gets lots of parking tickets in D.C.
Previously on DCist: On this day last year and the year prior, it was the weekend, so we took a break. In 2004, though, we reported on a Rock, Paper, Scissors contest at DC9 and saw President Bush lose big in a Krispy Kreme poll.
Picture snapped by {ryan}
