Good Morning, Washington. In an apparent attempt to rule the D.C. media landscape through terror and intimidation, the Washington Post has published the scariest local news story we’ve ever read this morning: apparently, these disgusting-looking creatures called camel crickets are infesting area basements due to the lack of moisture in the ground thanks to the region’s rather serious drought. Described as “a mix between a spider and a cricket” and accompanied by disturbing photographic evidence, it’s clear el WaPo means business today on the fear factor. Next week, they’ll be reporting on a rash of mid-air daredevilism in Tysons Corner and how Columbia Heights will soon be covered in cow intestines.
Watch Your Step: NBC4 tries to stay in the fear game by putting three separate pedestrian or bicycle accident stories at the top of their news. One man was killed on foot when he was struck by the car of a Maryland State Trooper in Laurel, a bicyclist was killed by a car, also in Laurel, and a pedestrian was killed in Takoma Park. And if you thought you were safe if you stay out of Maryland, we also have a reader report of a bicyclist being hit by a Metrobus near 18th and Florida this morning in Adams Morgan. The cyclist appeared to have survived with only minor injuries.
Police Are Paid Lots of Overtime: The Examiner punts if they think they’re trying to scare anyone with the news that MPD officers were paid a lot in overtime in the last year. Heck, $2.8 million hardly seems like anything when you factor in the All Hands on Deck initiatives and remember that the D.C. Jail is paying out $9 million in overtime to its employees. Oh, wait a minute. That $2.8 million only went to the top 50 overtime earners in the force. Well played, Examiner. Well played.
Briefly Noted: Allen Lew promises Woodson High groundbreaking … Hearing scheduled tomorrow on Fun Fair Video-Movie … Fifteen-year-old girl shot in Condon Terrace … Presidential Inn finally closed due to unsanitary conditions … Man saves girl who fell on Metro tracks.
This Day in DCist: In 2006 we teased Mayor Fenty about his man-crush on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and reviewed Exit Clov’s last album.
Photo by alex-s
