Good morning, Washington, and welcome to the most irritating day of the year to be on the internet. It’s April Fool’s, and every web developer who ever took an improv class will be using the occasion to confuse and irritate you with lame online parodies that are, in truth, only slightly more ludicrous than their actual products. Oh, fine, we’ll admit it: a few, like Google’s yearly effort, will probably be kinda, sorta funny (or maybe not). That doesn’t excuse it! Now on to your safely humorless morning roundup:
Fenty Presents Budget to Council: Yesterday Mayor Fenty testified before the city council about the first budget that is solely a product of his administration, as the Post explains. The document calls for a modest spending increase of 0.7% and continues the mayor’s stated focus on education. The council reacted with calls for more specifics, which Fenty says will come as the budget process continues.
Wilson Students Walk Out: Dissatisfied with the measures being put in place to curb fighting, the Post reports that yesterday about 100 Wilson High School students left the building and held a peaceful protest on the school’s football field for half an hour. Faced with persistent violence problems, Chancellor Rhee had put a temporary plan into place that confined students to classrooms during lunch until a more complete solution could be worked out; the students apparently weren’t willing to put up with their newly curbed freedoms, or the lack of input they say they’ve had in the solution-finding process. Other students protested the measures by promoting their own lunchtime anti-violence plan or by wearing black armbands.
It’s Like a Swimming Pool in Every Glass: WTOP reports that the Washington Aqueduct will be temporarily changing the chemicals it uses to purify the water for D.C., Arlington, Falls Church and parts of Fairfax. Instead of chloramine the system will employ chlorine during a period beginning March 7 and lasting about five weeks. Aside from a more detectable odor the switch shouldn’t have any practical effect on consumers, although the story states that some environmental groups think pregnant women should avoid tap water during this period.
Briefly Noted: Mother of slain children had expressed concerns about their father… Va. Tech decides not to build additional memorial… Police impersonator robs Montgomery County bank… Prince William police to give update on immigration crackdown today… Md. likely to repeal tech tax…
This Day In DCist: One year ago it was a Sunday; we published the classical music agenda and not much else. Two years ago George Mason’s NCAA Tournament run came to an end.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user hcwoodward
