Good morning, D.C. We thought we’d post this photo of an adorable puppy leaning out of a car window this morning, as a way of pepping you up for the weekend. Hopefully it works, because in general, today’s headlines aren’t going to get the job done. Even sadder information has become available in the already sad story of the suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, aka the D.C. Madam. Palfrey hung hanged herself with a nylon rope in a shed next to her mother’s mobile home in Tarpon Springs, Fla. The Post says that Palfrey told writer Dan Moldea that she would likely kill herself, because she couldn’t face the prospect of returning to prison. Palfrey’s mother, however, said she had no indication her daughter was planning to end her life. Palfrey did leave two suicide notes and some other notes to members of her family.
Hot, Hot Council Budget Action: The D.C. Council has been busy picking away at Mayor Adrian Fenty’s budget proposal this week. What’s on the chopping block? Roughly $900,000 slated for the city’s new closed-circuit camera program; proposed increases in E-911 and ambulance fees; a $2.5 million subsidy for the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission; and At-large member Phil Mendelson proposed using about $6 million budgeted to cover vacancies in the police and fire departments to help provide a property tax cut for small businesses.
All Hands On Deck is Back This Weekend: We knew this was coming in the wake of a recent wave of murders in and around Ward 5. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has scheduled another ‘All Hands on Deck’ weekend starting tonight. You know the drill: every city police officer will be walking the beat this weekend, allowing for more patrols around the clock through Sunday morning. Some officers have questioned the tactic in the past, arguing that they leave the force short the week afterward because officers take days off to make up for working on the weekend.
Briefly Noted: Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee endorses John McCain’s education plan … WASA panel gets feedback on lead levels … Webb Elementary School principal egged by students on last day on the job … Pedestrian killed on Route 1.
Photo by andertho
