Photo by erin m

Good morning, Washington. Yesterday’s congressional hearing on the Red Line crash didn’t produce too much news. We mentioned on Monday that the NTSB’s new recommendations mean that trains will be running in manual mode for some time to come, and indeed yesterday’s hearing saw Metro General Manager John Catoe reiterating his commitment to stick with the NTSB’s advice. Catoe did fill in a few more details, though. Apparently the train-detecting circuit on the segment of track between Takoma and Fort Totten is still malfunctioning, despite components being examined, replaced and examined again. Catoe indicated that this persistent puzzle is why Metro continues to only run one train at a time through that track segment.

Police Standoff in Falls Church: Details are still scarce as of this writing, but the Post is reporting that around 6:30 last night a report of a gunshot in Falls Church led to a standoff between a gunman and police — one that’s continued to this morning, as the shooter remains holed up in a house, apparently with several other people. So far he has refused to respond to attempts by the police to communicate. A woman suffered life-threatening injuries from that first gunshot and was transported to a nearby hospital. Her current condition is unknown.

Jacks Trial Underway: Banita Jacks’ trial for the murder of her three daughters has begun, which means it’s time to learn even more horribly sad facts about the case. Via WTOP, the AP reports on the current state of things. Jacks has opted for a bench trial and has refused an insanity defense, which seems to have prompted her lawyers to attempt to have her interview with police ruled inadmissible. Judge Frederick Weisberg has not yet ruled whether the interview tapes will be admitted as evidence. The tapes include conversations between Jacks and police in which she expresses the belief that her daughters were possessed, but denies responsibility for their deaths. The Post has more on the specifics of Jacks’ tragic delusions.

Street Vendors Protest New Law: WJLA reports that a number of the city’s food cart proprietors are upset over newly-passed legislation that would assign designated spaces to vendors and require that they have business licenses. Existing vendors will be grandfathered into the new system, though, so it’s unclear whether their concerns have any justification. The bill also gives the city the power to regulate farmer’s markets, and lifts a three year moratorium on the issuance of new food cart licenses. If any of this means more varied or affordable downtown lunch options, we’re all for it.

Briefly Noted: Harriet Walters’ Virgin Islands getaway on the auction block… Sexual assault in Georgetown may be linked to other incidents… Man who went swimming in Potomac River missing… Eyewitness account of yesterday’s leak-popping Southwest flight… On-duty Montgomery County officers get speed camera tickets thrown out without having to offer an explanation…