Photo by cacophony76.

Good morning, Washington. For those who tire of the regurgitated lines that mainstream media usually spout about blogs not doing their due diligence when it comes to reporting, Howard Kurtz and Paul Duggan’s review of yesterday’s Coast Guard kerfuffle is a reassuring read. Describing it as an perfect example of the “media echo chamber,” Kurtz and Duggan blame the fallout from the entire hubbub on CNN. The network initially reported that “shots” had been fired on a vessel on the Potomac, which then made the rounds to other news organizations like Reuters and Fox News. Of course, whether or not the Coast Guard should have been running scenario training so close to the Pentagon on September 11 is one question; but one would expect CNN to at least call the Coast Guard to confirm that the “shooting” — which was part of an exercise which the Guard engages in four times a week — was not planned, before running with a story on a very sensitive day for thousands, if not millions, of people.

C’mon CNN, all you need to do is just remember the great Walter Cronkite, and things will be just fine.

In other news this morning:

>> A D.C. police officer was found dead in his Prince George’s County home on Thursday night, after he apparently hung himself. Detective Terrence Green had been questioned by authorities in relation to the August 18th Pizza Mart murder.

>> Former D.C. first lady Cora Masters Barry and the nonprofit she founded, Recreation Wish List Committee — which is mainly responsible for running the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center — are taking to the courts to avoid an ordered eviction from the District’s Office of Property Management, scheduled for this weekend. Venus and Serena Williams, Maya Angelou, and civil rights activist Dorothy Height have already attempted to lobby the District on the agency’s behalf, with little success.

>> Virginia is looking to firm up the execution date of convicted Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad.