Remember those billboards that popped up in the 1980s that counted up the national debt, dollar by dollar? Pretty scary, huh? Well, District voting rights activists want something similar for their cause. Today the D.C. Council held a hearing on legislation that would allow the city to place two large LED billboards — one outside the John A. Wilson Building and the other outside the new Washington Nationals stadium — that would display the amount…

Sure, it’s December and we’re all preoccupied with holiday cheer and making plans for that one New Year’s party that will finally be worth the all the hype. But even though they’ve suffered some setbacks this year, D.C. voting rights activists are pushing the cause through the holiday season. On Thursday, December 6, the D.C. Council will hold a hearing to consider legislation that would place large electronic billboards outside the John A. Wilson Building…

The folks over at Dulles Metro extension are breaking out the construction tools … and the credit cards. $900 million of the $2.83 billion price tag of the initial 11.6-mile leg is in that Transportation Department spending bill tied up in Congress and under threat of veto by President Bush. But with or without the money, officials plan to start work, reports The Examiner. Is it just us, or does this violate everything you ever…

Local LGBT activists are upset over a document distributed by the Washington Nationals, according to City Desk. The document details the team’s Vendor Procurement Program and features Major League Baseball’s affirmative action policy, which includes this portion:The Licensee shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment or against any service recipient or applicant for services because of race, color, ethnic status, religion, sex, age, national origin, disable veteran status, Vietnam era veteran status,…

>> “Monument Realty filed a federal lawsuit today against Metro to stop the sale of the transit agency’s land near the Washington Nationals’ new baseball stadium, escalating a dispute that threatens to disrupt the opening of the ballpark next spring.” [WaPo] >> Check your old Mega Millions tickets. [WJLA] >> “Well, then you can’t have the apples.” [why.i.hate.dc] >> Carroll Co. school lockdown lifted, two males being questioned after student threatened to ‘shoot up’…

Just this week, GQ published their annual “50 Most Powerful People in D.C.” list. Populated by the likes of Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Karl Rove and Tim Russert, the list better describes the movers and shakers in “Washington”, but not the District. And since we’re snobs about local news and happenings, we threw together a little list of the people who really exercise influence in or over the lives of people who live and work…

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to a world with a new home run record. That’s right: Barry Bonds hit his 756th career homer last night against our very own Washington Nationals. We’re sure there are some mixed feelings among the Nats today about being immortalized in a video clip that’ll likely be replayed for decades to come. Four Shot During National Night Out: Last night was the National Night Out, a crime-prevention event where citizens…

Go home. Tell your boss it’s for your own safety. Maybe it’s the heat or people who are waiting to go on summer vacation, but it seems that there’s madness in the city. I should have known it was getting bad when I spotted this tree with a ring of cheese curls around it. The madness certainly seems to have infected Todd Kliman of Washingtonian. If you didn’t catch his chog this week, you…

Former Editor-in-Chief Ryan Avent writes a weekly column about neighborhood and development issues. Not too long ago this site, along with the D.C. Council and much of the rest of the Washington area, was actively debating the incentive package for the new Washington Nationals stadium. At the time I was well aware of the questions about costs and benefits and was familiar with research on the subject suggesting that new stadia did not boost metropolitan…

Though the Washington Nationals are well into their third season in the District and moving into their second year under the ownership of Ted Lerner, fans have had plenty to complain about — the team’s record, concessions at RFK and the $611 million stadium debacle. With yesterday’s announcement of a new ticket pricing scheme for the team’s new stadium, set to open next April, add one more gripe to the list. Prices for the stadium’s…