News Archive - September 20, 2013

Maryland Inmates Remember National POW-MIA Recognition Day

A group of 20 veterans in a Maryland correctional facility took part in a ceremony to honor their fellow service members who were lost in action.

Winter Classic Coming To D.C. In 2015, Sources Say

The National Hockey League's outdoor New Year's Day showcase will take place in the nation's capital, if Associated Press sources are to be believed.

Match Fixing: El Salvador Bans 14 Soccer Players For Life

The players are accused of fixing matches in four contests, including in a loss against the U.S. in 2010 and a 5-0 loss against Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup.

Not-So-Fond Memories From The Last Government Shutdowns

The last time the federal government closed down, some 800,000 federal workers were told to stay home and millions of Americans were shut out of everything from their national parks to small-business loans.

Document Sheds New Light On The Time The U.S. Almost Nuked Itself

In 1961 a B-52 bomber accidentally dropped two nuclear bombs on North Carolina. One low-voltage switch "stood between the United States and a major catastrophe," an engineer wrote about the incident.

Delays On Red, Orange Lines This Weekend

This weekend's Metro track work won't close any stations, but it will cause delays on both the Red and Orange Lines.

How Many Die From Medical Mistakes In U.S. Hospitals?

The number of people who die each year because of medical errors in hospitals may be twice as high as previously estimated. An analysis suggests that 210,000 or more people may suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death.

BlackBerry To Slash Workforce Amid $1 Billion Loss

The company plans to cut 40 percent, or 4,500 workers, as it continues to reel from a dramatic loss of market share to smartphone makers such as Apple.

Boxed In: D.C. Moves To Regulate Sidewalk Newspaper Boxes

Newspaper boxes in D.C. are plentiful, lining sidewalks and crowding areas around Metro stations. Until now, D.C. couldn't do much about them, but a set of proposed rules would rein in where they can go and when they can be removed.

'On The Media' Presents: A Consumer's Guide To Breaking News

To help you get through the next big breaking news event, On The Media takes a proactive approach, formulating a guide to sorting "good information from bad."

Study Finds Mixed Results For Back Braces To Treat Scoliosis

Children with scoliosis often are told to wear back braces. But the evidence that the braces prevents further curvature of the spine has been limited. A clinical trial finds that bracing helps, but it's hard to tell in advance who will benefit and who will be fine without wearing a brace.

Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo's Visionary President, Dies

Yamauchi re-imagined Nintendo from a playing-card company to a pioneer in the video game industry. He helped launch games that marked adolescence in the '80s and '90s.

D.C. Parking Spots Become Real Parks For A Day

Much of D.C.'s streetscape is reserved for parked cars, but today residents are reclaiming on-street parking spots and using them for another, more friendly form of parking.

Pennsylvania Police Chief Fired Months After Video Rants

Mark Kessler, who served as police chief in Gilberton, Pa., posted profanity-laced videos in July that denounced liberals, the United Nations and Secretary of State John Kerry.

Beat It, Bidders: Marshals Cancel Jackson Jr. Auction

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. will soon head to jail for misusing campaign funds. The U.S. Marshals Service wants to auction off some of the things he bought with that money. But there are questions about the authenticity of a guitar supposedly signed by Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen.

Tell Me More: Dispatches From #Latism

Hundreds of bloggers and coders are in NYC this week at the Latinos in Tech Innovation & Social Media #LATISM conference. Here are some dispatches from Tell Me More's Davar Ardalan.

Analysis: Questions Linger Regarding Capitol Police Response Time In Navy Yard Shooting

David Hawkings talks about reports that the Capitol Police were initially ordered to "stand down" during this week's Navy Yard shooting.

Tech Week That Was: New iOS Design And Grand Theft Auto

The week brought new iPhones, iOS 7, Grand Theft Auto V and conversations about how social media are benefiting our brains. And federal regulators are weighing whether phones can be unlocked legally so that consumers can more easily move them between carriers.

Capital Bikeshare Turns Three, Expands Into Maryland

The bikes may be bulky and slow-rolling, but Capital Bikeshare—turning three today—is more popular than ever.

Powerful Typhoon Has Hong Kong In Its Sights

The storm, which packed winds of 150 mph on Friday, is expected to weaken before it hits the Chinese territory.

Food Stamp Fight: Great For GOP Base But Not For Outreach

The House GOP's vote on food stamps is a long way from George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" approach. The former president isn't fondly remembered by progressives for much, but anti-hunger advocates credit him for his strong support of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

New iPhone Draws Crowds To Area Apple Stores

If you're not already in line to purchase a brand new iPhone 5S or 5C, good luck—people have been lining up outside the region's Apple stores since Thursday evening.

House GOP Votes To Fund Government, Kill Obamacare

The continuing resolution would technically forestall a government shutdown, but Democrats say its provision to defund the Affordable Care Act is dead on arrival in the Senate.

Praise Pours In For Dairy Queen Manager Who Helped A Blind Man

Joey Prusak saw a visually impaired man drop a $20 bill — and then watched as another customer picked it up and tried to say it was hers. The story of what he did next went viral. Prusak refused to serve the woman who had pocketed the money and gave the blind customer $20 from his own pocket.

Nats Offer Free Tickets To Navy Yard Personnel And Families

The Washington Nationals are offering free tickets to Navy Yard personnel and their families for Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins.

McAuliffe And Cuccinelli Get Most Financial Support From Outside Virginia

In August, Republican Ken Cuccinelli only collected 30 percent of his campaign contributions from within Virginia, while Democrat Terry McAuliffe gathered a mere 27 percent in the commonwealth.

In First Step, Syria Outlines Chemical Weapons Program

An international watchdog based in the Netherlands says it has received an "initial declaration" of chemical weapons from Damascus.

Diplomacy With Iran: Deja Vu All Over Again?

Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani has launched a charm offensive ahead of his visit to the U.N. General Assembly next week, leading to speculation of a new course for relations with the U.S. But there are plenty of reasons for skepticism — Iran's history with the U.S. not the least of them.

D.C. Could Compensate Residents Who Lost Homes Through Tax Lien Sales

A D.C. legislator has proposed a bill that would compensate residents who lost their homes over tax liens worth only a few hundred dollars. 

Prince George's County Gets State Grant To Go After Repeat Offenders

In Maryland, prosecutors in Prince George's County are getting additional money to go after repeat violent offenders.

Joy Covey, Who Was Key To Amazon.com's Success, Dies

As the Internet retailer's chief financial officer, she led its initial public offering in 1997. Founder Jeff Bezos has said Covey was Amazon's primary contact with Wall Street during critical years. Wednesday, she died after her bicycle collided with a van. Covey was 50.

Even As MERS Epidemic Grows, The Source Eludes Scientists

Since emerging last year in the Middle East, a mysterious virus has infected at least 132 people and killed 58. But it's still unknown how people get infected. A genetic analysis now suggests that animals may have repeatedly infected people with the deadly virus.

Death Toll Near 100, And Likely To Rise, From Storms In Mexico

Twin disasters — hurricanes that this week struck both sides of the nation — have been devastating. An additional 68 people in one village are missing and presumed dead after their homes were buried in a landslide.

VIDEO: Tigers' Fielder Takes Fan's Chip After Chasing Foul

Was it fair or foul that first baseman Prince Fielder took a nacho chip from an unsuspecting fan during Thursday's game? Check out the amusing scene and Fielder's comments afterward.

Iran's New Leader Calls For 'Constructive Dialogue'

Ahead of next week's opening of the U.N.'s general assembly, where he and other leaders will address the world, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is continuing what some have called a charm offensive.

13 People Shot In Chicago; 3-Year-Old Most Seriously Wounded

In what's thought to have been a gang-related incident, someone opened fire on a group of people in a park. The 3-year-old is in critical condition after a bullet struck his head.