News Archive - October 2, 2013

Shutdown Cuts Into Metro's Bottom Line

Furloughed federal workers means fewer riders on the Metro system and a smaller-than-expected bottom line for the transit agency.

Virginia Democrats Sue To Prevent Voter Roll Purge

Tens of thousands of Virginia residents may be purged from voter rolls — something state Democrats are filing a lawsuit to stop.

District's Shutdown Gambit Is Paying Off

Mayor Vincent Gray took a gamble in designating all District employees as essential during the government shutdown, and so far it appears to have paid off for the city.

Maryland Company A Poster Boy For Businesses Affected By Shutdown

President Barack Obama will be visiting Maryland tomorrow to check in with Rockville's M. Luis Construction, one of uncounted businesses that stand to suffer from the budget stalemate.

Designer Marc Jacobs Says 'Au Revoir' To Louis Vuitton

After 16 years Jacobs has decided to turn his full attention to his own company. Vuitton management says, "C'est la vie!"

Chinese Activist Chen Gets New Start At Catholic University

Chen Guangcheng was left in limbo after his fellowship at New York University ended. Chen made news after he took refuge at the American embassy in Beijing.

Some Are Benefiting From The Government Shutdown

Furloughed workers? Deserted national parks? OK, that's a problem. But here's a little silver lining to the crisis: Displaced tourists are turning to other attractions, restaurants are turning hungry government workers into customers, and ironic T-shirts about the crisis are flying off the racks.

Jury: Concert Promoter Was Not Liable In Michael Jackson Death

Jackson's mother had sought $1.5 billion in damages, saying AEG was negligent when it hired Dr. Conrad Murray to care for the singer.

Shutdown Diary: Day 2

The second day of the government shutdown found President Obama in talks with congressional leaders at the White House. Elsewhere, conservative activists were busy targeting House Republicans who appeared ready to break ranks.

D.C. Alcohol Board Rejects Moratorium On Liquor Licenses On U Street

The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board today unanimously rejected a proposed moratorium on liquor licenses for the U Street corridor, saying that imposing one could blunt the neighborhood’s dramatic revival.

Legal Advocates Want Overhaul Of Public Defender System

Former Vice President Walter Mondale and a former Alabama Supreme Court justice are among those pressing for a bipartisan commission to improve legal services to the poor.

John Boehner Reports No Progress After Meeting With Obama

The House speaker emerged from the White House after a 90-minute meeting with President Obama saying, "They will not negotiate." Democrats said they would confer with Republicans, but after they open the government.

Shutdown Gives Americans New Reason To Hate Washington

Residents of the St. Louis area don't all agree on which politicians to blame for the government shutdown, but they do agree that they're doing a lousy job and should have their pay suspended.

Howard's President Steps Down Amid Tumult And Uncertainty

The Washington, D.C., university, which is arguably the country's most prominent historically black institution of higher education, has been buffeted by a tough economy and dissent among its leadership.

Fish Guidelines For Pregnant Women May Be Too Strict, Study Suggests

Since most fish contain some amount of mercury, public health officials suggest that pregnant women limit their intake to 12 ounces a week. But fresh research suggests current recommendations may be too cautious, and that fish may not be a huge source of mercury for expecting moms. Still, some doctors remain cautious.

Clapper: Shutdown Hurts Intelligence, Counterterrorism Efforts

The director of national intelligence says that with 70 percent of spy agency staff on furlough, essential staff are being stretched thin.

At Least 8 Dead In Tenn. Church Bus Crash

The crash between a tour bus and a tractor trailer has also shut down I-40 in both directions, east of Knoxville.

U.S. Opposes Tech Firms' Plea To Release Surveillance Requests

The U.S. was responding to a lawsuit by Google and Microsoft, demanding more information be made public. When the government makes national security requests for user data — like the content of email — it also comes with a gag order.

Is It Time To Cool It On Kale Already?

It's National Kale Day, folks. That prompts the question: Has the kale love gone too far? As we make kale the health halo food du jour, we risk turning it into the Gwyneth Paltrow of the vegetable world — a perceived goody two-shoes that, deservedly or not, everyone loves to hate on.

Why Eye Contact Can Fail To Win People Over

People are told that if you want to get a point across, look your audience straight in the eyes. But that works only if the person already agrees with you, a study finds. When people don't share the speaker's opinion, looking them in the eye may actually make them less likely to change their minds.

Dying 'Angola Three' Inmate Freed After Decades In Solitary

Herman Wallace, who spent more than four decades in solitary confinement after his conviction on murder charges related to a 1972 prison riot, is now suffering from liver cancer. A U.S. district judge in Louisiana ruled that Wallace had not received a fair trial.

D.C. Council Passes Bill Banning Smoking Within 25 Feet Of Parks, Bus Stops

The D.C. Council has passed a bill forbidding smoking within 25 feet of city parks, recreation centers and bus stops.

One Biker Released; Investigation Of NYC Attack Continues

The violent attack on an SUV driver who had been chased by dozens of motorcycle riders was caught on video. Police say the incident may have begun when the riders tried to block vehicles from getting on a parkway. When a driver tried to get away, his vehicle struck a rider.

Ford's Theatre Forced To Close During Government Shutdown

Ford's Theatre may have to postpone its run of "The Laramie Project'' because the play is being forced out of the theater during the government shutdown.

Virginia Officials Keep Up Campaign For Bi-County Parkway

Since hiring a D.C.-based public relations firm to improve its messaging, the Virginia Department of Transportation has stepped up its efforts to build public support for the Bi-County Parkway.

Tom Clancy, Master Of Military Techno-Thrillers, Dies

The best-selling writer of such military and espionage novels as The Hunt for Red October, Red Storm Rising and Patriot Games was 66.

MoCo School Officials Propose Pushing Back Morning Bell By 50 Minutes

Teens in Montgomery County may soon be able to hit the snooze button a few more times—school officials are proposing that high schools start 50 minutes later than they currently do.

In Switcheroo, Democrats Oppose D.C. Funding Bill

While Republicans don't often side with the desires of D.C. officials, yesterday it was Democrats opposing a bill that would have funded the D.C. government.

Shutdown Leaves Federal Workers With Time, But No Access To Popular Va. Trail

Furloughed federal government workers in Virginia may have free time to enjoy the great fall weather, but the shutdown is keeping them from legally using the popular Mt. Vernon Trail.

D.C. Council Pushes Back Election Of Attorney General To 2018

Over 90,000 D.C. voters approved a referendum in 2010 to have an elected attorney general, but it took only seven D.C. Council members to push the election back to 2018.

'Hoax Bomb' Charge Filed Against Man In Florida Airport Scare

Police say the man, a Jacksonville resident originally from Serbia, told investigators that a device in his luggage was "supposed to be a bomb, but it's not." The airport was closed for five hours on Tuesday. Travelers were still dealing with delays there Wednesday morning.

Job Growth Was Modest In September, Survey Signals

The data in the ADP National Employment Report are likely to be the only clues this week about how strong the labor market was last month. The partial government shutdown means the Labor Department is unlikely to release its figures.

Wednesday Morning Political Mix

The shutdown and debt-ceiling fights appear to be merging... the hardline conservatives driving the House GOP leadership believe they are winning... It's Colorado Springs, not the Washington, DC area, with the largest percentage of its workforce receiving federal paychecks.

Shutdown Solution? None To Be Seen Yet, But Sides Will Talk

The impasse continues. Meanwhile, parts of the federal government remain closed. Among the latest developments: President Obama has invited leaders of both parties to a Wednesday evening meeting at the White House.