News Archive - October 4, 2013

Analysis: Stop Calling Federal Employees 'Nonessential'

As the government shutdown progresses, federal employees have taken to being placed into "essential" and "nonessential" categories. Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service explains why this is a mistake.

Man Sets Himself On Fire On National Mall

A man has been flown to the hospital after witnesses say he dumped gasoline on his head and set himself on fire.

Shutdown Diary, Day 4: When 'Winning' Isn't Everything

The day centered on a quote attributed to an unnamed source. But one thing President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner could agree on: Nobody's winning in Washington.

Man Sets Himself On Fire On The National Mall

What has already been a strange and scary work week in the nation's capital, came to a close with a shocking incident on the National Mall: For reasons we don't yet know, witnesses say a man doused himself with gasoline and then set himself on fire.

'Angola 3' Inmate Dies Just Days After Being Freed

Herman Wallace, 71, survived 40 years in solitary confinement for the killing of a guard. A judge overturned his conviction and set him free on Tuesday, saying he had not received a fair trial.

Maryland Gun Dealer Believes Assault Ban Has Plenty Of Holes

Some Maryland gun dealers say the state's new gun ban will not be effective in preventing mass shootings.

Italian Senate Panel Recommends Expelling Silvio Berlusconi

This means the larger-than-life Italian politician and media mogul, is one step closer to the end of his political career. It is expected the full Senate will follow suit and strip Berlusconi of seat, opening him up to arrest.

D.C. To Pick Up Trash At Shuttered National Parks In City

The federal government isn't picking up trash at its parks in Washington, so the D.C. government will do it instead.

Google Vs. Facebook: A Map Of Global Conquest

The two powerhouses are the most visited sites in the world, according to the U.K.'s Oxford Internet Institute.

The 'Faux Friday' Jobs Report: What Economists Can Guesstimate

With the federal government partially shut down there was no September jobs report Friday, leaving some economists suffering data withdrawal. But sorting through unofficial numbers, most economists are fairly sure the labor market continued its steady, modest growth last month, adding perhaps as many as 180,000 jobs.

Major Weekend Track Work To Interrupt Red Line

Three Red Line stations will be closed this weekend, with shuttles operating between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet.

The Last Word On Hormone Therapy From the Women's Health Initiative

Hormone replacement therapy used to be considered a fountain of youth for women. Then studies from the Women's Health Initiative found that HRT raised women's risk of chronic diseases. A final report from the massive study says hormone therapy can help younger women manage menopause symptoms, but it isn't safe for use long-term.

Obama's Lunch: Sandwich With A Side Of Shutdown Messaging

President Obama sought to turn an "impromptu" lunchtime stroll into a chance to neutralize a damaging shutdown quote from an administration official.

Harpers Ferry Merchants Take Steps To Keep Visits Up During Shutdown

The government shutdown has united merchants and officials in Harpers Ferry in hopes of keeping visitors coming to the historic destination.

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Of Goats And Gardens: Making Sense Of Urban Agriculture In LA

Urban agriculture abounds in Los Angeles county but few people could see the big picture of what was actually happening around them. So university students set out to create a baseline of data in the country's most populous county to help urban planners, regulators and agricultural pioneers make sense of it all.

Embattled Alex Rodriguez Sues Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball has gone on a "witch hunt" to destroy Rodriguez's reputation and career, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit is especially critical of baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, accusing him of trying to make an example of Rodriguez.

New Polls Finds That McAuliffe Leads Cuccinelli By Five Points

In the race for Virginia's top elected office, it's Democrat Terry McAuliffe at 42 percent and Republican Ken Cuccinelli at 37 percent. Libertarian Robert Sarvis is drawing between eight and 10 percent.

Analysis: Lawmakers Praise Capitol Police Response To Shooting Incident

David Hawkings talks about the latest in the government shutdown, and how it affected Capitol Police's response to yesterday's shooting incident in D.C.

Officials Detail Shutdown's Chilling Effect On National Security

A senior U.S. government official says some intelligence agencies are able to focus only on the biggest threats: counterterrorism and nuclear nonproliferation. So other issues are falling by the wayside.

Giant Hornets Kill Dozens In China; Warm Temps Might Be Cause

The insects are the size of an adult's thumb and can sting multiple times, delivering a large dose of venom.

Netanyahu's Push: Countering Iranian Leader's Charm Offensive

NPR's Steve Inskeep says that in his interview with Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the Israeli prime minister seemed bent on exposing the other side of Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani.

Meat-Drenched Oktoberfest Warms To Vegans

With more Germans going vegan and vegetarian, the Munich festival wants to accommodate them. Restaurants say their vegan options at this year's festival are selling well.

Tech Week That Was: Bitcoin Bust, Twitter IPO, Siri Outed

In a week full of tech headlines, we explored your digital trail, followed the technology hiccups for the new health care exchanges and reported on the takedown of Silk Road, the online illicit goods market. And we may have learned who gave voice to Apple's Siri.

Still-Powerful Tropical Storm Karen Set For Saturday Landfall

The system, which has been traveling through the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to make landfall in Louisiana.

Tasteless Or Not? Restaurant Puts Communion Wafer On Burger

Kuma's Corner, a Chicago eatery, says the dish is in honor of a Swedish heavy metal band that dresses in religious robes. Critics say it makes a mockery of something that is holy to Catholics and many other Christians.

Actors With Disabilities In Big Roles? 'We Don't Have A Chance'

Blair Underwood stars in the 2013 version of Ironside. He's the latest in a long list of actors who portray characters with disabilities without being disabled. "It's a Catch-22" that no one's addressing, says activist Larry Sapp.

Despite Many Warnings, Antibiotics Are Still Overprescribed

Public health officials have been working to reduce use of antibiotics for years. But fresh research shows that antibiotics are still being prescribed where they don't do much good, for ailments like sore throats and bronchitis. Both doctors and patients are to blame for that, experts say.

Vietnamese General Who Led Fight Against U.S., France, Dies

Vo Nguyen Giap, who masterminded the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and the Tet Offensive against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces 14 years later, died Friday at a hospital in Hanoi.

'This Isn't Some Damn Game!' Boehner Says

As Republicans and Democrats continue to argue, their positions appear to remain fixed. Looking to put pressure on the administration, the House speaker got emotional Friday morning at a news conference. President Obama responded Boehner can end the shutdown quickly.

National Cathedral Raises Awareness About Bullying Of LGBT Community

This weekend the Washington National Cathedral is hosting a series of events aimed at honoring and remembering LGBT youth who have suffered from hate-inspired bullying, discrimination, and violence.

Extended Shutdown Could Cost Maryland $5 Million In Lost Daily Revenue

Maryland is heavily dependent on the federal government for employment, a reality that is hurting the state as the federal government remains shuttered.

Got A Question Or Complaint About D.C. Public Schools? Now Someone Will Listen

On any given day, the Critical Response Team at D.C. Public Schools can field up to 300 calls from parents worrying about everything from Pre-K enrollment to a decades-old homecoming award never given.

Awww-some VIDEO: Little White Lion Cub Tries To Roar

Animal lovers' hearts may just melt when they see and hear a little lion born last week at the Belgrade Zoo in Serbia.

Woman Shot To Death At U.S. Capitol After Chase Identified

Law enforcement have identified the woman killed in Thursday's high-speed chase that ended at the U.S. Capitol as 34-year-old Miriam Carey of Stamford, Connecticut.

Siri, Who Are You? She Won't Say, But Her ID's Been Blown

Try to get Siri to confirm the news and she only gives you a runaround. But voice actor Susan Bennett has stepped forward to tell CNN that she's "classic" Siri on Apple's U.S. iPhones and iPads.

A Grass-Roots Rally To Protect South Carolina's Massive 'Angel Oak'

The storied tree near Charleston, with an expansive canopy and massive, gnarled branches that sweep the ground, attracts thousands of visitors each year. Local conservationists are rushing to raise enough money to buy the land around the centuries-old live oak to protect it from development.

Grim Search Resumes Off Sicily; It's Feared 300 Drowned

A small boat packed with about 500 people trying to get from Africa to Europe lost power, caught fire and then sank on Thursday. At least 155 people were rescued. The search continues, but rescuers hold out little hope for finding many more survivors.

Friday Morning Political Mix

President Obama's Asia trip became a shutdown casualty... the Republican establishment is unhappy with the Tea Party movement whose members probably couldn't care less... the shutdown is causing real damage to the private sector.

4 Things To Know On Day 4 Of The Shutdown

Though there's no end in sight to the standoff, there are reports that Republican lawmakers are looking for a new way to strike a deal.

What We Know So Far About Woman Killed In D.C. Chase

Law enforcement authorities say the woman was Miriam Carey, a dental hygienist from Stamford, Conn. The car they say she was driving rammed a security barrier at the White House, then took off toward the U.S. Capitol. There, police killed the driver.