Local News from WAMU 88.5

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

More Hours, Or No Hours? D.C. Libraries Could Close During Government Shutdown

What do neighborhood libraries in D.C. have to do with federal spending levels? Not much, except that if the federal government shuts down next week, so too will libraries serving the city's 632,000 residents.

Montgomery County Groups Speak Out In Favor Of 80-Mile Bus Rapid Transit System

A coalition of groups is pitching an 80-mile bus system as a means to help mitigate traffic in Montgomery County, but opponents worry that the proposed system would displace residents from their homes.

Comcast Kicks Off Third Year Of Program Aimed At Narrowing Digital Divide

A leading provider of broadband service is expanding a program to help narrow the region’s digital divide.

Two D.C. Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Awards

A charter school and a Catholic school in D.C. were among the 286 schools across the country recognized by the federal government for academic improvement and achievement.

Va. Lieutenant Governor Candidates Square Off On God, Guns And Gays

Social issues were among the points of contention between E.W. Jackson and Ralph Northam, candidates for Virginia lieutenant governor, during a debate yesterday.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

D.C. Lawmakers Consider Defying Congress, Operating During Shutdown

In the past, when the federal government shut down, so did the District. Lawmakers are now considering a bill which would keep the city running in direct opposition to federal law.

Doug Gansler Formally Announces Candidacy For Maryland Governor

Maryland's attorney general Doug Gansler has officially thrown his hat in the ring in a crowded field for the governor's office.

New Cases Of HIV In D.C. Cut In Half Over Four Years

D.C. officials are celebrating what they say is a significant and consistent decline in the number of new HIV cases in the city.

D.C. Backtracks On Parking Pass Policy

The District Department of Transportation is reversing course on their plan to make visitor parking passes on-demand only, after a public outcry.

Virginia Democrat Seeks Records Linking Cuccinelli, Star Scientific CEO

A Virginia state senator has filed a  lawsuit in Richmond, claiming his requests for records of communications between Ken Cuccinelli and political donors have been ignored.

Hacks Compromise Personal Information Of Applicants To Virginia Tech

Thousands of people who applied for jobs at Virginia Tech may have had their information compromised, as the university disclosed that their servers had been hacked.

Navy Yard Shooter Did Not Disclose Arrest, Debts

The Navy Yard shooter lied about a previous arrest and failed to disclose thousands of dollars in debts when he applied for a security clearance in the Navy.

Miss Piggy, Bert And Ernie To Join Smithsonian Collection

Miss Piggy is finally joining her love, Kermit the Frog, in the Smithsonian Institution's collection of Jim Henson's Muppets, and Bert and Ernie will have a place in history, too.

McAuliffe And Cuccinelli Draw Contrasts On Environmental And Energy Records

Ahead of a debate on Wednesday night and with polls showing a tight race, Virginia gubernatorial contenders Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli are finding contrasts wherever they can—including their records on the environment and energy.

Maryland Ph.D. Student Tracks Ups And Downs Of Metro's Escalators

A curious Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland has taken to tracking escalator outages at Metro stations, and some of his findings might not be too surprising to the daily commuter.

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