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Loudoun County Growth

Virginia's Loudoun County, long labeled the nation's "fastest growing county," was handed a court decision last week that could allow for the construction of another 60-thousand homes. The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a set of slow growth regulations that pertain to the western part of Loudoun - restrictions that were passed by a former County Board of Supervisors. The court ruled the county didn't provide proper public notice as to which parts of the county the new regulations would affect. It was a ruling that captured the attention of slow-growth advocates and property rights proponents across the region. The current Loudoun Board of Supervisors is now grappling with how to respond. Three board members want to reinstate the slow-growth rules. But they don't appear to have the support of the majority. WAMU's Lisa Nurnberger reports on the future of development in Loudoun.

Taking Another Look at Sentences for Drug Offenders

During the "get tough on crime" political campaigns of the 1980s and 90s, many states ushered in strict laws, requiring drug offenders to serve set, non-negotiable sentences in prison. But some states have re-considered that approach in recent years and relaxed some of the mandatory sentencing. Now, an organized campaign to get Maryland to do the same is gaining momentum. A bill is pending in Annapolis that proposes removing the mandatory sentences for repeat drug offenders. But as WAMU's Sarah Hughes reports, the campaign faces strong opposition from state prosecutors.

Commentator Fred Fiske - Housing Price Worries

Fred Fiske shares his best strategies for an over-priced housing market.

Youth Voices - Immigration Separation

Census figures indicate almost one fifth of children in the U.S. live in immigrant households. During the immigration process, families can be separated for years as parents move to America and work to gain legal status or funding, and send for children later. There are few statistics on how often this happens or how long the separations usually last. But at Bell Multicultural High School where Youth Voices reporter Jose is a senior, you don't have to look far to find dozens of students who've spent some part of childhood away from their parents. Jose wanted to learn more about what separation can mean for families...including his own.

Our Youth Voices series is produced by WAMU's Sidsel Overgaard. Next week - the media-savvy generation contemplates the power of teen-focused advertising.

The Holy Grail of Espresso

This weekend, in the other Washington - the one in the Pacific Northwest - some of the best "baristas" in the country are getting together for the fourth annual U.S. Barista Championship. For those of you who've managed to avoid walking into a Starbucks or any other coffee shop during the coffee boom of the past several years, a barista isn't a South American revolutionary. It's the person behind the counter brewing up the espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, and yes, there really IS an annual competition. At the event will be DC's top barista. Reporter Stuart Cohen spent some time with him and found out what it takes to make championship coffee.

Ceramics Fest

Eight hundred seventy-eight artists...one hundred and sixty exhibitions...and one hundred twenty-two venues - all obsessed with the same thing: playing with mud. Since mid-February the stretch between Baltimore and Washington has been the stomping ground for an unprecedented gathering of ceramics-fanatics. Called the "Tour de Clay," academics, artists and enthusiasts are satisfying their fascination with pottery, an art form that has existed for over 30,000 years. Sponsored in part by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, or NCECA, the Tour de Clay is bringing together people who share the conviction that, even something as basic as your morning coffee mug should be a work of art. WAMU's Stephanie Kaye went to the Earth & Fire Gallery in Vienna, and learned from owner Beth Wiley how one ceramics addicts got her start.

Arts with Peter Fay

There are a few things we know about Metro Connection Arts Editor, Peter Fay. One, he's passionate about the DC arts scene. Two, he'll use every chance he gets to talk about opera on the air. And three, he talks really, really fast. But that's only because he has so little time to cram in so much information about everything that's going on in town. Peter is here with another installment of his "Best Bets."

Commentary by Marvin Kalb

Many of us who have lived in the DC region for a number of years get to the point where we actually walk past the White House or the Capitol Building, hurriedly going about our business without even raising our eyes to notice these internationally famous landmarks. Commentator Marvin Kalb says we need to look up more often. And that we should be equally awed when we walk along Massachusetts Avenue, just East of Dupont Circle.

Writer Marvin Kalb is Senior Fellow at Harvard University's Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics and Public policy.