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The Roving Leaders

With DC's rise in juvenile crime in the headlines, WAMU's Sidsel Overgaard spoke with some girls from Southeast about the new ten o'clock curfew that was instituted to keep children safe and out of trouble. Not surprisingly, they believe the curfew is unfair and unnecessary.

You might not agree with their youthful perception of what constitutes a "serious crime," either, but it probably does not surprise any of the city's forty two "Roving Leaders." These outreach workers are part of a program that's been around since 1954, operated by the Department of Recreation. The number of Roving Leaders has fluctuated dramatically throughout the years but their mission has stayed the same: Get children out of trouble by enrolling them in productive activities.

Sidsel recently spent time with a few of the Leaders to see firsthand how they're putting fifty-two years of experience to work during the current crime emergency.

Prince George's Executive Race

In next month's primary election, voters in Prince George's County will choose a county executive. Both candidates in the race are Democrats: incumbent Jack Johnson, a former county state's attorney, and Rushern Baker, a former state delegate who now heads an educational organization. Baker admits he's the underdog, but some political analysts say Johnson should not underestimate his opponent even though some believe the contest appears to already have been decided. WAMU's Lisa Nurnberger reports.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - Dress Mess

WAMU's Senior Commentator remembers better, simpler times...when men actually dressed up for the opera and appreciated the clean look of the close shave. In this day and age of jeans and t-shirts, he wonders if - even in retirement - he'll ever fit into the new attire.

Enviro-Churches

For many people, churches are places for weekly worship and moral support. But today a number of Maryland churches are also teaching parishioners the values of recycling, water restoration, and energy conservation. This unusual union between religion and environmentalism is gaining strength and the number of churches spreading the word about caring for the earth is on the rise. WAMU's Joe Gill reports.

Open Circle Theater

Open Circle Theatre kicks off its latest production next week. The group is staging Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Evita." But, unlike some productions of this popular musical you may have seen in the movies or on stage, Juan Peron walks with a limp, guerilla leaders use wheel chairs, and sign language interpreters shadow their acting counterparts.

Open Circle Theater is Washington's first professional stage group dedicated to putting artists with disabilities in leading roles rather than being type-cast while also exposing them to a wider audience. The theater's commitment to full participation is matched by its excellence, which has resulted in nominations for some of Washington's most prestigious awards, including Outstanding Resident Musical in 2004.

WAMU's Stephanie Kaye went behind the scenes to speak with some of the people behind this latest production of "Evita," and stepped right into the chaos of "tech-week" at Roundhouse Theater's Silver Spring stage.

Open Circle Theater's "Evita" starts August 9th.

Summertime...and the City is Coping

With the Washington region sweltering under summertime heat and humidity this past week, we couldn't resist sending WAMU's Sarah Hughes onto the streets and into our neighborhoods to see and hear just how people are coping...

Mondo DC - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

If you have the stamina to withstand the sweltering heat and humidity of August, this is the best time of the year to visit one of the city's most unique attractions, the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. It's where you'll encounter one of the most stunning views DC has to offer, the seemingly endless fields of lotuses in full bloom. Located on the banks of the Anacostia River, the park is just a stone's throw from I-295. But once inside, flowers, turtles, frogs, and dragonflies compete for your attention, and the stress of city life is left behind.

Jeff Bagato is the author of "Mondo DC: An Insider's Guide to Washington DC's Most Unusual Tourist Attractions." WAMU's David Furst met him - and several thousand lotus specimens - inside the park.

DC Sports Talk

Several years ago on Metro Connection, Commentator Jim Helein was lamenting the local sports landscape. But as we settle in for the last few weeks of another hot and humid Washington summer, Jim finds a few reasons for local sports fans to feel optimistic.

Commentator Jim Helein is a writer living in Loudoun County. And he's such a casual sports fan, he denies the very existence of the Mystics. He also insists that no performance-enhancing substances were used in the writing of this commentary...unless you count Diet Coke with Lime.