Category: Washington D.C. News

A hearing convened last month by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the operation of the city’s halfway houses has revealed that when it comes to reducing crime and recidivism among ex-offenders, the privately-run facilities could do a better job. “The hearing revealed counterproductive inflexibility among some personnel at halfway houses, frustrating offenders’ efforts to comply […]

Howard University will serve as the backdrop next week surrounding a debate on same-sex marriage. The event, which takes place at noon on March 9, will be held at the university’s School of Law and will feature the justice involved in the controversial Proposition 8 in which the Supreme Court overturned a referendum last year […]

Beleaguered Councilman Marion Barry said he broke no laws in awarding a controversial contract to a former aide with whom he also had a romantic relationship. However, the councilman and former leader frequently dubbed “Mayor for Life,” admitted he showed poor judgement by continuing a relationship with the woman. “I didn’t use good judgment in […]

The record number of home foreclosures in the Washington, D.C. metro area has local Census officials worried about the 2010 count. It’s a concern that was nonexistent in previous counts in 2000 and 1990, but now Census officials are concerned that home foreclosures, even more than the migration of people across the Prince George’s County-Washington, […]

Beleaguered Washington, D.C. Councilman Marion Barry has one week to respond to the allegations outlined in the Bennett Report, released on February 16, which accused him of using taxpayer funds for personal purposes. In another of a string of charges made against him since he returned to the council five years ago as the Ward […]

An investigation by special counsel Robert Bennett into the District of Columbia City Council’s contract and grant distribution habits has revealed among other highlights, that Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry misused government funds, steering nearly $1 million into the coffers of nonprofits that he created and which were fraught with waste and abuse. Among the […]

Preparing for a record blizzard seemed to be uncharted territory for local residents. The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area is used to snowfalls, but preparing for this year’s record deluge proved to be a huge challenge for officials, residents and businesses alike. Kia Williams, 27, of Northeast Washington said she was shocked by the magnitude of […]

A state medical examiner this week offered gruesome details of the injuries incurred in the February 2008 street race that ended in tragedy for its eight victims and put two Waldorf, Md. men on trial. Tavon Taylor, 20, back in court Feb. 16 after a 10-day recess due to the weather, returned to face the […]

The top talented high school performers from the District of Columbia will be showcased in the second annual DC-CAPital Stars Talent Competition on March 8. The event, backed by the D.C. College Access Program (DC-CAP), features talented, college-bound youths displaying their artistic abilities. Voting for the top performers began on the DC-CAP website on Jan. […]

The series of fatalities and injuries that have occurred over the past year on the mass transit system in Washington have distinguished the system as the region’s worst, according to federal records. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates fatal and severe accidents, reported recently that three of its eight ongoing transit investigations involve […]

Officials in Prince George’s County are working diligently to educate residents on the 2010 census. Typically, the county has performed favorably compared to some of the other local jurisdictions, but it is taking no chances with informing the public. “An undercount could possibly be a loss for us and we don’t want an undercount,” said […]

A massive winter storm blanketed the Mid-Atlantic region on Feb. 5 and 6, dumping more than 2 feet of snow on the Baltimore-Washington area. Snow accumulated at an estimated rate of 2 inches per hour over Friday night into Saturday morning, bringing travel through most of the area to a near-standstill. The National Weather Service […]