As a strictly geographic matter, Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee's office at 825 North Capitol St. NE is not along Route 50, which enters the District from Maryland via New York Ave., jogs across town to Constitution Ave. and exits to Virginia across the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge.

But she's close enough for a visit from Tom Brokaw, who features her this evening at 7 pm on the USA Network as part of his "American Character Along Highway 50," a series of dispatches about notables along the road that stretches from Ocean City, Md. to Sacramento, Ca.

Rhee, who got into some hot water locally last year for her broom-wielding image on the cover of Time magazine, takes the former NBC anchor into a D.C. school to schmooze with kids and listen to her story. According to a USA press release posted on the TV blog The Futon Critic, Rhee says, "I've always liked children more than I've liked adults."

The statement also says Rhee talks about how she is "transforming her district by closing down dozens of failing schools and firing hundreds of teachers; changing the way schools recruit, select and train qualified teachers in difficult-to-staff schools by fighting for six-figure salaries; and most controversially, by rewarding students with money for good behavior."

"Rhee's tireless efforts to be the voice of underserved students makes her a true American Character," USA says. "147 miles down, 2,926 to go."

Bill Turque

Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, who presided over the firing of 250 teachers last month, is also continuing her attempts to build bridges with District educators by bringing six of them into her office for a five-week summer fellowship.

Rhee said in a statement that the first annual Teachers Central to Leadership initiative is designed "to inform and enrich DCPS policy-making and projects with [teachers'] invaluable on-the ground input."

The six teachers, selected from 150 applicants, will work in various divisions of senior DCPS ranks, including human capital, special education and family and public engagement. They'll receive $5,000 stipends.

The teachers are: Aris Pangilinan (math), HD Woodson High School, a winner of the 2009 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher award presented by The Washington Post Educational Foundation; Brooke Buerkle (social studies), Columbia Heights Educational Campus, named Outstanding First Year Teacher by DCPS in 2008; Cynthia Robinson (first grade), H.D. Cooke Elementary, who serves on the board of the Capital Area National Association for Bilingual Education; Lynn Lahti-Hommeyer (elementary science resource), Bruce-Monroe Elementary@ Parkview, honored at a 2006 White House ceremony with a presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching; Margaret Slye (literacy professional developer), Scott Montgomery Elementary, a former Teach For America corps member, and Tondra J. Odom-Owens (fifth grade), Savoy Elementary, who co-wrote the current fourth grade learning standards in reading and language arts for DCPS.

Bill Turque

While a jail term handed down yesterday addressed one big problem at the District's tax and revenue office, other problems may remain, according to Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large).
Catania's partner received an income tax refund for $10. Not much, but Brian Kearney actually owed money. And a constituent contacted Catania's office about a $2,886 check incorrectly sent to him.

So just how many of these errant refunds were distributed, and how many have been returned?

David Umansky, a spokesman for Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi, said the office is looking into the matter, which was brought to its attention last week by Catania.
"I don't know the scope of the problem, but something is not right," Catania said. "This is a wakeup call."

People could be cashing the checks, he said. "In this environment, it can be very tempting."

-- Nikita Stewart

The D.C. Council approved the latest version of a crime bill today in a 10 to 3 vote after continued debate about an amendment that would allow police to arrest and detain suspected gang members.

Earlier this month, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) proposed emergency crime legislation that included the anti-gang provision only to be met with rejection after concerns, including worries about racial profiling. Instead, the council approved an emergency bill proposed by Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary.

Today, Mendelson offered a bill that cobbled together the mayor's previous emergency bill, his emergency bill and some other legislation for a first reading.

Council members Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), David A. Catania (I-At Large) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) were the dissenters, seeing the new version as watered down. "At the end of the day, I don't think this advance the ball much further," Evans said.

The three members had backed the anti-gang provision, along with Council members Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), but they were outnumbered.

Under the anti-gang measure, prosecutors could obtain an injunction to prohibit an alleged gang member from associating with known gang members.

"These injunctions are dragnet approaches," said Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3).

"I know it's well-intended, but it's ineffective," said Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), adding that the city needed to prevent gang activity through literacy and other social services. "If you want to break up these gangs, it's going to take money."

The D.C. Council unanimously gave initial approval today to an agreement with developers to spend $272 million in public money to expedite the construction of a hotel and adjoining garage at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The legislation will likely get final approval next month.

Though a few council members expressed concern about using taxpayer dollars in difficult economic times, all members apparently agreed to go through with the deal.

D.C. Council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) told his colleagues that the $537 million, 1,167-room hotel will allow the city to be more competitive in drawing conventions and events. Since talk of spending more public dollars for a hotel began in recent weeks, some council members said the city was losing business to National Harbor resort in Prince George's County.

The city originally had a plan to give $187 million in public dollars to developers through tax increment financing. The city will add $25 million to that tally while the Washington Convention Center Authority will provide $47 million from cash reserves to the project. With interest and other costs, the public dollars add up to $272 million, said Brown, chairman of the Committee on Economic Development.

Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) stressed that the council should be clear that more tax dollars will be used than originally proposed for the Marriott Marquis hotel. "This is not a miracle deal," he said.

Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said city officials also have to look at what other factors could be playing into the city's inability to draw more conventions. He said said other cities have fewer hotel rooms within close proximity to their convention centers but are winning events because of other amenities, such as better transportation.

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) wants to reduce the number of licensed cab drivers that he says are flooding the city's taxi system. He introduced legislation today to begin looking at a way to "cap" the cabbies.

Graham, whose committee oversees the taxicab industry, said the city now has 8,000 licensed operators and another 1,000 candidates. "We have more licensed operators per capita, as best we can determine, in the world," he said. "This boat is going to sink by its own weight."

New applicants have inundated the system since tests resumed last year after the city stopped giving exams when questions were leaked. There was evidence of cheating in 2005.

Graham said he did not know how the city would achieve a "cap" on drivers but said stakeholders should look at requiring medallions or certificates. He also said applicants currently get "three tries" to take the exam, which he said should also be re-evaluated.

Joseph Walsh Jr., director of the Department of Employment Services, told council members today that the agency has reassigned dozens of youths who lost their jobs last week after DOES terminated an agreement with a job placement firm.

But some young people testified that they are still having problems, such as having a long commute to work or not yet receiving a job assignment,.They voiced their concerns at a hearing of the Committee on Housing and Workforce Development, headed by Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8).

Walsh said the problems are affecting a small number of the 21,879 participants. But council members are closely watching the Summer Youth Employment Program, which went $34 million over budget last year.

Myeeka Mullins, an 18-year-old graduate of Bell Multicultural Senior High School, said she was assigned to a Springfield, Va., office of the US Department of Commerce - a long way from her Ward 8 home.

Surita Mullins, her grandmother and guardian, said the commute is costing about $10 a day. Myeeka Mullins said in an interview that she fears the transportation expenses will significantly eat into her earnings of $6 an hour.

On another note, 16-year-old Dayshon Wagner said she was in the process of getting a job assignment but got lost in the shuffle of the city's dispute with the job placement firm. "I haven't gotten anything from anybody...Not a phone call. Not an e-mail."

Walsh later testified that records show DOES called and e-mailed Wagner about a job over the weekend, but she must not have received them. He also said he talked to Mullins after listening to her testimony ,and DOES would give her a job with a shorter commute if she wants tomorrow.

Council member Michael A. Brown (I-At Large) told Walsh that he knows Walsh has "inherited problems" but hoped they would be resolved.

Rev. Anthony Motley will kick off his campaign for D.C. Council tomorrow at Tony's Boxing Gym and Fitness Club in Southeast.

The 60-year-old community activist - known most recently for being at the side of Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) during his kidney transplant - is running as an independent for one of two at-large seats that will be up for grabs next year. Motley is a Democrat turned independent.

Council members Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) and David A. Catania (I-At Large) currently hold the seats and will be up for re-election.

Born in Detroit, Motley has spent most of his life in the District since moving to the city as a toddler with his family.

Motley said in an interview that there are divisions in the city that he wants to eliminate: geography and race but also one between ministers and the gay and lesbian community.

Motley said he pulled together a meeting between the two groups to talk about the legalization of gay marriage. Motley, who said he has supported domestic partnerships and other gay issues in the past, said he has not decided whether he supports legalizing same-sex nnuptials. "I'm evolving on that," he said. "I have not gotten to the point that I can say definitively."

Mendelson crafted the legislation to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions while Catania has promised to introduce the legalization of gay marriage in the District this year.

Motley said he is not targeting one council member in his bid to take a seat. "Two seats are up and one of those seats belongs to Anthony Jerome Motley. I'm going to get it," he said.

A House appropriations subcommittee approved a bill today that would lift prohibitions that prevent the District from using funds for domestic partnership registration and needle exchange programs. It also eliminates bans on using local funds for abortion and holding a referendum on use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Ending the restrictions could prove controversial as the bill moves through Congress.
Rep. José E. Serrano (D-NY), chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, said in a statement that the bill takes "steps toward reducing undue congressional interference in local affairs."

States do not have such restrictions and the bill would put the city on par with the rest of the country, he said.

The bill also provides $768 million to the city for various programs, including HIV/AIDS education and ending homelessness.

Nikita Stewart

A federal prosecutor disclosed in court today that he and defense lawyers were working on a potential plea deal in the case of Yusuf Acar, 40, a former D.C. government technology manager accused of running an audacious bribery and kickback scheme.

Acar, of Northwest Washington, was arrested by the FBI in March and charged with wire fraud and conspiring to commit bribery and launder money in a scam that cost the D.C. government at least $500,000.

He was accused of using his position as acting chief security officer to steer contracts to companies for bribes. They also say he had a stake in a company that received D.C. contracts and received kickbacks for hiring "ghost" employees.

Another D.C. employee and a business executive were charged in the case.

During a brief hearing today, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Hibarger said he and Acar's defense attorney, Dani Jahn, "are working toward a resolution" in the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola then set a hearing for Aug. 3 to receive an update from the attorneys.

Hibarger and Jahn declined to comment after the hearing. Acar has not yet been indicted, another indication that plea negotiations are in the works.

-- Del Quentin Wilber

Two District residents are challenging Bishop Harry Jackson's qualifications to lead the fight against a D.C. Council bill that legalizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

Cary Silverman, president of the Mount Vernon Association, and Martin Moulton claim Jackson was ineligible to seek a referendum on the bill because he is a resident of Maryland.

"If I hopped into my car, drove out to Annapolis and tried to rewrite the laws of Maryland, I'd expect them to come down on me like a ton of bricks," said Silverman, who unsuccessfully challenged Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) last year. "This is a matter of principle - we don't want residents of other states interfering with our laws."

The challenge follows a Washington Blade story that raised questions about whether Jackson was a District resident. Jackson registered to vote in the District on April 22, after the Council approved the legislation on first reading. Jackson's District residence is a one-bedroom apartment he shares with someone else.

Jackson also remains registered to vote in Montgomery County, where he owns two homes, according to property records.

In a recent interview, Jackson dismissed questions about his residency, stressing he's a legal resident with a valid drivers license. Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, added hundreds of his parishioners are District residents. Jackson also accused The Blade of endangering his safety by publishing his home address.

Jackson is just one of several same-sex marriage opponents challenging the Council bill. No questions have been raised about whether any of the other opponents reside in the District.

Last week, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics blocked the opponents' efforts to hold a referendum on the bill. But the group, led by Jackson, is currently appealing that decision in Superior Court.

"This referendum should have been kicked out from the get-go," Silverman said. "It should never have seen the light of day."

--Tim Craig