Post Now - Breaking news in the D.C. area. - December 26, 2010

Capitol evacuated after brief threat

Update, 2:05 p.m.: Capitol Police now say the plane was not a threat, the pilot is landing safely and they have given the all-clear. Original post: An email has gone out to anyone who might have gone to work at...

By Washington Post editors | January 1, 2011; 1:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)

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Suburban Hospital locked down

Montgomery County police say Suburban Hospital is locked down while detectives investigate a suspicious death.

By Washington Post editors | January 1, 2011; 12:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Maryland
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1 dead after Temple Hills house fire

Prince George's County fire officials say a man found in a burning Temple Hills home has died.

By The Associated Press | January 1, 2011; 10:57 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Happy New Year: Get a resolution here

If you're having trouble thinking of a New Year's resolution in between watching football games, hockey games and ringing in the new year, let us help. Use our automatic generator to find a New Year's resolution just for you.

By Washington Post staff | January 1, 2011; 10:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Gaithersburg woman treated after fire

A Montgomery County fire official says one woman has been treated for smoke inhalation after a morning blaze in the kitchen of her Gaithersburg apartment. County fire department spokesman Capt. Oscar Garcia says a smoke alarm wakened the woman, who...

By Associated Press | December 31, 2010; 1:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Celebrations around D.C., world

New Year's celebrations have started and we are attempting to track them as they roll across the globe. Sydney, Australia is the first we've added and we'll update as festivities begin in cities around the world.

By Cory Haik | December 31, 2010; 11:40 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A.M. Buzz: New Year's, TSA, and cupcakes

Still no plan for New Year’s? If you’re really this last minute, never fear, the Going Out Guide gurus are here. Read their FAQ to ensure you get the best New Year’s in the district. I hope you’ve also made your new year’s resolutions, even if you’re already planning on breaking them

By Elizabeth Flock | December 31, 2010; 8:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock
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Planetarium group gets $100K donation

The Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium said it has received a $100,000 donation from Preston Caruthers in its grass-roots bid to save the facility.

By Washington Post Editors | December 30, 2010; 3:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Virginia
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Former Baltimore TV reporter arrested on domestic violence charges

A woman told police she got into an argument with her husband, who she identified as Dennis Edwards. The woman said that the argument escalated until he shoved her down and banged her head on the floor, a police spokesman said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the spokesman said.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 30, 2010; 3:12 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock
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Woman critical in Arlington hit-and-run

News Channel 8 and Channel 4 report that a woman is critically injured in a hit and run in Arlington.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 30, 2010; 8:31 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety
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New rule for phones, cameras in courts

Maryland Rule 16-110, which governs the possession and use of cell phones, cameras, computers, and other electronic devices in court facilities, will go into effect Jan. 1.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 30, 2010; 8:16 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety
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Stickup with a big stick

As a Manassas store clerk opened his shop early Tuesday, he was greeted by a hooded man wielding an extremely large stick. How big? Watch the video below. Manassas City police are calling it an armed robbery.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 30, 2010; 8:12 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Elizabeth Flock
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Buzz: New year's, Friedgen, and a big stick

Ready for New Year's? If you still haven't made plans for the night, never fear, our Going out Guide has last minute plans that include everything from vaudeville to totally 80's. Or ask the Going Out Gurus themselves in a live chat at 1p.m. today. I bet you haven't made your new year's resolution either. While you're thinking about it, check out our round up of the new year's resolutions our public figures kept and didn't keep in 2010. We hope you're better at keeping them than they are.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 30, 2010; 6:23 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock
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1 dead in Rockville carwash incident

A Rockville car wash employee was fatally struck at work Wednesday and a co-worker was critically injured when a third employee apparently lost control of an SUV as he tried to drive it across a parking lot, Montgomery County...

By Erica Johnston | December 29, 2010; 11:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Maryland
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The New Year's resolutions our local public figures did and didn't keep

From the alleged crimes of former Prince George's County executive Jack B. Johnson to the officer who whipped out a gun at a snowball fight, this year was full of surprises. But if metro's perpetually out-of-service escalators teach us anything, it's that as much as some things change, they also stay the same.

By Elizabeth Flock, Justin Jouvenal, and Sam Sanders | December 29, 2010; 4:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock
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Von Trapp family member dies

Agathe Von Trapp, whose family was the inspiration for the classic 1965 film "The Sound of Music," has died at 97 in the Baltimore suburb of Towson, said a longtime friend.

By James Buck | December 29, 2010; 11:57 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Maryland
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Cheetah chat today at noon

Adrienne Crosier, cheetah biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, will be online at noon Wednesday to discuss the birth of two cheetah cubs, the first born at the research center in Northern Virginia and among...

By Elizabeth Flock | December 29, 2010; 10:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Virginia
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Masked 'Hillary Clinton' robs Va. bank

A gun-toting man in a Halloween style mask robbed a Sterling bank on Dec. 27, authorities said. The Loudoun Times reported that the man wore a Hillary Clinton mask.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 29, 2010; 8:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Elizabeth Flock
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Buzz: Cheetahs, fires, and bedbugs

Many errors have been spotted in Virginia history texts. Historians have found dozens of errors since Virginia officials ordered a review of textbooks by Five Ponds Press, the publisher responsible for a controversial claim that African American soldiers fought for the South in large numbers during the Civil War. One error they found: New Orleans began the 1800s as a U.S. harbor, instead of as a Spanish colonial one. Take the quiz to see if you can correct the errors.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 29, 2010; 6:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock
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Former Va. ranger admits killing family

A former Prince William County park ranger had pleaded guilty to killing his wife and two stepchildren last year, WTOP reports.

By Washington Post editors | December 28, 2010; 3:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Virginia
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Region's housing up; P.G. declines

Home prices fell in the nation's largest cities in October and are expected to fall through next year, with the worst declines coming in areas with high numbers of foreclosures.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 28, 2010; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: DC, Maryland
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2 dead of apparent CO poisoning in Md.

Fire officials say two people are dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in Baltimore, and three others were sickened.

By Associated Press | December 28, 2010; 12:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Maryland
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Pr. William names interim fire chief

A former Prince William County fire official will lead the Manassas Fire and Rescue Department until Manassas officials can find a permanent replacement for the city’s first fire chief, Michael L. Wood, who recently resigned amid turmoil in the department.

By Jennifer Buske | December 28, 2010; 12:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Virginia
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Even with missed storm, cleanup is pricey

And then the storm never came. D.C. was left with only a dusting of snow. A Capital Weather Gang map shows just close we came. The preparation for the supposed storm didn't come cheap.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 28, 2010; 11:12 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock, Weather
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District resident blames fire on Pepco

Pepco delivers power to 778,000 customers in the District and neighboring parts of Maryland. Pepco's reliability with residents has declined over the last five years; the average Pepco customer experienced 70 percent more outages than customers of other big city utilities that took part in one 2009 survey.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 28, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, DC
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From Brickskeller to Bier Baron

The bar formerly known as Brickskeller, renowned beyond Washington for its huge beer menu, will reopen as the Bier Baron.

By Associated Press | December 28, 2010; 10:35 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: DC
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GWU law student dies after fall

A George Washington University law student has died from injuries he suffered when he fell two stories at the Union League Club in Chicago on Christmas Eve, the Associated Press reports.

By Washington Post editors | December 28, 2010; 9:18 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DC
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2010's local hot topics

Check out the word cloud below to see the hot topics on PostLocal in 2010. You'll see that the D.C. mayoral race and Chandra Levy murder trial were two of the issues that dominated coverage.

By Washington Post editors | December 28, 2010; 8:56 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: DC, Maryland, Virginia
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A.M. Buzz: A cleaner Chesapeake?

From snowmageddon to the tea party rally to the metro red line crash, be sure not to miss our look back at the events and people that shaped the Washington region in the past year.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 28, 2010; 6:19 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Elizabeth Flock
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A.M. headlines around the D.C. region

Improvement in the Chesapeake, a Christmas Eve robbery, dropping home values in Maryland -- here's our morning collection of some of the top headlines from other news sources in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Come back to PostLocal.com for updates on all...

By Elizabeth Flock | December 28, 2010; 6:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: A.M. headlines
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Girl shot with pellet gun by relative

Prince William County police say a 12-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot by a relative with a pellet gun, WUSA 9 reports.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 5:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Virginia
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Armored car robbery in Howard County

Howard County police are investigating the Monday afternoon armed robbery of an armored truck employee.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 4:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Maryland
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Va. Guard rescues six trapped by snow

The Virginia National Guard has rescued six people trapped by snow in the Eastern Shore area.

By Associated Press | December 27, 2010; 3:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Virginia
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HUD awards millions to Va.

Eighteen housing counseling programs in Virginia have received $4.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, WAMU reported. The money is to go to help homebuyers, renters and the homeless avoid foreclosure or get their finances in order.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 3:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Education
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Possible electrical fire at NW D.C. home

D.C. Fire and EMS report a possible electrical fire at a single family home in the 5200 block of Manning Place NW.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 2:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DC
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Change to Md. traffic law

Starting January 1, Maryland drivers who get ticketed will have to pick their own trial date.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 2:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Maryland, Traffic and Transportation
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Stranded with the family? Tell us about it.

There's nothing so lovely as returning home to spend the holidays with family -- except maybe leaving.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 2:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: DC, Maryland, Virginia
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Anniversary of Va. teen's murder marked

Six months ago, police discovered the murder of 19-year-old Vanessa Pham, a graduate of Madison High School in Vienna, Va., and a freshman at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 12:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety
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Two injured in Bowie accident

Two people were taken to area hospitals Monday following a two-vehicle crash in Bowie, Prince George's Fire and EMS report.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 12:12 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Maryland
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Downed wires spark fire in NW D.C.

Downed wires and windy conditions sparked a fire Monday that spread to a fence near a home in the 4200 block of 42nd Street NW, D.C. Fire and EMS report.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 11:37 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DC
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Roof collapse on H St. NE DC; no injuries

D.C. Fire and EMS is reporting a roof collapse in the 1200 block of H Street NE. No injuries have been reported. Traffic in the area is restricted.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 11:23 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DC
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Gay miner sues Massey subsidiary

A gay coal miner is suing a Massey Energy Co. subsidiary, charging that management didn't protect him from abusive co-workers.

By Associated Press | December 27, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Virginia
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Power outages throughout the region

There are reports of power outages Monday throughout the Washington region.

By Washington Post editors | December 27, 2010; 10:58 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: DC, Maryland, Virginia
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Baltimore struggling with blight

Baltimore has more houses than people, resulting in blight. The city is now trying to get rid of abandoned homes not worth saving, and to preserve the ones that are in a program called "Vacants to Value".

By Elizabeth Flock | December 27, 2010; 9:25 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, Maryland | Tags: Baltimore, Foreclosure, WAMU
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D.C. woman dies in NW apartment fire

A District woman was killed by a fire in her apartment Sunday night shortly before 11 p.m., Crime Scene reports.

By Allison Klein | December 27, 2010; 9:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DC
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Ravens player arrested on DUI charge

Ravens rookie Sergio Kindle (Harry Cabluck - Associated Press) Ravens rookie Sergio Kindle's troubled first season took another hit Sunday morning when he was arrested and charged with drunken driving in Howard County, an incident the player called a...

By The Baltimore Sun | December 27, 2010; 7:27 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)

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Buzz: Snowstorm, tweeps, and misfit gifts

The massive snowstorm that came up the East Coast yesterday mostly missed the Washington region. But travelers from the Carolinas to Boston dealt with cancellations, as areas east and south of the Beltway got harder hit. The district got a mere dusting. So yes, federal employees, there is work today.

By Elizabeth Flock | December 27, 2010; 6:14 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A.M. headlines around the D.C. region

East Coast storm; a stabbing on Christmas eve -- Here's our morning collection of some of the top headlines from other news sources in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Come back to PostLocal.com for updates on all the top headlines of...

By Elizabeth Flock | December 27, 2010; 6:09 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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House collapses in NE blaze

Part of a house in the District's H street NE corridor collapsed last night as firefighters battled a spectacular fire, authorities reported. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out about 9:30 p.m. in the 800 block...

By Martin Weil | December 27, 2010; 12:53 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Crime and Public Safety, DC
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Woman dies in NW apartment house fire

A woman died late Sunday in a fire in an apartment house in the Dupont Circle area of Northwest Washington, the D.C. fire department said. The smoky fire was reported about 10:30 p.m. in a four-story building in the...

By Martin Weil | December 27, 2010; 12:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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2 killed in crash on B-W Parkway

Two Herndon men, a 67-year-old father and his 38-year-old son, were killed early Sunday in a car crash on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, U.S. Park Police said. According to preliminary investigation, their southbound car apparently crossed the median in the Laurel...

By Martin Weil | December 26, 2010; 6:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)

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Federal offices open Monday

Local federal government offices are open Monday, reports the Federal Eye. Federal employees should report on their normal work schedules, according to the Office of Personnel Management....

By Washington Post editors | December 26, 2010; 5:12 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Post Now: December 26, 2010 - January 1, 2011