WAMU: Local News

Fairfax County Awaits Proposals For King's Crossing Strip Mall

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:16:49 -0400

Residents in southeast Fairfax County are about to see some major changes to an area known as King's Crossing. At the Penn-Daw Shopping Plaza, opinions are divided about what the planned redevelopment should look like.

Books-A-Million manager Jamillah Scott says customers that come into this suburban-style strip mall talk about the proposed redevelopment.

"Every day. There's not a day that goes by that someone doesn't ask, 'Do you know? Do you know? Have you heard? What's going on?'" says Scott. "I mean every single customer. And what we say is we don't know. It's a waiting game for us."

That wait may soon be over. Last month, the Fairfax County Planning Commission cleared the way for developers to file applications for much larger developments than currently exist at this site. Instead of a one-story strip mall with a large parking lot, the redevelopment would be five stories of residential units and ground-level retail.

Southeast Fairfax County Development Corporation communications director David Ben acknowledges there have been some concerns about the new project.

"The community was concerned a little bit about traffic, and how redeveloping this site could potentially cause more traffic, but that's one of the beauties of going through a comprehensive plan amendment process," Ben says.

County officials plan to ask developers to improve the dysfunctional intersection at King's Crossing, where Richmond Highway -- or Route 1 -- intersects King's Highway. That's where a Walmart opened across the street, frustrating many neighborhood residents who were pushing for an upscale mixed-use development. Instead, they got a suburban big box store with a large parking lot.

"We were hoping for something a little bit denser than that, and that's what's proposed here at the Penn-Daw Plaza and what's been approved here," Ben says.

Inside the bookstore, Scott says customers have a variety of opinions about the proposed redevelopment.

"Some are happy. Some would like something better," Scotts says. "A lot are not. They are upset. They more say so about our store. Because once this goes down, there will be no bookstore anywhere near or on Route 1."

Now that the comprehensive plan has been amended, county officials say they are expecting a development application in the next few weeks.

Historic Sledgehammer Installed At Marine Corps Museum

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:36:57 -0400

A piece of American history handed down by one family for generations is now on display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia.

The item is a sledgehammer used by U.S. Marines during the raid on Harpers Ferry led by radical abolitionist John Brown in 1859. Brown's raid targeted the U.S. arsenal at what was then Harpers Ferry, Va. in an attempt to get weapons, arm slaves, and initiate a revolt throughout the South.

He and his supporters barricaded themselves in the arsenal's Engine House, taking hostages. At one point, Marines — under the command of then-Col. Robert E. Lee — used sledgehammers to try to break down the doors.

Brown was ultimately apprehended after Marines successfully broke down one of the doors using a ladder.

In the aftermath of the raid, a bystander picked up one of the sledgehammers. It eventually ended up in the hands of the Rissler family of Charles Town, West Virginia. It had been in the family for nearly a century before it was donated to the museum, where it is now part of the "Defending the New Republic" gallery.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is in Triangle, Va., near the Quantico Marine base.

District Leaders Head To Las Vegas With An Eye On Retail

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:58:17 -0400

District leaders, including the mayor and council chairman, are in Las Vegas for a convention where they hope to drum up new business for the city.

Mayor Vincent Gray, Council Chairman Kwame Brown and several councilmembers left late Saturday for the annual International Council of Shopping Centers convention.

The District lawmakers plan to meet with retailers and retail investors, including representatives of big-box stores and grocery stores. In the past, this convention has helped city officials secure deals with retailers such as with Walmart and Home Depot. Some observers say the District's commercial real estate market is regarded as one of the hottest in the country.

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend that convention, which runs through Tuesday.

Virginia Activists Celebrate New EPA Carbon Standards

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:46:11 -0400

Public hearings are scheduled for next week by the Environmental Protection Agency to address the EPA's proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for new, coal-fired power plants. Supporters of the standard celebrated the regulations at a small gathering in Richmond last week.

One supporter, Jamie Towns, is the mother of four. Although her children are healthy, she says has concerns everyday that children are exposed to life-altering doses of pollution emitted by industries.

"As the weather heats up, and the kids let loose for summer, we know that there are some children who are going to have to wake up and check the air quality before they are able to go outside and play," Towns said. "All children, I must say, have the right to be able to go outside and play every day of the summer. But their rights are currently being taken from them because large, polluting industries currently have no limits on the amount of carbon pollution that they release every year."

This is the first of the agency's proposals to place carbon pollution restrictions on all new industrial plants that begin construction. They are expected to utilize some of the same clean air technologies that power companies are adopting to minimize carbon pollution.

G8 Summit Protesters Gather In Maryland

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:56:26 -0400

Activists from various movements descended upon the small town of Thurmont, Md. near Camp David to protest the global economic summit taking place there this weekend.

Beth Emmerling is with the Occupy Baltimore movement, and said she's disappointed that the economic summit will not include participation from those hit hardest.

"I have friends with Ph.D's who are living on food stamps," said Emmerling Friday. "We have more boarded-up homes than any city I've ever been in. So yes, we've been hard hit by the economy."

She and a handful of other protestors are gathered on Main Street in the small town of Thurmont, which is the closest they could get to this weekend's G8 global economic summit being held 15 miles away at the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Thurmont resident Dylan Brown said the outlook in his town doesn't look much better than in Beth's. "I went to college for two years, then I went out looking for a job, then I got a job at McDonald's for two years," said Brown.

Brown also runs a small business selling t-shirts out of his basement. He says he hopes the world leaders will devise a plan to help small business owners like himself.

President Barack Obama hosted the leaders of the top eight industrialized nation to discuss ways to fix the worlds finances.

Henry 'Box' Brown Remembered With Marker

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:47:20 -0400

A historical marker making its debut in Mineral, Va. recognizes the remarkable story of Henry "Box" Brown.

Brown escaped slavery by mailing himself in a wooden box to Philadelphia and later lectured on the evils of slavery across New England and in Great Britain. Brown was born enslaved in Virginia and married his wife in Richmond. He resorted to his unique escape after his wife and children were sold in 1848 to another slave trader and sent to North Carolina. Despondent, Brown conspired with a free black man to hire a white shoemaker, who constructed a wooden box 3 feet long and 2 feet wide.

Brown was then shipped as dry goods by steamboat and train to Philadelphia.

Today, he is being honored with the formal dedication of a historical marker issued by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Active-Duty Military Can Enjoy National Parks For Free

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:17:59 -0400

Active-duty members of the military and their dependents will soon be able to enter every national park for free.

The Interior Department says annual passes will be made available to members of the military free of charge starting Saturday, which is Armed Forces Day.

The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass ordinarily costs $80. It provides access to more than 2000 national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands.

Military members must show a current, valid, military identification card to obtain their pass. It can be picked up at any national park or wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee, and at certain other sites.

Metro Isolating Cause Of Red Line Door Malfunctions

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:15:06 -0400

Metro's investigation team was able to replicate the mechanical problem that led to two incidents of uncommanded door openings on a Red Line train this week.

On Tuesday morning, riders told a Metro worker the doors were opening on their Red Line train while it was moving. That car — one of six in that train — was emptied of passengers and closed off. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel says the rest of the train was kept in service.

"There was no indication that it was a broader issue," said Stessel. "It was thought to be an issue just with a particular set of doors in that one car."

Later in the journey, the doors on another car in that same six-car train opened en route, and then the entire train was taken out of service. It's not uncommon during rush hour to see people packed right up against the doors of Metro cars. That's why some passengers wonder whether the problem that happened on two 1000 series rails cars could happen again.

Patricia Smith was thinking about it on her Red Line train commute today: "On a morning rush hour, I guarantee you people are packed against that door and it's scary to think it could open on you. That is why I am sitting down."

According to the Metro investigation, they were able to replicate the incident, focusing on a misalignment of the contact head that transfers information between cars. Stessel said this particular train consisted of two 5000 series cars in the front, two 1000s in the middle, and two 6000s in the rear. The problem appeared to stem from the connection between the 5000 and 1000 series cars, which caused an electrical short.

Metro will begin in inspection of all 5000-series cars for similar issues.

No one was injured in either incident.

Ruling Recognizes Same-Sex Divorce In Maryland

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:14:40 -0400

In a ruling Friday morning, Maryland's highest court has issued a ruling recognizing divorce for valid out-of-state same-sex marriages.

The decision to recognize gay divorce comes after a lesbian couple, Jessica Port and Virginia Ann Cowan petitioned Maryland's Court of Appeals in April. They've been fighting for two years to get their California marriage dissolved in their home state of Maryland.Even though Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a bill legalizing gay marriage in March, the law doesn't take effect until 2013, pending a potential referendum this November.

Analysis: Maryland Special Sessions, New Dynamics On D.C. Council And A Gay Virginia Judge

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:38:20 -0400

Bob McCartney, Washington Post columnist

Maryland's General Assembly agrees on a budget plan that raises income taxes for some, a fresh face is headed to the D.C. Council, and social conservatives shoot down the judicial nomination of an openly gay veteran. Morning Edition host Matt McCleskey is joined by Washington Post columnist Bob McCartney to discuss this latest developments in local news. Here are some excerpts:

On who is paying the income tax increase in Maryland:"Montgomery County is definitely bearing the brunt of this income tax increase. That's because it has a disproportionately large percentage of higher income people within the state. One statistic tells this story: Montgomery County has 17 percent of the state's population, but is going to pay 40 percent of the income tax increase. Where is the money going? It's going mainly to keep education spending high and to avoid cuts in welfare services. Montgomery County legislators made a last ditch effort to spread the burden around by increasing the statewide sales tax instead of the income tax, but that was voted down."

On another Maryland special session this summer on gaming:"I don't think it's clear yet whether these proposals will succeed. The issue is whether to give initial approval to two things: adding the state's sixth casino in Prince George's County and allowing all casinos to provide table games like blackjack and craps in addition to slots. Remember, this would just be initial approval. It would still have to be voted on by the state's voters in a referendum in November. The supporters are Senate President Mike Miller and Prince George's County executive Rushern Baker, who wants that sixth casino in his county, because he wants the revenue. House Speaker Mike Bush is skeptical. I think the big question is whether Gov. O'Malley will push this hard. He wants Rushern Baker to succeed in Prince George's, but O'Malley is no fan of gambling."

On new Ward 5 councilmember Kenyan McDuffie:"This is a new generation coming up — he's 36 years old. And it confirms the end of the Harry Thomas family political machine, which has dominated Ward 5 politics for most of the past quarter century. McDuffie promises ethical, honest leadership, after Harry Thomas Jr. pleaded guilty to embezzlement and is headed to federal prison. McDuffie had support from Ward 6 councilmember Tommy Wells, who is the most outspoken member on the council for ethics reform. On the other hand, McDuffie is very much a product of established interest groups, notably labor unions, gay rights activists, and environmentalists and he used to work for Mayor Gray, so I don't know how much he's going to shake things up. We'll have to see."

On social conservatives stopping the appointment of an openly gay judifical nominee:"This very much put an exclamation point on the end of the session on the extent to which social conservatives really took over the legislative agenda in Richmond this year. This nominee, Tracy Thorne-Begland, had bi-partisan support to be a Richmond city judge. He had an unblemished record, but he is gay, he is out. He is raising twins with his partner. And he has spoken out in the past for gay rights. In particular, two decades ago when he was a Navy aviator, he publicly challenged the policy against allowing gays in the military. Social conservatives said that this advocacy made him unacceptable as a judge."