On Air Now

Mark Levin

Mark Levin

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Next Up:

John Batchelor

Advertisement:

Insider Club Login

Club Login

630 WMAL: The Buzz


Bookmark 

and Share

Open XML document for this RSS feed

Update: No Deal to Move NYC Mosque

A Florida imam says that no deal has been reached to move the site of a mosque at the site of ground zero in exchange for a Florida minister to call off plans to burn Qurans.

Imam Muhammad Musri tells The Associated Press that what he offered was a meeting among the Rev. Terry Jones, the New York imam planning the Islamic center and himself to talk about the mosque location.

Read more...

NY Mosque Investor Declines Trump's Buyout Offer

Donald Trump's offer to buy an investor's stake where a mosque is planned near ground zero is falling flat.

Wolodymyr Starosolsky is a lawyer for the investor in the real estate partnership that controls the site. He says Trump's offer is "just a cheap attempt to get publicity and get in the limelight."

Read more...

VA Restaurateur Accused of Hiring Illegal Immigrants

Federal immigration officials say they have arrested a Virginia restaurant owner on charges he knowingly employed and harbored illegal immigrants.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they arrested Kiet Boc Bui on Wednesday. He is accused of employing at least seven illegal immigrants, not keeping payroll records for the workers, paying them in cash and not reporting them to the Virginia Employment Commission.

Read more...

UPDATE: FL Minister Cancels Burning of Qurans on 9/11

UPDATE 5:36 PM

The leaders of the planned mosque said they did not agree to moving the mosque from its proposed location near Ground Zero, ABC News reported.

---

The leader of a small Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy says he is canceling plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11.

Read more...

Obama: Minister Must Cancel Quran-Burning 'Stunt'

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama implored a Florida minister to call off his Quran-burning "stunt," saying it would jeopardize U.S. troops abroad.

Obama told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview aired Thursday that he hopes the Rev. Terry Jones of Florida listens to "those better angels" and to the individuals and organizations pleading with him to change his mind.

Read more...

Metro Area is Drying Up

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a drought watch for the region Thursday and is asking residents to conserve water.

"We had a conference call with NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] a few days ago.  It appeared that they weren't predicting any significant precipitation for the next couple of weeks at least," said Steve Bieber, the water resources technical manager at COG.

Read more...

Batten Down The Hatches

The La Nina climate phenomenon is strengthening, increasing the likelihood an active hurricane season could get even busier.

The update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday comes as residents of Texas are cleaning up from the deluge of Tropical Storm Hermine, and Tropical Storm Igor is drifting in the Atlantic.

Read more...

Loudoun: Be Careful What You Wish For!

As WMAL.com reported Wednesday, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has voted, 8 - 1, to continue to allow both religious and non-religious displays on the lawn of the county courthouse in Leesburg. 

The Board's main focus in allowing the displays was to grant people of all religions the opportunity to celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa and Chanukah.  But the lone dissenter in the vote is now warning the residents of Loudoun County that they may very well get what they asked for. 

Read more...

Negative Ghostwriter, The Pattern Is Full

BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport has set an all-time monthly passenger record. More than two-million travelers passed through in July, says spokesman Jonathan Dean.

"It's a sign that the economy in the area is moving in a positive direction," he tells 630 WMAL News.

Read more...

METRO: FEMA Pay Up

Metro says the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse it $1.76 million to cover snow removal costs from the February storms.

FEMA has already given Metro $1 million for the December snowstorm

Read more...

Hungry Blaze Sets Record

Four people are missing in Colorado, where a wildfire burning in the foothills near Boulder is only 10 percent contained.

Authorities say it's destroyed at least 135 homes, making the blaze the most destructive in state history.

Read more...

Hell-bent on Burn-Fest

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, religious leaders and even actress Angelina Jolie say he should not go through with it.

But Pastor Terry Jones says he's not convinced.

Read more...

Investor Ready To Cash Out

A major investor in the property planned for an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero says if somebody gives him $18 million or $20 million for the site, it's all theirs.

He says he supports the project, but for him it's "a mere business transaction."

Read more...

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Bursting At The Seams

Just a week after the start of classes in Montgomery County, school leaders are still trying to figure out where to place all of the students, as enrollment is apparently exceeding projections by as many as 3,200 students.

Read more...

FAA: Eyes Wide Shut

Aviation officials are on the verge of proposing new rules governing the number of hours airline pilots may work in an effort to prevent tired flight crews from making fatal errors.

The impetus for the new rules was the crash of a regional airliner in western New York on Feb. 12, 2009, that killed 50 people.

Read more...

Pakistani Says Beck Should Oppose Quran Protest

Pakistan's ambassador to the United States is calling on conservative radio and television host Glenn Beck to denounce the planned burning of the Quran to show that Americans are tolerant of other faiths.

"I think it would help if Mr. Glenn Beck came out against it, and said that people of faith do not burn the books of people of other faith," Husain Haqqani told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Read more...

Fairfax Students Say 'Bye' to Choco Milk

Chocolate milk is off the lunch menu at Fairfax County public schools this year, a spokesman for the school district said.

In an effort to make cafeteria food healthier, county schools are removing the drink from their elementary school lunch lines because of its high fructose corn syrup content, said Paul Regnier, county school spokesman.

Read more...

VA Governor Unveils Private ABC Stores Plan

Gov. Bob McDonnell's staff announced a plan Wednesday to privatize ABC stores, saying the proposal will raise hundreds of millions for transportation and will not raise taxes.

Privatizing the system is expected to raise $500 million for transportation funding, the governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring said in a press release.

Read more...

Obama Jousts Directly with House Minority Leader

President Barack Obama has leveled an unusually direct attack against House Minority Leader John Boehner in the Republican's home state of Ohio.

Mindful of midterm election polls showing the GOP could win the House and elevate Boehner to speaker, Obama repeatedly addressed Boehner by name Wednesday while accusing him of partisan politics and siding with special interests.

Read more...

Loudoun County Says Yes To Courthouse Displays

What do Jesus, Allah, Abraham and Obi-Wan Kenobi have in common?   They are all welcome on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg. 

The County Board of Supervisors voted 8-1 Wednesday to allow both religious and non-religious displays to be erected on the lawn on a first-come, first-served basis.  The vote continues a policy that the Board set in place  just before Christmas last year, after the courthouse had attempted to ban all displays on the property. 

Read more...

SLIDESHOW: Bizarre Bans From Schools

Something is missing in school cafeterias in Fairfax County. Chocolate milk is off the menu this year, as school officials work towards healthier school lunches. 

Read more...

Va Bars Immigrants' Papers For Driver's Licenses

Carlos Montano, an illegal immigrant accused of driving drunk and killing a nun, is now under indictment on felony murder charges. Meanwhile, his case has led to a policy change at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Governor Bob McDonnell has ordered the DMV to stop accepting federal "Employment Authorization Documents" as evidence that a person is in the country legally.

Read more...

Potomac River Grasses On Rebound, Study Finds

A new study concludes that the Potomac River may actually be cleaner now than it was in the 1950s. However, the report also said the Potomac is still full of other pollutants.

The U.S. Geological Survey says scientists have found underwater grasses thriving in the river, as restoration efforts are cutting pollution. Grasses are considered an indicator of waterway health.

Read more...

Va Police Say Deaths, DUIs Down Over Holiday

The Virginia State Police says deaths and drunken driving decreased over the Labor Day weekend.
   The agency says eight people died in six crashes statewide from Friday through Monday this year. Last year, 14 people died in crashes on Virginia roads during the holiday weekend.
  

Read more...

SWAT Team Deployed in SW DC

Authorities say a barricade situation has closed streets in southwest Washington.

D.C. police spokesman Eric Frost says the situation began about 5 a.m. on N Street and that streets in that area are closed.

Read more...

All Eyes On BP Report On Gulf Oil Spill Disaster

Oil giant BP PLC on Wednesday planned to release the conclusions of its internal investigation into the rig explosion that killed 11 workers and led to the massive Gulf of Mexico spill.

BP was striking first with a detailed report about what it believes went wrong on the Deepwater Horizon on April 20.

Read more...

Colorado Wildfire Destroys 92 Structures

Authorities say a wildfire burning near Boulder, Colo., has destroyed at least 92 structures and damaged another eight, but it's not clear how many of them are homes.

A government website Tuesday night listed the addresses of 53 homes destroyed.

Read more...

Rep. Frank Slams Town Hall Foe In Mass. Debate

Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank has criticized his Democratic primary challenger and former town hall foe for comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.

The 15-term congressman said Tuesday during his debate with Rachel Brown that the 29-year-old and her supporters offend many by carrying signs with Obama sporting a Hitler mustache.

Read more...

Facing The Wrath Of Hillary

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is the latest official to condemn the plans of a Florida church leader to burn copies of the Quran on September 11.

The Reverend Terry Jones insists the Constitution protects his right to publicly burn the book considered to be holy by Muslims. He also says he's received death threats and has taken to wearing a gun.

Read more...

Effects Linger of Holiday Track Work on Metro

WASHINGTON - Metro Red Line trains are up and running again at the five stations that were closed for major maintenance Labor Day weekend, but trains are running slowly between those stations and Metro warns of more holiday work ahead.

"Trains are operating at slightly reduced speeds in those areas simply because of the amount of track work that we did over the weekend," Metro Spokesman Steve Taubenkibel told 630 WMAL News.

Read more...

UPDATE: MoCo Shooter in Police Custody

WASHINGTON - A Bethesda man who police say attempted to shoot his ex-girlfriend Tuesday morning is now in custody after he fled and prompted a region-wide manhunt.

Joshua Prince, 32, surrendered to Pennsylvania State Police Tuesday afternoon following negotiations with Montgomery County Police.

Police say Prince used a high-powered rifle to shoot at his ex outside the Avalon at Rock Spring apartment complex, where the couple once lived in separate apartments.

Read more...

Washington Examiner Endorses Fenty for Mayor

WASHINGTON - The Washington Examiner editorial board is endorsing incumbent Adrian Fenty for a second term as mayor of DC, the paper said Tuesday.

"He has made tough decisions that politicians in Washington have promised to make for 30 years.  He's actually made them and he's sticking by them," the paper's Editorial Page Editor Mark Tapscott told 630 WMAL News.

Read more...

Manassas School Opens for Students 1st Time Since Feb.

WASHINGTON - Mayfield Intermediate School in Manassas opened its doors for the first day of classes on track with other Northern Virginia schools Tuesday, after shutting down for half a year from Snowpocalypse damage.

Metal trusses that framed the roof of the school were damaged in the February storms, causing a fire marshall to condemn the building, Mayfield Principal Jeff Abt told 630 WMAL News.

Read more...

NoVa Starts School Year with Tight Budgets

WASHINGTON - The first day of classes went smoothly for hundreds of thousands of kids in Northern Virginia Tuesday, while staff started a school year faced with salary freezes and budget cuts.

"Things are going very well. We've heard usually if there's anything going wrong, I would've gotten e-mails much earlier this morning and I've gotten nothing," said Paul Regnier, Fairfax County schools spokesman.

Read more...

Haynesworth Back To Tennessee?

The Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans are in discussions about a trade of disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Washington signed Haynesworth to a $100 million contract in 2009 as a free agent, and the tackle accepted a $21 million bonus in April.

Read more...

PA Capital City's Debt Mounts Amid Political Feud

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's financially troubled capital city is trying to avoid layoffs as it misses more debt payments amid political bickering over how to repair the damage.

Observers say a feud between Harrisburg's mayor and city council is stalling plans to pay off a costly trash incinerator renovation and resolve a budget deficit.

Read more...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A Christian minister said Tuesday that he will go ahead with plans to burn copies of the Quran this weekend to protest the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks despite a warning from the top U.S. general in Afghanistan that doing so would endanger American troops.

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center said he understands Gen. David Petraeus' concerns, but plans to go forward with the burning this Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the attacks.

Read more...

Ehrlich: Holding His Nose And Voting!

Former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich is no fan of early voting.  In fact, he vetoed a bill to allow the practice in 2005.  He tells WMAL.com, "Times are tough, fiscally, and this is expensive.  The Board of Elections - particularly the locals - were not terribly excited about this."  Ehrlich says early voting is "a solution in search of a problem", but now that it's the law in Maryland, he's going to take advantage of it in his campaign to return to Annapolis. 

Read more...

Developing Story: Manhunt On For Joshua Prince

Montgomery County police are conducting a region-wide manhunt, looking for a man who they say shot at his girlfriend in a Bethesda apartment complex Tuesday morning before fleeing in his car.

Police tell WMAL.com that the gunman, 32-year-old Joshua Prince, fired one shot from a high-powered rifle at his girlfriend the Avalon apartments on Rock Spring Drive, before driving off in his 2004 Black Chevy Tahoe.

Read more...

Razor Thin Win Down Under

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Labor Party will form a minority government to rule Australia after two independent lawmakers back her coalition.

The decision announced Tuesday by Tony Windsor and Robb Oakeshott gives Gillard's party control of 76 seats in the 150-seat House or Representatives.

Read more...

Obama Flushing More Cash

GOP leaders are blasting President Barack Obama's long-term jobs proposal, saying the $50 billion plan would only raise federal spending that's already in excess.

Obama unveiled the plan Monday at a Labor Day speech in Milwaukee, proposing the billions be spent on roads, railways and runways. Administration officials say even if Congress were to quickly approve the program, it wouldn't produce jobs until sometime next year.

Read more...

Abbas Asks US To Step Into Settlement Dispute

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is asking the U.S. to settle a dispute with Israel over settlement expansion.

Israel's 10-month partial freeze on new construction in West Bank settlements ends Sept. 26, and Israeli officials have indicated they will not extend the freeze as is. Abbas has said he'll quit peace talks with Israel unless the restrictions remain in place.

Read more...

Maverick Gets His Day In Court

A former JetBlue flight attendant accused of cursing out an airplane passenger and then sliding down an emergency exit chute is due in a New York City courtroom.

Steven Slater is scheduled to appear Tuesday for a routine hearing on criminal-mischief charges.

Read more...

Closing The Gender Gap On Virginia's Death Row?

If all goes as planned, Teresa Lewis will die, either by electrocution or lethal injection, on September 23rd, becoming the first woman to be executed in Virginia in 98 years. She would also be the first woman executed in the U.S. since 2005, and just the 12th since the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976.

Read more...

LISTEN: DC to Go Car-Free Sept. 22

WASHINGTON - Transportation network Commuter Connections is asking area drivers to take a day off from road rage and Beltway traffic by going car-free or car-lite September 22--and offering special promotions in return.

Click 'read more and comment' to hear WMAL cover the story.

Read more...

Anti-Islam Rhetoric Heats Up Ahead of 9/11

Today, a Christian pastor will hold the second service in a series bashing the planned Muslim community center in downtown New York City in a sign of increasing vocal anti-Islam rhetoric ahead of the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"When they decided to build a mosque and decided to preach what I consider a 1,400-year-old lie from Hell, I decided that somebody should be down there preaching the truth of God's word," Florida pastor Bill Keller said over the weekend.

Read more...

LISTEN: An Md Soldier's Tale of Iraq in C-Major

WASHINGTON - For Jonathan Milburn, deploying to Iraq wasn't quite the experience of the typical soldier.

"Primarily, the only thing when I think about Iraq is when I was there and what I did and all the things that I accomplished," Milburn recalled.

Click 'read more and comment' to hear the WMAL.com web exclusive.

Read more...

Va. Woman Devours 181 Chicken Wings in NY Contest

The Black Widow of eating contests gobbled up nearly 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes, devouring the national championship record in Buffalo on Sunday.

"I'm so happy!" said Sonya Thomas, who ate 4.86 pounds of chicken wings to win the contest, besting world eating marvel Joey Chestnut at the ninth annual National Buffalo Wing Festival.

Read more...

London Commuters Brace For Strikes On Tube

LONDON (AP) - Commuters are bracing for two days of travel disruption as workers on the heavily used London Underground system prepare to strike over proposed job cuts.

Members of two unions are to walk off the job for 24 hours beginning on Monday evening's rush hour.

Read more...

China Praises 'Sound, Stable' Relationship With US

BEIJING (AP) - One Chinese official says relations between China and the U.S. are back on track after "some disturbances" in the spring.

Senior U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting today in Beijing to steady relations that have been tense over currency, trade and military affairs.

Read more...

New Zealand Prime Minister: Shaken Pretty Badly

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand's prime minister is warning that the country's economic recovery will be hurt by Saturday's powerful earthquake.

Read more...

US Forces Help Repel Assault On Baghdad Military HQ

BAGHDAD (AP) - Heavily armed militants attacked a military compound in Baghdad Sunday, and American troops were drawn into the fight for the first time since the U.S. combat mission came to a formal end.

Read more...

On The Road, Our Own Worst Enemies Are Ourselves!

Allstate Insurance has released its annual list of cities with America's Best Drivers, and, perhaps, not surprisingly, Washington, DC came in at number 193 - dead last in the survey!  The insurance company says the heavy traffic around here, as well as the growing number of distractions available to drivers, add up to a lot of crashes.  In fact, DC area drivers now average an accident every 5.1 years - by far, the greatest frequency in the survey.

Read more...

Gray Today, Gone Tomorrow

By all accounts, it looks like Ocean City shall be spared the wrath of Hurricane Earl, and beachgoers will actually have a pretty nice weekend, once the storm passes by this afternoon.  As of 10 am, tropical storm-force winds were just beginning to blow in from the Atlantic, as Earl began its approach well offshore to the east. 

Read more...

Miami Airport Clears Out

A passenger was detained and four of Miami International Airport's six concourses were evacuated after a screener spotted something suspicious in a checked bag, authorities said.

Read more...

Service Sector Grows At Slower Pace in August

The report released Friday provides another sign this summer that the recovery from the recession has slowed, making it difficult for employers to add back the millions of jobs lost during the downturn. The service sector accounts for about 80 percent of the nation's jobs.

Read more...

Just A Drop In The Bucket

BP says it has so far spent $8 billion responding to the disastrous oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil company said more than 28,000 people and 4,000 vessels are still engaged in responding to the spill. BP says no oil has flowed from the well since July 15.

Read more...

South Korea: Watch Your Subs!

Another show of force against North Korea begins this weekend as South Korea and the United States hold joint anti-submarine exercises.

North Korea, which denies any involvement in the sinking, has threatened to retaliate over the drills, which Pyongyang sees as a rehearsal for an invasion.

Read more...

LISTEN: Discovery HQ 'Gunman' Used Fake Pistols, Had More Bombs

WASHINGTON - Police found four more explosive devices at a residence in Montgomery County related to Discovery Communications building gunman James Jay Lee, and the two guns he had with him Wednesday were starter pistols, the Montgomery County police and fire chiefs said Thursday.

Click 'read more and comment' to hear WMAL.com cover the story.

Read more...

Metro: Track Work to Close 5 Red Line Stations

WASHINGTON - Metro officials say they will close five red line stations over Labor Day weekend to do work recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board to improve safety after last year's fatal train crash.

The Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will shut down at 10 p.m. Friday and reopen at 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Read more...

UPDATE: Autopsy Performed on Discovery Gunman's Body

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Maryland's chief medical examiner says doctors have completed an autopsy of a gunman who was shot to death after taking hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters.

Montgomery County police spokeswoman Angela Cruz says the body was taken out of the building Thursday morning. Police have identified the man as James J. Lee.

Read more...

LISTEN: Big Drop In Va Illegal Immigration Population

WASHINGTON - Virginia is one of three states to see a significant drop in its illegal immigration population in recent years, and a local advocate for immigration enforcement believes his jurisdiction is largely responsible for that.  "Illegal aliens across the country know you have to stay out of Prince William County if you are here illegally," says County Board Chairman Corey Stewart. "We will identify you, we will arrest you and we will hand you over to federal authorities for deportation."

Read more...

Feds Sue Arizona Sheriff in Civil Rights Probe

PHOENIX - The U.S. Justice Department sued Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Thursday, saying the Arizona lawman refused for more than a year to turn over records in an investigation into allegations his department discriminates against Hispanics.

The lawsuit said the federal government has been trying since March 2009 to get officials to comply with its probe of alleged discrimination, unconstitutional searches and seizures, and having English-only policies in his jails that discriminate against people with limited English skills.

Read more...

Peace Envoy Announces Second Round Of Peace Talks

Former Sen. George Mitchell told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to convene a second round of talks Sept. 14-15 in the Middle East.

And he said they would meet every two weeks thereafter.

Read more...

Have It Your Way: The New Islamic Burger

As of this week, 22 outlets of popular French fast food chain Quick are serving burgers it says respect Islamic dietary law. And while many Muslims are delighted, the powerful main Paris Mosque complained Thursday that Quick's criteria aren't all-encompassing enough, and that the operation is meaningless.

 

Read more...

Gulf Oil Platform Explodes, Burning Off La. Coast

Crew OK, Spill Uncertain.

An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site where BP's undersea well spilled after a rig explosion.

Keep it locked to wmal.com for the latest.

Read more...

UPDATE: Discovery Hostages Planned Escape

LATEST UPDATE:

Authorities saw the hostages begin to move on building security cameras and heard a "pop" they believed to be a gunshot or an explosive device, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said. That's when an officer shot the gunman, James J. Lee, in the lobby of the building in Silver Spring, just outside the nation's capital.  Click for More

Read more...

HURRICANE EARL UPDATE: There He Went

Track The Storm. Click Here

Are You Prepared? Click Here

Hurricane Earl blew toward the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday as a major storm with winds of around 145 mph as forecasters tried to pinpoint exactly how close the strongest gales and heaviest surge would get to North Carolina's fragile chain of barrier islands.

Read more...

UPDATED: Gunman Had Beef With Discovery Programming

Click to see slideshow of the gunman that held the Discovery Building hostage.

We have James Jay Lee's manifesto from his website.Click here

And this isn't his first time protesting. See the video Click here

Read more...

Md. Sen. Ulysses Currie Indicted

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - State Sen. Ulysses Currie, chairman of a legislative committee that steers $32 billion in state spending, is accused of illegally using his influence to benefit a grocery store chain, the U.S. attorney's office announced Wednesday.

Currie, a 73-year-old Prince George's County Democrat was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and extortion.

Read more...

Watch: When Politics And Dance Meet.. The Results Often Aren't Pretty

Find out who didn't make the Dancing With The Stars cut.

Click "read more" to see the video.

Read more...

Obama 'Cautiously Hopeful' As Mideast Peace Talks Begin

Obama dined Wednesday night with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinians on the eve of peace talks.

Read more...

Chicago Gang Summit Faces Criticism

 

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago's police chief has been the focus of criticism in recent days for calling a meeting with reputed gang leaders.

But police Superintendent Jody Weis and experts say the tactic of holding so-called "gang summits" is just good police work and is used by departments across the country.
 

Read more...

Bernanke Testifying to Crisis Inquiry Panel

 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to go before a panel investigating the financial crisis Thursday.

He'll give his take on the meltdown and his views on potential risks that large institutions pose.

Under the landmark financial overhaul law enacted in July, regulators can shut down financial institutions whose collapse could threaten the system.

Read more...

Risks Remain with Gulf Well Cap Coming Off

The planned removal of the cap Thursday is a prelude to raising the massive blowout preventer that failed to prevent the disaster.

Read more...

Watch: Nyjer Morgan vs the World

MIAMI (AP) - Nyjer Morgan charged the mound after a pitch sailed behind him, triggering a bench-clearing brawl Wednesday night during the Florida Marlins' 16-10 win over the Washington Nationals.

Morgan, recently suspended and criticized for questionable acts on the field, left Florida catcher Brett Hayes with a separated shoulder Tuesday night after a home plate collision in the 10th inning.

Read more...

Discovery Channel Gunman Shot By Police Is Dead.

AddThis Feed Button Bookmark and Share

UPDATE: 6:07 PM

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Police say the gunman who took three people hostage at the Discovery Channel network's programming has died after they shot him.

All three hostages escaped safely.

Police spent several hours negotiating with him after he burst into the suburban Washington building about 1 p.m. waving a handgun and with canisters strapped to his body.

Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger says an explosive device may have detonated, and the suspect may have brought other devices into the building. He said as far as he knows, the 1,900 people who work in the building were able to get out safely.

UPDATE: 5:55PM

Law enforcement official: Discovery Channel gunman shot by police is dead.

UPDATE: 5:05PM

The gunman has been shot by police. He is in custody, it is unclear if James Jay Lee is alive. Three hostages have been safely released. The device in his backpack did go off. The building is now being evacuated and swept for any remaining devices.

UPDATE 4:45 PM

Who is James Jay Lee? Click to see slideshow.

UPDATE 4:19 PM

Click here to see James Jay Lee's manifesto from his website.

Read more...

SLIDESHOW: A Look Back At Operation Iraqi Freedom

President Barack Obama formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq after seven long years of bloodshed, declaring firmly Tuesday night: "It's time to turn the page."

Click To See the SLIDESHOW: A Look Back At Operation Iraqi Freedom

Read more...

McDonnell to Declare State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane

The governor said after the last of his eight statewide government reform town hall forums Tuesday night that the latest National Weather Service tracks put the eye of the powerful storm about 200 miles east of Virginia Beach.

Read more...

Retail Data: Americans Still Cautious in August

data shows Americans spent - at best - only slightly more this August than last.

Read more...

Watch: Murkowski Concedes Alaska Primary Race As Miller Wins

 

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Sen. Lisa Murkowski was booted from office in the Republican primary Tuesday by a little-known conservative lawyer in arguably the biggest political upset of the year.

Joe Miller, backed by Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express, became the latest newcomer to the national political stage to take down an incumbent in 2010 amid deep dissatisfaction with the Washington establishment.

Read more...

Ex-Head of Lehman. Wachovia Will Have to Explain Their Failure

The "too big to fail" theory is the subject today as the congressional panel looking into the financial meltdown hears from two former bank CEOs whose institutions failed.

Read more...

Tony Blair's Book, Already Causing a Stir

 

 

Tony Blair's long-awaited memoir says the former British prime minister doesn't regret the Iraq war - although he wept for its victims - and carries revelations about the politician's alcohol use, his interactions with the queen and his testy relationship with his successor.

 

Read more...

Gates Arrives in Iraq as Combat Mission Ends

 

 

AL-ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Iraq to meet with U.S. troops as they formally close down their combat mission.

The Pentagon chief's plane landed at Al-Asad Air Base, about 100 miles west of Baghdad, just a few hours after President Barack Obama told Americans it was time to "turn the page" on Iraq.

Read more...

Watch: Obama Announces End of U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Claiming no victory, President Barack Obama formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq after seven long years of bloodshed, declaring firmly Tuesday night: "It's time to turn the page." Now, he said, the nation's most urgent priority is fixing its own sickly economy.

Read more...

LISTEN: Frederick Board Strikes Down Illegal Immigration Law

WASHINGTON - The Frederick County Commissioners rejected a proposed law Tuesday that would bring immigration reform very closely mirroring the law on trial in Arizona.

The proposal was brought by County Commissioner John L. "Lennie" Thompson, state Delegate Charles Jenkins and Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, all Republicans.

The board voted down the proposal 3-2, so it will not be included with others sent to the county's state legislative delegation to bring before next year's General Assembly.

Click 'read more and comment' to hear WMAL cover the story.

Read more...

NY Imam: Mosque Fight About Muslim Role in America

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The imam leading plans for an Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York said Tuesday that the fight is over more than "a piece of real estate" and could shape the future of Muslim relations in America.

The dispute "has expanded beyond a piece of real estate and expanded to Islam in America and what it means for America," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told a group that included professors and policy researchers in Dubai.

Rauf suggested that the fierce challenges to the planned mosque and community center in lower Manhattan could leave many Muslim questioning their place in American political and civic life.

Read more...

DC Air Traffic Controllers Make High Number of Mistakes

WASHINGTON - Air traffic controllers in the Washington area have made 38 officially reported errors so far this year, more than the total number of mistakes made annually since their facility began operating in 2003.

A Federal Aviation Administration review team found that onboard systems designed to keep planes from colliding in midair have been triggered more than 45 times this year in airspace managed by the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON).

The Virginia facility is responsible for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport, Andrews Air Force Base and Richmond International Airport. Their controllers guide airborne plans until they reach cruising altitude. They also direct inbound planes until they are within seven miles of landing, at which point they are turned over to airport control towers.

Read more...

Ehrlich: Montgomery Is The Battlefield

There is not a single elected Republican in Montgomery County, and one might think that would put former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich at a distinct disadvantage as he battles incumbent Democrat Martin O'Malley in his bid to regain his old office. 

But, regardless of his underdog status, Ehrlich believes Montgomery holds the key to his success in November.   "Montgomery County is a focal part of this campaign, and the Washington suburbs, generally are as well. They are very important counties, and a lot of people live there. They are heavily dominated by Democrats, but it's a place where a Republican has to get enough votes in order to win."

Read more...

Developer: Gettysburg, Casino Can Work Together

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - A divisive plan to build a casino near the site of the Civil War's Battle of Gettysburg is in the mold of many other communities that have successfully meshed gambling with historical tourist destinations, the developer told state regulators Tuesday.

With opponents rallying around the cry of "Save Gettysburg," developer David LeVan pitched his plan for the Mason Dixon Resort & Casino as a well-worn concept in places such as Vicksburg, Miss., and Deadwood, S.D., that can bring tourists, investment and tax revenue to the Gettysburg area.

Read more...

Better Safe Than Sorry?

WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. government official says the FBI's investigation of two men detained in Amsterdam is finding that it's unlikely they were on a test run for a future terror attack, even as Dutch authorities continued to hold the pair on suspicion of conspiring to commit a terrorist act.

The U.S. official says the two men arrested in Amsterdam did not know each other and were not traveling together.

Read more...

Bristol Palin To Dance With The Stars

Monday night during Bachelor Pad, ABC announced the cast who will compete on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars, including Bristol Palin, which premieres September 20th.  

Click to see the SLIDESHOW of all cast members.

Read more...

Va Gov. Hungry For Details on Computer Crash

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Bob McDonnell says he wants an investigation into a massive computer failure that has crippled some government agencies for days.

McDonnell said Monday he wanted an independent, third party to perform an "operational and performance review" of the problems with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.

Read more...

SLIDESHOW: Threat or Warning?

The FBI is investigating an alleged terrorist plot with ties to Alabama. Two men were arrested Monday for allegedly carrying out a test-run of a planned terrorist attack.  The men's true motives are still unclear, but Dutch police have charged them with "preparing a terrorist attack.

Was this just a test or a warning of what's to come? Click to see a SLIDESHOW of other failed bombing attempts.

Read more...

Rip Currents Only Expected to Get Worse as Earl Threatens East

On beaches from Maryland to New Jersey, rip currents and strong swells in the Atlantic Ocean associated with Hurricane Danielle meant another day of swimming restrictions Monday.

And it could get worse later in the week.

Read more...

Obama to Speak Tonight, Mark End of U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq

More than 90,000 U.S. troops have come home on Obama's watch, and the president will say they did so responsibly.

Read more...

Bad News for Obama & Company: Most Opinionated Voters Favor G.O.P.

A new poll shows that Americans with the strongest opinions about the country's most divisive issues are unhappy with how President Barack Obama is handling them.

Read more...

Watch: Earl Batters Caribbean, Threatens US East Coast

In the Caribbean, Earl, with 135 mph winds, caused flooding in low-lying areas and damaged homes on islands including Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla and St. Maarte.

Read more...

Alaska Winner Should Become Clearer As Absentee Ballots to Be Counted

Alaska election officials have more than 15-thousand absentee ballots and nearly 10,000 questioned ballots to count in the race between Sen. Lisa Murkowski and challenger Joe Miller.

Read more...

ABC News: Two Men on United Flight from Chicago Arrested

Two men taken off a Chicago-to-Amsterdam United Airlines flight in the Netherlands have been charged by Dutch police with "preparation of a terrorist attack," U.S. law enforcement officials tell ABC News.

U.S. officials said the two appeared to be travelling with what were termed "mock bombs" in their luggage. "This was almost certainly a dry run, a test," said one senior law enforcement official.

Read full story from ABC News.

Read more...

The 'Restoring Honor' Rally Was Big, But Not THAT Big

WASHINGTON - Saturday's "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial almost certainly drew more than 100,000 people, but in terms of crowd size, it fell far short of making the list of most-attended events in Washington, at least as measured by Metro ridership. 

Metro says 510,000 people used the rail system on Saturday,  approximately 335,000 riders short of making Metro's all-time top 20 list. The rally, hosted by TV personality Glenn Beck, was certainly the largest, but not, by any means, the only event going on in Washington on Saturday.  30,688 people attended the game between the Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday evening, and earlier in the day, a smaller crowd attended the rally and march hosted by the Reverend Al Sharpton.

Read more...

SLIDESHOW: Not Even Close

The Glenn Beck rally on the National Mall this past Saturday drew a crowd in the hundreds of thousands.  Large events like this are often partially measured by the number of trips taken on the Metro for the day. 

On Aug. 28, Metro reported about 510,000 trips taken throughout the transit system--including not just the Beck rally, but the Al Sharpton rally and a Nationals baseball game later that evening.  How do these numbers compare to the highest Metro ridership days of all time? Click here to find out.

Read more...

Watch: 'Restoring Honor' Speech Highlights

Glenn Beck's program at the Lincoln Meorial on Saturday focused more on God than government so President Obama's name did not come up once during a 200-minute program that featured multiple prayers, gospel songs and bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace." Cick read more to some video highlights from the speech.

Read more...

 

Time to crack down on spending with Rush Limbaugh.

Read more...

Watch: Growing Hurricane Earl Could Eventually Threaten Mid-Atlantic

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Earl could become a major hurricane during the day, probably while north of Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.

Read more...

Obama To Be Heavily Involved in Middle East Affairs This Week

Obama will tell the nation Tuesday night from the Oval Office that the U.S. role in Iraq has changed for good, with the remaining U.S. troops to play a supporting role to Iraqi forces.

Read more...

Questions Loom Over Drug Given to Sleepless Vets

Some military families are calling on Congress to investigate several deaths of soldiers and veterans who were taking a potent anti-pyschotic called Seroquel.

Read more...

Advertisement


 

Podcasting

The Grandy Group On Demand

Listen to The Grandy Group On Demand!


Chris Plante On Demand

Listen to Chris Plante On Demand!



 


 

Advertisements