THE REGION
Parking Spaces Scarce at National Airport
Reagan National Airport officials said yesterday that business and holiday travelers have filled parking lots in recent days and that the lots are expected to continue to be full through April 2.
Airport officials said travelers should call a parking hotline (703-417-PARK) before heading to the airport. They said that if fewer than 200 spots are available when travelers call, they should take Metro, a taxi or shuttle service or get a ride. Otherwise, travelers will spend considerable time waiting to get into a lot, they said. There is no off-site parking for National, which has 7,500 parking spots, compared with 25,000 at Dulles International Airport and 30,000 at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
Mail Scare Response to Be Reviewed
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has ordered a review of the federal government's response to last week's anthrax scare at the Pentagon, with preliminary findings due Friday, according to Virginia, District and Maryland leaders.
Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D), D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) and Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) said yesterday that their governments have launched their own "after-action" study. Virginia has retained System Planning Corp. of Arlington to conduct the review.
The Pentagon's handling of two biohazard alerts March 14 at its main remote delivery center and at an office complex in Fairfax County was criticized by several federal, Virginia and District officials last week. Defense officials said a sample from the delivery center that tested positive for anthrax bacteria was probably contaminated during testing. They said the second alert was not anthrax-related and was apparently a coincidence.
"Before we can draw accurate conclusions about what went well and areas needing improvement, we need facts," Warner said in a joint statement with Ehrlich and Williams. "This state and local review will be merged with federal findings to create a comprehensive picture of what transpired."
THE DISTRICT
Agreement Signed for Supermarket in SE
Giant Food has signed a lease agreement for a supermarket and pharmacy at a former Army National Guard site in Southeast Washington, breathing life into a project announced four years ago but repeatedly delayed by environmental and other issues.
Construction of the 63,000-square-foot store at Camp Simms is to begin next spring, 22 years after Marion Barry, mayor at the time, first pledged to bring retail and other amenities to the trash-strewed stretch of trees and weeds at the busy intersection of Alabama Avenue and Stanton Road.
The $37.5 million project is also to include 75 well-appointed single-family homes and new shops. Officials at William C. Smith & Co., which is developing the 25-acre site, said they are working to bring a restaurant there as well.
The project was originally expected to be completed by early 2004. But the process stalled while soil was tested and contaminants were removed. In addition, negotiations with Giant stretched on for years while the company underwent changes in ownership.
VIRGINIA
Two Critically Hurt in Springfield Collision
Two people were critically injured yesterday when a car collided with a truck in the Springfield area of Fairfax County, authorities said.
