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Zoo Has 29,000 Tickets to See Tai Shan
The National Zoo has made more than 29,000 new tickets available to see Tai Shan, its giant male panda cub, through January and has expanded the viewing hours at the Panda House.
Free timed-entry tickets can be obtained online through either http:/
The cub, born July 9, has been on public view since Dec. 8. Starting Jan. 3, viewing times will run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. daily, except Wednesdays and Sundays, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.
THE DISTRICT
Congress Rejects Waterfront Land Sale
Congress yesterday rebuffed an attempt by a California representative to try to sell a piece of waterfront federal land that the District is looking at for a soccer stadium, housing and retail.
The Senate stripped a provision by Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R) that would have undermined an effort by Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) to transfer Poplar Point and other federal land to the city for free. The Pombo provision was removed from the giant budget reconciliation bill, which passed the Senate yesterday.
The bill also includes a change in the Medicaid reimbursement formula that will mean an extra $20 million a year to the city.
Walter Reed Eyed for Offices, Norton Says
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said her office was informed yesterday that the federal government is interested in reserving a part of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus for federal offices after its closure.
A spokesman for the General Services Administration said that there is not a specific plan for the campus but that the agency wanted to study the land for possible needs. The agency has until Jan. 16 to provide a more detailed plan to the Department of Defense. A federal base closing commission recommended this year that the hospital be closed and its activities moved to Bethesda. Congress approved the recommendation.
VIRGINIA
Truck Driver Hurt in Chain-Reaction Crash
Four tractor-trailers traveling in a row on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County collided yesterday morning in a chain reaction, sending one driver to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the Virginia State Police.
The accident occurred at 11:35 a.m. and forced authorities to shut down parts of the highway for two hours, causing a seven-mile backup until lanes reopened at 1:45 p.m., said Sgt. Terry Licklider.
The accident, which was just north of the Route 1 exit, happened after the driver of the last truck accidentally bumped into the truck in front of him. Police said the driver was not speeding but was driving faster than the other truckers.
MARYLAND
State Is Urged to Restore Medical Aid
Attorneys for 13 immigrant children, including a Montgomery County girl who has West Nile Virus and a Prince George's County boy with a serious blood disorder, said yesterday that the State of Maryland has improperly denied the children coverage under Medicaid.
Appearing before Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Durke G. Thompson in Rockville, the lawyers challenged a decision this year by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) to cut $7 million for medical assistance to about 4,000 newly arrived legal immigrants, including pregnant women and children. Alleging that the cut unconstitutionally discriminated, the lawyers are seeking an injunction requiring the state to restore the coverage.
Joel Tornari, an assistant state attorney general, said the immigrants were not unfairly singled out because their program is paid for exclusively by the state. The federal government provides matching funds for the broader Medicaid program. The judge said he would issue a written decision by early January.
Condo Proposal Draws Fire in Columbia
A proposed 22-story condominium building along Columbia's lakefront has prompted protests from residents, who say it violates community objectives for Columbia's downtown.
The 275-foot-high building is proposed for a 1.5-acre site along Little Patuxent Parkway near Wincopin Circle and would be the tallest building in Howard County. If the Howard County Planning Board approves the project's site plan, the developer, WCI Communities, can apply for building permits next year.
Yesterday, foes told the Planning Board that significant parking problems would be created by the Plaza Residences, which would have 160 condominiums, ground-floor retail shops and an underground parking garage. They said the project clashed with the community's desire to keep development less dense near Lake Kittamaqundi. The board will meet again on the project Jan. 18.
Pr. George's Firefighters Endorse Duncan
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's gubernatorial campaign won the backing yesterday of a firefighters union in Prince George's County, a key battleground in next year's Democratic primary against Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley.
Duncan picked up the endorsement of the 1,200-member Prince George's County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Association, IAFF Local 1619, at an event in Bowie.
"Duncan has shown that he understands our unique working conditions and will fight to ensure that we get the tools we need to do the job," said James Brinkley, president of the union.
Gas Leak Leads to Suspension of Classes
Administrators at William H. Farquhar Middle School in Olney suspended classes yesterday after a delivery truck hit a propane valve, causing a gas leak.
No one was injured. About 700 students were taken to Sherwood High School, where parents were allowed to pick up them up or have them transported to their regular bus stops. Parents with questions about the situation can contact the school at 301-924-3200. Montgomery County school system officials said classes will resume at Farquhar today.
quote of the day
"Obviously, the court feels very stung by being presented with what it thought to be a serious and heartfelt argument by the administration [to hold Jose Padilla originally], only to learn it would turn on a dime."
-- Michael Greenberger of the University of Maryland, on a court rebuke of the Bush administration's handling of the terrorism case. -- Page A1
Compiled from reports by staff writers Karlyn Barker, Debbi Wilgoren, Eric M. Weiss, Ian Shapira, Mary Otto, Susan DeFord, John Wagner and Lori Aratani.
quote of the day
"Obviously, the court feels very stung by being presented with what it thought to be a serious and heartfelt argument by the administration [to hold Jose Padilla originally], only to learn it would turn on a dime."
-- Michael Greenberger of the University of Maryland, on a court rebuke of the Bush administration's handling of the terrorism case. -- Page A1
Compiled from reports by staff writers Karlyn Barker, Debbi Wilgoren, Eric M. Weiss, Ian Shapira, Mary Otto, Susan DeFord, John Wagner and Lori Aratani.
