Metro
In Brief
Tuesday, January 31, 2006; Page B03
THE REGION
GU Agrees to Serve Only Cage-Free Eggs
After discussions with the Humane Society of the United States, Georgetown University has agreed to stop using eggs from caged hens for meals served in its student dining facilities. The school joins several universities across the country and in the region, including American University and George Washington University, that have eliminated or are phasing out the use of eggs from caged birds.
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"Georgetown University is deeply concerned about animal welfare and consequently is proud of our switch to cage-free eggs," said Michael Basile, the university's director of food services.
The Humane Society says that 95 percent of eggs sold in the United States come from hens confined in wire "battery cages" that are so small the birds can't spread their wings or engage in perching, dust bathing and other natural behaviors.
THE DISTRICT
Man in Coma After NW Fistfight Dies
A man who fell into a coma after he was punched in a fistfight outside an Adams Morgan bar Jan. 21 died from his injuries Sunday, D.C. police said yesterday.
Marc Ficarra, 34, who lived on Andrews Air Force Base, was pronounced dead at 12:46 p.m. at Washington Hospital Center. Results of an autopsy are pending.
Ficarra went into a coma after he was punched and his head hit the pavement, apparently while defending a woman who had exchanged words with a group of men.
Board to Vote on Underused Schools
The D.C. Board of Education announced yesterday that it will hold a special meeting tomorrow to vote on a resolution affirming its commitment to close underused schools.
Enrollment in the school system continues to drop, and independent studies have shown that the system is using about 10 million of its 16 million square feet of space. School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey has said that he will issue a list of proposed school closings in April when he releases a facilities master plan.
School board members said the resolution will be a general statement of support for cutting back on space. They said they wanted to take the action before the D.C. Council votes next month on a measure that would allocate an additional $1.5 billion to modernize schools. Council members have pressed the school board to reduce its inventory of buildings.
MARYLAND
