DISTRICT BRIEFING

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

BENEFIT CONCERT

Ugandan Orphans Raising Money for Children

A children's choir made up of 18 orphans from Uganda will perform Thursday at the Patricia R. Harris Education Center in Southeast in a concert to raise money to build homes for children who have lost parents to AIDS and war in the African nation.

The Watoto Children's Choir from Kampala, Uganda, whose members range in age from 6 to 14, will sing at 7 p.m. at the center, 4600 Livingston Rd. The choir is touring the United States to raise awareness of the plight of their nation's orphans. Money raised on the tour will be used to help build children's villages.

The choir has performed around the world and for President Bush at the White House.

The event will be hosted by Faith Tabernacle of Prayer and the city's 7th Police District. Admission is free.

-- Lisa Frazier

FLU FORUM

Vaccinations, Prevention Talk Set for Today

A community forum on influenza and pandemic flu, with flu and pneumonia shots afterward, will be held today at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park.

The discussion about how to prevent and treat the various types of flu will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the hospital conference center, 7600 Carroll Ave. It is free and open to the public.

Vaccinations will follow for individuals 18 and older. Flu shots will cost $25, pneumonia shots $30.

-- Susan Levine

CRIME

Man Arrested in 2004 Shooting Death

D.C. police arrested a suspect over the weekend in the February 2004 shooting death of a 21-year-old man. The suspect and victim lived seven blocks apart in Southeast Washington, police said.

Robert McMillian, 22, was arrested Saturday in the killing of Anthony Boone, 21, whose body was discovered in the 3300 block of 13th Street SE.

McMillian, of the 1900 block of Congress Street SE, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. Boone lived in the 1200 block of the same street, police said.

-- Allison Klein

HOMELESSNESS

D.C. Panel Holding First of Three Hearings

The Interagency Council on Homelessness will hold a hearing today on issues facing the homeless.

Officials are inviting public testimony and will provide information on the council's "work to identify, prioritize and target services for the homeless," according to a statement. The hearing is set for 1 to 3 p.m. at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 Seventh St. NW.

The council has scheduled two additional hearings: from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. in Southeast; and from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 2 at Sacred Heart Church, 16th Street and Park Road in Northwest.

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Trustees Plan Special Meeting on Sunday

Gallaudet University's board of trustees will hold a special meeting Sunday if they can ensure the security that will be needed, according to Chairman Brenda Jo Brueggemann.

Protesters at the school for the deaf in Northeast Washington, who want incoming president Jane K. Fernandes to resign, have been calling on the board to meet to resolve the school's problems.

Demonstrations started in May when the board announced that Fernandes would be president as of Jan. 1.

The agenda for the meeting is not complete, and other details are not finalized. If security can't be ensured, the date could change, Brueggemann said.

Protests continued yesterday, and there was a candlelight vigil supporting eight people on a hunger strike.

Also yesterday, faculty voted to recommend investigating the presidential search process, and to ask for an independent mediator, add term limits and periodic evaluations of the president and to increase the sign language requirement for tenured faculty.

-- Susan Kinzie