DISTRICT BRIEFING

Friday, February 8, 2008

RELIGION

In a Switch, Pope Will Take to D.C.'s Streets

It looks as though Benedict XVI and his popemobile will hit the streets of Washington after all.

Until now, the pope was not going to make public appearances during his April 15-18 visit, except for the Mass he will celebrate April 17 at the new Washington Nationals ballpark. The rest of his visit was to be spent meeting with selected groups, including bishops, Catholic educators and interfaith leaders, as well as President Bush.

But the Vatican has changed its mind, said Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Washington Archdiocese, which is helping to coordinate the visit. The Vatican has authorized two trips for the pope through the streets of Washington in the popemobile, a specially designed vehicle he uses during public appearances.

Details of the routes have not been finalized, she said. But what it means is that people who can't get to the Mass will have the opportunity to see the pope, he said.

Information on ticket distribution for the Mass is expected to be released this month.

-- Jacqueline L. Salmon

CAPITOL HILL

Man Posing as Renter Sought in Sex Assault

D.C. police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who sexually assaulted a woman Monday on Capitol Hill.

The attack happened about 10 a.m. in the 300 block of 10th Street SE. A man rang a woman's door buzzer, telling her he was looking for an apartment to rent. She opened the door and he assaulted her, police said.

The attacker was described as a black man 30 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall, with close-cropped hair. He was wearing dark-colored pants with an elastic waist and a dark athletic-style shirt with long sleeves and an emblem, possibly from a gym or health club, police said. He was carrying a blue or green duffel or gym bag, police said.

Anyone with information should call police at 202-727-9099.

-- Allison Klein

EDUCATION

American University Inauguration Is Today

Cornelius M. Kerwin will be inaugurated today as the 14th president of American University, marking a new era at the private school of more than 11,000 students in Northwest Washington.

Kerwin first came to the university as a freshman 40 years ago. He began working at AU in 1975 as an assistant professor of political science and was chief academic officer from 1997 to 2005.

He served as acting and then interim president after the ouster of Benjamin Ladner, who was forced to resign in 2005 after an investigation into his spending of university money.

Kerwin will oversee a $400 million budget and $400 million endowment. He is conducting a national search for a provost.

-- Valerie Strauss

CITY GOVERNMENT

Priority Parking Urged for Pregnant, Elderly

D.C. Council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) is pushing to give pregnant women and people age 60 and older the same priority for parking that the city provides to the disabled in front of buildings owned or leased by the D.C government.

Brown introduced legislation this week to create additional parking spaces for older residents and expectant mothers during a year-long pilot program.

The city's Public Works and Transportation departments would then ask the public whether the new parking spaces should be made permanent.

-- Nikita Stewart