The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
COLD CASE PLAYING CARDS
The playing cards were dealt in a blur to four inmates sitting around a small metal table at the D.C. jail. The game was Deuces Wild, and Jacob Broggins, a 53-year-old with a long rap sheet serving a 30-day sentence for driving without a permit, had a bad hand -- in more ways than one. (Washington Post)
COLLEGE DEBT HIGHEST IN THE REGION
Almost half of students attending a college or university in D.C. graduate with debt and the debt they have is the highest in the nation. The average debt at graduation from one of D.C.’s universities in 2008 was $29,793 compared to a national average of $23,200, according to The Institute for College Access & Success’ Project on Student Debt report. Forty-nine percent of D.C. graduates left with debt in 2008. American University tops the 2008 list, with an average graduate debt of $34,213. The George Washington University was second at $30,817, followed by Georgetown University at $23,333. (Washington Business Journal)
HELP TOYS FOR TOTS
As the Friday deadline for Toys for Tots collection nears, Marines in charge of the drive still need toys for several hundred local families. About 3,000 families requested toys this year, higher than most years because of the economy, said Sgt. William Wolbert, assistant coordinator of the Toys for Tots drive. About 2,300 of those have been filled, leaving about 700 families who applied directly to Toys for Tots. (Frederick News Post)
CHRISTMAS TREE SALES
The list of Christmas essentials still includes a tree, even if many people are hunting for bargains this year. “Our sales have been pretty good actually, better than I thought it would be with the economy dragging,“ said Rodney Richardson, who harvests up to 15,000 Fraser fir trees on his Grayson County farm this time of year. (Insidenova.com)
