The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
SALAHI'S WELL KNOWN IN LOUDOUN
Long before Tareq and Michaele Salahi made themselves known to President Barack Obama at a White House dinner Nov. 24, they were known in Loudoun and the surrounding area for their involvement in polo and the wine industry – and for a string of lawsuits. In the past week, the Salahis have been portrayed in the worldwide press jointly as socialites. Individually, she has been called a former supermodel, Washington Redskins cheerleader, and arbiter of style and fashion. He is referred to as an international playboy and accomplished polo player on the field and, as an organizer, a major player off it. As the week progressed, many of the details of those characterizations have been called into question. (Loudoun Times-Mirror)
ATTENTION TAX SCOFFLAWS, AMNESTY ENDS SATURDAY
Virginia taxpayers only have a few more days to get square with the state when it comes to delinquent taxes. The state's tax amnesty program began in October. It ends Saturday. Individuals and businesses can waive half the interest they owe and all penalties if they pay before Saturday. Those who do not pay during the amnesty period face an additional 20 percent penalty. (Richmond Times Dispatch)
PRIEST ASSAULTS PRIEST
A priest at Our Lady of Angels is no longer with the Woodbridge-based Catholic Church after being charged with assaulting his boss, the Rev. Paul M. Eversole. Charles C. Smith, the associate pastor, was arrested Nov. 22 after an argument over office-related matters in the rectory, said Arlington Diocese spokeswoman Joelle Santolla. The argument quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, said Santolla. (Insidenova.com)
LAYOFFS COMING TO MONTGOMERY?
Montgomery County's budget continues to worsen with every update, and now officials are saying layoffs of county employees are possible in the current fiscal year. On Tuesday, the County Council learned that they will need to close a $32 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2010, which ends June 30. The budget shortfall in fiscal 2011 has been estimated at $608 million — if the state makes no further cuts to local aid. (Gazette)
MORE BIG GULPS
Convenience store chain 7-Eleven said it will open 50 stores annually in the Baltimore- Washington area during the next three years as part of an aggressive expansion in some of its best-performing markets. The Dallas-based chain is expanding in areas where it has a large concentration of stores that are doing well, said company spokeswoman Margaret Chabris. The top 10 markets for 7-Eleven include Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego and the Baltimore-Washington area. (Baltimore Sun)
FIRED NURSE STOLE DRUGS
A registered nurse who was recently fired from Mary Washington Hospital is accused of stealing drugs from a locked hospital medicine cabinet--once after he'd already been fired. Errol Phillips, 29, of Spotsylvania is charged with multiple offenses in Fredericksburg, including possession of controlled sub- stances and three counts of obtaining drugs by fraud. He is also charged in Fairfax County with petty larceny and drinking in public. Phillips is being held without bond in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. (Fredericksburg.com)
