The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
STRANDED ON METRO ACCESS BUS
Metro officials have suspended two employees indefinitely after a 90-year-old woman and two others disappeared for more than five hours after leaving an adult care center. The MetroAccess program -- which provides transportation services for the disabled -- sent a vehicle to pick up Gertrude Garner of Clinton at the Helping Hands Adult Services Center in Prince George's County on Tuesday. (Examiner)
ARLINGTON SCHOOL RAISES?
More than a third of Arlington Public Schools’ employees want salary increases in the coming year, even if it means the prospect of more layoffs, according to a survey by the school system. And nearly two-thirds said that a reduction in salaries is their least-favorite option for dealing with a budget shortfall that could total up to $30 million in the coming fiscal year. The survey of 1,000 school-system employees found that 338 say that providing a salary increase “regardless of outcome” was their top priority among five options offered. “Regardless of outcome,” in this case, apparently means staff layoffs, which were largely avoided in last year’s budget process but could be inevitable this year. (Sun Gazette)
ILLEGAL CIGARETTES BACK OUT
An Associated Press review has found that undercover ATF agents in Virginia have put more than 250 million cigarettes onto the streets in the past three years in sting operations targeting smugglers. The stings are a response to an increase in smuggling as smokers in high-tax states like New York seek out cheap cigarettes on the black market.Authorities say the cigarettes have led them to organized crime rings, drug dealers and can even cut off financing for terrorists. The stings have yielded about five dozen federal arrests, though none on terror charges. (AP/Richmond Times Dispatch)
SEXTING COP BUSTED
A county police lieutenant was charged today with a federal child pornography crime involving a teenage girl, according to the State's Attorney's Office. Lt. James Cifala, a 27-year veteran of the department, was arrested by FBI agents at county police headquarters and was charged today. Cifala's initial appearance took place in U.S. District Court in Baltimore this afternoon. (The Capital)
JIFFY LUBE LIVE
Jiffy Lube Live went live Thursday as the owner of the former Nissan Pavilion joined Washington-area oil-change franchises in launching the new name. Word of the change dribbled out earlier this month, but venue owner Live Nation and Jiffy Lube franchisees officially announced the new moniker at a press conference at the Key Bridge Marriott.
(Insidenova.com)
