The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
PARENTS QUESTION SCHOOL BOOK
Gazette: " "Social Studies Alive!" is a thin and colorful third-grade textbook, but it is not as innocent as it looks to some Frederick County parents. The textbook has been a part of the county's social studies curriculum since 2004, and touches on geography, economics, history, citizenship and the environment. But some parents want it removed from classrooms because they say it does not teach facts objectively, and tends to favor and promote liberal beliefs and ideologies on issues such as health care, public education and government."
UMEMPLOYMENT DOWN
Fairfax Times: " Fairfax County’s unemployment rate in March was third-lowest among the 22 major jurisdictions of the metropolitan Washington area, according to figures reported May 10 by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The county’s jobless rate of 4.5 percent was less than half the national average of 9.2 percent for the month. Twenty of the 22 major communities that make up the metro D.C. area had jobless rates below the national average, including four that were less than half of it. Those four were all located in Virginia: Arlington (3.9 percent), Loudoun County (4.3 percent), Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria (each 4.5 percent). Montgomery County (Md.) and Clarke County (Va.) each had rates of 5 percent, tying them for fifth spot. Rounding out the top 10 were Fauquier County, the city of Fairfax, Stafford County and Prince William County. Only the District of Columbia (10 percent) and the city of Fredericksburg (9.7 percent) had jobless rates above the national average for the month."
FREE PROM DRESSES
Washington Examiner: "D.C.'s Shaw Middle School is giving away prom dresses donated by the community all week. The Prom Dress Shop -- which also offers shoes and accessories -- was originally geared toward middle school students who could not afford to buy their own dresses for the school's big dance. Thanks to a deluge of donations, the shop's hours have been extended and it is open to high school students, too. Stop by and shop for free from 3:30 to 5 p.m. this week at Shaw Middle School at 2001 10th St NW. "
