The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
4-YEAR-OLD HERO
With soot smudged on his left cheek, Kaleb Brawley, 4, finished his McDonald's chicken nuggets and joined his father on a walk behind their charred Severn home yesterday afternoon. "We'll get you some new toys," his father, Justin Brawley, 27, said as he carried the boy to the side yard. (The Capital)
TEEN STALKER
Police on Tuesday said a 13-year-old girl became a stalking victim after another female teenager contacted her on Facebook, posed as a boy and developed a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with her. The two girls began chatting on the popular social-networking website in January 2009, said Prince William County police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez. And for the next seven months, the then-12-year-old girl, posing as a boy, communicated regularly with the 13-year-old, she said. (Insidenova.com)
HOSPITAL STRUGGLING
Stafford Hospital recently cut the hours of some of its workers and briefly closed more of its beds when its patient count dipped to levels not seen since its opening. The hospital, now 14 months old, continues to struggle to attract patients. Its 100 beds have been about a third full since the first of the year. Last week the number of inpatients dropped to 23 before rebounding to 48. (Fredericksburg.com)
CANCER CLUSTER
The results of a study about a suspected cancer cluster in Poolesville should be released to the public by June. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, began looking into whether unusual cancer patterns existed in Poolesville in December 2008 after being contacted by a resident. (Gazette)
FROSTY LOSS FOR VINEYARD
A May 10 morning frost nipped away at two Loudoun wineries’ grape crops. Doug Fabbioli, owner of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, estimates that 90 percent of his crop was damaged. Leesburg-based Tarara Winery estimates that 25 percent of its crop was damaged. As a result, Fabbioli’s 2010 production will be dramatically reduced. He will able unable to serve the Reserve Cabernet Franc or Tre Sorelle. (Loudoun Times)
