The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
JULY 1ST CHANGES
As July 1 approaches, residents of Falls Church and the rest of Northern Virginia can expect some significant, if not overwhelming, changes in the services their local and state governments will provide. Severe budget cuts required due to the larger economic recession have caused record layoffs in both Falls Church and Fairfax County, and according to the county's Mason District supervisor Penny Gross, the clearest evidence of this for the public will be longer waiting times to secure permits and inspections, as well as reduced library hours. (Falls Church News Press)
GPS LEADS COPS TO STOLEN LIMO
A global positioning system inside her stolen Chevrolet Suburban limousine helped Elsie Belman track down the thieves this past weekend in Alexandria. Belman runs Elsie Slyman Belman Stretch Limousine Service, which is based in Stafford County but does a lot of its work in the Washington area. She keeps some of her limos in Alexandria for easy access. (Fredericksburg.com)
FIND A TREE, PORTABLE TOILETS REMOVED FROM PARKS
Montgomery County parks are about to go potty-less, thanks to budget cuts at the county's Department of Parks. Portable toilets, installed to give hundreds of park visitors a proper spot to heed nature's call, are set to be removed June 30. The county has more than 80 potties in more than 80 parks, said Montgomery parks spokeswoman Kelli Holsendolph. (Gazette)
NO MORE FREE BUS RIDES
Montgomery County bus riders no longer have an economic incentive for breathing hazardous air. The County Council voted unanimously to stop offering free bus rides on code red days -- deemed unhealthy air quality for everyone -- ending a 15-year program designed to keep cars parked and senior citizens and children, particularly, from inhaling smog-filled air (Washington Examiner)
