The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
TEEN TAKES RIDERS ALONG FOR JOYRIDE
Metro customers boarded a bus Friday afternoon as normal: paying their fares, swiping their SmarTrip cards and plopping down in their seats. They were unaware, however, that the driver was an impostor. William Jackson, a 19-year-old District resident, apparently fooled workers and passengers alike. Authorities said he wore a standard-issue Metro bus driver's uniform, made his way into the Bladensburg bus garage in Northeast and drove off, pretending to be a driver assigned to the B2 route, which goes from Bladensburg Road to Anacostia. Four miles later, the bus crashed into a tree and several cars.
(WASHINGTON POST)
WATER RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED
Rockville city officials have extended mandatory water restrictions after repair crews found another leak while putting the line back in service Saturday. The extension will be in effect until at least noon Sunday. Water restrictions have been in place in Rockville since Wednesday after a 24-inch main pipe burst on South Glen Road at Deep Glen Drive. The pipe is the only water main connecting Rockville's Water Treatment Plant and the distribution system. The latest restriction stems from a leaky valve. Shannon Loomis, spokeswoman for the city of Rockville, tells WTOP the leak is minor. But crews will have to shut down the water main in order to replace the valve.
(WTOP)
THE NEW GROCERY STORES
Farmers markets are the new grocery stores. While the country considers organic versus non-organic foods, locally grown goods are becoming increasingly popular. "There is a demand for it," said John Kinnaird, who helps run the Thurmont Main Street Flea and Farmers Market with his wife, Karen. The town's combined food and craft fair has been increasing in popularity with both vendors and residents, almost doubling its total vendors from last year. "More people are talking about it. New people are stopping all the time," Kinnaird said.
(FREDERICK NEWS POST)
TOUGH SUMMER JOB MARKET
Frustrated area teens are facing a historically horrendous summer job market -- a situation setting the stage for potentially devastating long-term consequences. The teen unemployment rate was 25.7 percent in June, more than double the nation's 9.5 overall jobless rate. "This could end up being the worst teen summer job market in employment records going back to 1948," said John Challenger, CEO of Chicago outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Justin Everhart, 17, hanging out at a skate park in Arlington, said he has applied for more than 30 jobs at places like skate shops, grocery stores, and hobby and handicraft stores, to no avail. "To not have a job, it's frustrating," he said. "It would help and relieve so much stress on family budgets if I had a job. Coming all the way from Loudoun to here just to skate it costs a lot out of a budget just for a day."
(WASHINGTON EXAMINER)
