The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
Short Murder Suspect Sought
Positioned atop Montgomery County's list of most-wanted suspects, Henry Chavez is on his way to becoming the most well-known of the most-wanted. The notoriety comes from his size, 3-foot, 11-inches tall, 85 pounds, and raises the question: How can someone so distinctive be so difficult to find? "I actually think it makes it harder," says U.S. Marshal Robert Fernandez, commander of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. (Washington Post)
Slots Opponents Seek Quick Appeal
Just days after a county judge killed a drive to have a referendum challenging zoning for a slot machine casino at Arundel Mills mall, attorneys for anti-slots activists said they will ask Maryland's highest court to hear their appeal. Getting on the fast track to a final decision will be crucial for opponents, who face an Aug. 23 deadline to have a referendum question added to the November ballot. (Hometown Annapolis)
New Va. Laws: Guns in Bars and Higher Speed Limit
Increased speed limits, budget cuts and the right to carry concealed weapons into a Virginia tavern are new laws going into effect at the stroke of midnight. The changes are part of 561 pieces of legislation the General Assembly approved this year and which go into effect on Thursday. Virginians with a concealed weapons permit will now be allowed to tuck a handgun away when entering a bar.Also, on select open stretches of Virginia highways, motorists who feel the need for speed can drive an additional 5 miles per hour. The speed limit on those stretches will be 70. (InsideNoVa.com)
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Fish Kill on the Potomac
Hundreds of fish carcasses found in the Potomac River since June 13 might have been a macabre sight, but researchers say the mortalities are not the result of toxic water conditions; it is likely the high temperatures. The several hundred Channel Catfish found dead between the Harpers Ferry, W.Va., area of the Shenandoah River and Great Falls on the Potomac River likely succumbed to a bacterial disease brought on by a rapid increase in water temperature, low oxygen levels and natural environmental stresses at end of their spawning season, said Chris Luckett, natural resources planner with the Maryland Department of the Environment. (Gazette.net)
Congress Questions Use of Red Light Cameras
Federal lawmakers are questioning whether state and local governments are misusing their red light cameras to nab more drivers and boost their revenues. Transportation officials across the country have been illegally shortening yellow lights after ignoring calls to lengthen the warning signals, according to testimony at a hearing held by a subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday. (Washington Examiner)
