The Night Note: 11/18/10

News you need to know.

The following stories are brought to you by the fine folks on the News4 assignment desk.

BLUE TOP CAB SUED FOR WOMAN'S SEXUAL ASSAULT
ARLNow: "A young woman is suing Arlington Blue Top Cab, claiming she was sexually assaulted after a cabbie dropped her off in a dangerous neighborhood at 3:30 a.m. because she was $1.95 short on the fare.

According to the lawsuit, first reported by Courthouse News Service, the woman was taking a Blue Top taxi from Arlington to Alexandria early on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. When the cab arrived at her house in Alexandria, the woman says she tried to pay with a credit card."

WHOOPING COUGH CASES ON THE RISE

Inside NoVA: "Pertussis is back. Sixteen cases of the disease have been confirmed in the region since July. The area had six cases last year.

“This has been a busy year for pertussis for the health district,” said Dr. Brooke Rossheim, director of the Rappahannock Area Health District.

Rossheim said he and his staff have found no link between cases and no cluster of cases, such as from a single school or day care center. Patients have been all ages and from every locality in the region, except King George County, he said."

METRO BOARD ESCALATOR DISCUSSION GETS HEATED
WTOP: "Metro has discovered numerous escalator brake issues since the transit agency started inspecting its fleet, officials say.

Metro officials say 568 escalators had their brakes inspected as of Wednesday, and 40 have had their brakes replaced. Ten brake units were oily and have been repaired, while 16 escalators were taken out of service."

STEROID CHARGES DROPPED IN FBI CASE
Washington Post: "Federal prosecutors have dropped charges without prejudice against three Washington area FBI agents and an analyst who were arrested Sept. 15 for allegedly covering up their use of steroids and human growth hormone.

The government reserved the right to bring new charges as an investigation into the prescription and use of the drugs continues.

Counts that Special Agent James Barnett, of Alexandria, and counterterrorism analyst Ali Sawan, of Sterling, made false statements in annual FBI fitness reports were dismissed Wednesday. The dismissals were disclosed Thursday in the U.S. District Court of the District's electronic docket system."

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