The following stories are brought to you by the fine folk on the News4 assignment desk.
AREA BRIDGES INSPECTED AFTER MD QUAKE
Crews were doing basic inspections of bridges throughout Maryland and the District after a 3.6 magnitude earthquake jolted the region early Friday, transportation officials said.
So far, so good.
Besides a natural gas leak at a maintenance depot in the Gaithersburg-Rockville area that may have had nothing to do with the earthquake, officials have found no evidence of damage after residents awakened to wobbling homes at precisely 5:04:47 a.m. (Washington Post)
YOUNG, MINORITY VOTERS COULD BE KEY FOR DEMS IN MD
The success of Democrats at the polls this fall could boil down to two key constituencies that helped propel President Barack Obama to victory in 2008.
If young and minority voters turn out in similarly large numbers to two years ago, when Obama was on the ballot, Democrats likely will be rejoicing. If not, Republicans might be doing the celebrating.
And without Obama running this year, Democrats cannot count on the two blocs to turn out on Election Day and support their candidates. They might need more of a reason to vote. (Maryland Gazette)
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL STICK AROUND THROUGH NEXT WEEK
The recent bout of record-breaking heat and humidity may have you wishing for the blizzard again, but get used to it - because it's going to stick around.
A heat advisory is in effect for the entire WTOP listening area until 9 p.m. Friday.
Temperatures will be in high 90s on Friday afternoon, but when you factor in the humidity, it will feel like at least 100 degrees. (WTOP)
VA MAN STUCK IN EGYPT IS COMING TO AMERICA
A Virginia man whose travels to Yemen caught the attention of the FBI and landed him on the U.S. no-fly list, leaving him stuck in the Middle East for months, will be allowed to return to the U.S.
Yahya Wehelie, 26, of Burke, Va., has been stuck in Egypt for more than two months but is now expected to arrive in New York Friday afternoon. FBI agents had been questioning him about his time in Yemen, Wehelie said. He went to Yemen nearly two years ago at his parents’ urging to learn Arabic and gain some direction in his life. (Inside NoVA)
