Local Leads: 12/31/2008

News you need to know

The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:

LOCAL PRIEST KILLED BY TREE
Father Michael C. Kelly, the pastor at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville, died today after a tree blown over by high winds fell on top of him. (Leesburg Today)

RIVER ROAD REOPENS??
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission expects to reopen a section of River Road between Seven Locks Road and Bradley Boulevard by this evening, according to Lyn Riggins, a WSSC spokeswoman. A massive break in a water main in the 8500 block of the busy commuter roadway on Dec. 23 trapped 15 motorists and passengers in its wake and washed away parts of the roadway's shoulders. (Gazette)

2009 ECONOMIC REBOUND
With the stock market on track for its worst year since 1931, Wall Street strategists are predicting a rebound in 2009. (USAToday)

ALL IN THE FAMILY, SHOPLIFTERS
Police say a Fairfax family is under investigation for doing its Christmas shopping without paying. According to a Fairfax County search warrant affidavit, Fairfax resident Reza Toussy, his wife Mino Toussy, and their 21-year-old son, Sina Toussy, are all under investigation for larceny for allegedly shoplifting items from Fair Oaks Mall. (Fairfax Times)

METRO CRIME
2008 has been a record setting year for Metro as far as ridership, but now it is also record setting as far as crime. Through November of this year, the transit agency has recorded 1,686 Part I crimes, the highest mark ever. And with still one month of statistics to add-in, that figure already eclipses the 1,580 Part I crimes registered in all of 2007. (WTOP.com)

UNIVERITY OF MARYLAND CHESS CHAMPS
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has regained its spot atop the college chess world -- but a tie decision means it must share the crown with another team. UMBC tied for first place yesterday with the University of Texas at Dallas at the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Championship in Dallas. The tournament, which is considered the "World Series of college chess," included 29 teams from North, South and Central America. (Baltimore Sun)

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