The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
DC STATEHOOD NOW AVENUE?
(WASHINGTON EXAMINER)
"The D.C. Council is looking for a way to create a constant reminder of the city's ongoing quest for statehood by renaming a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue, just blocks from the White House. Thursday evening, at-large Councilman Michael Brown held a hearing where the public could suggest new names for Pennsylvania Avenue between the 1300 and 1400 blocks in Northwest. That section sits near the White House and is well-traveled as thousands of tourists make the trek from the president's mansion to Capitol Hill. It also sits directly in front of the John A. Wilson Building, the District's city hall." The council also wants to add a statehood-focused slogan to the District's gateway signs
FORMER GOVERNOR PACKED HEAT
WTOP
"A former Maryland Governor says he carried a gun during part of his tenure as the state's top elected leader. Marvin Mandel revealed to WTOP Friday he faced a number of security concerns, including death threats, during his time in office during the 1970's. Members of the Maryland State Police suggested he carry a pistol as the threats increased. Mandel says only a handful of people knew about the gun. "Just a few of state police," Mandel says. "They, as a matter of fact, some of the police that were with me at different times never knew it and I never told them." Mandel says he never used it, and got rid of the gun when the threats diminished. Asked if he received special firearms training, Mandel cited his time in the U.S. Army. "
TOWN & COUNTRY LOUNGE LAST CALL
WASHINGTON POST
"On Saturday night, Sambonn Lek, head bartender at the legendary Town & Country Lounge, where he's worked since Gerald Ford was president, will don his white shirt, red tie and black vest, stand behind the bar, and make some of the best sidecars around, along with even better small talk. He will make $20 bills levitate (he loves magic tricks), and he will insert the word "sir" into every other sentence (he is unfailingly polite). He will recognize people he hasn't seen in a decade, somehow recalling what they had the last time they dropped in for a drink at the storied, mahogany-paneled saloon just off the lobby of the Mayflower Hotel on Connecticut Avenue NW. And then, around 1:30 a.m., Lek will announce last call - with finality, because, after more than six decades, the Town & Country is closing for good, the latest in a series of farewells among Washington's old-school hotel bars.
MONOPOLY TOURNAMENT
LORTON VALLEY STAR.COM
"Calling all Monopoly® game fans! The 4th annual Monopoly Game Tournament in Lorton will be held on Saturday, February 26th. All proceeds from the event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia – providing simple, decent and affordable housing to those in need. The tournament includes two 75-minute preliminary rounds on the Monopoly game that each participant is required to play, as well as a final round where the top six competitors will play for the top prize! Entry fee is only $25 which includes a light breakfast and lunch. Top prize is $500 and there will be many door prizes!" “Anyone wishing to test their real estate trading skills against other top players while helping out a very worthy cause should register”, said Tournament Sponsor, Susan Borrelli, and if last year was any indication, a good time will be had by all who attend.”
