The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
LOCAL MAYOR HELPS IN HAITI
City of Fairfax Mayor Robert Lederer saw things that no person should see and made his way down streets no person should have to walk. Death and despair pervaded every corner, every building and every village. The ghosts of the Jan. 12 earthquake that rocked Haiti and killed 230,000 people were still real as recently as last week, when Lederer and several colleagues went to the island on a three-day public health consultation trip. Though the conditions surrounding him were worse than he could have imagined, his mission, combined with the courage and strength of the Haitian people made it a voyage he will never forget. (Fairfax Connection)
STAFFORD SCHOOLS MULL FURLOUGHS
The Stafford County School Board is considering a policy for furloughing employees in the wake of state and local budget cuts. The School Board, however, is not anticipating furloughs in 2010-11, Vice Chairwoman Patricia Healy said in an interview. Next year's budget, which the board recently approved, doesn't include pay cuts. In fact, most employees will receive a step increase based on years of experience. (Fredericksburg.com)
STARVING HORSES RESCUED
Garrett County Humane Society volunteer investigator Deb Clatterbuck said Friday that the remains of at least 17 animals, including 10 horses, were found Thursday on the property. She says another 49 animals were taken from the farm to rescue operations in Howard County. Clatterbuck says any charges against the property owner will be filed after a forensic pathologist examines the remains next week. (The Captial)
HOUSING SALES BACK?
The glut of homes for sale in the Washington area has shrunk dramatically since the housing market's darkest days in 2008, and supply is now close to healthy in some spots. The number of area homes for sale last month was down 25 percent from April 2008, when supply was swelling to record highs after the credit market dried up and buyers retrenched, according to the most recent data from the local Multiple Listing Service. (Washington Post)
