The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
MUHAMMAD EXECUTION
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today that he has not yet received a petition seeking clemency for convicted Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad and has seen no evidence that would suggest he should receive a stay of execution. "I know of nothing in this case now, that would suggest that there is any credible claim of innocence or that there was anything procedurally wrong with the prosecution," said Kaine, speaking on his monthly call-in radio program on WTOP in Washington. (Richmond Times Dispatch)
PAWN SHOP LEGISLATION
The Prince George's County Council is expected to introduce a bill today that would bar pawn shops and secondhand stores from selling such items as food, cosmetics and medications, with the aim of protecting consumers from potentially unsafe merchandise. The bill, sponsored by council member Eric Olson (D-College Park), is the latest effort by local officials to impose limits on establishments that many residents complain bring down their neighborhoods, including strip clubs, liquor stores and check cashing stores. (Washington Post)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY "TUITION ASSISTANCE" FOR EMPLOYEES QUESTIONED
Montgomery County employees used a taxpayer-funded tuition assistance program to take religion courses that appear to be geared toward their own spiritual growth rather than toward their jobs, county records show. The county has paid up to $900 each for courses like "Principles of Christian Growth" and "Contemporary Evangelism" that emphasized "memorizing key Bible verses" and "restraining the flesh and renewing your mind ... (to) Christ," according to county records and online course descriptions. The tuition assistance program is supposed to help employees take classes or earn degrees that are related to their current or future jobs with the county. (The Examiner)
SPEED BUMPS
Since Adrian Fenty (D) took office, the number of speed humps in Washington has soared, from about 100 to 868. The humps have sprouted from Friendship Heights to Congress Heights. There are 10 new ones along Anacostia Avenue in Northeast, six along Lebaum Street in Southeast and four on one block of Monroe Street in Northwest. (Washington Post)
MT. AIRY MURDER SUICIDE
Crisis counselors are expected to arrive at Twin Ridge Elementary and Linganore High schools on Tuesday to help students deal with the grief they feel over the murder of their classmates and friends on Friday. Charles L. "Charlie" Dalton Jr., 14, a freshman at Linganore High School, and Emmaline E. Dalton, 7, a second-grader at Twin Ridge Elementary, were found dead in their beds on Friday night. (Gazette)
NO TRASH TALK AT NAVY
Don't look for Navy players or coaches to say anything inflammatory this week in advance of Saturday's showdown with service academy rival Air Force. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo has set the tone that there will be no trash talking from Annapolis, only praise for an opponent that has always been tough to beat. (The Capital)
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
FREE RIDE AT DISNEY
Disney is offering a free day's admission to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work next year. The "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., in 2010. (USA Today)
