The Night Note: 6/11/10

News you need to know.

The following stories are brought to you by the fine folks on the News4 assignment desk.

FEEDING MORE IN THE CAPITAL AREA
A new study completed by Deloitte LLP for the Capital Area Food Bank pinpoints where hunger in the Washington area is high and access to affordable food is low.

In certain areas of Prince William, Fairfax and Prince George’s counties, for example, there are a low number of agencies for the food bank to partner with to distribute food.

The Capital Area Food Bank, which distributes 25 million pounds of food to hungry locals, wants to increase that amount to 30 million pounds this coming year. (Washington Business Journal)

DC BARS READY TO RAISE A GLASS FOR THE WORLD CUP
For the next month, soccer fans will find excuses to show up late for work or leave work early as they try to catch the World Cup.

For the first time ever, the World Cup is being played in South Africa.

Mexico and South Africa will be the first to play Friday.(WTOP)

STAGGERED METRO FARE HIKES TO COME THIS SUMMER
Metro riders saw their fares rise by 10 cents this spring. Now they will see them rise again June 27, then likely change again on Aug. 1.

This fall, they will see tweaks to their SmarTrip cards, with new tools and weekly passes added. Come January, new Internal Revenue Service rules will take effect that will change their employee-sponsored SmartBenefits.

Metro plans to raise all fares to cover $108 million of an $189 gap in the budget that begins July 1. But the transit agency won't be able to program all the machines and farecards to accept the changes at one time, so it plans at least two phases.
(Washington Examiner)

ARE YOU IN THE CLEAR? 
Many of us were disappointed to learn that downtown residents can expect Verizon FIOS internet & tv no earlier than 6 years from now.

But, another option for high speed internet has been announced this week.  Clearwire has begun to offer WiMAX (4G) wireless internet to DC area homes.  And according to their coverage map, the Penn Quarter is mostly placed within the Clear zone (southern parts of PQ will be in the zone soon).

Home plans start at $30/month with mobile plans starting at $40/month.  Those price points are very competitive with DSL and cable offerings, especially considering that the mobile plan may supersede WiFi. (Penn Quarter Leaving)

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