The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
RUSH-HOUR CHASE
A police pursuit ended in a car crash Thursday morning at Ronald Reagan National Airport. The pursuit started just before 8 a.m. in the 2800 block of Shirlington Circle when an Arlington County police officer attempted to stop the driver of a pick-up truck. Police said the driver went the wrong way up an HOV ramp, sideswiped a bus and carjacked another vehicle during the morning rush hour. (NBCWashington.com)
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY OFFICER ACQUITTED
A judge has acquitted a local police officer involved in a deadly seven-car crash on the Beltway in May of 2007. Prince George's County Officer Scott Campbell was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash that killed Kevin McCarter and Sidney Clanton in Forestville. Fifteen people were also hurt in the crash. (NBCWashington.com)
METRO BANK LOAN
Metro officials asked a federal judge yesterday to issue a temporary restraining order against a Belgian bank that is demanding $43 million from the agency by tomorrow. The payment demand stems from a long-term financing deal between Metro and the bank, KBC Group. The bank is demanding the money because of the collapse of American International Group, which had guaranteed Metro's financial deals with the bank. The insurance giant's financial problems have invalidated the company's guarantees, putting the deals in technical default and allowing the bank to ask for all of its money at once. (Washington Post)
MARYLAND ELECTION / PAPER BALLOTS
After Tuesday's election, Maryland and Virginia will return to paper ballots, scraping or phasing out electronic voting machines that were once considered state of the art. (NBCWashington.com)
VA ELECTIONS
Federal judge today will hear the Virginia NAACP's request to require the state to add voting machines and extend voting times in anticipation of unprecedented voter turnout in next week's presidential election. The NAACP lawsuit claims the state is unprepared for the election, particularly in majority black precincts. (NBCWashington.com)
MARYLAND STATE SENATOR / COURT
The wife of state Sen. David Brinkley is seeking a protective order against him during a court hearing scheduled for today. In a request for the order, Sallie Brinkley alleges that he pushed her on a bed, and when she got up, he choked her. The Brinkleys acknowledged marital problems earlier this year, after Frederick County Sheriff's deputies responded to their home in May. (Frederick News Post)
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
PR. GEORGE'S COUNTY HEALTH INSURANCE
More than 150,000 people in Prince George's County do not have health insurance, the highest number in the state. According to a report released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau, 20 percent of Prince George's County's eligible population did not have any health insurance as of 2005, the highest rate in Maryland. (Gazette Newspapers)
WASHINGTON ADVENTIST HOSPITAL LAWSUIT
The family of a heart patient who died when Washington Adventist Hospital personnel were unable to find the key to open his locked bathroom has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Takoma Park hospital, WTOP has learned. In a filing in Montgomery County Circuit Court, the family of Jose R. Valladares says after he was admitted to the hospital April 11, 2006 with chest pain, he was attached to a heart monitor. (WTOP)
LOUDOUN CLASS SIZE INCREASE
Loudoun County Public Schools will see larger class sizes and teachers will not receive cost-of-living raises next year, according to Edgar Hatrick, superintendent of schools. In addressing the School Board Oct. 28, Hatrick said the school system is trying to do all it can to save money as the county faces a potential $176 million budget shortfall and a projected increase of 2,500 public school students next year."An increase in class size of one student would generate $7.3 million in cost savings," Hatrick said. "I'm confident that I'll be recommending that to you, and you'll probably have to increase class sizes across the board." (Loudoun Times)
DEER COLLISIONS
Fatalities from vehicle crashes with deer and other animals have more than doubled over the last 15 years, according to a new study by an auto insurance-funded highway safety group that cites urban sprawl overlapping into deer habitat. (NBCWashington.com)
MD SEX OFFENDERS HALLOWEEN
Maryland probation and parole officials have made a slight change to the sign that child sex offenders will be required to display on their doors on Halloween. Signs sent to 1,200 offenders earlier this month show an orange pumpkin and the words "No candy at this residence." Now the state is giving the offenders the option of displaying a sign with the same words but without a pumpkin.Correctional services spokesman Rick Binetti says the change is not an admission that the original sign doesn't work. He adds that jokes that aired recently on late-night television programs didn't drive the decision to remove the pumpkin image. Maryland sex offenders who do not stay home on Halloween and post one sign or the other could be charged with a violation of parole. (NBCWashington.com)
