Local Leads: 5/28/09

News you need to know

The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:

SCHOOL KIDS QUARANTINED
Twenty-one students and three teachers from a Silver Spring private school who flew last week to China for a weeklong tour have been confined to their hotel rooms, quarantined for possible exposure to swine flu during their flight from the United States. The group arrived in Guizhou province in southwestern China on Friday for an "extended study week," one of several such excursions from the Barrie School, which stresses experiential learning. (Washington Post)

BETHESDA HOMELESS HOUSING
A Montgomery County homeless advocacy group is taking a new approach to creating affordable housing, converting a Bethesda office building into individual living quarters and renting out the ground floor to retailers. (Washington Post)

PARENTS PROTEST SUSPENSION
On April 3, 22 Dominion High School students set out on what was expected to be a fun-filled school trip to France. They stayed for one week with host families in Lyon, then spent a week touring Paris while residing in a hotel. For 10 students, though, the trip turned ugly when they were caught drinking wine in their hotel room. They returned home to Sterling to learn they had been suspended from school for 10 days. (Loudoun Times)

PARKING FEE AT SCHOOL?
Instead of, "so what'd you get on that exam?" local high school students may want to know, "so how much do you pay for your parking space?" In our area, the fees range from $5 a semester to many, many times that amount. Emily D'Italia, an 11th grader at Montgomery County's Quince Orchard High School, gripes about what she pays. "$37.50 a semester," D'Italia says. A total of $75 a year. Is that a good deal or not? "It's a little expensive, but I guess it's worth it to have my car," D'Italia says. So what would she say to paying $200 a year? (wtop.com)

SAVE THE FIREWORKS
Whether the skies this Fourth of July will be lit by the rockets' red glare is still up in the air.  Officials are hopeful the annual Fredericksburg fireworks show will happen, but until the last dollar is raised, the fate of the program remains unknown. Sponsors have dwindled, including Cox Communications, an important supporter in years past. That spurred a "Save the Fireworks" campaign in Fredericksburg. The goal is to raise $21,000 before the Fourth. (Free Lance-Star)  

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