Local Leads: 01/09/2009

News you need to know

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

SPRINT NEXTEL LAYING OFF LOCAL WORKERS
Sprint Nextel Corp. has announced that it will be laying off 160 workers from its Herndon office.  The workers are part of the Overland, Kansas company's Xohm division. "Xohm is a 4th-generation Wi-MAX service," said local spokesman James Fisher. (Fairfax Times)

MARYLAND BUDGET WOES
State officials are considering a $366 million budget fix that could spare difficult spending cuts by transferring money in an unused reserve fund kept by the Maryland comptroller's office. The fund is maintained for accounting purposes and could go a long way to reducing a $1.9 billion shortfall that Gov. Martin O'Malley  and state lawmakers must close to balance the next annual budget. O'Malley, a Democrat, is considering various ways to pare the budget he will submit to the General Assembly that convenes next week. (Washington Post)

INAUGURAL PARADE TICKETS
Tickets to President-elect Barack Obama  s inauguration parade go on sale today. The Presidential Inaugural Committee  announced that 5,000 tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 apiece, and parade-goers can purchase up to four, said committee spokesman Kevin Griffis . He said those interested should call Ticketmaster at 202-397-7328. (Washington Post
 
MOM ARRESTED FOR DUI WITH TODDLER IN CAR
A Culpeper woman has been charged with driving under the influence while her toddler was in the car. Teri Marie Taylor, 22, was stopped on King Street about 2:40 a.m. Wednesday after Culpeper town police Officer Jeff Dodson spotted her 1993 Lexus moving erratically on James Madison Highway and North Main Street, police said. Dodson also noticed that two of the car's lights were out, according to a police report. (Free-Lance Star)

WOODBRIDGE ASSAULT ARREST
Police have arrested a 48-year-old man in the beating and sexual assault of a 79-year-old Prince William County woman. Detectives on Thursday obtained warrants charging Andy Ralston, of no fixed address, with burglary with intent to commit rape, abduction with intent to defile, armed robbery and object sexual penetration, Prince William County police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said. Police first responded to the 4800 block of the Prince William Parkway about 10 p.m. Tuesday to investigate an unknown situation, police said. (Potomac News and Messenger)

STAFFORD FATHER ARRESTED
A Stafford County man has been accused of impregnating his 13-year-old biological daughter. The 41-year-old man, who is not being named to protect the identity of his daughter, was arrested Monday and charged with rape, aggravated sexual battery, custodial indecent liberties with a child and incest. He is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. (Free-Lance Star)

INAUGURATION RENTAL MARKET SLIPS
Visions of dollar signs floating before their eyes. So it went for a number of area homeowners who thought the upcoming presidential inauguration would prove to be a mini-windfall. All they had to do was rent their house or apartment to out-of-towners at prices up to $1,500 a night.Alas. "Things are not going quite so good," said Andre Butters of Bethesda, who created the Web site Inauguralhomes.com in November to connect folks looking for places to stay around Jan. 20 to folks looking to make a buck and offer lodging. (Gazette)

LOCAL BARS OPEN LATE FOR INAUGURATION
At least 213 D.C. bars, restaurants and nightclubs have registered to serve alcohol later than usual and possibly serve food all night long during inauguration week. Businesses that weren't restricted by neighborhood agreements for their operating hours were required to register by yesterday with the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration. About 20 percent of the more than 1,000 bar and restaurant businesses in the city registered for the late hours. (AP/Richmond Times Dispatch)

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