Local Leads: 3/31/09

News you need to know

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


MARYLAND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
It's been 17 years since Maryland's jobless rate was this high, with the construction industry taking the biggest hit last month. The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to climb in February to 6.7 percent, up from 6.2 percent in January and 3.7 percent a year ago, according to newly released federal figures. (Gazette)

DROPOUT RATE HITS 9% IN VIRGINIA
Virginia education officials say nearly 9 percent of students who entered public high school in 2004 dropped out before their classmates graduated in 2008.  (AP/ Washington Post)

LOUDOUN TAXES INCREASED
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors initially approved last night a 10 1/2-cent increase in property taxes, handing Loudoun residents the largest tax rate in the region. The proposed budget, which will be finalized April 7, would raise the property tax rate from $1.14 to $1.245 of every $100 of assessed value. That's higher than any other Northern Virginia jurisdiction, besting Prince William County's $1.212 per $100 assessed value rate, which was approved in mid-March. (Loudounextra.washingtonpost.com)

NO FREE RIDES FOR SENIORS
Montgomery County would suspend free bus rides for seniors, the disabled and county students under new cost-saving proposals by County Council staff.  The council's staff also is proposing big increases for parking fees in Bethesda's business district, including increasing the cost of a monthly "parking convenience sticker," which allow drivers to park in the area without having to pay hourly fees, from $95 to $140.  The cuts are scheduled to be presented to the County Council Tuesday and come on the heels of recent proposed cuts in the county's Ride On bus routes and service by County Executive Ike Leggett.  (wtop.com
 
SPEEDING = JAIL

If you get caught for speeding in Maryland or D.C., you face a heavy fine. Get caught speeding in Virginia, and you could face jail time.  The warning comes from Richmond attorney Bob Battle, who is trying to make sure drivers know what they are facing before they end up behind bars.  "Anything above 80 in any speed limit will be charged as reckless driving, which is actually a criminal misdemeanor," Richmond laywer Bob Battle says. "Some Fairfax County judges have an absolute scale of any mile you are caught speeding above 90, it's two days in jail."  (wtop.com
 
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY VANDALISM
There have been at least eight instances of offensive graffiti or defacement of statues on and around campus in the past two weeks, and at least 12 this semester, with the most recent occurring this weekend. The most recent graffiti was found on Saturday around 4:30 p.m. on an external white wood door on the 3500 block of P Street, on property owned by Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. The acronym "USA," with the "S" replaced by a swastika and a star to the right of the letters, was spray-painted with black paint using a stencil, about one foot long and four inches tall. The letters "Le" were also spray-painted in black on a brick wall a few yards from the "USA," but it was unclear how long those two letters had been there. (The Hoya)

MOOO FOR MILK PRODUCERS
A dramatic drop in milk prices along with higher feed costs and a reduction in exports is spelling trouble for dairy farmers in Virginia and across the United States.  The National Milk Producers Federation, which represents many of the dairy marketing cooperatives serving the United States, says it will be a “long and painful” year as milk prices continue to decline. (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Local

Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information

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PINKEYE OUTBREAK
Students and staff members at Liberty Elementary School are battling conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye. The school has "had a rash" of cases during the past three weeks, said Marita Loose, spokeswoman for Frederick County Public Schools. (Frederick News Post)

POOLESVILLE, NO WINDMILL
John Speelman has owned Poolesville Hardware since 1987. His recent electric bills are the highest he's ever seen. Speelman wants to erect a windmill behind his store to provide electricity. But he is having a hard time persuading town officials to accept his foray into green technology. He has been before the planning commission twice, and the board will reconsider the issue April 15. (Frederick News Post)
 

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