Local Leads: 3/26/09

News you need to know

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

CHANTILLY TEEN GANG BUST
Seven Chantilly teens have been busted for gang-related activities, including gang recruitment at Franklin Middle School in Chantilly.  Fairfax County police say a three-month investigation started when a student at the middle school reported to a school resource officer that he had been asked to join a gang. (wtop.com)

PRINCE GEORGE'S MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDERS
The fear and mystery surrounding two Prince George's County mother-daughter homicides began two months ago today, when police found the bodies of Karen and Karissa Lofton in their home in a quiet Largo area neighborhood.  Whether their deaths are found to be linked to the killings last week of Delores and Ebony Dewitt, whose bodies were found burned in a stolen car less than a mile away, the similarities between the victims have refocused attention on the Loftons. (Washington Post)

EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE DISABLED
In the past year, Loudoun County officials noticed a missing link in their emergency planning: They had no information on people with disabilities who might need special assistance during an evacuation. Three evacuations occur in Loudoun in the average year, mostly the result of building gas leaks or apartment fires, according to emergency officials. In those situations, first responders haven't known which evacuees had a disability until they arrived at the scene. (Loudounextra.washingtonpost.com)

MARYLAND DEATH PENALTY
Some of the nation's tightest restrictions on death penalty cases are expected to win final approval today in the Maryland General Assembly, allowing Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to claim a partial victory after failing to persuade lawmakers to ban executions.  The measure would limit capital cases to those with biological or DNA evidence, a videotaped confession or a videotape linking the defendant to a homicide. Those are among the steepest hurdles faced by prosecutors in the 35 states that have a death penalty. (Washington Post
 
FREE CLINICS ARE BUSY
A declining economy, along with an increase in job layoffs, is keeping local free clinics busier than ever.Over the last seven months, Herndon's Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic has seen a 100 percent increase in its patient load. At the same time, contributions that fund the clinic are shrinking both in size and frequency.  (Fairfax Times)

RECESSION HITS HOSPITALS
Hospitals in the Washington region are suffering from the recession just like other businesses. The Maryland Hospital Association said in a report released on Thursday that income has fallen while expenses have risen for a lot of the state's 58 hospitals. According to the report, 34 hospitals in Maryland lost a combined $466 million during the last quarter of last year.  Virginia facilities are also reporting shortfalls. D.C. hospitals have yet to report results for the last quarter of 2008. However, Robert A. Malson, chief executive officer of the District of Columbia Hospital Association, said they, too, are affected by the recession. (Washington Post)
 
METRO CUTS COMING

Metro leaders say they are confident they will be able to close a $29 million budget gap without drastic reductions in service. Board members will be back at the table Thursday, and say they have a plan in place to get the job done.  (wtop.com)

KOSHER MEALS IN JAIL
A Maryland prison spokesman says state prisons will offer kosher meals for inmates who are observant Jews during Passover.
Maryland Department of Correction spokesman Rick Binetti wouldn't discuss the new policy, beyond saying the department would allow inmates to keep kosher for the coming Jewish holy day. (ap/wtop.com)

BONGS SEIZED
Israeli police say they have seized thousands of marijuana water pipes in a raid on a factory in northern Israel. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says police entered the building in Haifa this week and confiscated 15,000 bongs that were planned for distribution. He says the factory's 60-year-old owner was arrested. (AP/Richmond Times Dispatch)

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