The following stories are brought to you by the good people of the News4 assignment desk.
DON'T WORRY. IT'LL ALL BE OVER SOON.
More than 90% of economists predict the recession will end this year, although the recovery is likely to be bumpy.That assessment came from leading forecasters in a survey by the National Association for Business Economics released Wednesday. It is generally in line with the outlook from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues. About 74% of the forecasters expect the recession — which started in December 2007 and is the longest since World War II — to end in the third quarter. Another 19% predict the turning point will come in the final three months of this year, and the remaining 7% believe the recession will end in the first quarter of 2010. (USA Today)
BLAGO ABODE AVAILABLE
Housing Complex is reporting that disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, and his wife Patti, have put their two-bedroom, two-bath Dupont Circle condo on the market. The condo, listed for $570,000, is located at the Waterford building at 1736 18th Street NW (see map here). There are no photos available, but according to Housing Complex, the unit has hardwood floors, a balcony, a fireplace, and a “great flow.” (NBCWashington.com)
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE REFERENDUM FOR DC?
A group of ministers and same-sex marriage opponents filed a request today calling for a citywide referendum on whether the District should recognize gay marriages performed in other states. The group, Stand 4 Marriage, said it will begin collecting signatures to try to force the issue onto the ballot. Earlier this month, the City Council and Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) agreed to recognized gay marriages performed elsewhere. (Washington Post)
GRAHAM RIPS MD DRIVERS, AGAIN.
Is this going to become a yearly thing for Jim Graham? The Councilman (seemingly hell-bent on spending his recent free time to cultivate his already-prominent crotchety old man persona) is back at it again, this time in Courtland Milloy's Post column on the District's new traffic-control system. This time, Graham stops short of equating our neighbors to the north with the Prince of Darkness, but still believes that they are "the most reckless drivers, with some of the most outrageous driving habits." (DCist)
