The following stories are brought to you by the fine folks on the News4 assignment desk.
METRO CUTS COMING
Ready or not, Metro service reductions are coming!
On Thursday Metro GM John Catoe presented a preliminary plan to the Board of Directors outlying how the transit system is going to fill a $40 million budget gap, which it blames on the economy and lower ridership. The Board of Directors will meet on Jan. 7 to discuss the plan.
The two big takeaways: there will be $4.4 million in service reductions, and another $10 million in preventative maintenance will be deferred. (NBC Washington)
BIG SNOW STORM THIS WEEKEND. SERIOUSLY.
Planning on doing some last-minute shopping this weekend?
A developing storm could bring substantial snow to the D.C. area on Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from late Friday night until late Saturday night. (WTOP)
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
DUDE, THEY'RE PUTTING POT IN MORE THAN BROWNIES
Any slacker living over his parents' garage can make pot brownies. Gourmet chefs are taking the art of cooking with marijuana to a higher level.
In Denver, a new medical-marijuana shop called Ganja Gourmet serves cannabis-infused specialties such as pizza, hummus and lasagna. Across town in the Mile-High City, a Caribbean restaurant plans to offer classes on how to make multi-course meals with pot in every dish. And in Southern California, a low-budget TV show called "Cannabis Planet" has won fans with a cooking segment showing viewers how to use weed in teriyaki chicken, shrimp capellini and steak sandwiches. (AP/myway.com)
BOY, 4, CAUGHT DRINKING BEER, WEARING A DRESS
Tennessee investigators say a 4-year-old boy was found roaming his neighborhood in the night, drinking beer and wearing a little girl's dress taken from under a neighbor's Christmas tree.
The child's mother, 21-year-old April Wright, told WTVC-TV that the boy "wants to go to jail because that's where his daddy is." (MSNBC)