The Night Note: 02/24/09

News you need to know

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

Dems Rip Into Hard-Partying Bailed-Out Bank

Eighteen Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee are lambasting Northern Trust bank, a recipient of more than $1.5 billion in federal bailout money, for spending money on a series of lavish events and perks. Lawmakers want the bank to return money after gossip site TMZ captured photos and video of events last week that coincided with the PGA Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. (The Hill)

Source: Dale City Medic Died of Enlarged Heart

Sources who have seen the final report on the death of Dale City medic and firefighter trainee Cecilia Turnbough say she died from an enlarged heart. The report will call for improvements in health screenings for volunteer firefighters, sources say. Prince William Fire Chief Kevin McGee called for a full investigation after the 44-year-old mother of three collapsed during a training exercise on Nov. 9. (InsideNoVa.com)

Senate Passes Key Vote on D.C. Voting

Senate passed a key preliminary vote Tuesday morning for the District to get full voting rights in Congress. Senators voted 62-34 to take up the legislation. A final Senate vote to approve the legislation could come as early as Tuesday afternoon.The legislation failed on a similar vote last year, though it passed in the House.  (Washington Times)

Leaders Discuss New Ways of Crossing the Bay

If you're one of the thousands of people in the Washington area who head to the beach on summer weekends, imagine this: Traffic backups that stretch from the District to the Bay Bridge. Maryland State Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R) delivered that visual to state transportation leaders Tuesday. He called on lawmakers to approve Senate Bill 476, which would set up an environmental impact study for a third span of the Bay Bridge.  (WTOP)

House Passes Turn-Signal Bill

It wasn't an aggressive driver cutting him off on the Beltway but a network news report that led Del. Brian J. Feldman to introduce a bill to require drivers to signal when changing lanes. The NBC Nightly News report said that while most states require drivers to use a turn signal when changing lanes, Maryland does not, said Feldman (D-Dist. 15) of Potomac. On Friday, the House of Delegates voted 107-26 in favor of Feldman's bill to change that. (Gazette.net)

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