The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
NASA: Nicks on Shuttle Don't Appear to be Serious
The Atlantis astronauts uncovered a 21-inch stretch of nicks on their space shuttle Tuesday, but NASA said the damage did not appear to be serious. The damage was likely the result of debris that came off the fuel tank shortly after liftoff Monday. The astronauts were inspecting their ship while racing to the Hubble Space Telescope when they came across the nicks spread over four to five thermal tiles, on the bottom of the shuttle where the right wing joins the fuselage. (Washington Post)
O'Malley Wants Feds' OK to Jam Cell Phone Signals in Prisons
In an effort to crack down on illegal cellular telephone calls behind bars, Gov. Martin O'Malley is seeking federal approval to conduct a jamming demonstration in a Maryland prison. Only the Federal Communications Commission can authorize such a request. The Communications Act of 1934 prevents state and local governments from blocking cell tower signals. (Gazette.net)
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
In Light of the Economy, Students Clamor for Federal Jobs
When senior Vanessa Morales began searching for a job a few months ago, the ever-worsening economy made her uneasy about going into the private sector. Instead, she started looking for a job with the federal government.
"A federal job is a lot more stable," said Morales, a criminal justice and Spanish language major. "Whereas a job in the private sector right now, with the way the economy has been going and the amount of jobs being lost, it's really unreliable." (The Diamondback)
16 Henrico Middle School Students Charged in Prescription Drug Case
Sixteen students from Byrd and Tuckahoe middle schools in Henrico County have been charged with distributing and/or possessing the prescription drug Adderall, a psychostimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Henrico police have brought a total of 32 charges against the 16 students stemming from the distribution of the drug on April 24 and April 30, said Henrico police Lt. Gary Watson. (Times Dispatch)
Motorist: 500-pound Moose 'Fell Out of the Sky'
Police said a 500-pound moose fell 18 feet to its death when it apparently leaped a guardrail on an Interstate 95 overpass and landed on Hinckley Road. Officials learned of the incident when a motorist called the town office shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday and told assistant town clerk Shirley Bailey that "a moose just fell out of the sky." Bailey said the driver, who was under the bridge when he spotted the falling moose, was "pretty excited about it." (WTOP/AP)
