The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
Macy's Cuts 7,000 Jobs, Slashes Dividend
Macy's (M) slashed about 7,000 jobs Monday, cut its quarterly dividend and said it would integrate all its divisions into a single unit as it expects the remainder of 2009 to remain very tough for retail. Macy's said the job cuts, which include some unfilled jobs, will come at offices, stores and other locations. The company currently employs about 180,000 people. (Reuters/Macy's)
National Parks Still Booming in Bad Economy
It's a lucrative industry, even in a bad economy: Civil War battlefields. A new Michigan State study shows people seeking out the past spent more than $247 million at 10 national parks within the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, a 175-mile stretch from Gettysburg to Charlottsville. It's estimated that every tax dollar spent on those parks generates $4 in visitor spending within a 50-mile radius of the community. (WTOP)
Lee's Birthday Celebration, Obama Inauguration Coincide
Change came to the streets of Alexandria for the inauguration of President Obama. The historic Virginia city has for years permitted the flying of Confederate flags on Jan. 19 to mark the birthday of Civil War general and home-state hero Robert E. Lee. But during the four days celebrating Mr. Obama - the country's first black president - no Stars and Bars were in sight. (Washington Times)
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Mauled Zoo Worker Released
Zookeeper Deborah Gregory left the hospital on Thursday, according to a spokeswoman at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The 32-year-old from Severn was released nearly two weeks after being attacked by a male jaguar named Diego at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo. The enclosure she was working in was not secured, the jaguar entered and Gregory sustained facial and upper body injuries. (Frederick News Post)
