Latest Archives (76)
WASHINGTON -- Some needy District of Columbia residents are about to start renovating apartment buildings that could end up serving as their new homes.
A dozen homeless or formerly homeless people will go to work Monday, July 18 on two dilapidated buildings in Southeast Washington. They've been trained in construction work through a pilot program called "Sweat Equity."
The program is intended to help recipients of district welfare benefits gain job skills. Reggie Sanders, a spokesman for the Department of Human Services, says the participants have received "comprehensive training in the construction trade." Two who've received the training have already found jobs.
The renovation process is expected to last about a year. Each building has 12 units, meaning each participant will have the option to move in if he or she chooses.
GREENBELT, MD -- A former Prince George's County fire department official is the latest person to face prison time as a result of a wide-ranging probe into corruption in the county.
Karl Granzow pleaded guilty in March to extortion conspiracy and tax evasion, and the plea was unsealed Monday. Federal prosecutors say he conspired with two developers to make illegal contributions to 10 political campaigns.
He also admitted bribing public officials in exchange for acts that benefited a development near the Greenbelt Metro station. Granzow's co-conspirators, developers Patrick Ricker and Daniel Colton, have also pleaded guilty. Their pleas were unsealed after former County Executive Jack Johnson pleaded guilty to corruption.
Federal sentencing guidelines call for Granzow to receive between 2 1/2 and three years in prison. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
WASHINGTON - The District of Columbia Office of Campaign Finance is investigating allegations that Mayor Vincent Gray's campaign illegally converted cash contributions into money orders.
The District has a $25 limit on cash donations. The Washington Post reported July 19 that Gray's campaign staffers converted an untold number of cash donations above $25 into money orders. The Post cited campaign finance records and interviews with donors.
The campaign finance office began a full audit of Gray's campaign committee in April amid allegations that the campaign gave cash to a minor candidate so he could stay in the race and bash then-Mayor Adrian Fenty.
A spokesman for the office says the auditors will examine the money-order allegations.
Gray says in a statement that "if mistakes were made, the campaign should be held accountable."
Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells is poised to introduce a bill that would prevent legalized online gambling from coming to the District.
According to Wells, a provision which was slipped into the budget bill late last year by At-large Councilman Michael Brown, failed to get a full public hearing.
Wells will attempt to repeal the controversial provision after the City Council returns from its summer break.
While there have been concerns that online gambling will be supported by people who can least afford to play, D.C. Lottery officials claim the intention is to target tourists amateurs. They also believe online gamblers will have above-average incomes.
So far, lottery officials have delayed plans to implement online gambling.
However, in the event the measure passes, the District would be the first jurisdiction in the country to offer Internet gambling -- which would include online poker, black jack and slot machines.
Washington -- The District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) Vehicle Inspection Station will operate on special hours beginning July 21 due to the excessive heat forecasted for the District. The special hours for the inspection station will be from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"The safety of our employees and customers is a top priority," said Lucinda Babers, director of the Department of Motor Vehicles. "With the extreme heat expected later this week, it is important we plan for the adjustment now to notify the public in advance."
The special hours will remain in effect July 21-23. Customers with scheduled appointments after 12:45 p.m. on these days must reschedule online. During prolonged excessive heat, citizens should limit any outdoor activities, particularly those involving children and the elderly; avoid mowing lawns and limit driving.
WASHINGTON - Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells recently received news that the Office of Tax and Revenue has agreed to his request to postpone the tax sale of several buildings on H Street N.E. that house small businesses.
"Businesses like George's Place and Mason's Barber Shop are long-time businesses on H Street NE and institutions on this corridor," Wells said in a statement. "There's no doubt the long construction schedule hurt their business and the extra time and relief fund are needed to assist these stores and protect the historic fabric that makes up the H St NE corridor."
The move will provide additional time to resolve tax issues and give the Streetscape Relief Fund a chance to offer assistance to help these businesses. It was also noted that properties on the tax sale deemed vacant, blighted, or vacant lots were not postponed.
The City Council has approved the final budget pieces needed to start the Streetscape Relief Fund created last year for small businesses negatively impacted by long street construction projects. The streetscape relief fund will make approximately $723,000 available to small businesses for assistance. The Mayor's office will be implementing and administering the relief effort.
WASHINGTON, DC — Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C. Department of Health (DOH) officials recently released the District's first Emergency Medical Services report, Moving EMS Forward 2010.
EMS providers play an integral role in addressing emergency health concerns in the community. The District's EMS infrastructure is an intricate system composed of trained professionals, transportation and communications networks, hospitals, trauma centers and specialty-care centers working in coordinated partnership to provide high-quality pre-hospital medical care to District residents.
Moving EMS Forward provides an overview of EMS and ambulance services in the District and details the various strides made toward improving continuing education standards, establishing a new District Scope of Practice Policy and adopting important quality-improvement measures through legislation, regulation and policy change. Report highlights include:
• The District consistently exceeded the national pass rate for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exam.
• The national average for the first attempt at passage of this exam is 68 percent. The District surpassed the national rate with a 77 percent pass rate and continues to score high marks into 2011.
• In November of 2010, the District became the first jurisdiction to officially adopt the National EMS Scope of Practice for all EMS providers.
• By adopting new Scope of Practice policy, the District is now able to provide four EMS provider levels in accordance with the national model, which includes the Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced EMT and Paramedic.
Former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson will be able to keep his $49,500 annual pension, but to deter other elected officials who commit crimes while in office from reaping benefits at the expense of taxpayers, Maryland State Delegate Ron George is introducing legislation to reform Maryland's pension laws.
George said during a recent interview that the state's law is not clear regarding ongoing benefits for officials convicted of crimes.
"But what's happening is we have people who figure they are going to be found guilty, they resign, or, after they're out of office they get indicted and it's for a crime they did while in office, but they're still able to get their pension," George told 9NewsNow. He also questioned the logic in paying retirement and pension benefits the rest of their life to someone who blatantly indulged in criminal activity.
"I'm submitting a bill, legislation that will say that if you committed a crime while in office, even if you're found guilty afterwards, you're not convicted 'til afterwards, you lose the benefits that came with that office," George was further qouted as saying. "You've abused your oath of office basically is what it is saying. You do not benefit from it."
Johnson, who pleaded guilty this spring to pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a pay to play scheme while in office, is only able to keep his retirement package because he was convicted after his term expired late last year.
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker along with Maryland Lt. Gov Anthony Brown and others, have announced an historic partnership aimed at saving the county's hospital system. Overall, by establishing a stronger, more stabilized health care system, officials also hope to eventually create a state of the art trauma center.
In the coming months, the agreement with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and the University System of Maryland (USM) will work with Dimensions Health Care as well as state and county health officials on a plan that specifically calls for improving existing health services, increasing access to primary care, and enhancing the county's health infrastructure.
According to Baker's office, a 2009 Rand report on health care in Prince George's County found that residents are more likely to be uninsured and have higher mortality rates than neighboring Maryland jurisdictions. The study also concluded that the county lacks sufficient numbers of primary care physicians and safety net providers.
"Access to quality health care is one of the most valuable services government can provide to its citizens," Baker said during the July 21 announcement. "Today's announcement is a pivotal moment to improve not just the quality of health care for County residents, but their quality of life."
Brown explained that the agreement comprises three major parts where all parties involved will have opportunities for input before deciding whether to proceed to the next stage.
"Number one is to work together to agree upon identifying the proper scale or size of the regional medical center and the related health service center," said Brown, adding that "every party needs to agree that this is the right fit, this is the right size."
He said that once that agreement is reached, the parties move on to step two which entails delving deeper into detail surroundng costs to bring the vision to fruition. Brown said that while it's been "floated around" that it would take some $600 million, it would still have to be determined who would shoulder responsibility for the money.
The third step, which could occur 12 to 18 months from now, centers around site selection and formally applying for state approval to develop a new hospital, Brown said.
Thomas has admitted no wrongdoing./Courtesy Photo
Embattled Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr. has agreed to repay $300,000 to the District in exchange for the city dropping a $1 million law suit against him.
The agreement that was made in a plea deal with D.C. attorney general, Irvin Nathan, calls for Thomas to pay back the money that was intended for a youth sports program over a two-year period. He has reportedly made an initial payment and arranged to pay the remaining funds in five increments of $50,000.
The deal also requires Thomas – who is restricted from soliciting charitable donations in D.C. through 2016, except for his constituency fund – to donate $50,000 worth of sporting goods and equipment to Little League Baseball.
Thomas, 52, has been a member of the City Council since 2007.
Although he admitted no wrongdoing, he reportedly used the missing money to pay for personal items and expenses, including a $58,000 Audi sports SUV, trips to Las Vegas and golf outings. Last month, in the wake of the civil action taken against him in D.C. Superior Court, Thomas stepped down from chairmanship of the Committee on Economic Development.
"Bringing and prosecuting this action demonstrates our commitment to pursue anyone, no matter his or her station or influence, who would deprive the city of its precious resources or who would use his or her position of trust and influence to obtain District of Columbia funds for personal gain," according to a statement from Nathan.
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