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Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry will run for office again in 2012./Courtesy PhotoWard 8 Council member Marion Barry has officially declared his bid for re-election in 2012.
In a statement released Tuesday (Nov. 29), Barry, 75, said he had filed his candidacy with the Office of Campaign Finance, and that as veteran public servant -- of more than 30 years -- he remains committed to "bringing hope, resources and a big vision" to D.C. residents.
Said Barry:
"In these 31 years of public service, my work has touched every citizen, directly or indirectly, in the District of Columbia in a positive way. At my campaign kickoff, which should be early next year, I will discuss my continued vision for Ward 8.
National Harbor/Courtesy PhotoOXON HILL, MD — Walt Disney Co. has scrapped plans for a 500-room resort hotel at the National Harbor development in Prince George's County.
Disney in 2009 announced the purchase of 11 acres for the planned hotel, but a spokeswoman said the timing for the project is not right.
County officials expected the company to serve as a critical component of the sprawling retail, residential, office and hotel complex.
A federal search in conjunction with a D.C. attorney general investigation has been launched on the home of Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr.
According to reports early on Dec. 2, agents from the Washington Field Office of the FBI were conducting a law enforcement operation at the home, located in an upscale section of Northeast.
The search began around 8 a.m. and was ongoing at midday, with no arrests having been made. Reports also state that as of Friday, there had been no search of Thomas' office.
Thomas has been under investigation since the District's attorney general filed a lawsuit several months ago surrounding some $300,000 in city funds that was allegedly spent on a luxury SUV, vacations and other personal expenses.
Former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson will be sentenced Tuesday (Dec.6).
Johnson, 63, along with his wife, former County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, was arrested in a November 2010 raid on their home in Mitchellville. Md.
The raid, which was conducted by the FBI, was the result of a years-long investigation of Jack Johnson in connection with a pay-to-play scheme in which he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in return for political favors. Johnson, a former county prosecutor, pleaded guilty this past spring to conspiracy, extortion and witness evidence tampering.
According to the sentencing document, Johnson who served as county executive eight years -- from 2002 to the end of his term in 2010 -- was convicted of "one of the most egregious and notorious instances of corruption and obstruction of justice in Maryland history."
Leslie Johnson,59, who had stuffed nearly $80,000 in her underwear at the time of her arrest, also faces sentencing this week for conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering.
OXON HILL, MD - Maryland Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-4th District) announced her bid for re-election this past weekend during her annual holiday party. In remarks where the 53-year-old legislator was surrounded by long-time friends and supporters, she highlighted the need to continue focusing on job creation, hold CEOs accountable, protect Social Security and Medicare from Republican cuts, and increase college loans for working families.
"I look forward to continuing to work and fight every single day for the residents of Maryland's 4th Congressional District," said Edwards. "Since being elected, I am proud to have held insurance companies accountable, defended Social Security and Medicare, secured $38 million for our district to invest in job creation, and ensured that millions of Maryland students receive after-school suppers," she continued. "But there is a lot more work to be done. I will continue to advocate for strong proposals to create jobs, invest in our nation's infrastructure, protect our environment and the Chesapeake Bay, and give our children the education they need to compete in a 21st Century, global economy."
A unique book event is slated for 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9 at Trinity Episcopal Church. Mayor Vincent C. Gray is the honorary chairman of this event in which a book signing will be held to raise resources to support The Young Men of Trinity.
This organization, sponsored by The Men of Trinity, promotes the spiritual formation and social development of teenage boys at Trinity and in the Takoma community. The event will focus on Muzzled: The Assault on Honest Debate," by the prize winning Washington journalist, Juan Williams.
Williams, a communicant at Trinity, was formerly was a member of its vestry and now serves on the Board of Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Foundation (The Washington National Cathedral).
In his new book, Williams maintains that his contract with National Public Radio (NPR) was terminated as part of a larger pattern of suppression of unwelcome opinions.
The following categories of support are available: SPONSOR: $500, PATRON: $250, SUPPORTER: $100. and PARTCIPANT: $100. A reception will be held at 6 p.m. in The Trinity Room for persons in the aforementioned categories. Guests will meet the author, get a photograph with him and a signed copy of the book.
A copy of the book will only be available at a charge of $25 during the 7 p.m. discussion that will be held for the public in Trinity's Parish Hall.
Contributions exceeding $30 may be deducted as a charitable gift and checks should be made payable to Trinity Episcopal Church with the notation of Men of Trinity in the memo section. For further information, please call 202.548.0830.
Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes (center) was awarded the D.C. Laymen of the Progressive National Baptist Convention's (PNBC) President's Award, Dec. 3 at the 39th Annual Fellowship Night Service. The award acknowledged Barnes for "being a voice and a light in the community and serving tirelessly with integrity." Also pictured here are, from left, Deacon Percy Jones, President, DC Layman; Rev. Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Sr., President Baptist Convention of D.C. and Vicinity; Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, Sr., President, PNBC; Barnes; Ben Johnson, Community Service awardee, and Rev. Louis B. Jones, vice president at-large, PNBC, at the ceremony held at Brooklyn Union Baptist Church in Northeast. /Photo by Roy Lewis
Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the District of Columbia have signed a partner pledge to become a participant in the Better Buildings Challenge, a national energy-efficiency-leadership initiative proposed by President Barack Obama to make commercial buildings 20 percent more energy-efficient by 2020.
The pledge was signed on Dec. 2, and according to the following statement from Mayor Gray’s communications office, the endeavor will make D.C. a more competitive city.
“I’m tremendously excited that the District of Columbia is a partner in the Better Buildings Challenge,” said Gray. “Incorporating this national challenge into our local Sustainable DC Initiative will advance our efforts to make the District a more competitive city and better place to live, work and play.”
Members of the D.C. City Council are considering asking their embattled peer, Harry Thomas Jr., to give up his duties representing Ward 5 while federal authorities continue investigating allegations that he used public money for personal gain.
During a Dec. 5 closed-door meeting called by Chairman Kwame Brown, the Council discussed getting Thomas to take a paid leave of absence, according to reports. Whether Thomas would cooperate remains to be seen.
Thomas' house in an upscale section of Northeast was raided by FBI agents on Dec. 2. No one was arrested but sources have said in reports that following such raids, an arrest could follow.
Meanwhile, the Council is scheduled to vote today (Dec. 6) on an ethics bill that among other reforms, would make it mandatory for a mayor or council member to step down if convicted of a felony.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee is seeking nominations for the Humanitarian Award and the Children of the Dream Awards to be presented at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Mon., Jan. 16, 2012. All winners and honorable mentions will be acknowledged during the ceremony to be held at Strathmore Music Center, 5301 Tuckerman La., North Bethesda.
Nominations must be received by Fri., Dec. 9.
Humanitarian Award applications must provide a short narrative explaining the nominee's contributions to Montgomery County residents including: the community-based or civic activities for which the nominee is being recognized; whether or not the nominee is paid for the activities listed above; the specific period of time the nominee has been involved in these activities, and other contributions of a humanitarian nature made by the person to the community.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Washington, D.C. branch NAACP will host its Annual Meeting and
Holiday Party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 9 at the NAACP Financial Freedom Center, 1816 12th St. in Northwest.
During the event, the D.C. organization will present its annual report, which summarizes the branch's activities and accomplishments for the year. In 2011, the branch focused primarily on entrepreneurship, health and wellness, public education and securing D.C. voting rights.
The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) has selected Scott Pearson to serve as the organization's new Executive Director. Pearson, a District resident, brings impressive credentials to the position. He co-founded a charter management organization in San Francisco that serves low-income high school students throughout the Bay Area and, most recently, oversaw charter school programs at the U.S. Department of Education. His first day at the Board will be January 9, 2012.
"This was a very important decision for the Board, and I am confident that we have picked the right person for the job" said PCSB Chair Brian W. Jones. "Scott Pearson brings a unique breadth of experience to this position. He has a multifaceted perspective that has been shaped by his work in the public and private sectors, and at both the local and federal levels and he is committed to helping DC charter schools thrive," Jones said.
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