 | Wednesday, March 16, 2011 |
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Latest nuclear plant explosion in Japan raises radiation fears
Japan attempted to use helicopters to douse a leaking nuclear plant with water Wednesday afternoon, the latest desperate attempt to cool overheated materials that are emitting potentially lethal radioactive steam from the earthquake-damaged facility. But the operation was deemed too dangerous and aborted.
(By Brian Vastag and Rick Maese)
Death toll rises, stocks plunge, foreigners flee as nuclear crisis escalates
Torn up and terrified by a disaster that keeps on getting worse, Japan has been transformed from one of the world’s most comfortable countries into one of its most distressed.
(By Chico Harlan)
In Onagawa, JapanÂ’s tsunami destroys community
More than half the population is missing in Onagawa, Japan, a picturesque seaside town whose surrounding hills funneled waters into a wave that rose nearly 100 feet high.
(By Andrew Higgins)
GaddafiÂ’s forces mount heavy assault on town
Forces loyal to the Libyan leader launch a major assault on a strategic eastern city.
(By Sudarsan Raghavan)
Panel urges TSA to implement ‘trusted travelers’ program
Treating every airport passenger as a potential terrorist threat slows the security system, according to a report that recommends ways to ease bottlenecks at security checkpoints.
(By Ashley Halsey III)
NATION
METRO
A veteran, a generation, laid to rest
The last of nearly 5 million American veterans of World War I, Frank Woodruff Buckles, 110, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
( by Paul Duggan , The Washington Post)
‘Trusted traveler’: The answer to TSA bottlenecks?
( by Ashley Halsey III , The Washington Post)
Double payments outlined
Developers of a west Germantown subdivision were reimbursed twice by local government agencies, collecting more than $6 million on a project that cost them about $3 million.
( by Miranda S. Spivack , The Washington Post)
Md. teen wins ‘Jeopardy!,’ then can’t answer questions
Raynell Cooper was the big winner in the “Jeopardy!” Teen Tournament. Then he had to keep quiet about it.
(, The Washington Post)
Calvert Cliffs neighbors can take some comfort
Many southern Maryland residents take comfort in knowing that Solomons Island doesn’t sit on a faultline the size of the San Andreas, and the Chesapeake Bay has more Atlantic sturgeon than it does tsunamis.
( by Annys Shin , The Washington Post)
POLITICS
Double payments outlined
Developers of a west Germantown subdivision were reimbursed twice by local government agencies, collecting more than $6 million on a project that cost them about $3 million.
( by Miranda S. Spivack , The Washington Post)
Exclusive: FBI chief candidates emerge
In a letter sent Monday to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., the FBI Agents Association recommended a longtime FBI agent and supervisor who is now security chief for Verizon Communications.
( by Jerry Markon Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
House approves sixth stopgap budget bill
The Senate is expected to pass the measure, which funds the government through April 8.
( by Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)
Palin’s ratings among Republicans sliding
Sarah Palin’s ratings within the GOP are slumping, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll — a potentially troubling sign for the former Alaska governor as she weighs whether to enter the 2012 presidential race.
( EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT MIDNIGHT by Chris Cillizza and Jon Cohen , The Washington Post)
Showdown on school funding
Maryland State Education Association says it has “drawn a line in the sand” on budget cuts.
( by Aaron C. Davis , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Seeing tragedy, through camera’s double lens
The immediate visions of horror following the earthquake and tsunami and the static, faraway image of a nuclear power plant suggest a powerful contrast between physical forms of danger and fear of the unknown, which resonate all the more profoundly because of the role of the atom bomb in Japan’s past.
( by Philip Kennicott , The Washington Post)
Maryland House subcommittees go to work on Gov. O'Malley's budget proposal
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland lawmakers will be making proposed changes to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget plan.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
When it’s the Obamas, restaurants scramble
How and when does restaurant management learn that FLOTUS and/or POTUS are coming? Do they order off the menu?
( by David Hagedorn Special to The Washington Post , The Washington Post)
Hints From Heloise for March 16
(, The Washington Post)
Ask Amy for March 16
(, Tribune Media Service)
SPORTS
Chris Wright practices hard, expects to play
Georgetown senior’s recovery from a broken hand continues as Hoyas prepare for NCAA tournament opening against either USC or VCU.
( by Tarik El-Bashir , The Washington Post)
Wizards lose despite McGee
The Wizards get a first career triple-double out of JaVale McGee and stay close for awhile before falling to the Bulls in Chicago for their fifth loss in a row.
( by Michael Lee Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
Glove story
Chris Marrero has always had the bat, and now he’s made himself an adequate defensive first baseman.
( by Adam Kilgore Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
International gymnastics officials to punish Chinese judge who altered score at Asian Games
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — International gymnastics officials say they will discipline a Chinese judge who was caught falsifying a score during last fall’s Asian Games.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
Navy beats Towson in lacrosse
Junior faceoff specialist Logan West and senior midfielder Andy Warner lead the Navy Midshipmen to a 14-11 victory over Towson in men’s lacrosse.
( by Christian Swezey Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
WORLD
CIA contractor leaves Pakistani prison after 'blood money' deal, officials say
LAHORE, Pakistan — An American CIA contractor detained on suspicion of murder was released on Wednesday after families of the two Pakistanis he killed were given “blood money” and the case was dropped, Pakistani officials said.
( by Associated Press , AP)
No presents please! Royal couple asks for charitable gifts in lieu of presents
LONDON — Royal officials say Prince William and Kate Middleton are asking for charitable donations in lieu of wedding gifts to celebrate their April 29 marriage.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
Thailand to distribute anti-radiation pills to travelers to Japan
BANGKOK — Thai authorities say they will distribute medicine to citizens traveling to Japan to protect against radiation from damaged nuclear power plants.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
Italy's Berlusconi defends himself, saying he's too old to have all the sex he is accused of
ROME — Premier Silvio Berlusconi has sat down with the enemy, telling an opposition newspaper that he is too old to have had all the sexual encounters he is accused of by Italian prosecutors.
( by ALESSANDRA RIZZO Associated Press , AP)
Jail official says CIA contractor freed from Pakistani prison after murder case dropped
LAHORE, Pakistan — Jail official says CIA contractor freed from Pakistani prison after murder case dropped.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
TECHNOLOGY
EDITORIAL
The best high school TV series
The results are in. My attempt to pick the five best high school TV series of all time inspired many reader suggestions, some good, some awful. Here is what I decided.
(, The Washington Post)
The problems with Rhee’s successor
The new permanent chancellor of D.C. schools is going to be Kaya Henderson, and this, to her supporters, is a great thing because she is, as they say, Michelle Rhee without Michelle Rhee. Maybe not.
(, The Washington Post)
Lego contests put students on a mission
A small but growing number of predominantly African American student groups are coming to Lego robotics competitions.
( by Kevin Sieff , The Washington Post)
Jay Mathews on a family that doesn’t live by the numbers
The Demarees of Bethesda seem to be a normal American family, but wait. They didn’t tell their children what their SAT scores were? They didn’t do test prep? They didn’t hire tutors? Could they have the answer to America’s obsession with college admission?
( by Jay Mathews Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
Computer classes focus on handy apps instead of dense code
At Virginia Tech, faculty members are looking for ways to make computer science more relevant and engaging to a generation of college students who do not know life without the Internet. A shift in teaching style often comes from necessity, as most computer science programs struggle to recruit, retain and graduate enough majors to keep up with demand.
( by Jenna Johnson Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
Latest nuclear plant explosion in Japan raises radiation fears
Japan attempted to use helicopters to douse a leaking nuclear plant with water Wednesday afternoon, the latest desperate attempt to cool overheated materials that are emitting potentially lethal radioactive steam from the earthquake-damaged facility. But the operation was deemed too dangerous and aborted.
(By Brian Vastag and Rick Maese)
Death toll rises, stocks plunge, foreigners flee as nuclear crisis escalates
Torn up and terrified by a disaster that keeps on getting worse, Japan has been transformed from one of the world’s most comfortable countries into one of its most distressed.
(By Chico Harlan)
In Onagawa, JapanÂ’s tsunami destroys community
More than half the population is missing in Onagawa, Japan, a picturesque seaside town whose surrounding hills funneled waters into a wave that rose nearly 100 feet high.
(By Andrew Higgins)
GaddafiÂ’s forces mount heavy assault on town
Forces loyal to the Libyan leader launch a major assault on a strategic eastern city.
(By Sudarsan Raghavan)
Panel urges TSA to implement ‘trusted travelers’ program
Treating every airport passenger as a potential terrorist threat slows the security system, according to a report that recommends ways to ease bottlenecks at security checkpoints.
(By Ashley Halsey III)
NATION
METRO
A veteran, a generation, laid to rest
The last of nearly 5 million American veterans of World War I, Frank Woodruff Buckles, 110, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
( by Paul Duggan , The Washington Post)
‘Trusted traveler’: The answer to TSA bottlenecks?
( by Ashley Halsey III , The Washington Post)
Double payments outlined
Developers of a west Germantown subdivision were reimbursed twice by local government agencies, collecting more than $6 million on a project that cost them about $3 million.
( by Miranda S. Spivack , The Washington Post)
Md. teen wins ‘Jeopardy!,’ then can’t answer questions
Raynell Cooper was the big winner in the “Jeopardy!” Teen Tournament. Then he had to keep quiet about it.
(, The Washington Post)
Calvert Cliffs neighbors can take some comfort
Many southern Maryland residents take comfort in knowing that Solomons Island doesn’t sit on a faultline the size of the San Andreas, and the Chesapeake Bay has more Atlantic sturgeon than it does tsunamis.
( by Annys Shin , The Washington Post)
POLITICS
Double payments outlined
Developers of a west Germantown subdivision were reimbursed twice by local government agencies, collecting more than $6 million on a project that cost them about $3 million.
( by Miranda S. Spivack , The Washington Post)
Exclusive: FBI chief candidates emerge
In a letter sent Monday to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., the FBI Agents Association recommended a longtime FBI agent and supervisor who is now security chief for Verizon Communications.
( by Jerry Markon Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
House approves sixth stopgap budget bill
The Senate is expected to pass the measure, which funds the government through April 8.
( by Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)
Palin’s ratings among Republicans sliding
Sarah Palin’s ratings within the GOP are slumping, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll — a potentially troubling sign for the former Alaska governor as she weighs whether to enter the 2012 presidential race.
( EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT MIDNIGHT by Chris Cillizza and Jon Cohen , The Washington Post)
Showdown on school funding
Maryland State Education Association says it has “drawn a line in the sand” on budget cuts.
( by Aaron C. Davis , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Seeing tragedy, through camera’s double lens
The immediate visions of horror following the earthquake and tsunami and the static, faraway image of a nuclear power plant suggest a powerful contrast between physical forms of danger and fear of the unknown, which resonate all the more profoundly because of the role of the atom bomb in Japan’s past.
( by Philip Kennicott , The Washington Post)
Maryland House subcommittees go to work on Gov. O'Malley's budget proposal
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland lawmakers will be making proposed changes to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget plan.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
When it’s the Obamas, restaurants scramble
How and when does restaurant management learn that FLOTUS and/or POTUS are coming? Do they order off the menu?
( by David Hagedorn Special to The Washington Post , The Washington Post)
Hints From Heloise for March 16
(, The Washington Post)
Ask Amy for March 16
(, Tribune Media Service)
SPORTS
Chris Wright practices hard, expects to play
Georgetown senior’s recovery from a broken hand continues as Hoyas prepare for NCAA tournament opening against either USC or VCU.
( by Tarik El-Bashir , The Washington Post)
Wizards lose despite McGee
The Wizards get a first career triple-double out of JaVale McGee and stay close for awhile before falling to the Bulls in Chicago for their fifth loss in a row.
( by Michael Lee Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
Glove story
Chris Marrero has always had the bat, and now he’s made himself an adequate defensive first baseman.
( by Adam Kilgore Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
International gymnastics officials to punish Chinese judge who altered score at Asian Games
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — International gymnastics officials say they will discipline a Chinese judge who was caught falsifying a score during last fall’s Asian Games.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
Navy beats Towson in lacrosse
Junior faceoff specialist Logan West and senior midfielder Andy Warner lead the Navy Midshipmen to a 14-11 victory over Towson in men’s lacrosse.
( by Christian Swezey Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
WORLD
CIA contractor leaves Pakistani prison after 'blood money' deal, officials say
LAHORE, Pakistan — An American CIA contractor detained on suspicion of murder was released on Wednesday after families of the two Pakistanis he killed were given “blood money” and the case was dropped, Pakistani officials said.
( by Associated Press , AP)
No presents please! Royal couple asks for charitable gifts in lieu of presents
LONDON — Royal officials say Prince William and Kate Middleton are asking for charitable donations in lieu of wedding gifts to celebrate their April 29 marriage.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
Thailand to distribute anti-radiation pills to travelers to Japan
BANGKOK — Thai authorities say they will distribute medicine to citizens traveling to Japan to protect against radiation from damaged nuclear power plants.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
Italy's Berlusconi defends himself, saying he's too old to have all the sex he is accused of
ROME — Premier Silvio Berlusconi has sat down with the enemy, telling an opposition newspaper that he is too old to have had all the sexual encounters he is accused of by Italian prosecutors.
( by ALESSANDRA RIZZO Associated Press , AP)
Jail official says CIA contractor freed from Pakistani prison after murder case dropped
LAHORE, Pakistan — Jail official says CIA contractor freed from Pakistani prison after murder case dropped.
( by The Associated Press The Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
TECHNOLOGY
EDITORIAL
The best high school TV series
The results are in. My attempt to pick the five best high school TV series of all time inspired many reader suggestions, some good, some awful. Here is what I decided.
(, The Washington Post)
The problems with Rhee’s successor
The new permanent chancellor of D.C. schools is going to be Kaya Henderson, and this, to her supporters, is a great thing because she is, as they say, Michelle Rhee without Michelle Rhee. Maybe not.
(, The Washington Post)
Lego contests put students on a mission
A small but growing number of predominantly African American student groups are coming to Lego robotics competitions.
( by Kevin Sieff , The Washington Post)
Jay Mathews on a family that doesn’t live by the numbers
The Demarees of Bethesda seem to be a normal American family, but wait. They didn’t tell their children what their SAT scores were? They didn’t do test prep? They didn’t hire tutors? Could they have the answer to America’s obsession with college admission?
( by Jay Mathews Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
Computer classes focus on handy apps instead of dense code
At Virginia Tech, faculty members are looking for ways to make computer science more relevant and engaging to a generation of college students who do not know life without the Internet. A shift in teaching style often comes from necessity, as most computer science programs struggle to recruit, retain and graduate enough majors to keep up with demand.
( by Jenna Johnson Washington Post Staff Writer , The Washington Post)
