Just a quick link-dump this morning of the news that’s fit to print.

Water Main in Bethesda Breaks

East-West Highway in Bethesda is a mess this morning, due to a water main that broke this morning. I’d stay far, far away as all that water’s quickly going to be ice all over the road in these frigid temperatures. Cross that part of Bethesda just east of the East-West Highway/Wisconsin Ave intersection off your list til tonight at the earliest.

Two Suffer Hypothermia as Car Goes Into a Pond

A car went off the road in Fairfax County last night and into a pond right in the heart of Chantilly. Fortunately, a passerby came to his rescue, and pulled him from the pond and summoned help. Neither suffered serious injury, but both are being treated for hypothermia.

Metro Appoints New Chief Safety Officer

Congratulatons to Ronald Keele, who will be taking over the Chief Safety Officer position at WMATA. His first campaign will be one of pedestrian safety, including a focus on including local authorities, including planning authorities, I suspect. With 20 years in safety, 14 of those in transit safety, Keele’s bio is pretty strong.

New $650K Needle Exchange Program for DC

After a decade-long ban imposed by Congress, the DC Government will spend $650,000 on a needle exchange program, designed to fight the ever-rising HIV/AIDS rate in the District. The plan is split into two funding schemes, one for Prevention Works! and one for a funding option to various programs. This will prove controversial outside of DC, but here, it’s clear we need to start taking more aggressive action against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

DC’s Gun Ban Defender Fired

As the Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments concerning the District’s controversial and far-reaching gun ban, the District has fired the attorney preparing their arguments and brief. Alan Morrison was part of the group that was preparing the brief to be filed at the Supreme Court tomorrow. Morrison had argued 16 cases in front of the nation’s highest bench, and reasons for his firing aren’t exactly clear at this point. Why you’d want to get rid of a veteran attorney moments before filing…I’m not quite sure. Morrison is saying that he was sacked without reason: “but I assume it is because I was seen as a Linda [Singer] loyalist.”

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs