Tag Archives: montgomery county

Adventures, All Politics is Local, Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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MoCo To Serve Booze On Sundays

Photo courtesy of
‘LIQUOR at Kenny’s and Kovak’s…’
courtesy of ‘ellievanhoutte’

Before today, if you were looking to buy booze on a Sunday, then Montgomery County was not your friend as it tightly controlled the 24 county-owned liquor stores and prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

Now in an executive order from County Executive Ike Leggett, that  should pass today and will be in place by the end of November, county-owned liquor stores will be able to open for business on Sundays. This six-month trial has some estimating that the county will pull in an additional $2 million a year . Skol!

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Will The Real Ferris Bueller Please Stand Up?

Photo courtesy of
‘old school’
courtesy of ‘bionicteaching’

It’s been 24 years since Matthew Broderick enlightened a nation of high school students regarding his wayward ways but it appears students enrolled at Churchill High in Montgomery Country are finally following in his footsteps.

The Washington Post announced today that police, prosecutors, and school officials are now examining a case where at least eight students allegedly used a USB device to steal teachers’ passwords and change 54 students grades.

The investigation is in the beginning stages at the moment, but school Principal Joan C. Benz confirmed that a criminal investigation ongoing.

What we DO know is an internal investigation of Churchill High proved that the grades of 54 students were altered during the Fall 2009 semester. Investigators have subpoenaed all records from the school system and have informed almost 700 families that their students’ grades are now in the hands of the state’s attorney’s office.

At this time, the school system does not know if the 54 students who had their grades changed knew that they had been.

The school is scheduled to hold a community meeting Monday evening at 7 to answer any questions.

Talkin' Transit, The Features, WMATA, WTF?!
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Talkin’ Transit: Same Old, Same Old

Photo courtesy of
‘Service Advisory’
courtesy of ‘MattHurst’

WMATA quietly announced last night it has lifted a long-standing ban on allowing independent safety monitors access to Metro tracks. Metro board Chairman Jim Graham met with WMATA higher-ups yesterday and it had some result, supposedly. Late Tuesday, WMATA officials said that the Tri-State Oversight Committee (TSOC TOC) does have the authority to carry out safety inspections and ensuring employees are complying with safety rules and regulations.

But once again, Metro fails to communicate. Eric Madison, chairman of the oversight committee, told the Washington Post that as of last night, no one from Metro had contacted him about removing the ban; he considers the ban still in place. The Metro press release appears contradictory to what the TSOC TOC has heard previously and didn’t contain any new information, so until WMATA provides the committee with a formal written agreement, they consider the ban still in effect. Madison told WaPo “[w]e want to get something in writing that lays out the specifics of how we access the right of way and that sort of thing. This has gone on long enough.”

We feel your pain, Mr. Madison. Continue reading →

Crime & Punishment, Talkin' Transit, Technology, The Features
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Talkin’ Transit: They’re Watching You

Photo courtesy of
‘Do You Slow for Speed Cameras?’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’

On Thursday, Big Brother is allowed to catch you speeding in Maryland. But will he really be watching?

The use of automated speed cameras becomes legal in Maryland tomorrow, but according to WaPo, few communities are jumping up to embrace it. Currently Gaithersburg, Chevy Chase Village, Takoma Park and Rockville employ the electronic devices – have been since 2006, since they went through the steps to use them. But some counties in the state have indicated they don’t plan on taking advantage of the new law.

The Maryland speed camera law was passed this past April. According to the law, before cameras can be used in other Maryland jurisdictions, the county or town council must hold a public hearing and give its approval. If the cameras are on federal or state highways, the approval of the State Highway Administration is required. Baltimore County has already authorized their use and several Prince George’s municipalities have started the process. (That would be Riverdale Heights, Berwyn Heights, New Carrollton, Bowie, District Heights and Cheverly, if you’re keeping track.)

Howard and Anne Arundel counties have no immediate plans but are taking initial steps to set aside money for possible programs. Continue reading →