Morning, Washington. Don’t forget to grab an umbrella on the way out the door this morning, since Capital Weather Gang says showers are expected to continue through today—albeit not as heavy as the storms that brought on flash flood warnings yesterday.
Bachmann Wins Straw Poll, Pawlenty Drops Out: This weekend the GOP presidential primary race dominated political news. Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann took first place in Saturday’s Iowa straw poll of presidential candidates, with libertarian figurehead Texas Representative Ron Paul coming in second. Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, took third in the poll—then dropped out of the race on Sunday. Goodbye, T-Paw. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Rick Perry made an announcement this weekend that he’s running for presdient.
DC Slutwalk Takes Place: DC activists joined cities around the world in a protest known as a SlutWalk, which seeks to raise awareness about sexual assault. The provocative title is intended to protest commentary that they say blames victims by discussing what women were wearing when they were sexually assaulted. The Washington Post quoted one protester, Andrea Bredbeck, who addressed the crowed Saturday afternoon, saying, “No matter what your gender, what you wear, you are never responsible for being assaulted.”
Death of Local Columnist Ruled a Homicide: A 91-year-old Washington Times columnist, Viola Herms Drath, was found dead in her Georgetown home Friday morning. Police said Sunday they determined her death has been ruled a homicide and that they are still investigating.
Maryland Begins Sales Tax-Free Week:NBC4 reports that in Maryland this week, shoppers can save themselves from paying the state’s 6 percent sales tax on all items under $100. The sales tax holiday is intended to boost retail sales, which are expected to increase as much as 10 percent this week.
Virginia School District Bans Sherlock Holmes for Anti-Mormon Sentiments: The Ablemarle County School District voted Thursday to ban a Sherlock Holmes book, A Study in Scarlet, from its sixth-grade reading lists because it is “age-inappropriate.” But a Los Angeles Times report says the reason the school board ruled it such was because of the way the book portrays Mormonism. The Atlantic Wire has a good summary of the controversy if you’re unfamiliar with the text.
Historic DC Buildings Face Challenges:Liz Farmer at the Washington Examiner looks at historic buildings in DC and the challenges they face. She examines the Franklin School in Northwest, a unique building that has struggled to find a use since the city’s school system moved its administrative headquarters from it in 1971. “It’s tough to find new uses for unique buildings,” Farmer writes. “But today, ones that are saved may wait years for their revival.”
Bachmann Wins GOP Straw Poll, Pawlenty Drops Out and Perry Steps In; DC SlutWalk Takes Place: Morning Links
Must-reads from around Washington
Morning, Washington. Don’t forget to grab an umbrella on the way out the door this morning, since Capital Weather Gang says showers are expected to continue through today—albeit not as heavy as the storms that brought on flash flood warnings yesterday.
Bachmann Wins Straw Poll, Pawlenty Drops Out: This weekend the GOP presidential primary race dominated political news. Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann took first place in Saturday’s Iowa straw poll of presidential candidates, with libertarian figurehead Texas Representative Ron Paul coming in second. Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, took third in the poll—then dropped out of the race on Sunday. Goodbye, T-Paw. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Rick Perry made an announcement this weekend that he’s running for presdient.
DC Slutwalk Takes Place: DC activists joined cities around the world in a protest known as a SlutWalk, which seeks to raise awareness about sexual assault. The provocative title is intended to protest commentary that they say blames victims by discussing what women were wearing when they were sexually assaulted. The Washington Post quoted one protester, Andrea Bredbeck, who addressed the crowed Saturday afternoon, saying, “No matter what your gender, what you wear, you are never responsible for being assaulted.”
Death of Local Columnist Ruled a Homicide: A 91-year-old Washington Times columnist, Viola Herms Drath, was found dead in her Georgetown home Friday morning. Police said Sunday they determined her death has been ruled a homicide and that they are still investigating.
Maryland Begins Sales Tax-Free Week: NBC4 reports that in Maryland this week, shoppers can save themselves from paying the state’s 6 percent sales tax on all items under $100. The sales tax holiday is intended to boost retail sales, which are expected to increase as much as 10 percent this week.
Virginia School District Bans Sherlock Holmes for Anti-Mormon Sentiments: The Ablemarle County School District voted Thursday to ban a Sherlock Holmes book, A Study in Scarlet, from its sixth-grade reading lists because it is “age-inappropriate.” But a Los Angeles Times report says the reason the school board ruled it such was because of the way the book portrays Mormonism. The Atlantic Wire has a good summary of the controversy if you’re unfamiliar with the text.
Historic DC Buildings Face Challenges: Liz Farmer at the Washington Examiner looks at historic buildings in DC and the challenges they face. She examines the Franklin School in Northwest, a unique building that has struggled to find a use since the city’s school system moved its administrative headquarters from it in 1971. “It’s tough to find new uses for unique buildings,” Farmer writes. “But today, ones that are saved may wait years for their revival.”
Briefly Noted: Three people, including a teen and a three-month-old baby, died early Saturday morning when the car drove off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and struck a tree. . . . DC Police arrested 74 people in a 12-hour operation targeting downtown prostitution. . . . Wednesday is National Thrift Shop Day.
Subscribe to Washingtonian
Follow Washingtonian on Twitter
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Party Photos
Most Popular in News & Politics
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
DC Pedestrian Killed by Truck Carrying Tank From Trump’s Parade, Kristi Noem Went to Hospital for Allergic Reaction, and Most Virginia Primary Results Are In
The Statue Saluting January 6 Poopers Has a Permit
Man Jumps From AU Radio Tower in Apparent Suicide
Smaller Crowds, Big Emotions for Army’s 250th: What We Heard Around DC
Washingtonian Magazine
June Issue: Pride Guide
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
Trump Declares Truce, Democrats Try to Fight Administration With Song, Driver Tells Police His National Mall Joyride Was Just a Joke
What to Know About the Dupont Circle “Deckover” Project
Nine Minutes With Jonathan Van Ness
War Not About Regime Change Upgraded to War About Regime Change, Alleged Ed Martin Spitter Faces More Spitting Charges, and We Spent a Few Minutes With Jonathan Van Ness
Trump Roams White House in Search of an Audience, Dismay in Richmond Cost Levar Stoney, and Miss Pixie’s Will Close
DC Pedestrian Killed by Truck Carrying Tank From Trump’s Parade, Kristi Noem Went to Hospital for Allergic Reaction, and Most Virginia Primary Results Are In
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Army Says Tanks Didn’t Damage DC’s Streets; Trump Attends, Leaves G-7 Summit; and an Alligator Got Escorted Out of Fairfax