630 WMAL: The Buzz
LISTEN: DC to Go Car-Free Sept. 22
Click 'read more and comment' to hear WMAL cover the story.
Read more...Anti-Islam Rhetoric Heats Up Ahead of 9/11
"When they decided to build a mosque and decided to preach what I consider a 1,400-year-old lie from Hell, I decided that somebody should be down there preaching the truth of God's word," Florida pastor Bill Keller said over the weekend.
Read more...LISTEN: An Md Soldier's Tale of Iraq in C-Major
"Primarily, the only thing when I think about Iraq is when I was there and what I did and all the things that I accomplished," Milburn recalled.
Click 'read more and comment' to hear the WMAL.com web exclusive.
Read more...Va. Woman Devours 181 Chicken Wings in NY Contest
The Black Widow of eating contests gobbled up nearly 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes, devouring the national championship record in Buffalo on Sunday.
"I'm so happy!" said Sonya Thomas, who ate 4.86 pounds of chicken wings to win the contest, besting world eating marvel Joey Chestnut at the ninth annual National Buffalo Wing Festival.
Read more...London Commuters Brace For Strikes On Tube
LONDON (AP) - Commuters are bracing for two days of travel disruption as workers on the heavily used London Underground system prepare to strike over proposed job cuts.
Members of two unions are to walk off the job for 24 hours beginning on Monday evening's rush hour.
Read more...China Praises 'Sound, Stable' Relationship With US
BEIJING (AP) - One Chinese official says relations between China and the U.S. are back on track after "some disturbances" in the spring.
Senior U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting today in Beijing to steady relations that have been tense over currency, trade and military affairs.
Read more...New Zealand Prime Minister: Shaken Pretty Badly
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand's prime minister is warning that the country's economic recovery will be hurt by Saturday's powerful earthquake.
US Forces Help Repel Assault On Baghdad Military HQ
BAGHDAD (AP) - Heavily armed militants attacked a military compound in Baghdad Sunday, and American troops were drawn into the fight for the first time since the U.S. combat mission came to a formal end.
On The Road, Our Own Worst Enemies Are Ourselves!
Allstate Insurance has released its annual list of cities with America's Best Drivers, and, perhaps, not surprisingly, Washington, DC came in at number 193 - dead last in the survey! The insurance company says the heavy traffic around here, as well as the growing number of distractions available to drivers, add up to a lot of crashes. In fact, DC area drivers now average an accident every 5.1 years - by far, the greatest frequency in the survey.
Gray Today, Gone Tomorrow
By all accounts, it looks like Ocean City shall be spared the wrath of Hurricane Earl, and beachgoers will actually have a pretty nice weekend, once the storm passes by this afternoon. As of 10 am, tropical storm-force winds were just beginning to blow in from the Atlantic, as Earl began its approach well offshore to the east.
Read more...Miami Airport Clears Out
A passenger was detained and four of Miami International Airport's six concourses were evacuated after a screener spotted something suspicious in a checked bag, authorities said.
Read more...Service Sector Grows At Slower Pace in August
The report released Friday provides another sign this summer that the recovery from the recession has slowed, making it difficult for employers to add back the millions of jobs lost during the downturn. The service sector accounts for about 80 percent of the nation's jobs.
Read more...Just A Drop In The Bucket
BP says it has so far spent $8 billion responding to the disastrous oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.
The oil company said more than 28,000 people and 4,000 vessels are still engaged in responding to the spill. BP says no oil has flowed from the well since July 15.
Read more...South Korea: Watch Your Subs!
Another show of force against North Korea begins this weekend as South Korea and the United States hold joint anti-submarine exercises.
North Korea, which denies any involvement in the sinking, has threatened to retaliate over the drills, which Pyongyang sees as a rehearsal for an invasion.
Read more...LISTEN: Discovery HQ 'Gunman' Used Fake Pistols, Had More Bombs
Click 'read more and comment' to hear WMAL.com cover the story.
Read more...Metro: Track Work to Close 5 Red Line Stations
The Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will shut down at 10 p.m. Friday and reopen at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Read more...UPDATE: Autopsy Performed on Discovery Gunman's Body
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Maryland's chief medical examiner says doctors have completed an autopsy of a gunman who was shot to death after taking hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters.
Montgomery County police spokeswoman Angela Cruz says the body was taken out of the building Thursday morning. Police have identified the man as James J. Lee.
Read more...LISTEN: Big Drop In Va Illegal Immigration Population
Feds Sue Arizona Sheriff in Civil Rights Probe
The lawsuit said the federal government has been trying since March 2009 to get officials to comply with its probe of alleged discrimination, unconstitutional searches and seizures, and having English-only policies in his jails that discriminate against people with limited English skills.
Read more...Peace Envoy Announces Second Round Of Peace Talks
Former Sen. George Mitchell told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to convene a second round of talks Sept. 14-15 in the Middle East.
And he said they would meet every two weeks thereafter.
Read more...Have It Your Way: The New Islamic Burger
As of this week, 22 outlets of popular French fast food chain Quick are serving burgers it says respect Islamic dietary law. And while many Muslims are delighted, the powerful main Paris Mosque complained Thursday that Quick's criteria aren't all-encompassing enough, and that the operation is meaningless.
Read more...
Gulf Oil Platform Explodes, Burning Off La. Coast
Crew OK, Spill Uncertain.
An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site where BP's undersea well spilled after a rig explosion.
Keep it locked to wmal.com for the latest.
Read more...UPDATE: Discovery Hostages Planned Escape
LATEST UPDATE:
Authorities saw the hostages begin to move on building security cameras and heard a "pop" they believed to be a gunshot or an explosive device, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said. That's when an officer shot the gunman, James J. Lee, in the lobby of the building in Silver Spring, just outside the nation's capital. Click for More
Read more...HURRICANE EARL UPDATE: There He Went
Track The Storm. Click Here
Are You Prepared? Click Here
Hurricane Earl blew toward the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday as a major storm with winds of around 145 mph as forecasters tried to pinpoint exactly how close the strongest gales and heaviest surge would get to North Carolina's fragile chain of barrier islands.
Read more...UPDATED: Gunman Had Beef With Discovery Programming
Click to see slideshow of the gunman that held the Discovery Building hostage.
We have James Jay Lee's manifesto from his website.Click here
And this isn't his first time protesting. See the video Click here
Read more...Md. Sen. Ulysses Currie Indicted
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - State Sen. Ulysses Currie, chairman of a legislative committee that steers $32 billion in state spending, is accused of illegally using his influence to benefit a grocery store chain, the U.S. attorney's office announced Wednesday.
Currie, a 73-year-old Prince George's County Democrat was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and extortion.
Read more...Watch: When Politics And Dance Meet.. The Results Often Aren't Pretty
Find out who didn't make the Dancing With The Stars cut.
Click "read more" to see the video.
Read more...Obama 'Cautiously Hopeful' As Mideast Peace Talks Begin
Obama dined Wednesday night with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinians on the eve of peace talks.
Read more...Chicago Gang Summit Faces Criticism
CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago's police chief has been the focus of criticism in recent days for calling a meeting with reputed gang leaders.
But police Superintendent Jody Weis and experts say the tactic of holding so-called "gang summits" is just good police work and is used by departments across the country.
Bernanke Testifying to Crisis Inquiry Panel
WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to go before a panel investigating the financial crisis Thursday.
He'll give his take on the meltdown and his views on potential risks that large institutions pose.
Under the landmark financial overhaul law enacted in July, regulators can shut down financial institutions whose collapse could threaten the system.
Read more...Risks Remain with Gulf Well Cap Coming Off
The planned removal of the cap Thursday is a prelude to raising the massive blowout preventer that failed to prevent the disaster.
Watch: Nyjer Morgan vs the World
MIAMI (AP) - Nyjer Morgan charged the mound after a pitch sailed behind him, triggering a bench-clearing brawl Wednesday night during the Florida Marlins' 16-10 win over the Washington Nationals.
Morgan, recently suspended and criticized for questionable acts on the field, left Florida catcher Brett Hayes with a separated shoulder Tuesday night after a home plate collision in the 10th inning.
Read more...Discovery Channel Gunman Shot By Police Is Dead.
UPDATE: 6:07 PM
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Police say the gunman who took three people hostage at the Discovery Channel network's programming has died after they shot him.
All three hostages escaped safely.
Police spent several hours negotiating with him after he burst into the suburban Washington building about 1 p.m. waving a handgun and with canisters strapped to his body.
Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger says an explosive device may have detonated, and the suspect may have brought other devices into the building. He said as far as he knows, the 1,900 people who work in the building were able to get out safely.
UPDATE: 5:55PM
Law enforcement official: Discovery Channel gunman shot by police is dead.
UPDATE: 5:05PM
The gunman has been shot by police. He is in custody, it is unclear if James Jay Lee is alive. Three hostages have been safely released. The device in his backpack did go off. The building is now being evacuated and swept for any remaining devices.
UPDATE 4:45 PM
Who is James Jay Lee? Click to see slideshow.
UPDATE 4:19 PM
Click here to see James Jay Lee's manifesto from his website.
Read more...SLIDESHOW: A Look Back At Operation Iraqi Freedom
President Barack Obama formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq after seven long years of bloodshed, declaring firmly Tuesday night: "It's time to turn the page."
Click To See the SLIDESHOW: A Look Back At Operation Iraqi Freedom
Read more...McDonnell to Declare State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane
The governor said after the last of his eight statewide government reform town hall forums Tuesday night that the latest National Weather Service tracks put the eye of the powerful storm about 200 miles east of Virginia Beach.
Retail Data: Americans Still Cautious in August
data shows Americans spent - at best - only slightly more this August than last.
Read more...Watch: Murkowski Concedes Alaska Primary Race As Miller Wins
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Sen. Lisa Murkowski was booted from office in the Republican primary Tuesday by a little-known conservative lawyer in arguably the biggest political upset of the year.
Joe Miller, backed by Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express, became the latest newcomer to the national political stage to take down an incumbent in 2010 amid deep dissatisfaction with the Washington establishment.
Read more...Ex-Head of Lehman. Wachovia Will Have to Explain Their Failure
The "too big to fail" theory is the subject today as the congressional panel looking into the financial meltdown hears from two former bank CEOs whose institutions failed.
Read more...Tony Blair's Book, Already Causing a Stir
Tony Blair's long-awaited memoir says the former British prime minister doesn't regret the Iraq war - although he wept for its victims - and carries revelations about the politician's alcohol use, his interactions with the queen and his testy relationship with his successor.
Read more...
Gates Arrives in Iraq as Combat Mission Ends
AL-ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Iraq to meet with U.S. troops as they formally close down their combat mission.
The Pentagon chief's plane landed at Al-Asad Air Base, about 100 miles west of Baghdad, just a few hours after President Barack Obama told Americans it was time to "turn the page" on Iraq.
Read more...Watch: Obama Announces End of U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq
WASHINGTON (AP) - Claiming no victory, President Barack Obama formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq after seven long years of bloodshed, declaring firmly Tuesday night: "It's time to turn the page." Now, he said, the nation's most urgent priority is fixing its own sickly economy.
Read more...LISTEN: Frederick Board Strikes Down Illegal Immigration Law
The proposal was brought by County Commissioner John L. "Lennie" Thompson, state Delegate Charles Jenkins and Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, all Republicans.
The board voted down the proposal 3-2, so it will not be included with others sent to the county's state legislative delegation to bring before next year's General Assembly.
Click 'read more and comment' to hear WMAL cover the story.
Read more...NY Imam: Mosque Fight About Muslim Role in America
The dispute "has expanded beyond a piece of real estate and expanded to Islam in America and what it means for America," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told a group that included professors and policy researchers in Dubai.
Rauf suggested that the fierce challenges to the planned mosque and community center in lower Manhattan could leave many Muslim questioning their place in American political and civic life.
Read more...DC Air Traffic Controllers Make High Number of Mistakes
A Federal Aviation Administration review team found that onboard systems designed to keep planes from colliding in midair have been triggered more than 45 times this year in airspace managed by the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON).
The Virginia facility is responsible for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport, Andrews Air Force Base and Richmond International Airport. Their controllers guide airborne plans until they reach cruising altitude. They also direct inbound planes until they are within seven miles of landing, at which point they are turned over to airport control towers.
Read more...Ehrlich: Montgomery Is The Battlefield
But, regardless of his underdog status, Ehrlich believes Montgomery holds the key to his success in November. "Montgomery County is a focal part of this campaign, and the Washington suburbs, generally are as well. They are very important counties, and a lot of people live there. They are heavily dominated by Democrats, but it's a place where a Republican has to get enough votes in order to win."
Read more...Developer: Gettysburg, Casino Can Work Together
With opponents rallying around the cry of "Save Gettysburg," developer David LeVan pitched his plan for the Mason Dixon Resort & Casino as a well-worn concept in places such as Vicksburg, Miss., and Deadwood, S.D., that can bring tourists, investment and tax revenue to the Gettysburg area.
Read more...Better Safe Than Sorry?
WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. government official says the FBI's investigation of two men detained in Amsterdam is finding that it's unlikely they were on a test run for a future terror attack, even as Dutch authorities continued to hold the pair on suspicion of conspiring to commit a terrorist act.
The U.S. official says the two men arrested in Amsterdam did not know each other and were not traveling together.
Read more...Bristol Palin To Dance With The Stars
Monday night during Bachelor Pad, ABC announced the cast who will compete on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars, including Bristol Palin, which premieres September 20th.
Click to see the SLIDESHOW of all cast members.
Read more...Va Gov. Hungry For Details on Computer Crash
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Bob McDonnell says he wants an investigation into a massive computer failure that has crippled some government agencies for days.
McDonnell said Monday he wanted an independent, third party to perform an "operational and performance review" of the problems with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.
Read more...SLIDESHOW: Threat or Warning?
The FBI is investigating an alleged terrorist plot with ties to Alabama. Two men were arrested Monday for allegedly carrying out a test-run of a planned terrorist attack. The men's true motives are still unclear, but Dutch police have charged them with "preparing a terrorist attack.
Was this just a test or a warning of what's to come? Click to see a SLIDESHOW of other failed bombing attempts.
Read more...Rip Currents Only Expected to Get Worse as Earl Threatens East
On beaches from Maryland to New Jersey, rip currents and strong swells in the Atlantic Ocean associated with Hurricane Danielle meant another day of swimming restrictions Monday.
And it could get worse later in the week. Read more...Obama to Speak Tonight, Mark End of U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq
More than 90,000 U.S. troops have come home on Obama's watch, and the president will say they did so responsibly.
Read more...Bad News for Obama & Company: Most Opinionated Voters Favor G.O.P.
A new poll shows that Americans with the strongest opinions about the country's most divisive issues are unhappy with how President Barack Obama is handling them.
Read more...Watch: Earl Batters Caribbean, Threatens US East Coast
Alaska Winner Should Become Clearer As Absentee Ballots to Be Counted
ABC News: Two Men on United Flight from Chicago Arrested
Two men taken off a Chicago-to-Amsterdam United Airlines flight in the Netherlands have been charged by Dutch police with "preparation of a terrorist attack," U.S. law enforcement officials tell ABC News.
U.S. officials said the two appeared to be travelling with what were termed "mock bombs" in their luggage. "This was almost certainly a dry run, a test," said one senior law enforcement official.
Read full story from ABC News.
Read more...The 'Restoring Honor' Rally Was Big, But Not THAT Big
Metro says 510,000 people used the rail system on Saturday, approximately 335,000 riders short of making Metro's all-time top 20 list. The rally, hosted by TV personality Glenn Beck, was certainly the largest, but not, by any means, the only event going on in Washington on Saturday. 30,688 people attended the game between the Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday evening, and earlier in the day, a smaller crowd attended the rally and march hosted by the Reverend Al Sharpton.
Read more...SLIDESHOW: Not Even Close
On Aug. 28, Metro reported about 510,000 trips taken throughout the transit system--including not just the Beck rally, but the Al Sharpton rally and a Nationals baseball game later that evening. How do these numbers compare to the highest Metro ridership days of all time? Click here to find out.
Read more...Watch: 'Restoring Honor' Speech Highlights
Glenn Beck's program at the Lincoln Meorial on Saturday focused more on God than government so President Obama's name did not come up once during a 200-minute program that featured multiple prayers, gospel songs and bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace." Cick read more to some video highlights from the speech.
Read more...
Watch: Growing Hurricane Earl Could Eventually Threaten Mid-Atlantic
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Earl could become a major hurricane during the day, probably while north of Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.
Read more...Obama To Be Heavily Involved in Middle East Affairs This Week
Obama will tell the nation Tuesday night from the Oval Office that the U.S. role in Iraq has changed for good, with the remaining U.S. troops to play a supporting role to Iraqi forces.
Read more...Questions Loom Over Drug Given to Sleepless Vets
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