An arrest in the Days Inn shooting case: Last Friday, MPD announced that there was a warrant out for the arrest of a suspect in the January 27th Days Inn shootings that left one person dead and four wounded. On Saturday, the police announced they had arrested that suspect, 18-year-old Gerald Thomas. The Washington Post, WTOP and NBC4 describe the events of that night, as alleged by police in the charging documents, in great detail.
UDC targeted in HBCU bomb threats: February is Black History Month. And for the University of the District of Columbia and other historically Black colleges and universities, the month began with bomb threats. Read DCist’s and WTOP’s coverage. On February 2nd, the FBI said it had identified six juveniles as persons of interest.
UDC sports complex named for “grandfather of Black basketball”: UDC held a naming ceremony last Saturday in honor of Edwin B. Henderson, a 1904 graduate of a UDC predecessor who went on to introduce what was then the new sport of basketball to the District’s Black residents. Henderson was also a civil rights champion. UDC has also launched a $2 million memorial fund campaign for the renaming, sports complex renovations and student scholarships. Washington Wizards owner Monumental Sports announced a $200,000 contribution during the naming ceremony.
Whittle School gets an F from its vendors: The Washington Business Journal has been chronicling allegations against Whittle School and Studios, from contractors and vendors who say the K-12 private school isn’t paying its bills. Children’s National Hospital is one of those vendors, and that in July, a judge ordered the school to pay $243,707.78 to the hospital. 601W Cos., the owner of the school’s buildings at 4000 Connecticut Avenue, has run into financial difficulties of its own, and as a result the complex is scheduled for a foreclosure auction on March 24th. Chris Whittle told WBJ that the school intends to be among the bidders.
From social media
This WAMU reporter had some Valentine’s Day trivia about the “Kiss & Ride” signs at Van Ness and other area Metro stations:
Happy Valentine's Day!
A little transit trivia this morning.
The name "Kiss & Ride" was first used in the 1950s and is the name for the quick drop-off areas where spouses or partners can smooch "goodbye" before the passenger catches the train.
The 1st WMATA appearance was in 1964 pic.twitter.com/rOAih4S9uE— Jordan Pascale🎙️ (@JWPascale) February 14, 2022
Barbara Kraft says
Re Whittle School and its vendors, we in Ward 3 can do more to put affordable housing here, at all affordability levels. Can Chris Whittle or other purchaser in the foreclosure sale include affordable apartments in plans for after the sale? Many who study, work and serve in Ward 3 and NW DC would love an affordable apartment near the Van Ness metro and UDC. And more apartment dwellers would be great for our restaurants and retail. Deeply affordable rentals would have financial support from the city.