Unemployment rate rises again
1| 8.3
The details: Labor Department officials announced that the national unemployment rate rose from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent in July. The payroll survey showed more than 163,000 jobs were created, but the household survey showed the number of working Americans dropped by 195,000.
You say friends, we say spies
2| Let’s call the whole thing off
The details: Democratic activists developed a program that allows your Facebook ‘friends’ to give campaigns information that Facebook users post online. The Democrats will use the info for phone lists and other campaign tactics.
U.S. nuclear facility closed after security breach
3| Anti-nuclear activists cut fence
The details: Anti-nuclear activists clipped through the outer fence of a nuclear facility and “painted slogans and threw what they said was human blood on the wall” of a building that houses highly enriched uranium.
IRS loses billions to fraud
4| Identity theft now a budget issue
The details: In 2010 alone, Internal Revenue Service official paid out $5.2 billion in fraudulent tax refunds to identity thieves who mailed in false tax returns.
Amtrak loses $833 million
5| On food!
The Details: Amtrak lost $833 million over the last decade on its food and beverage service. “It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15,” said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., in a statement.
Alleged hay thief
6| D.C. firefighter returns to work while awaiting criminal trial
The details: Lt. Kellene Morgan Davis of the D.C. Fire and EMS Department was charged in April with breaking into a Prince George’s County barn and stealing 20 bales of hay. She was nonetheless put back on the job last week.
Creep goes online
7| Silver Spring man allegedly tried to arrange sex with 10-year-old
The details: John Vanathayan, 41, has been charged with arranging to have sex with a 10-year-old after calling an adult sex chat line. He has twice been convicted on indecent exposure charges in Montgomery County.
Roll the dice
8| Md. casino owner makes demands
The details: David Cordish, the owner of Maryland’s newest casino, is demanding a host of favorable conditions in legislation that would authorize an expansion of gambling in the state, angering state lawmakers. He wants the tax on slot machines lowered, an advance peek at the legislation and a guarantee that it will not be changed before the vote.
All wet
9| D.C. water bills to increase
The details: Many District residents will see a $70 per year increase in their water bills beginning in October as D.C. Water implements a pair of rate hikes and a big increase to an existing surcharge.
Airport follies continue
10| Mistake at airport
The details: A “miscommunication” between pilots and air traffic control resulted in three speeding aircraft getting too close to each other for comfort at Reagan National on Tuesday — although Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the planes did not “come within seconds of a midair collision,” as the Washington Post had reported.
