Smart people are everywhere, and so are people who have common sense. That’s why we’re looking high and low to bring readers the highlights of the week just post. Got a suggestion? Send it to [email protected]. No more sick days?
1| Drug maker close to a cure for the common cold
The details: Australian drug company Biota announced that it had successfully tested an antiviral that cures the common cold. According to a study, test subjects began rapid recovery less than two days after taking the drug.
iImprove
2| Foxconn improving working conditions
The details: Chinese manufacturing company Foxconn announced that it will make dramatic changes to improve the quality of life for workers manufacturing Apple Inc. products. The company will hire tens of thousands of new workers, eliminate illegal overtime, improve safety protocols and upgrade workers’ housing.
3| Battle-bot
Six-legged robot headed to Afghanistan
The details: A new robot developed by Boston Dynamics is slated to join the U.S. military on the front lines in Afghanistan. RHex, the agile six-legged robot, can be carried in a backpack until needed to provide reconnaissance and can easily navigate rough terrain.
Free Cuba!
4| Pope calls for more religious freedom during visit
During a papal visit to Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI called for the communist country to extend more religious freedoms to its people. “The right to freedom of religion, both in its private and in its public dimension, manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a citizen and a believer,” the pope said.
Less dependent
5| Unemployment claims at four-year low
The Labor Department said Thursday that new claims for unemployment benefits dipped last week to 359,000, for a drop of 5,000. This is the lowest level of applications since April 2008.
Obama OKs offshore mapping
6| Prelude to oil, gas drilling
The details: Gov. Bob McDonnell hailed the Obama administration’s announcement allowing seismic mapping of the continental shelf off the coast of Virginia as “a small step forward in the development of our offshore energy resources.”
Third time’s the charm
7| Va. Senate finally passes budget
The details: After two failed attempts to pass a two-year, $85 billion budget, the evenly divided Virginia Senate finally mustered enough votes to send it to a conference committee, which will attempt to iron out differences with the House version.
Not a red cent
8| Line drawn on PLA
The details: Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton warned the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that it will not receive any money from the right-to-work state to fund the Dulles Rail Phase 2 project if MWAA doesn’t drop its preferential treatment of unionized labor.
Speed cameras on trial
9| Case before Maryland high court
The details: Maryland’s Court of Appeals has agreed to hear a legal challenge to the increasing use of speed and red-light cameras in jurisdictions throughout the state. Plaintiffs argue that paying contractors per ticket issued violates restrictions in the 2006 law authorizing the cameras’ use.
Still growing
10| Population growth leads Northeast
The details: During the past decade, population in the Washington region grew 16.6 percent, faster than any other metropolitan area in the Northeast, the Census Bureau reports. The growth, part of a nationwide population shift, is also creating high-density, urbanlike areas in the surrounding suburbs.
