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 recess for you!
1| House won’t let Senate adjourn
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The details: Republicans successfully forced the Senate to have pro forma sessions during the Memorial Day week, blocking President Obama from making recess appointments. In order to recess, Democrats would have been forced into an embarrassing party-line vote to adjourn.
Arizona wins a round
2| Supreme Court upholds employment law
The details: The Supreme Court upheld an Arizona law punishing businesses that hire illegal immigrants. In a 5-3 decision, the court ruled that federal laws do not pre-empt state laws that require employers to verify employment status.
A safer nation
3| Violent crime drops 5.5 percent
The details: According to FBI reports, the number of violent crimes dropped in 2010 in all four regions in the United States, despite hard economic times. Some experts credited stronger law enforcement, while others were dumbfounded.
Slashed
4| Business taxes cut by $1 billion
The Details: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill that will cut business taxes by $1 billion in the next fiscal year, making the state a more appealing place to do business. Michigan is the only state to have lost population in the last decade.
Breakthrough
5| New treatment for cancer possible
The details: Researchers in New Zealand have discovered that a virus that decimated rabbit populations in recent years might also halt the growth of some cancer cells. The finding could provide groundbreaking new treatments.
Alleged killer nabbed
6| Reader tip helps nab 30th fugitive
The details: A tip from another eagle-eyed Examiner reader led police to arrest a fugitive. Kendrick Phillips was wanted for allegedly murdering a 16-year-old boy and stuffing his body in the closet of a vacant apartment in Southeast D.C. in 2009.
Staying put
7| Killer won’t be released
The details: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has nixed a decision by former Gov. Tim Kaine to release convicted killer Jens Soering to his native Germany. Soering, son of a German diplomat, was convicted of killing both of his then-girlfriend’s parents.
Chillin’
8| Low-stress D.C.
The details: Washington residents are the fifth-least-stressed residents in the U.S., according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Stress levels in D.C. are 36.7 percent — compared with 30.2 percent in chill-out Hawaii, and 45.1 percent in hyper-anxious Utah.
Ten-four
9| Neighborhood watch gets police radios
The details: Cheverly police gave 40 police radios to members of the neighborhood watch program so they can communicate directly with officers about criminal activity. Last year, 48 arrests — including 18 for felonies — were directly because of citizen calls.
Maybe she is …
10| Panda pregnancy watch begins
The details: National Zoo keepers say their female giant panda Mei Xiang, who last gave birth in 2005, is exhibiting signs of pregnancy again. They’re hoping a new cub will replace the beloved Washington-born Tai Shan, who was sent to China last year.
