A very Good Friday
1| Bomb attempt on church thwarted
The details: Indonesian authorities discovered and defused a 330-pound bomb set to blow up a Catholic church in Jakarta on Good Friday. Islamic militants were suspected in the attempted terror attack.
Blueprint
2| Japan operator plans resolution
The details: The Tokyo Electric Power Co. released a plan for cooling reactors and spent-fuel pools at the Fukushima power plant and removing radioactivity from coolant water within nine months.
No standing
3| Prayer Day
challenge dismissed
The details: A federal appeals court threw out a challenge by the Freedom From Religion Foundation against the National Day of Prayer. The court said it counts as a vague invitation that can be refused and does not qualify as establishment of religion.
Fighting malaria
4| Discovery may lead to new treatments
The details: European researchers found that cancer-fighting chemotherapy drugs also kill the malaria-causing parasite. The parasite quickly adapts to most other drugs. World Malaria Day is April 25.
Not in our state
5| Idaho rejects Obamacare bucks
The details: Idaho’s Republican Gov. Butch Otter, signed an executive order prohibiting his state from receiving federal funds to establish Obamacare programs or to fund its state-level bureaucracy
Secure … or else
6| Montgomery compelled to join
deportation program
The details: Montgomery County must participate in the federal Secure Communities program, which identifies and deports illegal immigrants held in local jails. Federal officials say participation is not optional, so MontCo must get with the program.
Safe streets
7| Crime drops in Fairfax County
The details: Violent crimes and property thefts declined in Fairfax County for the second straight year. With half as many reported robberies as in Montgomery County, Fairfax is one of the safest places to live in the Washington region.
No to corporate welfare
8| Council opposes Costco deal
The details: Montgomery County Council members oppose County Executive Ike Leggett’s plan to spend $4 million to lure Costco to Wheaton Mall. Leggett claims the deal will generate $1 million in tax revenue annually, but council members question the expense.
Work hard for the money
9| Merit pay for teachers
The details: Gov. Bob McDonnell has invited “hard-to-staff” Virginia schools to apply for state grants by establishing performance pay initiatives. The merit pay plan uses student test scores to evaluate teacher performance.
Bike spike
10| New D.C. rental spots
The details: Just in time for summer, Capital Bikeshare will build 25 more rental bicycle stations in the District, increasing convenience for city residents who want a healthy open-air transit option. The bike share service, which started in September, now has 10,700 members.
