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]
Bye-bye bomber
1| Underwear bomber gets life in prison
The details: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was sentenced to life in prison for trying to blow up a airliner with a bomb sewn into his underwear on Christmas Day 2009. After the bomb flamed up without exploding, Abdulmutallab was subdued by fellow passengers.
Going to space for profit
2| Private rocket launches with NASA
The details: Masten, a privately built rocket company, won a $1 million prize after its Xombie rocket lifted off the ground, flew horizontally, and landed safely. The goal of the program is to work with private companies to deliver small payloads into “near-space.”
‘Act of Valor’
3| Navy SEALS celebrated in new film
The details: “Act of Valor,” a new movie featuring real Navy SEALs will be released this week. The film salutes the sacrifices of American warriors and their families in a celebration of American military heroism.
Reversing Alzheimer’s?
4| Cancer drug reverses Alzheimer’s disease in mice
The details: According to a new study, the skin cancer drug Bexarotene may also reverse Alzheimer’s. The study found that mice with Alzheimer’s improved after 72 hours of treatment using the drug. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
#Forty dollars
5| Payroll tax deal reached in Congress
The details: Congress reached a deal on the payroll tax cut for Americans without raising taxes, which is worth about $40 every two weeks for the average American worker. The deal also included another round $30 billion for unemployment benefits. Metro admits fault
6| Liability stipulated in Red Line crash
The details: Metro and three of its equipment suppliers made the first public admission they were at fault in the fatal June 22, 2009, Red Line crash — the worst in Metro history. Accepting blame allows Metro to avoid costly litigation with victims’ families.
Eminent domain
7| Legislature passes amendment
The details: Both houses of Virginia’s General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that restricts the government’s use of eminent domain to seize property for private economic development. After Gov. Bob McDonnell signs it, the measure goes on the November ballot for voter approval.
Charter schools
8| Enrollment up 8 percent in D.C.
The details: Public charter schools in the District, which educate 41 percent of all District schoolchildren, continue to grow — with an 8 percent increase in enrollment reported for the 2011-12 school year. Meanwhile, D.C. Public Schools enrollment dropped 1 percent.
Secure Communities
9| MontCo, Baltimore knuckle under
The details: After refusing to comply with the federal Secure Communities program, which requires local police to send fingerprints of crime suspects to the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation, Montgomery County and Baltimore City will begin doing so next week.
No pay raises
10| County holds line on wages
The details: Faced with a $135.4 million budget gap and higher teacher pension obligations, Montgomery County approved a three-year union contract that does not include step pay raises for county employees. The county approved a $2,000 bonus for each full-time employee.
