Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monster storm flattened Oklahoma City suburb of Moore Monday afternoon, where at least 51 are reported dead.
Dozens of people—including schoolchildren—were killed when a massive tornado Monday afternoon ripped through the town of Moore, Okla., a suburb of Oklahoma City, according to news reports. The tornado, initially classified as an EF-4, means wind speeds up to 200 miles per hour whipped through the town of about 56,000, flattening much in its path. The mile-wide tornado was on the ground for 40 minutes, according to ABC News. How you can help tornado victims: How are you helping the victims of the tornado season? Tell us in the comments section below!
As drivers gas up for the vacation weekend, where will prices go?
Heading out of town for Memorial Day this weekend? You'll be paying less at the pump than you did last year even though the Northern Virginia area has seen prices spike in recent weeks. Average gas prices for the Northern Virginia region this week are at $3.57 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas, down from $3.68 a gallon a year ago, according to gas prices listed by AAA Mid-Atlantic. Paying $3.57 a gallon at the pump is better than what many Minnesotans are paying right now—an average of $4.27 a gallon, the highest prices in the country, according to the Star Tribune. Northern Virginia is faring better on gas prices than many other parts of the country, according to AAA. Currently, Virginia’s retail average is 26 cents cheaper than the …
The state's policies and advocacy for cyclists earned it a high ranking from the League of American Bicyclists.
Virinia is one of the best states in the country to bike, according to new rankings from the League of American Bicyclists. But it still lags behind some other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. A combination of state policies and programs — including a state bicycle plan and a "Share the Road" campaign — and an active state bicycle advocacy group helped the state earn No. 16, behind places like Washington state, Colorado, Oregon and Massachusetts. Still, neighboring states fared better on the rankings list: Delaware was 5, Maryland was 11 and Pennsylvania was 15. The League created a list of 10 signs that show progress on bikeability for states, including more than 1 percent of the commuters using bikes, a measure of success Virginia …
Submit your swarm shots as the Cicada brood begin D.C. invasion.
At first, there were one or two husks on a tree. Then there were several squashed bugs in the school parking lot. Now, it's a swarm of Cicadas in parts of Northern Virginia. Share your cicada photos with us by clicking on the 'upload' button above! The cicada hum can be heard loudly in Dale City and parts farther south, including Fredericksburg. Some areas of Northern Virginia have yet to experience the “Cicadapocalypse," but the bugs are out in large numbers in Prince William County. Tell us where you're seeing the cicadas this year in the comments section! Known as the East Coast II brood, these cicadas are emerging between April and June, across North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and several other states up through Connecticut. The …
The following information was supplied by the Fairfax County Police Department in the most recent daily reports released May 20. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.
On the above map, the addresses are block numbers, not specific home or business addresses. The following items are from the recent daily activity report from the Mount Vernon Police District of the Fairfax County Police Department. Assault (blue on map), 1:55 p.m., May 17, Richmond Highway/Sherwood Hall Lane, A 25-year-old man was allegedly attacked. Joshua Sims, 25, of Alexandria was charged with malicious wounding and drunk in public. The victim was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. In separate and unrelated incidents: Unlawful Entry/Assault (red on map), 6 p.m., May 17, 8600 block of Village Way, A 33-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by two juveniles who were attempting to enter a vacant home. The …
Patch blogger Anne Samit writes about a new nighttime yoga practice and finding inspiration in those around you.
There's so much to learn from practicing yoga. This week's blog of the week, "Mentor," by Patch yoga blogger Anne Samit, discusses how trying a new practice can help form a kinship with fellow yogis. That kinship can inspire you to try a new move — and succeed. Samit writes:"One day, on my way out, I couldn’t help but exclaim to this young yogi about her practice. A few days later, on my way in, she returned the compliment. Here I was admiring her, but there she was admiring me! We started to chat and moved on to more important topics, like her handstands. I want those vinyasa handstands, away from the wall, and I asked her how it is that she’s not afraid to go upside down, right in the middle of the room. I’ll help you, she offered. I’ll …
Still looking for ways to entertain the kids after school is out? These camps have spots still available.
Summer vacation is right around the corner, and it's time to get your kids registered in summer camp. Here's a quick line-up of summer camps with spots still available in Southern Fairfax County: Arcadia Farm Camp Arcadia Farm Camp at Woodlawn Plantation has spots available for its summer farm camp. Kids will be able to learn more about life on a farm while participating in fun outdoor activities. For more information, click here. Browne Academy Camp at Browne Academy will run from June 17 to Aug. 9. Browne offers camp programs for preschool- to middle school-aged children. Browne's camp programs provide an array of age and developmentally apropriate activities for its participants. Summer camp activities at Browne include physical …
Monday, May 20, 2013
Radio station personality Bert Weiss has taken over the morning spot replacing the "Jack Diamond Morning Show" on 107.3 FM with "The Bert Show." Are you tuning in or tuning out?
Morning radio talk show personality Jack Diamond’s departure from Mix-107.3 has sparked a flurry of forlorn followers, who have had plenty to say on Patch since his departure in late April. “The Jack Diamond Morning Show” featured Diamond as well as listener phone calls, sidekicks, traffic and news reports, Hollywood gossip and of course Diamond’s insights about his wife and children. Bert Weiss, who Diamond called a “protégé and partner” has taken over the morning show slot. The station replaced Diamond's program with the syndicated “The Bert Show” out of Atlanta. Weiss’ co-host is Kristin Klingshim along with co-host and executive producer Jeff Dauler. Weiss is married with two boys and loves to travel. To promote listenership, the new …
Chesapeake pastor and attorney E.W. Jackson is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia.
Pastor and attorney E.W. Jackson won the Republican nomination to run for lieutenant governor of Virginia over the weekend, and a YouTube video he made last year with strong words against Planned Parenthood is getting attention. Jackson, an African-American minister, lawyer and author from Chesapeake, posted the “message to black Christians” in September 2012, chiding African-Americans for their “slavish devotion” to the Democratic Party and saying that Planned Parenthood had been more lethal to black citizens than the Ku Klux Klan. "The Democrat Party has created an unholy alliance between certain so-called civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood, which has killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions,” Jackson said in the video…
The Commonwealth's unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent in April 2013, the lowest since 2008. But uncertainty around sequestration could slow job growth in coming months.
Virginia’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in April, the lowest it’s been in more than four years. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the rate is down from 5.3 percent in March and 5.9 percent in April 2012. It is the Commonwealth’s lowest since the 4.9 percent rate in November 2008. Virginia’s rate is well below the national average of 7.5 percent in April. But in Fairfax County, residents enjoy an even lower unemployment rate: In March, Fairfax County had a jobless rate of 3.7 percent, according to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). The FCEDA has helped bring more than 1,400 new jobs from 27 different companies to the county during the first quarter of 2013. Salient Federal Solutions, which provides …
Anne Samit
9:33 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Thank you for featuring my post as your "Blog of the Week"! more ›