Wash Post Washtech

Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85

JOSEPH WHITE — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:43:48 EST

WASHINGTON -- Abe Pollin, the Washington Wizards owner who brought an NBA championship to the nation's capital and later had the mettle to stand up to Michael Jordan, died Tuesday. He was 85.

Ciena to buy Nortel unit in $769 million deal

Mike Musgrove — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Linthicum-based Ciena announced Monday that it has won a bid to buy a major piece of bankrupt Canadian tech firm Nortel Networks.

Ciena beats NSN to buy Nortel's businesses for $769 mln

Tarmo Virki and Anupreeta Das — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:02:13 EST

HELSINKI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ciena Corp agreed to buy the optical networking and ethernet equipment businesses of bankrupt Nortel Networks for $769 million after trumping a bid from Nokia Siemens Networks.

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Ciena trumps NSN to buy Nortel ops for $769 million: sources

Anupreeta Das and Tarmo Virki — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:01:09 EST

NEW YORK/HELSINKI (Reuters) - Ciena Corp will buy the optical networking and carrier ethernet business of bankrupt Nortel for $769 million, after trumping Nokia Siemens Networks in a three-day auction, sources told Reuters.

New technology, tight budgets hinder sex-offender monitoring

Jerry Markon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The pursuit of Lee Shelton began the moment the convicted sex offender was released from prison.

Safety issue raised in Dulles rail bridge project

Lisa Rein — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Thirty-two years ago, the Virginia transportation department drove dozens of steel pilings 50 feet into the ground near the West Falls Church Metro station. Encased in concrete, the pilings formed foundations that one day could hold up a bridge carrying Metro trains across Interstate 66 to Dulles...

Verizon Wireless lays off former Alltel workers

CHUCK BARTELS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:35:05 EST

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Verizon Wireless laid off more former Alltel Corp. headquarters workers Thursday, saying the jobs were redundant after its acquisition of the Arkansas-based wireless provider.

Electronic games turn slots casinos into 'Vegas lite'

John Wagner — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

When Maryland legalized slot machines last year, the state stopped short of welcoming blackjack, roulette and other table games because of qualms about building full-scale casinos.

Controversial speed cameras cause gear-grinding among irked drivers

Neely Tucker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

You rip open the envelope and there it is: Another darned photo-enforcement traffic ticket.

Great white sharks coming closer to shore than thought, researchers find

Juliet Eilperin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

For years, humans have thought of great white sharks wandering the sea at random, only occasionally venturing close to shore.

County schools flock to Facebook, Twitter, blogs to keep community informed

Bradford Pearson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

When Landon School officials noticed that young alumni weren't visiting the school's Web site, they decided to go where the students were: Facebook.

Scientist accused of espionage described as gifted, ambitious

Del Quentin Wilber and Maria Glod — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

By all accounts, Stewart D. Nozette is a brilliant and creative scientist, an astronomer who once sketched a key part of a lunar mission on the back of a cocktail napkin and daydreamed of colonizing the moon.

Metro to test real-time software for crash-avoidance system

Lena H. Sun — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Metro has developed software that it hopes can be a backup for the system that is supposed to prevent train crashes, officials said Thursday.

Md. scientist indicted on attempted espionage charge

Del Quentin Wilber — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A Chevy Chase scientist has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of attempted espionage, court records show.

Espionage suspect to remain jailed

Del Quentin Wilber and Maria Glod — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A federal judge ordered that a Chevy Chase scientist remain jailed on a charge that he tried to pass national secrets to the Israeli government in exchange for $11,000.

20 Metro Stations Expand Cellphone Coverage on Platforms

Lena H. Sun — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

By midnight Friday, the long-awaited expansion of cellphone service at Metro stations will mean riders who use the three other nationwide carriers will join Verizon users in having service at 20 of the busiest underground platforms, officials said Thursday.

No Friends of Facebook's, in a Generation That Is

Ian Shapira — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Tomek Kott is so stubborn about not joining his friends -- in truth, nearly his entire generation -- on any social networking site that his wife launched a mini-crusade against him. Exploiting a tactic surely befitting our times, she whipped up a Facebook group last year called "Tomek Kott Must J...

Montgomery County Lab Visit Stirs Interest in Science

Nelson Hernandez — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Montgomery County has hit on the formula for getting young people interested in science: Unleash 190 seventh-graders in a building full of robots, prosthetic limbs, microscopes, remote-controlled surgical arms and bacteria-filled flasks, and watch what happens.

Program Spurs 'Tweens to Consider Careers in Science

Nelson Hernandez — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:25:58 EDT

Own Sweat Has Become Alcohol Offenders' New Snitch

Fredrick Kunkle and Derek Kravitz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The government has buried its nose in Bari Lynne Williams's personal business.

NASA Scientist Charged in Md. With Aiding Wife's Firm

Maria Glod and Meg Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A prominent NASA scientist from Silver Spring has been charged in federal court in Maryland with using his position for the financial benefit of his wife, who owns a company that develops science exhibits and educational tools.

FCC 'Net Neutrality' Rules Expected to Advance on Vote

Cecilia Kang — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Federal Communications Commission's proposal of new rules to prevent companies such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deliberately blocking or slowing certain Web traffic is expected to advance with three votes out of the five-member agency, according to sources.

Media Outlets Flounder in Loudoun County

Ian Shapira — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For the past couple of decades, Loudoun County, home of the country's third-fastest rising population (now about 280,000) and the nation's top household median income ($107,210), has been seductive territory for media outlets, as newspapers, broadcasters and Web sites clamored to serve -- and profit...

Left in the Flat-Screen Dust

Michael S. Rosenwald — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

This land is your land, this land is clunker land. From clunker cars to Jonathan Carroll's kitchen table, where a 20-inch Philips TV sits unplugged awaiting someone -- anyone -- to fire it up again before next week's season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars."

Northern Virginia Housing Market Shows Signs of Stabilizing as Foreclosures Fall

Dagny Salas — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Real estate agents and county officials in Northern Virginia say the local housing market is showing signs of stabilizing.

Services' E-Mail Hacking Illegal, but Officials Need More Than That to Prosecute

Tom Jackman — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

When Elaine Cioni found out that her married boyfriend had other girlfriends, she became obsessed, federal prosecutors say. So she turned to YourHackerz.com.

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Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Howard, Virginia Tech Join Program Preparing Students for U.S. Intelligence Jobs

Walter Pincus — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Howard University and Virginia Tech have joined forces in a $2.5 million academic program funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence designed to teach undergraduates skills that are critically needed by the nation's intelligence agencies.

Computer System That Failed in Pr. George's Has Faltered at Schools Across U.S.

Nelson Hernandez — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The new multimillion-dollar computer system that left thousands of Prince George's County students without class schedules last week has faltered in districts across the nation, forcing some to pay more than they had expected and others to scrap it altogether.

Parents Nag Via Text-Messaging

Donna St. George — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

As school starts again, there's so much more for a parent to nag about. Homework. Bedtime. Lost hours on Facebook and Xbox. The chores that need to be squeezed in.

Environmental Groups Criticize Verizon Wireless for Sponsoring Labor Day ÂRally'

Steven Mufson — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Verizon says it all started innocently enough. A Verizon Wireless sales team in West Virginia agreed to co-sponsor a Labor Day event called "Friends of America" featuring singer Hank Williams Jr., Ted Nugent and several country music groups. For $1,000, Verizon got to set up a sales table at the...

Agencies Worldwide Use Web to Encourage Citizens to Do Their Own Flu Tracking

Michael E. Ruane — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Think you have the flu? In some places, you can now go directly to the Internet and report your symptoms to officials eager to spot outbreaks.

James C. Marsters, 85; Dentist Co-Created Phone System for Deaf

T. Rees Shapiro — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For the first 40 years of his life, Dr. James C. Marsters refused to be alienated by his deafness. He was provisionally admitted to dental school on the condition that no special accommodations would be made for him. He graduated and became an orthodontist and could read lips so well that oftentimes...

Pr. George's Scheduling Flaw Was Known Before School Started

Nelson Hernandez and Emma Brown — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

As the weeks wore on this summer, Prince George's County school administrators could see they were running out of time to avert a crisis over class schedules for the county's 41,000 high school students. But they had no backup system and didn't tell parents or students of the looming disaster unt...

Companies Seek Federal Help for Expanding Internet Capacity in Western Loudoun

Kafia Hosh — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The growing number of Internet users in western Loudoun County has been slowing connections on laptops and smartphones, technology experts say.

Md. Jurisdictions Seek Funds to Expand Broadband Internet Access

V. Dion Haynes — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Montgomery, Prince George's and Howard counties and eight other Maryland jurisdictions are seeking $100 million in federal stimulus funds to expand their broadband Internet capabilities, an effort aimed at boosting productivity at local businesses and improving the emergency network for public...

Md. Medical Helicopter Faced Problems in Air and on Ground Before Fatal Crash

Mary Pat Flaherty and Jenna Johnson — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Tall and imposing at nearly 300 pounds, Stephen Bunker had a personality that matched his frame. Outgoing, proud of his three grown children, eager to share his love of flying, he had been a helicopter pilot for the Maryland State Police for more than two decades, making mostly trauma trips.

Affordability Is Martek's Challenge As It Looks to Turn Algae Into Fuel

Mike Musgrove — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Now that its flagship product is in nearly every container of infant formula sold in the United States, Martek Biosciences is looking to edge its way into the gas tank.

Cell Service to Expand on Metro

James Hohmann — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Crews began installing equipment early Monday that will provide Verizon, Sprint Nextel, AT&T and T-Mobile service in 20 of the busiest underground stations in the Metrorail system, the transit agency announced Tuesday.

'Glamping' Offers an Upscale Take on the Great Outdoors

Lori Aratani — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The idea of "roughing it" has taken on a new meaning.

Project to Consolidate D.C. School Data Behind Schedule

Bill Turque — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A $12 million project to compile critical information about District schools -- including students' academic growth, teacher quality and graduation rates -- in one database available to policymakers and parents is several months behind schedule, and officials aren't prepared to say when it will be...

Southern Maryland Notebook

Christy Goodman — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Educate & Celebrate school supply store in Prince Frederick plans to donate $500 to the local Drug Abuse Resistance Education program during the store's annual open house Sunday.

Keeping Up Appearances After a Layoff Can Be Hard Work

Annie Gowen — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For weeks after he was laid off, Clinton Cole would rise at the usual time, shower, shave, don one of his Jos. A. Bank suits and head out the door of his Vienna home -- to a job that no longer existed.

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Montgomery Planning Director's Technology Spending Under Reviewed

Miranda S. Spivack — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Auditors looking at credit card spending at the Montgomery County planning agency are examining several technology purchases that appear to have been authorized by Planning Director Rollin Stanley in violation of agency procedures, but they have found no evidence of illegal activity, a top agency...

Science and Tech Firms Find Like Minds in Ballston

Mark Berman — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

California has Silicon Valley. Dulles has the technology corridor. And Ballston has its own "science corridor," a quaint little neighborhood overflowing with science and technology-related organizations and outfits.

Top Cybersecurity Official Resigns

Ellen Nakashima — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A top operational official in charge of protecting civilian government computer networks has resigned, dealing another blow to the federal effort to enhance cybersecurity.

A $191 Million Question

Robert O'Harrow Jr. — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

He called her Princess. She called him Bubba. They got together whenever they could, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, traveling to business conferences, taking long walks. They exchanged e-mails night and day.

D.C., U.S. Underreported Number of Kids With High Lead Levels by More Than Half

Carol D. Leonnig — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

More than twice as many D.C. children as previously reported by federal and local health officials had high levels of lead in their blood amid the city's drinking water crisis, according to congressional investigators, throwing into doubt assurances by those officials that the lead in tap water d...

George Morris Dies; Former Host on Satellite Radio Classic Rock Channel

Joe Holley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

George Taylor Morris, 62, formerly the daily morning host on XM Satellite Radio's "Deep Tracks" classic rock channel and the primary host of the company's interview program, "XM Artist Confidential," died Aug. 1 of throat cancer at his home in Reston.

MedImmune Ramps Up Production of H1N1 Flu Vaccine

Terri Rupar — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

MedImmune said it is producing more vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus than it originally predicted and expects to have more than 200 million doses by the end of the year.

Larceny Up in Region as Gadgets Left in Vehicles Tempt Thieves

Allison Klein — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Although crime is generally down across Northern Virginia, a persistent problem continues to vex police and residents: phones, cameras and other electronic devices being stolen from vehicles.

Digital Nomads Ditch Cubicles for Shared Spaces, Choosing Their Co-Workers

Michael S. Rosenwald — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Frank Gruber's workstation at AOL in Dulles could be in any cubicle farm from here to Bangalore -- push-pin board for reminders, computer on Formica desk, stifling fluorescent lighting. It's so drab there's nothing more to say about it, which is why the odds of finding Gruber there are slim.

BearingPoint Nears End of Difficult Run

Jonathan Starkey — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

BearingPoint may be nearing the end of its life as an independent company after agreeing on July 17 to sell off its last big business, but it hasn't exactly disappeared.

To Quell Criticism, Some Doctors Require Patients to Sign 'Gag Orders'

Sandra G. Boodman — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Until recently, patients whose doctors kept them waiting for hours without explanation, brushed off their questions or seemed downright incompetent had little recourse, other than complaining to family, friends or, in egregious cases, the state medical board. That was before the Internet gave eve...

Jonas Brothers Give AOL Crew a Lift

Emma Brown — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Jonas Brothers are not just three Grammy-nominated, doe-eyed heartthrobs with a Disney television show and a lock on many young girls' hearts. They're also the stars of tweendom's most closely watched softball team, the Road Dogs, and yesterday, to the squealing delight of their fans, they took...

Md. School Joins Test of Online Courses Tailored to Girls

Michael Birnbaum — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

When the Online School for Girls flickers to life this fall on computer screens across the country, students will take part in an unusual experiment that joins two trends: girls-only schooling and online teaching.

Rust Library in Leesburg to Reopen After Renovation

Kafia A. Hosh — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Loudoun County will have a new chill spot where teenagers can socialize and play video games: Rust Library.

Md. Prisons, Wireless Industry at Odds Over Jamming Inmate Cellphones

Henri E. Cauvin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

In the war for wireless supremacy, there is Verizon vs. AT&T, the iPhone vs. the BlackBerry. -- And then there's Gary D. Maynard vs. the 23,000 residents of Maryland's state prisons. -- In his bid to snuff out mobile phones in Maryland's two dozen state lockups, Maynard, the state's public safety...

Verizon Is Now a 2nd Option in Charles for Internet/TV Service

Matt Zapotosky — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Comcast now has competition in Charles County. After reaching an agreement with the county this spring to offer its TV services, Verizon has begun offering its FiOS TV and Internet service to about 8,000 homes and businesses in Waldorf and La Plata. Verizon also agreed to a build-out that will bring...

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Workers in Manassas Make Computers That Power Spacecraft Sent to Moon

Jennifer Buske — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

NASA officials are exploring the moon for the first time in almost a decade, thanks to a computer system manufactured in Manassas.

A Metro Train Control System Fails a Post-Crash Test

Lena H. Sun and Maria Glod — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A train control system that should have prevented Monday's deadly Metro crash failed in a test conducted by federal investigators, officials said yesterday, suggesting that a crucial breakdown of technology sent one train slamming into another.

Metro Crash Investigation Turns Up Electronic Control 'Anomalies'

Lyndsey Layton, Maria Glod and Lena H. Sun — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Federal investigators said yesterday that they found "anomalies" in a key component of the electronic control system along the Metro track north of Fort Totten, suggesting that computers might have sent one Red Line train crashing into another.

Metro Relaunching System to Provide Data on Next Bus's Arrival Time

Lena H. Sun — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Metro is relaunching a long-awaited real-time bus arrival system that is supposed to tell riders when the next Metrobus will arrive at their stop. The system could make the area's largest regional bus service a more viable option for thousands of people who now shun it because of its unreliability.

Sirius XM Rolls Out iPhone App, But No Stern or NFL on the Go

Mike Musgrove — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart fans got a tiny bit of good news yesterday. Sports followers and Howard Stern listeners, not so much.

Unhappy Customer, 79, Dies After Bid to Stop Verizon Van in Vienna

Allison Klein — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A 79-year-old Vienna man who was fed up with his Verizon service died after trying to stop a technician's van from pulling out of his driveway.

Jhong Sam Lee, 73, Dies; Developed Defense and Communication Technologies

Patricia Sullivan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Jhong Sam Lee, 73, owner of a federal consulting firm that worked on military and satellite matters and who taught at George Washington and Catholic universities, died June 5 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Potomac.

PhantomAlert GPS Device Warns Driver of Speed Cameras

Dan Morse — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Steven Forage, a software salesman who spends at least five hours a day in his car, juggles a lot on the road: finalizing deals over the phone, sipping coffee, checking e-mail. One thing he no longer worries about, though, is speed cameras.

Manufacturer to Give D.C. Information About Voting Machines

Tim Craig — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Sequoia Voting Systems agreed yesterday to turn over sensitive information to the D.C. Council about how the District's voting machines work and tabulate results, setting the stage for one of the most comprehensive probes on the reliability of electronic voting equipment.

Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County Is Criticized in Online Posts

Daniel de Vise — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Irene Williams came out guns blazing. In a series of posts last month to the Internet list of the influential Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, she portrayed the group's leaders as "purveyors of evil," "cowardly bullies" and "inebriated beavers."

MedImmune Wins Key Contract To Develop Swine Flu Vaccine

Michael S. Rosenwald — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Federal health officials, racing to respond to a potential swine flu pandemic that has already sickened thousands of people around the world, yesterday awarded a major contract for a vaccine to Gaithersburg-based MedImmune.

Slur-Filled Teen Web Site Devastating for Some but Just Shy of Being Illegal

Donna St. George and Daniel deVise — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Before the digital age, there was simply nasty writing on the restroom wall. Now, in the say-it-all era of the Internet, the darker side of teenage expression has found a new place to fester.

Hard Questions in Wake of Reputed Va. Health Data Theft

Anita Kumar — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

RICHMOND, May 12 -- Legislators had sharp questions for state officials Tuesday about how hackers stole millions of personal pharmaceutical records from a prescription drug database that was supposed to be secure.

Metro Explores Bank Card Payment System

Lena H. Sun — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Metro is exploring a system that would allow riders to pay for rail, bus and parking using the same credit card or debit card they would use to buy gas, groceries and clothing.

Prince William Students Produce Videos and Albums

Ian Shapira — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Political campaigns interested in emulating President Obama's multimedia success might want to consider tapping tech talent in the Prince William County school system.

Hackers Say They Have Va. Prescription Drug Data, Demand $10 Million

Brian Krebs and Anita Kumar — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

RICHMOND, May 7 -- The FBI and Virginia State Police are searching for hackers who demanded that the state pay them a $10 million ransom by Thursday for the return of millions of personal pharmaceutical records they say they stole from the state's prescription drug database.

Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contracts

Carol D. Leonnig and Alice Crites — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The headquarters of Murtech, in a low-slung, bland building in a Glen Burnie business park, has its blinds drawn tight and few signs of life. On several days of visits, a handful of cars sit in the parking lot, and no trucks arrive at the 10 loading bays at the back of the building.

Va. Candidate McAuliffe Has History of Mixing Business, Politics

Amy Gardner — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Terry McAuliffe has a simple message for Virginia: Elect him governor this year and he will bring jobs, because he has more business experience than anyone else in the race.

Major Front in Va. Race Is Online

Jose Antonio Vargas — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Terry McAuliffe's YouTube channel uploaded three new videos in the past week. Brian Moran has aggressively courted backing from a coterie of liberal bloggers in Northern Virginia. A Twitter addict, R. Creigh Deeds regularly fires off tweets from his BlackBerry.

Army Nearly Done With Probe of Fort Detrick Pathogen Lab

Nelson Hernandez and Ann Scott Tyson — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Army investigators are close to closing a probe into the disappearance of deadly pathogens at Fort Detrick's infectious disease laboratory in Frederick and have found no evidence yet of criminal misconduct, the Army's Criminal Investigation Command said yesterday.

Manassas Preserves Broadband-Over-Power-Line Internet Service

Jennifer Buske — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Manassas residents who use broadband-over-power-line Internet service will be able to stay plugged into the Web for at least a few more months because of action taken by Manassas City Council.

Contracting Boom Could Fizzle Out

Dana Hedgpeth — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The recent surge in the Washington area's defense-contracting workforce would begin to ebb under Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates's latest budget proposal as the Pentagon moves to replace legions of private workers with full-time civil servants.

U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Review Rejection of Virginia Anti-Spam Law

Jerry Markon — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday declined to consider reinstating Virginia's tough anti-spam law, leaving in place a lower court ruling that threw out the measure as unconstitutional.

Hung C. 'Jimmy' Lin; U-Md. Professor, Inventor

Matt Schudel — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Hung C. "Jimmy" Lin, an electrical engineer who invented components that are commonly used in solid-state amplifiers, audio speakers, microphones and headphones, died March 5 of lung cancer at Holy Cross Hospital. He was 89 and lived in Silver Spring.

Ex-Lobbyist in Running for U.S. Attorney's Job in Alexandria, Virginia

Jerry Markon and Meg Smith — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A former corporate lobbyist has emerged as a top candidate for U.S. attorney in Alexandria, raising questions about how his appointment would square with the Obama administration's efforts to change the culture of Washington, according to legal and political sources.

Metro to Post Schedules, Routes on Its Web Site

Lena H. Sun — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Metro plans to post all its bus and rail schedules and routes on the transit agency's Web site starting Monday, a long-awaited move that will allow third parties such as Google Transit to use the data to offer online tools to help riders navigate the system.

2nd Employee Is Charged in Bribery Scheme

Del Quentin Wilber and Nikita Stewart — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A second D.C. government employee was charged yesterday with being a key participant in a kickback and bribery scam involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in District technology contracts.

Inventors Helps Fairfax Seniors Get Connected to Online News, Entertainment

Fredrick Kunkle — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Two young inventors have created a device, with the help of hands-on testing at a Fairfax County retirement community, that they say might change the way older Americans get news and entertainment.

Come Out, Then Branch Out

Ian Shapira — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

One is a former drag king, the other is a laid-off newspaper reporter-turned blogger, and each, in their own way, is trying to transform Washington's gay scene. Eboné Bell, 27, and Zack Rosen, 25, friends and entrepreneurs, have a politically subtle mission: to integrate the region's gay scene,...

Ad Sales by Prince William, Virginia, School Web Sites Fuel Debate Over Commerce and Education

Michael Birnbaum — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

On Battlefield High School's Web site, students can find homework assignments, check sports schedules and even track their finances via a link on the home page -- if they have an account with BB&T. The bank's click-through logo is part of an Internet advertising deal, considered a first for W...

Renewed Federal Funding for Stem Cell Studies Could Make Cash-Strapped States Think Twice About Spending Their Own Money

John Wagner and Rosalind S. Helderman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

President Obama's decision to lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is certain to rekindle debate in Maryland and a number of other states that moved to pay for the controversial science after the Bush administration's limitation order but are now facing large budget...

George McAfee Dies; Hall of Fame Halfback for Chicago Bears

Matt Schudel — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

George McAfee, 90, a speedy Hall of Fame halfback who was known for his game-breaking plays for Duke University and the Chicago Bears in the 1930s and '40s and who pioneered the use of lightweight low-cut football shoes, died March 4 at a hospital in Snellville, Ga. His family did not disclose the...

Obama Team Finds It Hard to Adapt Its Web Savvy to Government

Jose Antonio Vargas — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

The team that ran the most technologically advanced presidential campaign in modern history is finding it difficult to adapt that model to government. WhiteHouse.gov, envisioned as the primary vehicle for President Obama to communicate with the online masses, has been overwhelmed by challenges th...

Metro Signs Deal to Allow More Cellphone Firms to Build Networks Underground

Eric M. Weiss — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Metro riders will be able to receive and make more wireless calls underground under a deal announced yesterday by agency officials.

Inova Fairfax Earns Spot on List of Nation's Top Hospitals

Ashley Halsey III — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:57:02 EST

Northern Virginia's largest hospital also is one of the America's best, according to health-care ratings released yesterday that list Inova Fairfax among the nation's top 50 hospitals.

Bloggers Are Changing the Way the Gay Rights Movement Communicates

Jose Antonio Vargas — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Only the blogosphere, perhaps, has room for Pam Spaulding -- a black lesbian who lives in North Carolina, the only state in the South that has not banned same-sex marriage.

6,473 Texts a Month, But at What Cost?

Donna St. George — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Julie Zingeser texts at home, at school, in the car while her mother is driving. She texts during homework, after pompon practice and as she walks the family dog. She takes her cellphone with her to bed.

BearingPoint Seeks Bankruptcy Protection

Alejandro Lazo — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

McLean consulting giant BearingPoint, struggling under a heavy debt load, filed yesterday for bankruptcy protection.

Liberty Extends $530 Million Loan to Bail Out Sirius XM

Cecilia Kang — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Liberty Media, the company that owns DirectTV and the Discovery channel, yesterday threw faltering Sirius XM Radio a lifeline, agreeing to loan the company $530 million to help pay off some of its debt and avoid bankruptcy.

Lack of Standards Delay Electronic Medical Records

Anita Huslin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

The $19 billion prescribed in Congress's economic stimulus package to bring America's health-care records into the electronic age is a welcome opportunity for information technology firms seeking to build market share in a still-young industry.

Satellite Technology Developer, Nationally Ranked Bicycle Racer

Patricia Sullivan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Andrew M. Werth, 74, a satellite technology developer and entrepreneur who was considered a key figure in the industry for decades, died Jan. 28 at Sibley Memorial Hospital's Grand Oaks Assisted Living center. He had dementia.

Plug Pulled on Md. Legislature's Facebook, MySpace for Fear of Viruses

Rosalind S. Helderman — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Message to the world: The Maryland General Assembly does not want to be your friend.

Business Brisk at Area Libraries

Annie Gowen — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Nearly every study table is full with patrons sipping lattes and surfing the Web. Teens are curled up in easy chairs. In a worried knot by the doorway, job seekers gather around a sign-up station for the Internet, waiting for their turn.

Well-Connected Parents Take On School Boards

Michael Alison Chandler — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

For a new generation of well-wired activists in the Washington region, it's not enough to speak at Parent-Teacher Association or late-night school board meetings. They are going head-to-head with superintendents through e-mail blitzes, social networking Web sites, online petitions, partnerships w...

Report On Water Quality Withheld

Miranda S. Spivack — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

A report that shows a decline in quality in northern Montgomery County waterways has been held from public release for months by county officials who have delayed the gloomy news while they hunt for new methods to allow more development but keep streams healthy.

Cellphone Users Told To Expect Delays

Spencer S. Hsu — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Pre-inauguration concertgoers who flocked to the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday sent about 10 times the volume of wireless calls, text messages, pictures and videos as on the busiest hour of a typical day, causing scattered outages that customers who gather for President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in...

Street Vendors Sell Mementos With Meaning

Nikita Stewart and Theola Labbé-DeBose — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Barack Obama's message of hope meets hustle at the Smithsonian Metro station.

BearingPoint Seeks Release From Debt Trap

Michael S. Rosenwald — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

In April 2005, just days after telling investors that federal regulators were investigating its accounting practices amid a significant cash crunch, BearingPoint borrowed $200 million from a consortium of lenders.

O Brave New World That Has Such Avatars in It!

Michael Laris — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

The virtual world Second Life, a landscape of primping avatars, ballroom dancing bears, space stations and vampire castles, has a new -- and maybe even more surreal -- inhabitant: the Arlington County government.

More and More, Schools Got Game

Michael Alison Chandler — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Lifelong gamer Russell Alford, 15, usually has to wait until his homework and chores are finished before he can play Call of Duty 4, but this semester he got to play another video game at school. His finance class at Marshall High School in Fairfax County designed avatars and saved a virtual city...

Wash Post Washtech

Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85

Ciena to buy Nortel unit in $769 million deal

Ciena beats NSN to buy Nortel's businesses for $769 mln

Ciena trumps NSN to buy Nortel ops for $769 million: sources

New technology, tight budgets hinder sex-offender monitoring

Safety issue raised in Dulles rail bridge project

Verizon Wireless lays off former Alltel workers

Electronic games turn slots casinos into 'Vegas lite'

Controversial speed cameras cause gear-grinding among irked drivers

Great white sharks coming closer to shore than thought, researchers find

County schools flock to Facebook, Twitter, blogs to keep community informed

Scientist accused of espionage described as gifted, ambitious

Metro to test real-time software for crash-avoidance system

Md. scientist indicted on attempted espionage charge

Espionage suspect to remain jailed

20 Metro Stations Expand Cellphone Coverage on Platforms

No Friends of Facebook's, in a Generation That Is

Montgomery County Lab Visit Stirs Interest in Science

Program Spurs 'Tweens to Consider Careers in Science

Own Sweat Has Become Alcohol Offenders' New Snitch

NASA Scientist Charged in Md. With Aiding Wife's Firm

FCC 'Net Neutrality' Rules Expected to Advance on Vote

Media Outlets Flounder in Loudoun County

Left in the Flat-Screen Dust

Northern Virginia Housing Market Shows Signs of Stabilizing as Foreclosures Fall

Services' E-Mail Hacking Illegal, but Officials Need More Than That to Prosecute

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Howard, Virginia Tech Join Program Preparing Students for U.S. Intelligence Jobs

Computer System That Failed in Pr. George's Has Faltered at Schools Across U.S.

Parents Nag Via Text-Messaging

Environmental Groups Criticize Verizon Wireless for Sponsoring Labor Day ÂRally'

Agencies Worldwide Use Web to Encourage Citizens to Do Their Own Flu Tracking

James C. Marsters, 85; Dentist Co-Created Phone System for Deaf

Pr. George's Scheduling Flaw Was Known Before School Started

Companies Seek Federal Help for Expanding Internet Capacity in Western Loudoun

Md. Jurisdictions Seek Funds to Expand Broadband Internet Access

Md. Medical Helicopter Faced Problems in Air and on Ground Before Fatal Crash

Affordability Is Martek's Challenge As It Looks to Turn Algae Into Fuel

Cell Service to Expand on Metro

'Glamping' Offers an Upscale Take on the Great Outdoors

Project to Consolidate D.C. School Data Behind Schedule

Southern Maryland Notebook

Keeping Up Appearances After a Layoff Can Be Hard Work

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Montgomery Planning Director's Technology Spending Under Reviewed

Science and Tech Firms Find Like Minds in Ballston

Top Cybersecurity Official Resigns

A $191 Million Question

D.C., U.S. Underreported Number of Kids With High Lead Levels by More Than Half

George Morris Dies; Former Host on Satellite Radio Classic Rock Channel

MedImmune Ramps Up Production of H1N1 Flu Vaccine

Larceny Up in Region as Gadgets Left in Vehicles Tempt Thieves

Digital Nomads Ditch Cubicles for Shared Spaces, Choosing Their Co-Workers

BearingPoint Nears End of Difficult Run

To Quell Criticism, Some Doctors Require Patients to Sign 'Gag Orders'

Jonas Brothers Give AOL Crew a Lift

Md. School Joins Test of Online Courses Tailored to Girls

Rust Library in Leesburg to Reopen After Renovation

Md. Prisons, Wireless Industry at Odds Over Jamming Inmate Cellphones

Verizon Is Now a 2nd Option in Charles for Internet/TV Service

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Workers in Manassas Make Computers That Power Spacecraft Sent to Moon

A Metro Train Control System Fails a Post-Crash Test

Metro Crash Investigation Turns Up Electronic Control 'Anomalies'

Metro Relaunching System to Provide Data on Next Bus's Arrival Time

Sirius XM Rolls Out iPhone App, But No Stern or NFL on the Go

Unhappy Customer, 79, Dies After Bid to Stop Verizon Van in Vienna

Jhong Sam Lee, 73, Dies; Developed Defense and Communication Technologies

PhantomAlert GPS Device Warns Driver of Speed Cameras

Manufacturer to Give D.C. Information About Voting Machines

Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County Is Criticized in Online Posts

MedImmune Wins Key Contract To Develop Swine Flu Vaccine

Slur-Filled Teen Web Site Devastating for Some but Just Shy of Being Illegal

Hard Questions in Wake of Reputed Va. Health Data Theft

Metro Explores Bank Card Payment System

Prince William Students Produce Videos and Albums

Hackers Say They Have Va. Prescription Drug Data, Demand $10 Million

Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contracts

Va. Candidate McAuliffe Has History of Mixing Business, Politics

Environmental Groups Criticize Verizon Wireless for Sponsoring Labor Day ÂRally'