From the Mayor’s Office:
“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser released the following statement after President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., First Lady Jill Biden, and U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona joined the Mayor at Brookland Middle School to tour a classroom, showcase safe, in-person learning and to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. (more…)
C writes: “whoa! real excited about this potential announcement!” on from the Washington Post:
“President Biden is expected to sign an order Thursday requiring all federal employees to be vaccinated, without any option for regular coronavirus testing as an alternative to the mandate, according to a person familiar with the plans.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of the president’s scheduled 5 p.m. remarks.”
Updates after remarks at 5pm.
photo by Brad Herson
Thanks to Andrew for sending from WTOP/The Associated Press:
“Far right extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are planning to attend a rally later this month [September 18th] at the U.S. Capitol that is designed to demand “justice” for the hundreds of people who have been charged in connection with January’s insurrection, according to three people familiar with intelligence gathered by federal officials.
As a result, U.S. Capitol Police have been discussing in recent weeks whether the large perimeter fence that was erected outside the Capitol after January’s riot will need to be put back up, the people said.”
Thanks to Ben for sending: “Emergency Rally at Supreme Court at 5 PM Today (Friday Aug 27th)”
From the SCOTUSblog:
“The Supreme Court lifts the federal eviction moratorium. In an unsigned 8-page opinion (with the three liberals dissenting), SCOTUS sides with a group of landlords who argued that the CDC lacked the authority to bar evictions during the pandemic.”
via FEMA
Thanks to the DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management for the heads up:
“Reminder: Tomorrow (August 11 at 2:20PM ET), @fema and @FCC are conducting a national test of the Emergency Alert System. Help us spread the word!”
From FEMA: (more…)
Photo by lorie shaull
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she is very pleased that the House today passed her amendment to the fiscal year 2022 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill to prohibit the U.S. Capitol Police from enforcing the prohibition on scooters at the Capitol complex. The House subsequently passed the bill. The report accompanying the bill also contains a Norton provision directing the Capitol Police not to enforce the prohibition on sledding at the Capitol complex. (more…)
Thanks to C. for sending word about federal workers and vaccines. The Washington Post reported:
“President Biden will announce Thursday that all federal employees will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or face repeated testing mandates, a White House official said, a dramatic escalation of the administration’s effort to combat the spread of the delta variant.”
and in other vaccine news ESPN reported:
“Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera said he’s “beyond frustrated” with his players’ lower vaccination rate and worries about the potential impact it will have on their team.
Rivera said more than 50% of Washington’s players have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as they reported to training camp Tuesday.”
From NPS:
“On Monday, July 26, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin work to improve the streets around Lafayette Park including Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Madison Place and Jackson Place.
During the road construction, the NPS will temporarily close these streets and post detours to guide pedestrians and bicyclists around the closures, which are expected to last until fall 2021. Lafayette Park will remain open during construction. (more…)
Photo by angela n.
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today celebrated the announcement that the fencing around the Capitol Building grounds, erected after the January 6th attack on the Capitol, will be removed. The removal will start as soon as tomorrow and is expected to take three days. Norton has long worked to remove the fencing at the Capitol complex, both for its symbolism against open and democratic government and to restore access to roads and walkways for D.C. residents, emergency services, mail delivery, and local businesses. She also introduced a bill to prohibit federal funding from being used to install permanent fencing at the Capitol complex. (more…)
From Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office:
“Last Monday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter giving the National Park Service (NPS) until August 31, 2021, to make a final decision on whether it will change the name of Melvin Hazen Park in the District of Columbia and informing NPS she will consider introducing legislation to change the name if NPS has not made a final decision by then. In February, Norton asked NPS to change the name of the park because Hazen helped demolish the African-American community in the D.C. neighborhood then known as Reno City. In response, NPS said that it needed to take more time to examine whether it has the authority to change the name, and if does have such authority, whether it should change the name.
Norton’s letter to NPS follows. (more…)