DCentric

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My alma mater, the George Washington University...has bedbugs.

Good morning, DCentric readers! Here are your morning links:

Meet your new roommate: Bed bugs “A university spokeswoman told the Hatchet officials have found bed bugs in six dorm rooms — four have already been cleaned up and two are in the process. The university is also treating rooms near the contaminated ones. (This isn’t something new, as the university has had about two dozen bed bug cases over the past three years. So, no need to freak out — seriously.) GW isn’t the only college dealing with creepy crawly dorm dwellers. Jeff White, an entomologist with BedBug Central, told AOL News that, “almost all colleges are dealing with or have probably recently dealt with a bedbug infestation on their campuses.” (voices.washingtonpost.com)

Teachers’ union on low reading scores: ‘We must take immediate steps’ “The president of the national teachers’ union said 12th-grade math and reading performance was paltry compared with the higher scores of the 1990s. The American Federation of Teachers’ Randi Weingarten said the 2009 scores “don’t show enough growth since the 1990s. We must take immediate steps to prepare all children, regardless of ZIP code, to succeed in college, work and life.” (Washington Examiner )

Former boxer Keely Thompson charged with fraudulently spending $500,000 in D.C. anti-gang funds “A well-known D.C. boxer who fought professionally as a lightweight in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Thompson was executive director of Keely’s District Boxing and Youth Center in Columbia Heights and Kenilworth. The center, serving youths from ages 8 to 18, has received more than $1.4million in District funds for at-risk children since 2004. Prosecutors charged that between 2004 and 2010, Thompson used the boxing center’s debit card to spend $150,000 on cruises and gambling in Atlantic City, losing more than $140,000 at Bally’s casino alone.” (The Washington Post)

Wale is distributing turkeys “DMV native and hip-hop artist Wale spent some time this week defending himself against allegations that he doesn’t do enough for his hometown, but how many other area rappers are giving grub to families in need? Tomorrow, he is hosting a community food drive and giving away more than 50 holiday dinners.” (tbd.com)

7-Eleven, ANC negotiations break down over chicken bones “The timing of this chicken bone stalemate is especially interesting given 7-Eleven’s recent all-out promotion of its new boneless wings. The ANC had previously hoped that 7-Eleven would agree to stop selling the boned variety once the chain’s boneless wings became widely available, which they are as of earlier this month. But now it seems the H Street 7-Eleven may not be willing to give up offering both. “It’s very disappointing,” says Ronneberg. “I thought we had an agreement, but we don’t, so we are moving forward” with the appeal.” (TBD.com)