DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! While you were out doing last minute shopping, we were in, doing last minute bookmarking (it’s how we gather your links)! Enjoy:

Death outside DC9 is ruled a homicide by medical examiner “Marc S. Micozzi, a forensic pathologist who teaches at Georgetown University and is not involved in the case, said in an interview that the medical examiner’s office apparently determined that Mohammed’s heart gave out for several reasons…He said alcohol intoxication and the physical exertion of struggling with five men trying to restrain him might have caused further problems by overstimulating his heart. “Excited delirium” generally describes a highly agitated mental state, Micozzi said.” (The Washington Post)

Fenty moved $495k from jobs training to severance packages, councilmen say “A Fenty spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both Browns asked that Fenty find another source to compensate his political appointees that does not require spending dollars from the cash-strapped city. “In the midst of our current job crisis, how can the mayor begin to justify removing resources that are aimed directly are preparing residents for sustainable employment,” Michael Brown said in a statement.” (Washington Examiner )

Did the recession prevent teen motherhood? “The recession is everyone’s favorite causal explanation for things happening right now,” said Rachel Jones of the Guttmacher Institute. “Other than people conjecturing, there is no evidence that the recession has had a direct impact on teen sexual behaviors.” What we do know, however, is that contraceptive use increased among teens between 2007 and 2009…Bill Albert of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy shared my initial skepticism about the economic explanation: “I just simply do not know many 16-year-olds who are thinking about bank statements when they hop in the sack.” (Salon)

Christmas Day snowstorm and travel conditions around D.C. “What is happening is a trend for the storm to be a bit slower to form, which is good news for travelers on Christmas Eve. Travel up and down the I-95 corridor and throughout the east on December 24 will be fine. The storm is most likely to really get going late that day into Christmas morning, so if you can travel and drive very early on Christmas Day, I think it would be wise to make a plan now. I still think there is a 50/50 chance of a big storm with Christmas Day snow of 4 inches or more along much of the east from Richmond to New York and Boston…” (tbd.com)

Should Students Help to Assess Teacher Performance? “Usually, teacher evaluations take place when a principal or a school administrator chooses certain days of the school year to sit in on the class and observe the teacher. But…teachers can be nervous or act differently if an administrator is there. Students, on the other hand, spend every day learning from them hence, observing them. Plus, even the most effective teachers may have days that are not of excellent teaching. Or ineffective teachers may have good days…Students’ help in assessing teachers may be a solution to this long-lasting challenge.” (studentsfirst.org)

Metro bag inspections cause minor customer annoyances “Metro’s bag inspections averaged about 30 seconds but ran as long as eight minutes in the case of one man whose bag tested positive for a chemical used in explosives. The bag was subsequently X-rayed. Police questioned the man, who they said was a government worker, and released him. “I’m going to work,” the man said curtly as he strode to the fare gates. The explosive traces “could have been from a gun or residue from target shooting if he went to a firing range,” said Lt. Doug Durham of Metro Transit Police’s Special Operations unit.” (The Washington Post)