Politics
GOP senator says endorsement hinges on Trump’s running mate
Maine Sen. Susan Collins says who Donald Trump chooses as his running mate will play a big role in her decision to support his campaign. Collins says his running mate selection will provide some insight as to whether he is prepared to moderate his hard-edged campaign. “This evolves daily. There are surprises daily. And I’m going to see what happens at the convention,” Collins told David Axelrod on “The Axe Files” podcast. “It’s going to be very important to me whom Donald Trump chooses as his running mate. That is arguably the most important decision that a candidate can make.” Specifically, Collins wants to see if Trump will pick a vice president that can balance out some areas where he does not have experience, such as foreign policy. “I don’t like that Donald Trump calls anyone names,” she said. “I think that is un-presidential and not worthy of the kind of public discourse that we should have. And I have been critical of him for criticizing Hillary Clinton for ‘playing the woman’s card.’ I think that demeans her accomplishments and, as a woman, I’m particularly concerned when someone demeans the accomplishments of someone who has done a lot in her life, even if I don’t agree with that person.”
Entertainment
The Academy seeks to expand diversity with new members
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to 683 new members, in an effort to reaffirm its commitment to diversity amid the #OscardsSoWhite controversy. According to the academy, 46% of those 683 invitations are women and 41% are people of color, which would raise the percentages of women and people of color within the organization to 27% and 11%, respectively. Some of the actors invited into the academy include John Boyega, Idris Elba, Anthony Anderson, Regina King, Michelle Rodriguez, Daniel Dae Kim, Freida Pinto and America Ferrera. The roster represents 59 countries, and includes 28 Oscar winners and 283 international members. In a statement, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said the new members “know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation, a mission and not just a membership.”
Washington, DC
US Park Police discuss July 4 drone restriction
U.S. Park Police are telling people planning to attend July Fourth festivities in Washington to leave their drones at home. It is illegal to fly unmanned aircraft in national parks around the country and anywhere in a 15-mile radius of Reagan National Airport, known as the “No Drone Zone.” Police cited a Washington man on Monday for flying a drone in restricted air space. At a news conference on Thursday, U.S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean will discuss the drone policy and other security measures related to the July Fourth holiday.
Virginia
Probable cause of student’s plane crash indentified by NTSB
The probable cause of a plane crash in Virginia that killed a 16-year-old student on a solo flight has been identified by the National Transportation Safety Board. The agency reports that the cause of the crash on March 29, 2015, was Ryan McCall’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff from the Orange County Airport. The report adds that the plane’s engine performance may have degraded during takeoff, possibly contributing to the plane’s loss of control. The agency found that the engine’s carburetor produced too much fuel and that some of the spark plugs were weak. However, they couldn’t determine if those conditions had affected the engine.
Maryland
More faculty under investigation for sex abuse at Md. School
A former Prince George’s County teacher’s aide could face multiple life prison sentences if convicted on charges of sexually abusing 23 children. Twenty-two-year-old Deonte Carraway, also served as a tutor and babysitter in addition to his job at Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary School. However, Carraway is not the only one under investigation. “There are two investigations going now,” said State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks. “We’re looking at how these particular crimes were allowed to occur and whether or not any crimes were committed by individuals who had care and custody of these children.” According to prosecutors, between August 2015 and February 2016, 20 boys and 3 girls ages 9 to 13 were abused on and off school property. The second investigation could last several weeks or more.
Washington Wizards: End of Season
Washington Capitals: End of Season
Washington Redskins: End of Season
Washington Nationals: New York Mets 2 – 4 Washington Nationals
Washington Mystics: San Antonio Stars 67 – 84 Washington Mystics
June 30 8 PM PATTI LABELLE, Strathmore, Bethesda, MD
June 30 8:30 PM DreamWorks Animation in Concert | NSO, Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA
July 3 1 PM XV LITHUANIAN FOLK DANCE FESTIVA, Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, MD
