More than 70 people were displaced Tuesday in a huge apartment-house fire in Southeast Washington, the D.C. fire department said.
Washington, D.C
Lawyers object to ‘cruel’ DC Bar face mask rule for 12-hour exam
The Washington, D.C., bar exam will require test takers to wear a mask for the duration of the 12-hour exam, prompting some lawyers to condemn the requirement as unnecessary and burdensome.
The mask requirement was included in a memo sent to applicants for the professional legal test and applies to the upcoming test date in July. The existence of the memo was reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
LIBERALS BLAME REPUBLICANS, NOT BIDEN, FOR THEIR PURSUIT OF DEBT CEILING ‘PLAN B’
The mask mandate comes as Washington has abandoned all mask and social distancing mandates. Masks are no longer required in schools or in federal buildings, and the federal COVID-19 emergency is over.
The test’s masking requirement drew harsh words from a pair of attorneys who said masking will needlessly complicate a test that is notoriously difficult.
“Sitting for the bar exam is stressful enough! It is sadly ironic, since lawyers need to think rationally and weigh risks for themselves,” Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the Consumer Choice Center, told the Washington Examiner.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and the director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, decried the mask requirement as “cruel” and said he hopes test takers sue to nullify it.
“The technical legal term for this policy is ‘insane,’” Shapiro told the Washington Examiner. “Not only is the pandemic over, with (less harmful variants of) COVID endemic among other coronaviruses in our ecosystem, [but] masks have been shown to be an ineffective method of preventing transmission, particularly over long periods of time. To add this concentration-reducing burden to one of the most stressful professional experiences around is cruel. I hope test-takers sue the D.C. Bar.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the D.C. Bar for comment.
Washington, D.C
Huge fire in Southeast displaces dozens, fire department says
The two-alarm blaze broke out in the 2600 block of Bowen Road SE and was extinguished by 4 p.m., according to the department.
At least one person was rescued by ladder, the department said. Two people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospitals. No serious injuries were reported.
The fire apparently broke out on the top floor and attic area of a four-story apartment house and spread to adjoining buildings.
The cause was not immediately known.
Washington, D.C
Washington DC expected to see record travel for Independence Day Weekend
WASHINGTON – More than 1.8 million Washington-metro area residents are projected to travel 50 miles or more over the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to AAA.
This marks a 6% increase compared to last year and over 5% more than in 2019.
“With school out across the country, summer vacations are in full swing, and the 4th of July holiday seems like the perfect time for a getaway,” said Ragina Cooper Ali, spokeswoman for AAA in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
FILE-Travelers search for their suitcases in a baggage holding area for Southwest Airlines at Denver International Airport on December 28, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)
“We are seeing that a residual impact of COVID has been greater work flexibility, affording many the opportunity to work remotely and extend weekend and holiday trips,” Ali added.
AAA estimates that more than 1.6 million metro-area residents—nearly 90% of travelers—will drive during the holiday week. This is an increase of nearly 6% compared to both last year and 2019. “Nationally, gas prices are trending about 11 cents lower than last year. Here, in the D.C. metro area, Tuesday’s average of $3.49 is a penny less than a year ago,” noted Ali. She added that while pump prices are expected to remain stable until after Labor Day, the hurricane season could potentially impact Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers, leading to fluctuations.
Air travel is also anticipated to be strong, with AAA projecting more than 129,000 D.C. area travelers flying to their July 4th destinations. This is nearly 7% higher than last year and more than a 12% increase compared to 2019. AAA’s booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, with the average price for a domestic round-trip ticket at $800. Ali recommends travelers arrive at airports two hours early, reserve parking in advance, and opt for carry-on luggage to save time and money.
The “other” travel category, which includes buses, trains, and cruises, is also seeing a rebound, with over 79,000 District travelers expected to take these modes of transportation. This represents an increase of nearly 12% compared to last year, although it is still down more than 8% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. “Baltimore and other hometown ports remain popular and convenient for many in our region,” stated Ali. She also noted that cruise travelers can find deals this summer as new ships entering the market lead to targeted discounts on older inventory.
Nationally, a record 71 million people are predicted to travel for the holiday this year, with more than 60 million hitting the roads. Air travel is also expected to set a record with nearly six million travelers, reflecting a 7% increase from last year and more than a 12% rise compared to pre-pandemic days in 2019.
Washington, D.C
Hunter Biden suspended from practicing law in D.C. after gun conviction
Washington — The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has suspended Hunter Biden from practicing law in Washington, D.C., the court’s chief judge said in a filing Tuesday.
The “immediate” suspension, as Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby put it, follows Biden’s conviction on federal gun charges by a federal jury in Delaware. Federal law prohibits someone who improperly uses controlled substances from purchasing or possessing a firearm. The president’s son was found guilty of three felony counts related to his purchase of a gun in 2018 while he was addicted to crack cocaine.
The court said the “serious crimes” warranted the suspension of Biden’s ability to practice law in the district.
“[T]he respondent is suspended immediately from the practice of law in the District of Columbia pending resolution of this matter,” the order said, referring the matter to the D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility for further investigation.
Biden is a Yale Law School graduate, although he hasn’t been a particularly active user of his law degree recently. He has been licensed to practice law in D.C. since 2007.
Scott MacFarlane contributed to this report.
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