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Union fights for DC Circulator staff as system phase out begins Tuesday

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Union fights for DC Circulator staff as system phase out begins Tuesday


We’ve known that the DC Circulator buses in the District will be gone by the end of the year, but starting Tuesday, 90 bus employees will be laid off.

This is part of the city’s phase-out process to a bus system that has been around for two decades.

Since 2005, it has had an attractive, popular bus system. The DC Circulator bus system had 1.9 million riders last year and nearly 300 employees. About 78 Circulator employees have landed jobs with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), however, they will lose their seniority, and start at lower wages and different shifts.

Union reps have criticized transportation officials over the treatment of the circulator workforce.

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READ MORE | Transit workers rally against DC Circulator shutdown, calls for Metro to take over

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, one of the unions that represents the workers says it will continue to fight to retain current pay rates. It claims circulator employees had five-year contracts, and job security through 2028. But the mayor abruptly cut Circulator funding from this year’s budget.

Both sides spoke at a recent council transportation committee hearing.

“This has been bungled from the start DDOT never reached out to have any conversations with us, and the mayor’s office appears to have lost my number. However, to address the DDOT director and the mayor directly, let me be clear, we did not want to be here today,” said Matthew Girardi, Political & Communications Director for ATU Local 689.

”Behind me sit anxious parents, brothers, sisters, daughters and sons who have only wanted to do their jobs to the best of their abilities and to provide decent lives to their families. Currently, because there is no plan, the median DC Circulator employee is slated to lose by our estimate $76,062,” Girardi added.

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READ MORE | Metro wants to fill gap from impacted DC Circulator routes, extend overnight service

Starting today, Oct. 1, routes will also begin to see changes. ‘

Service to Rosslyn-Dupont Circle will end, altering bus arrival times everywhere else to every 20 minutes instead of every 10 minutes. Late-night service on the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan and Georgetown-Union Station routes are also ending.

”DDOT and WMATA have worked to leverage Metro bus’ extensive network to provide continued bus access for Circulator customers, enhance service to key destinations,” said Sharon Kershbaum, Director of the District Department of Transportation.

“Upon the termination of the Circulator service on December 31, WMATA will provide expanded and supplemental bus service on key alternative routes to address the gaps from the legacy Circulator routes,” Kershbaum said.

For the Rosslyn-Dupont Circle route, D.C. bus route 38-B will now provide extended service between Rosslyn and Farragut Square during peak weekend hours. Metro bus routes 31 and 33 will be merged into a single route along H and I streets Northwest to Union Station.

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Washington, D.C

Infant’s death ruled a homicide in DC, police seek answers

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Infant’s death ruled a homicide in DC, police seek answers


D.C. police are investigating the death of a 1-year-old over the weekend as a homicide. 

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Police identified the victim as Journee Moore, who lives in Upper Marlboro. 

Around 10:45 Saturday night, police got a call about a child in cardiac arrest inside an apartment building at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Rodman Street in Northwest D.C.

Moore was taken to Children’s National Hospital where she later died.

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Sunday, the Medical Examiner’s Office did an autopsy and discovered Moore had multiple blunt force trauma injuries, and have determined her death was a homicide.

“That’s crazy. A 1-year-old, I just can’t get over the fact that it’s a 1-year-old. The baby is 1. Who would want to do something like that to a child?” said Lisha Quarles, who is a caretaker for a man who lives inside the apartment.

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“I can’t even think about it. It’s too sad,” said Yana Vierboon, who lives in the neighborhood.

FOX 5 has learned the incident appears to be domestic in nature. 

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No charges have been filed at this time nor have any suspects been named.



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‘What Jewish Looks Like' spotlights community's diversity in DC and worldwide

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‘What Jewish Looks Like' spotlights community's diversity in DC and worldwide



‘What Jewish Looks Like’ spotlights community’s diversity in DC and worldwide – NBC4 Washington







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Washington, D.C

Early voting begins in Nebraska and Washington, DC

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Early voting begins in Nebraska and Washington, DC


Nebraska and Washington, D.C., began early voting on Monday. Here is the information you need to register and vote in both.

Nebraska’s 2nd district could be critical on the path to 270

Nebraska is red territory. Former President Trump won the state by 19 points in the last presidential election and 25 points in 2016.

But the state has long allocated its electoral votes differently than most other states, and that could give Harris an opportunity.

The scenario goes like this: Vice President Harris wins Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and the less competitive states that President Biden won in 2020 (i.e. excluding Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina). 

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That gives her 269 electoral votes, resulting in a tie that would, in the end, very likely hand Trump the election.

To win with the majority of the electoral college, either Harris or Trump needs 270 votes.

Nebraska’s 2nd district would provide that one extra vote.

(Maine and Nebraska are the only states that award electoral college votes both to the winner of the statewide vote, and the winner of the same vote but separated by congressional district.)

The district has voted for two Democrats and two Republicans in the last four elections:

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  • In 2020, Biden won with 51.95% to Trump’s 45.45%.
  • In 2016, Trump won with 47.16% to Clinton’s 44.92%.
  • In 2012, Romney won with 52.85% to Obama’s 45.70%.
  • In 2008, Obama won with 49.97% to McCain’s 48.75%.

Omaha and its suburbs make up a significant part of the district’s population, and the city has a disproportionately high percentage of people with a college education. That gives Harris the edge. Nebraska’s 2nd district is ranked Lean D on the Fox News Power Rankings.

Nebraska’s 2nd district is also, of course, home to a U.S. House race. Center-right Republican Rep. Don Bacon has held the seat since 2017, but as last week’s Power Rankings revealed, he is locked in a close battle with second-time rival and Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas. The district is ranked a Toss Up.

Finally, Nebraskans will also vote in two U.S. Senate races this year. The one to watch is the regular election between incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, who has won the seat twice beginning in 2012, and independent challenger Dan Osborn, a Navy veteran and local union leader. Fischer has a clear advantage, but the race moved to Likely R last week.

How to vote in Nebraska

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Nebraska.

Voting by mail

Nebraska began absentee voting on Monday. Applicants do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state must receive a ballot application by Oct. 25, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5.

Early in-person voting

Nebraska will begin early in-person voting on Oct. 7, and it will run through Nov. 4.

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Voter registration

Nebraska residents can register to vote online or by mail through Oct. 18. They can register in-person through Oct. 25.

Voters can head to the polls early by mail or in-person in most of the U.S. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

How to vote in Washington, D.C.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Washington, D.C.

Voting by mail

Washington, D.C., began absentee voting on Monday. Registered voters do not need to apply for a ballot, as the district will begin sending ballots to all active registered voters this week. Ballots can be returned by mail or in person through election day.

Early in-person voting

Washington, D.C. will begin early in-person voting on Oct. 28, and it will run through Nov. 3.

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Voter registration

Residents of the nation’s capital can register to vote online or by mail through Oct. 15. They can also register in-person during early voting (Oct. 28-Nov. 3) and on election day.



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