WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- It's finally here: the 2011-2012 winter sports season on WUSA 9 and Dc.highschoolsports.net! 

Each week, we will choose the region's top basketball games. Then, it's up to you to pick which match-up will be named "Game of the Week" during the "Toyota Game Night...more Brief."

We'll send a photographer to the match-up that receives the most votes and you can tune in to the 11 o'clock sportscast on Friday nights to catch highlights from the winning game. The poll is open until Thursday at 10:00 p.m. and we will announce the winner on-air every Thursday night.  

For updates on voting check us out on Facebook and Twitter (@hssnetdc). Thanks for your help making this another great season of high school basketball!  

Back to dc.highschoolsports.net

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - More than a dozen Virginia localities are receiving state grants to encourage students to walk or ride bicycles to schools.

Gov. Bob McDonnell said Wednesday that 16 municipalities and two counties will receive a total $5.9 million in Safe Routes to School...more funding.

The funding will be used for projects at 28 elementary and middle schools, including pedestrian and bicycle crossings and multi-use trails.

The goal is to improve the safety of bicycling and walking to school and to make these activities convenient and appealing for students.

Municipalities receiving funding are Alexandria, Ashland, Blacksburg, Chincoteague, Colonial Beach, Colonial Heights, Falls Church, Galax, Lynchburg, Manassas Park, Roanoke, Stanley, Staunton, Vienna, Waynesboro and West Point.

Fairfax and Faquier counties also will receive funding.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) - An Alexandria man has pleaded guilty to four separate fraud schemes, including one where he admitted using credit cards in the names of his elderly grandmother and grandfather, and his daughter's Social Security number. 

Fifty-year-old David Lee Parker...more admitted to six charges for conducting the four fraudulent schemes since 2006. The counts included:

one count of access device fraud,
two counts of wire fraud,
two counts of aggravated identity theft, and
one count of fraud in connection with computers.

In one scheme, Parker used credit cards in the names of his elderly grandmother and grandfather, his own name and his daughter's Social Security number make more than $70,000 worth of unauthorized purchases.

In another scheme, Parker convinced two people to invest in the European franchise rights to the Hard Times Cafe and the investors lost more than $120,000.

Parker also

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) -- Alexandria Police continue to investigate a burglary and assault from Monday night.

Police say a 16-year-old babysitter heard a loud noise at approximately 8 p.m. at the home in the 1100 block of Archer Court. When she went to investigate, she saw a man who...more grabbed her and pushed her to the floor. Her cell phone rang and he fled the residence.

The babysitter was not seriously injured, say police.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his early twenties, 6'0 to 6'2" tall, weighing approximately 190 to 200 pounds with black hair and a goatee.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 703-746-6711. You can remain anonymous.

 
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) - Who was the tallest president? How many presidents were born in Virginia? And who was our best looking president? 9News Now's Bruce Johnson quizzed the crowds at Alexandria's annual Presidents' Day parade to see how many know these and other answers. Click the video and test your own presidential trivia skill.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (WUSA) -- Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker wants to make National Harbor an entertainment mecca with a high-end casino, a theater for Vegas-style shows, and use gaming to enhance the economic development for the entire county.

Thursday, Baker...more announced his push to bring the one billion dollar project to the area along the Potomac River just outside the Beltway. It has the support of Peterson Cos., the developer of National Harbor, as well as Gaylord Entertainment, which owns the largest hotel near the site.

"Bringing a billion-dollar casino to Prince George's County, high end retail and having Las Vegas-style shows will make National Harbor an entertainment district, which is what it is now, and will attract and bring tourists to Prince George's County," Baker told 9NEWS NOW. "What we'll see is an attraction from the District, from Northern Virginia, from, quite honestly, the whole east coast."

The nearest casinos with

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) --- The Virginia Theological Seminary is trying to raise enough money to replace the historic Immanuel Chapel that graced its campus for more than 129 years before being destroyed by fire in October 2010.

It has unveiled designs for a new "Chapel For The Ages"...more expected to cost $18 million. Insurance on the Immanuel Chapel is providing about $10 million of that amount. Church leaders hope to raise the rest with a campaign formally launched in ceremonies on Thursday night.

"You can not have a seminary without a chapel. Seminaries by definition need chapels. It's in the seminary chapel that seminarians gather to allow God to work on their lives, to learn the discipline of daily worship, and to be transformed into vehicles of grace for the gospel.

"We are the strongest seminary in the Anglican Union. We are the strongest seminary in the Episcopal Church.

"We train 30 percent of the clergy of the Episcopal Church.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) - Firefighters from across the nation gathered in Alexandria on Thursday for the funeral of Alexandria paramedic Joshua Weissman.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell authorized both Alexandria and Arlington to fly flags at half-staff for Weissman.

For hours,...more  Alexandria came to a standstill as roads were shut down and schools dismissed early for Weissman's  funeral.  Hundreds who never knew Weissman stood in the rain and drizzle to honor a man who gave his life rescuing others.

He was remembered as man who was deeply committed to his wife and family, his friends, and passionate about his life's work.

The 33-year old lost his life after falling through a two-foot space between two bridges as he attempted to reach a burning car on I-395 last Wednesday. It was a 30 foot fall. His fellow paramedics rushed to save him below.

Alexandria Fire Chief Adam Thiel was called to the seen.

"I'll never forget looking over

McLEAN, Va. (AP) - A former Loudoun County deputy is being sued after a patrol car camera appears to show him sprinting to knock out an unsuspecting arrestee with a blow to the back of the head.

Sterling resident Carlos Garcia filed the lawsuit in federal court in Alexandria against...more former deputy Terry Daniel, who now lives in Alabama. Video from the November 2009 arrest has been posted on YouTube. It depicts a Loudoun deputy charging from behind at Garcia, who is standing with his hands raised next to another deputy.

Garcia wound up being charged with assaulting a police officer and pled to reduced charges, though he now insists he did nothing wrong. Daniel was promoted before resigning last year.

Daniel said he is hiring a lawyer and declined further comment.

MATTHEW BARAKAT

Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) -- Funeral arrangements have been made for Alexandria Fire Department Paramedic Joshua Weissman.

Weissman died on February 9, after responding to a car fire on Interstate 395 near Glebe Road on the evening of February 8th. 

While responding to the car...more fire, he fell from the roadway, where he suffered a severe head injury.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home on 1500 West Braddock Road

Alexandria, VA 22302 from 5PM to midnight.

The funeral service with honors will be held Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 1PM at Beth El Hebrew Congregation

3830 Seminary Road Alexandria, VA 22304.

Due to space limitations at the funeral home and Beth El Hebrew Congregation, seating is limited. The public is advised to dress appropriately for waiting in outdoor winter weather.

Interment will follow at Ivy Hill Cemetery 2823 King Street

Alexandria,

From Legal Professionals Marketing Group:
Falls Church, VA –  Attorney Michael L. Avery presented student Meghan Okonsky with a check for $2,500.00 on Friday, January 20, 2012 at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. Ms. Okonsky won the award based on her first place finish in a...more firm-sponsored contest that asked 11th and 12th graders to develop artwork and a slogan encouraging their peers not to text while driving. Okonsky’s entry featured a damaged cell phone with traces of blood and the words “Is it Worth It?” In addition to her winnings, Okonsky also won an additional $1,000 for her school. Mr. Avery is the principal of The Avery Law Firm. The firm focuses its practice on personal injury cases, particularly on those accidents involving motor vehicles. Mr. Avery is a former infantry officer and marine captain who has over 20 years experience handling such matters.