FALLS CHURCH, Va. (WUSA) - For women with money, they can always go outside the state to seek a legal, safe abortion. But for poor women, they won't be able to do that. And the people who provide these services are fearful of the consequences.

"Either you're in favor of safe,...more legal abortions, or, as in the case of these regulations and laws coming from the General Assembly, promote illegal abortions," says Rosemary Codding, a health educator who founded the Falls Church Healthcare Center ten years ago. She believes poor women in Virginia may not have access to safe abortions, or even contraception, if certain bills become law.

Del Bob Marshall's "Personhood" bill defines life as beginning as conception. It provides rights and privileges to unborn children at every stage of development. The IUD is most popular and cheapest form of contraception in the world, but Codding says a "Personhood" law would make it illegal, along with all

FAIRFAX, Va. (WUSA) -- Fairfax County police have charged a Chevy Chase, Md. man for a New Year's Day robbery at a Denny's Restaurant.

Colin Thomas Bowie was charged with robbery, abduction, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and impersonating a police officer....more

According to Fairfax City Police, Takoma Park Police arrested Bowie on Feb. 17, charging him as a fugitive from justice from Virginia. He is being held in Montgomery County, Md.

In the Denny's robbery, authorities say a man entered the restaurant at 10473 Fairfax Boulevard at approximately 6:30 a.m. claiming to be a police officer. Then, the man took out a handgun and ordered the manager into the office to get money from the safe. The manager handed the man the money and the man fled out the back door.

No one was injured in the incident.

(WUSA) -- Metro and Fairfax County want your help picking names for some of its new stations.

The Silver Line will be Metro's newest line. It will go from East Falls Church, through Tysons Corner, through Reston and Herndon, to Dulles Airport and into Ashburn.  The first part of the...more Silver Line, to Wiehle Avenue, is set to open in 2013.  The extension to Dulles should open in 2017.

 

Metro and Fairfax County want your help in picking the names for some of the new stations. You can voice your opinion in an on-line survey.

One example: the station on Route 123, just east of the Beltway, by the Capital One headquarters. Which name do you like: McLean, Scotts Run, McLean-Scotts Run, or Tysons-McLean? Fairfax County likes Tysons McLean the best.
You can take this survey on line by clicking HERE. Neither Metro nor Fairfax County says the survey is binding, but it would like to know your opinions.

 

 
The following information was sent to us by Firefighter/EMT Laura Rinehart:
 
Gas leak initially reported from a six inch main, now confirmed the leak originated from a two inch gas line.
At approximately 7:45am, Wednesday February 22, 2012 Fire and Rescue units from...more Leesburg, Lansdowne and Ashburn were dispatched for an inside gas leak at 510 Principal Drummond Way in Leesburg.  Units arrived on scene to find a leak coming from a damaged two inch gas main.  Washington Gas was immediately notified and Bellwood Commons Shopping Center was evacuated as a precaution.
           Washington Gas is currently on the scene and in the process of securing the leak.  Fire and Rescue crews remain on standby and Loudoun County’s Hazardous Materials Team has set up remote monitoring devices throughout the area.

Last night the National Building Museum at 401 F Street NW played host to the 14th Annual St. Jude Gourmet Gala.
The Gala, which acts as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a pediatric cancer center, featured food from some of D.C.'s best restaurants like Jaleo, J & G...more Steakhouse, Marcel's and more.
Take a look at the photos above from the event and see some of the absurdly delicious food that was served.

Thanks to our caring community, we found the foster homes needed and then some for the dogs who were temporarily displaced during a renovation project at our New York Avenue adoption center. We can’t thank our friends and supporters enough for stepping in to help animals in need. In an effort...more to provide a better environment for all of the animals in our care, major improvement projects continue at our New York Avenue facility, and this time, it is our cats who are looking to their community for help.

The current construction project will displace numerous cats from their temporary homes in our adoption center – once again, as the only open access shelter in Washington, DC, this impacts us tremendously. WHS takes in an average of 30 animals every day and we never turn away an animal who needs our help. We hope we can count on you to help by providing short-term emergency foster care, or by spreading the word your families, friends and communities.
 
Foster

The following information Tim Lyons:
As it brings a much-needed breath of fresh air to the retail landscape, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP) has breathed new life into its store at Potomac Mills Mall.  The new store will celebrate its grand opening on March 2, showcasing the...more transformation under way at jcpenney as it re-imagines the department-store shopping experience.
 
 
“We’re going to treat customers the way they want to be treated -- fair and square -- with straightforward pricing, great value and excitement every time they shop with us,” said Kevin Kennedy, store manager. “We think everyone will be pleased with the new jcpenney.”
 
The new store replaces the former jcpenney Outlet Store, which closed in July 2011. The 106,000-square-foot store has been completely remodeled into a modern department store with wide aisles, new lighting, artful merchandise presentation and unmatched customer service. Shoppers will immediately notice the new

Target Corp. will host free in-store reading events at all Target stores nationwide this Saturday, February 25 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m., in celebration of the National
Education Association’s (NEA’s) Read Across America program. Each event will include a reading nook inspired by Dr. Seuss’ “The...more Lorax,” a reusable Target
bag filled with activities for children, readings by Target team members, and more.
 
Since 2003, Target has supported the NEA’s Read Across America program, which calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or around
March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss. As a result of its support of programs like this, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education
by the end of 2015.
 
Click here to find the Target store in your community.

BAILEYS CROSSROADS, Va. (WUSA) -- Fairfax County Fire authorities say Red Cross is helping two residents who have been displaced because of an apartment fire this past weekend.

A fire broke out on Saturday at approximately 7:50 p.m. at their three-story apartment building in the 3400...more block of Carlin Springs Road.

Firefighters reported light smoke coming from the front of a second floor apartment and battled the fire in a bedroom closet in the second floor apartment. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 40 minutes.

Fire officials say there was  moderate damage to that apartment but surrounding apartments only received minor water and smoke damage. Damage is estimated at $75,000, according to officials.

Residents were warned about the fire by fire alarms. There were no injuries.

The fire is under investigation.

 
Jenny Freestone’s ‘New Prints’ on display at NOVA-Loudoun
Artist gallery talk set for March 14
 “New Prints,” an exhibition of etchings, photogravures and lithographs by Jenny Freestone, is on display in Waddell Gallery at the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College...more until March 23. The community is invited to meet Freestone during a free artist gallery talk on Wednesday, March 14 at 11:30 a.m.

Freestone works in the media of etching, drypoint, lithography, direct gravure and photogravure. Her work begins with drawn studies or photographs which form the basis for the resulting print. Natural forms are her source material, often used in conjunction with architectural form to reinforce the connection between the human endeavour and the natural world. Her images stand as metaphors for the human condition, its attainments and failures, and its impact on the environment.
Freestone has exhibited widely nationally and internationally. Her work

 
Take a look at these photos, courtesy of the Washington Humane Society, of dogs currently available for adoption at the WHS Georgia Avenue location.
To find out more information about the Georgia Avenue shelter or more information about any of the dogs you see above, visit the Washington Humane Society's website.

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (WUSA) -- Like a swiftly planned bank robbery, the Paul VI Panthers snuck in and out of DeMatha High School Sunday afternoon, stealing the spotlight on senior day from celebrated Stag players James Robinson and Jerami
Grant. More importantly, a 58-55 win was collected by...more the now historic Paul VI
team.

The Panthers' close win -- their fifth straight victory by seven points or less -- concludes a perfect 18-0 record in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), which regularly hosts Division I coaches. Rick Pitino (Lousville) and Rick Barnes (Texas) were just two of the nearly dozen on hand to witness the Panthers' latest triumph.

"A lot of people said the first game was a fluke and that it couldn't be done again," said senior Patrick Holloway, who finished with 11 points. "We knew we already had the number one seed, but for us we wanted to prove we could beat DeMatha again."  

Sunday was a true testament to the reason

 
The following information was sent to us by Mike Bailey:
The Family & Youth Casting Call (FYCC) is a fun family and youth fishing event at Fletcher's Cove on the C&O Canal in Washington DC. The 2012 event is scheduled for Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21.
What better way...more to get kids “hooked” on nature than by teaching them how to fish?  This April, local and national fishing and conservation organizations will once again host the Family & Youth Casting Call to help “set the hook” for children to learn about nature and fishing in the Washington, DC area. A wiggling fish on the end of a taut line can be one of the most tangible connections between having fun outside and learning about conserving our natural resources.
During this action-packed event, partners will provide all the tools and training necessary for youth to catch fish in the C&O Canal. Volunteer instructors will teach safety and basic fishing techniques and our sponsors will supply the bait

February is known as Heart Month in American, and for good reason. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. Each day, across the country, roughly 2,200 people that die from the disease. It’s also the...more leading cause of disability across the country, preventing people from working and living their lives as they would like to. With this in mind, it’s a good time to pay attention even to the little things that can either help or hurt the heart.
“Snacks may seem like trivial things, overall,” explains Jolly Backer, the chief executive officer of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). “But if you think about it in terms of a year, you will end up eating around 400 to 750 snacks per year, if you have one or two per day. That really adds up and can make a big difference in your heart health.”
Snacks, for most people, are a reality of life. Not many people will go day in and day out