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Harry Thomas, Jr., and Diane Romo Thomas
Harry Thomas, Jr., and Diano Romo Thomas
Ron Machen, Vincent ohen, Jr., and Jonothan Haray
Prosecutors: U.S. Attorney Ron Machen, Vincent Cohen, Jr., and Jonathan Haray
 Harry Thomas, Jr., and Diane Romo Thomas
Harry Thomas, Jr., and Diane Romo Thomas
Kwame Brown
Council Chairman Kwame Brown after Harry Thomas's resignation

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In the current issue: 

MAYOR VINCENT GRAY, STATE OF THE DISTRICT ADDRESS, February 7, 2012

US ATTORNEY RON MACHEN, CRIMINAL INFORMATION AGAINST HARRY THOMAS, JR., January 5, 2011. Plea agreement of Harry Thomas, Jr., December 23, 2011. Statement of the offense, December 23, 2011. Resignation statement of Harry Thomas, Jr., January 5, 2012. Resignation letter, January 6, 2012. US Attorney Ronald Machen, press release on guilty plea by Harry Thomas, Jr., January 6, 2012. FBI press release on guilty plea, January 6, 2012. 

DC ATTORNEY GENERAL, COMPLAINT AGAINST COUNCILMEMBER HARRY THOMAS, JR., June 6, 2011. Settlement agreement between Harry Thomas, Jr., and Attorney General's office, July 22, 2011; consent motion between Harry Thomas, Jr., and Attorney General's office, July 22, 2011; press releases on settlement from the Attorney General, July 22, 2011, and Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., July 22, 2011

DRAFT ETHICS REFORM BILL, “The Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011,” November 18, 2011

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE REPORT ON MLK LIBRARY, November 18, 2011

OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATION OF COUNCILMEMBER YVETTE ALEXANDER'S CONSTITUENT SERVICES FUND, August 2, 2011

MAYOR VINCENT GRAY, 200 DAY ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT, July 2011

DC AUDITOR’S REPORT ON ALLEN LEW’S MANAGEMENT OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES MODERNIZATION, May 11, 2011; summary of the report
DC INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON ALLEN LEW'S MANAGEMENT OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES MODERNIZATION, June 29, 2011

CAMPAIGN FINANCE AUDIT AND INVESTIGATION OF CHAIRMAN KWAME BROWN. The DC Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) issued a final audit report on Kwame Brown's 2008 campaign committee, April 4, 2011. The audit finds that Brown's financial reports "were not in substantial compliance" with the District's Campaign Finance Act. Brown's campaign failed to report 210 contributions, totaling $102,763, and 53 expenditures, amounting to $169,431.49. The OCF's complaint against to Committee to Re-Elect Kwame Brown, referring the matter to the Board of Elections, June 10, 2011

THE TROUT REPORT, Report of the Special Counsel to the Special Committee on Investigation of the Capital Projects of the Department of Parks and Recreation, March 11, 2011

VINCENT GRAY AND KWAME BROWN INAUGURATION SPEECHES AND APPOINTMENTS DURING TRANSISTION

OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE, cease and desist order against Save DC Now PAC, November 1, 2010, and complaints against Save DC Now PAC by Dorothy Brizill, October 22, 2010, and Brian Lederer, October 22, 2010

MICHELLE RHEE, letter of resignation, October 13, 2010, and employment contract, July 3, 2007

MAYOR'S ORDER 2010-160, Allocation of Spending (FY2011), October 4, 2010

CLARUS POLL FOR SEPTEMBER PRIMARY: For mayor: Vincent Gray, 39 percent; Adrian Fenty, 36 percent. For council chairman: Kwame Brown, 39 percent; Vincent Orange, 29 percent. See the poll and fuller results from the poll.  

PRIMARY ELECTION POSITION PAPERS: Vincent Gray has issues position papers on education, July 1, 2010, and on jobs and economic development, August 4, 2010

LEAD IN DRINKING WATER — A scathing report on the response by the Centers for Disease Control: US House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, “A Public Health Tragedy: How Flawed CDC Data and Faulty Assumptions Endangered Children’s Health in the Nation’s Capital,” May 20, 2010

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFIES proposed contract between DCPS and Washington Teacher's Union is financially sound; press release, May 10, 2010; letters from CFO Natwar Gandhi, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and Mayor Adrian Fenty, May 10, 2010

BENNETT REPORT ON COUNCIL CONTRACTS AND GRANTS.  On February 16, 2010, attorneys Robert S. Bennett and Amy R. Sabrin completed their seven-month investigation as Special Counsels to the city council. Their report on personal services contracts and earmarked grants by the council finds that Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry violated District laws and regulations and tried to impede their investigation. They recommend referral of the matter to the US Attorney and the DC Office of Campaign Finance for investigation of possible violations of law. See the Bennett Report and Chairman Vincent Gray's introduction

CLARUS POLL ON THE 2010 MAYORAL RACE, press release and major findings, November 23, 2009l

DISTRICT ATTORNEY ESTABLISHMENT ACT, introduced in Congress by Eleanor Holmes Norton, to replace the appointed Attorney General with an elected District Attorney, October 3, 2009

INDICTMENT OF TED LOZA, Chief of Staff for Councilmember Jim Graham, for Bribery, September 24, 2009
GRAHAM RELINQUISHES OVERSIGHT OF TAXICAB INDUSTRY, October 18, 2009

DCPS REDUCTION IN FORCE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRINCIPALS, September 18, 2009

SCHOOL SAFETY IN WASHINGTON, DC: New Data for the 2007-2008 School Year, by David B. Muhlhausen, Don Sofer, and Dan Lips, The Heritage Foundation and the Lexington Institute, August 28, 2009 (PDF format)

CHAIN BRIDGE FIRE PRELIMINARY REPORT, August 7, 2009

  • DC Water and Sewer Administration letters to Neil O. Albert, City Administrator, August 4 and 5, 2009

US District Court of the District of Columbia, Judge Emmet Sullivan, transcript of motion hearing on Chang v. US and Barham v. DC, July 29, 2009, and the order in the cases, July 30, 2009

US COURT OF APPEALS, opinion in Caneisha Mills, et al., appellants, vs. District of Columbia, appellee, overturns lower court and confirms the unconstitutionality of the Trinidad blockades, July 10, 2009

BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS REJECTS REFERENDUM seeking to repeal DC recognition of same-sex marriages, June 15, 2009; Alliance Defense Fund files Superior Court petition to appeal BOEE decision, June 17, 2009

DISTRICT MASTER FACILITIES PLAN FOR FY2009-2013, listing District-owned and leased properties and the Fenty Administration's plans for them, released on June 10, 2009. Press release on the plan, June 10, 2009.

JUDGE RICHARD ROBERTS, US DISTRICT COURT, MEMORANDUM OPINION IN DC V. STRAUS, Attorney General Peter Nickles’ lawsuit against a DC special education lawyer, April 14, 2009

FIRE TRUCK AND AMBULANCE DONATION TO SOSUA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — Peter Nickles, letter refusing cooperation with council investigation into donation, April 20, 2009; reply to Nickles from Councilmembers Mendelson and Cheh, April 21, 2009. Letter from Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Mary Cheh to Mayor Fenty requesting information for an investigative hearing, April 9, 2009. Memorandum from Attorney General Peter Nickles and letters from Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Mary Cheh requesting more information and an investigation from CFO Natwar Gandhi and Inspector General Charles Willoughby, April 3, 2009.

HIV/AIDS 2008 UPDATE AND REPORT ON HETEROSEXUAL SEX from the Department of Health, March 16, 2009

CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE’S conciliatory letter to teachers, March 13, 2009

FBI AFFIDAVIT IN THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER EMBEZZLEMENT, March 11, 2009

ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER NICKLES commands the city council to change its law forbidding overnight releases from the city jail, and threatens not to obey it; Councilmember Phil Mendelson says he was “appalled” by Nickles’s letter, and reminds Nickles his job is to enforce the city’s laws, February 17, 2009. Nickles replies to Mendelson, February 24, 2009. Along with Nickles’ draft memorandum to Devon Brown, Director of the Department of Corrections, ordering him not to obey the city’s law on overnight jail releases, February 17, 2009. NICKLES REQUESTS SUBPOENA POWER FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, February 24, 2009.

OFFICE OF TAX AND REVENUE EMBEZZLEMENT REPORT by the City Council's Office of Tax and Revenue Special Committee, by Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, December 15, 2008

ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER NICKLES CONFIRMATION DISPPROVAL RESOLUTION AND COMMITTEE REPORT, November 17, 2008. The Judiciary Committee of the city council voted to disapprove Attorney General Nickles' confirmation and issued this comprehensive report detailing why it should not be approved. On November 18, the full council approved the nomination. 

DC PAYS NATIONALS TO PAY DELINQUENT BALLPARK RENT, settlement agreement, October 17, 2008

PAYING STUDENTS TO GO TO SCHOOL, Press release on the “Capital Gains Incentive Program," August 21, 2008; plus a press release on Dr. Roland G. Fryer from the New York City Department of Education, June 21, 2007

CAPSTAT REPORTS ON MISMANAGEMENT OF THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, August 12, 2008

HELLER FILES SECOND COMPLAINT AGAINST DC GUN LAWS, Dick Anthony Heller, Absalom F. Jordan, Jr., and Amy McVey v. District of Columbia and Adrian M. Fenty, July 28, 2008

DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPOSED TEACHERS CONTRACT, information packet distributed to teacher, July 21, 2008

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS AS AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT, AFFIRMS, HELLER V. DC DECISION, Scalia majority opinion, Stevens and Breyer dissents, Reactions to decision, June 26, 2008

EMERGENCY REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR VIDEO INTEROPERABILITY PROGRAM, June 12, 2008

MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY, CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE list what they believe are their accomplishments in the first year of mayoral control of the schools, June 12, 2008

NSZ PROGRAM: POLICE CHECKPOINTS TO BLOCKADE NEIGHBORHOODS

VIPs PROGRAM TO CONSOLIDATE GOVERNMENT CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV CAMERAS IN HOMELAND SECURITY AGENCY, April 8, 2008

HEALTHY DC PROGRAM proposal and legislation as introduced, April 1, 2008. Revised version of Healthy DC Act of 2008, May 6, 2008

HELLER v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SECOND AMENDMENT CASE: US Supreme Court arguments on March 18, 2008: audio from C-SPAN and transcript in PDF format

DISTRICT’S BRIEF IN PARKER V. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, the Second Amendment rights case, January 4, 2008

Governmental Accountability Office, District of Columbia Public Schools: While Early Reform Efforts Tackle Critical Management Issues, a District-Wide Strategic Education Plan Would Help Guide Long Term Efforts, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, March 14, 2008

Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, March 14, 2008

MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY, STATE OF THE DISTRICT ADDRESS, March 14, 2008

COURT AGREEMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: Blackman/Jones case joint agreement between plaintiffs and District of Columbia, December 10, 2007, and press release about the agreement, December 12, 2007

SCHOOL REORGANIZATION AND CLOSING PLAN, press release, and reaction from Councilmember Marion Barry, November 28, 2007

PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION INTO PROPERTY TAX FRAUD — over $16 million, the largest theft in the history of the region, results in five arrests. See the US Attorney’s press release; Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi’s press release, November 7, 2007; and the criminal complaint and affidavit against Diane Gustus, November 7, 2007.

MAYOR RESCINDS SECOND MAYORAL ORDER TO DELETE GOVERNMENT E-MAILS AFTER SIX MONTHS: the mayoral orders, proposed city council bill, and general counsel’s memorandum to departments and agencies

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT ON SALE OF GREATER SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY HOSPITAL TO SPECIALTY HOSPITALS OF AMERICA — October 23, 2007

POLICY ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED — the City Council announced the establishment and membership of a council to advise its Office of Policy Analysis on October 22, 2007

HIRAM BREWTON NOMINATED TO BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS: nominating bill and resume, comment by Dorothy Brizill

DR. CARLOS CANO, INTERIM DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — October 19, 2007

FENTY AND RHEE PROPOSE MASS FIRINGS AT DCPS — press release, October 12, 2007, and proposed legislation, the Public Education Personnel Reform Amendment Act of 2007

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TASK FORCE (the "Rosenbaum Task Force" issues its final recommendations, September 20, 2007; see also the summary of the recommendations in the press release.

DC AND SPECIALTY HOSPITALS OF AMERICA — agreement in principle to purchase Greater Southeast Community Hospital, along with associated press releases, September 17, 2007

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI — DC government asks the Supreme Court to overturn the Appeals Court decision that the Second Amendment recognizes an individual right to own firearms and that citizens of DC have the same rights as other citizens of the United States, September 4, 2007

EDUCATION TRANSITION UPDATE BY MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY, CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, AND OFM DIRECTOR ALLEN LEW, July 30, 2007

SQUARE 37 EXCESS PROPERTY DISPOSITION EMERGENCY APPROVAL RESOLUTION: The council “emergency” resolution that gives away the West End library, fire station, police office to insider developer EastBanc, passed on July 10, 2007

DEBT BORROWING AND FISCAL CONTRAINTS, Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi's letter to Mayor Adrian Fenty and City Council Chairman Vincent Gray, June 20, 2007

MICHELLE RHEE NAMED ACTING CHANCELLOR OF SCHOOLS, June 12, 2007

NEW DOCUMENTS: Saint Elizabeth's settlement agreement between the Department of Justice and the DC government, May 10, 2007; DC Department of Mental Health's summary of the Saint Elizabeth's agreement, May 10, 2007; the International Economic Development Council's report on the National Capital Revitalization Corporation and the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation, March 15, 2007; and the staff list for the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services, May 2007

THE MAYORAL TAKEOVER OF SCHOOLS -- "Referendum on Certain Provisions of the Public Education Reform Act of 2007," Referendum 007; Mayor's letter requesting to Board of Elections to reconsider its decision to approve the Referendum as a proper subject, May 31, 2007; Mayor's appeal to DC Superior Court, June 1, 2007

Revised version of the academic plan, now titled DCPS Reform Priorities of the Fenty Administration, May 16, 2007 

Enrolled version of DC Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007, Bill 17-001. Mayor Fenty's education transition strategy, April 27, 2007

US COURT OF APPEALS DECISION in DC's Second Amendment case, Parker v. District of Columbia, and press releases by Mayor Fenty, Delegate Norton, and the Cato Institute, March 9, 2007. District government's request for a rehearing en banc, April 9, 2007.

MAYOR FENTY'S FIRST 100 DAYS ACTION PLAN, January 11, 2007

BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOOL REFORM PROPOSAL, January 29, 2007, 

DC TASK FORCE ON CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT TASK FORCE REPORT, December 4, 2006: " the problems in the procurement system are not as much in its laws, regulations and implementing procedures, as in the commitment of the government to follow them."

DC COURT OF APPEALS REJECTS SLOTS INITIATIVE AS A PROPER SUBJECT FOR AN INITIATIVE — The implication of the decision is that gambling promoters cannot establish a slots casino in the District of Columbia unless the US Congress first amends the federal law that prohibits gambling devices in DC. November 22, 2006.

ADRIAN FENTY: “Pre-transition” task force reports, November 6, 2006; transition plan, November 8, 2006; appointment of Tene Dolphin as future Chief of Staff and Dan Tangherlini as future City Administrator, November 8, 2006; Linda Singer as future Attorney General and Peter J. Nickles as General Counsel, November 10, 2006; and Neil Albert as Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Carrie Brooks as Director of Communications, November 13, 2006. 

MAYOR'S LETTER WITHDRAWING NOMINATIONS to boards and commissions, November 2, 2006

DOUGLAS JEMAL FOUND GUILTY OF ONLY ONE COUNT OF WIRE FRAUD, see the prosecution’s outline of the acts it views as part of the criminal conspiracy, October 15, 2006, and the original indictment, September 27, 2005

OLD CARNEGIE CENTRAL LIBRARY now proposed by mayor to replace the Martin Luther King, Jr., Central Library -- see the EDAW feasibility study (in PDF format), June 2006 and other materials on the library controversy.

GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 7, 2006, List of candidates
PRIMARY ELECTION, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006, Certified results (on DC BOEE web site in PDF format) 

Mayor Williams's proposed emergency crime bill, introduced and voted on by the City Council on July 18, 2006

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE ASSAULT ON DAVID E. ROSENBAUM, OIG No. 06-I-003-UC-FB-FA-FX, June 2006

DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS, MAY 15: DCPS press release, Superintendent Janey's recommendations; and one-page summary of recommendations

NATIONAL CAPITAL MEDICAL CENTER: The Chief Financial Officer's analysis of the project, May 5, 2006. The Exclusive Rights Agreement signed between Howard University and Mayor Anthony Williams on January 5, 2006, plus Howard University’s description of the NCMC

THE DC EDUCATION RIGHTS CHARTER AMENDMENT is introduced by Parents United for the DC Public Schools, March 29, 2006

THE VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL GAMBLING INITIATIVE OF 2006, another attempt to establish a slots casino in DC, was filed with the DC Board of Elections and Ethics on March 14, 2006; a slightly revised version was filed on April 10, 2006

WASHINGTON TEACHERS UNION election of officials challenged by a complaint by the Department of Labor, February 15, 2006, with a response from the American Federation of Teachers, February 21, 2006 and from the Washington Teachers Union, February 21, 2006

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