District of Columbia tops in Medicaid (UPI)
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 17 (UPI) -- The District of Columbia paid the most for Medicaid expenditures in 2005 at $7,941 per enrollee, followed by New York at $7,733, foundation officials said.

D.C. School District Proposes Merit Pay For Teachers (NPR)
School districts across the nation are experimenting with paying teachers based on performance. An important and troubled district in Washington, D.C., is now moving closer to merit pay. Michelle Rhee, chancellor of the District of Columbia's public schools, talks about her proposal.

Gregoire announces Mid-Columbia water project funds (w/video) (Tri-City Herald)
The Columbia River was the backdrop Friday as Gov. Chris Gregoire announced state funding for two new water supply projects in the Tri-Cities and a landmark agreement that could lead to new state water permits for the first time in 30 years.

CCRKBA Condemns New District 'Emergency' Gun Rules (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
New rules instituted as part of an emergency ordinance by the District of Columbia City Council appear to fly in the face of the Supreme Courts Heller ruling, and may also violate the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

Founder of Unification Church hurt in helicopter crash (CBC)
The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Seoul-based Unification Church, was among 16 people who were injured in a helicopter crash in South Korea on Saturday, officials said.