Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Wells offers bills to close loopholes in ethics laws
Council Member Tommy Wells introduced a trio of bills on Tuesday to close ethics loopholes in response to a series of scandals that have plagued city hall in recent months. Published June 21, 2011
D.C. Council confirms Henderson as schools chancellor
The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Kaya Henderson as the District's new public schools chief. Published June 21, 2011
Online gambling readied to roll
D.C. Lottery officials are gearing up for unprecedented gambling over the Internet through "demonstration games" that will allow players to get their feet wet before wagering real dollars. Published June 20, 2011
D.C. Council considers high cost of gas in the city
A D.C. Council committee on Friday explored why gas prices in the District are consistently higher than the national average in its hearing on a bill that would prohibit "jobbers" — those who sell gas from the refineries to service stations — from both owning and operating retail gas stations. Published June 17, 2011
Henderson on track to head D.C. schools
Mayor Vincent. C. Gray's pick to lead the District's public school system received open support from several council members on Thursday, despite mixed reviews from the public and varying opinions about her links to the prior regime. Published June 16, 2011
Investigation delays vote on DYRS chief
D.C. human resources officials are investigating whether the nominee to lead the District's troubled juvenile justice agency tailored a key job posting to fit the background of someone he had known socially for 10 years. Published June 16, 2011
D.C. Council decides on contingencies
Three weeks ago, the District's chief financial officer issued a warning: Inserting items into the city budget based on hopes that revenue may exceed projections down the road is not sound fiscal policy. Published June 15, 2011
D.C. Council passes $10.8 billion budget
The D.C. Council on Tuesday approved a $10.8 billion budget plan for the coming fiscal year after hours of debate that focused on the best way to spend any additional dollars projected to enter the city's coffers. Published June 14, 2011
Judge: Brooks’ son won’t have to testify
A D.C. Superior Court judge's decision to allow a potential witness to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights has effectively ended the hearings into Mayor Vincent C. Gray's personnel practices, according to a D.C. Council memo. Published June 13, 2011
More dealing likely before bonds tax added to D.C. budget
A move to tax D.C. residents' income on interest from out-of-state bonds has emerged as a key battleground in the debate over revenues ahead of a final vote scheduled for Tuesday on the city's $10 billion fiscal 2012 budget. Published June 13, 2011
City’s attorney general takes a stand
In the course of five days last week, the District's mayor was called a "crook" at a public hearing, the council chairman's campaign committee was accused of widespread reporting violations, one council member disclosed he had been offered bribes, and another council member was accused of using his charity as a slush fund. Published June 12, 2011
Orange says he’s a qualified ‘relief pitcher’ ready to succeed Thomas on committee
D.C. Council member Vincent B. Orange has touted himself as the best person to take the helm of the Committee on Economic Development, after council member Harry Thomas Jr. relinquished control while he fights a lawsuit accusing him of taking public funds for personal use. Published June 9, 2011
Thomas steps down from council committee chairman post
Citing his "highest regard" for the District's legislative body, council member Harry Thomas Jr. says he will step aside as chairman of a key committee as he fights a lawsuit accusing him of siphoning public funds for personal use. Published June 8, 2011
Announcement on Thomas expected this afternoon
D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown is expected to announce this afternoon whether fellow member Harry Thomas Jr. faces sanctions, voluntarily or otherwise, after a lawsuit filed this week accused him of siphoning off public funds for personal use. Published June 8, 2011
D.C. Council approves boundary changes
The D.C. Council on Wednesday approved a draft plan that repositions the boundaries of the city's eight political wards after making concessions to Ward 6 residents who protested the division of its eastern neighborhoods on Capitol Hill. Published June 7, 2011
Decision pending on Thomas sanctions
D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown said an announcement will be made Wednesday on whether Harry Thomas Jr. faces sanctions from his colleagues in light of a lawsuit that accuses him of funneling money for youth baseball programs to his own pocket. Published June 7, 2011
D.C. sues council member Thomas; federal case filed
The District government Monday filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr., accusing the Ward 5 Democrat of using grant money and charitable donations for personal golfing trips, hotel stays and a new sport utility vehicle. Published June 6, 2011
Ex-D.C. mayoral candidate Brown testifies of alleged Gray deal
The D.C. politician whose allegations wreaked havoc on the Gray administration before it ever got rolling, strode into city hall on Monday to finally give his on-the-record account about purported campaign payoffs and other electoral irregularities. Published June 6, 2011
‘Chairman Brown and the Navigators’ back in the news
The saga behind D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown's fully loaded Lincoln Navigators just won't go away. Published June 5, 2011
D.C. juvenile facility chief’s selection raises questions
A council member with oversight of the District's juvenile justice agency says the hiring of a U.S. Coast Guard officer to lead the city's troubled two-year-old secure placement facility for D.C. youth may not pass "the smell test." Published June 2, 2011
