Advocates who fear that D.C. Council members may be moving toward a crackdown on the charter school system's growth are getting residents to sign a petition in support of the schools.

The D.C. Council is poised to reject several high-profile initiatives in Mayor Adrian Fenty’s proposed 2009 budget legislation, including a much-maligned strategy to slash public comment on the annual school spending plan.

The D.C. police department plans to give patrol officers assault rifles to protect them against criminals with high-powered weapons.

Mayor Adrian Fenty has ordered the D.C. Department of Transportation to address the “top transportation concerns” citywide, but critics question whether the list the agency compiled was based on real need, or on who made the most noise.

Mayor Adrian Fenty’s budget chief suggested Tuesday that the answer to a growing 2009 budget deficit may be raising a tax on corporate property and delaying tax relief on local businesses.

D.C.'s street sweeping machines soon will be outfitted with cameras that can scan license plates and generate parking citations.

The D.C. Council has given preliminary approval to restrictions on noisy demonstrations.

The failure of 17 lottery machines in D.C. last week left officials scrambling to account for $2.5 million in revenue, District officials told The Examiner.

For D.C. restaurant patrons, “Check please” may soon be followed by a new mantra: Cork it and bag it.

D.C.’s anticipated budget deficit for fiscal 2009 has soared to more than $130 million, Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi will tell city leaders today, placing further strain on already-tense budget deliberations.