Ryan M. McDermott

Articles by Ryan M. McDermott

D.C. Streetcar to begin service this month

Passengers will be able to ride the D.C. Streetcar beginning Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. Published February 18, 2016

Ex-emergency medical director: Lack of access to basic data left hands tied

The District's former emergency medical director on Wednesday again hammered the fire department's top brass, telling a D.C. Council panel that she wasn't given access to basic data to assess medics' performance. Published February 17, 2016

D.C. fire, EMS data devices break down daily, battalion chief says

Technology meant to speed up D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services response times frequently breaks, leaving emergency workers to get all their information over radios, according to a 32-year veteran of the city fire department. Published February 17, 2016

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser heads to Havana this weekend

The District's mayor will look into trade opportunities in Cuba. Published February 17, 2016

D.C. mayor's homeless shelter plan lacks transparency, critics say

D.C. residents are pushing back against Mayor Muriel Bowser's plan to put a homeless shelter in every ward, criticizing not only the proposed sites but also the lack of transparency in the planning process. Published February 16, 2016

Lincoln Memorial to be renovated, expanded thanks to $18.5M gift

After 94 years of solemnly watching over the National Mall, Abraham Lincoln is going to get a face-lift. Published February 15, 2016

D.C. mayor outlines new workforce-training plan

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Friday a new plan to expand job-training services and better align the programs with the needs of city businesses, just a few months after the U.S. Labor Department rated the District a "high-risk" partner in training programs. Published February 12, 2016

Judge rules D.C. AG can intervene in minimum-wage case

A Superior Court judge ruled Friday that D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine can intervene in a case that will determine whether the District's Board of Elections was properly constituted when it approved a minimum-wage ballot measure for the general election this autumn. Published February 12, 2016

Paid family leave supporters fill hearing room at D.C. Council

More than 150 people packed themselves into a D.C. Council hearing Thursday night to voice support for a bill that would provide city workers with 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, saying they would be forced to choose between their jobs and their families' health without the legislation. Published February 11, 2016

D.C. would get critical funding, budget autonomy in federal budget

The fiscal 2017 federal budget would fund the completion the Homeland Security Department complex in Ward 8 and allow the District to regulate the sale of marijuana. Published February 10, 2016

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's support of 12 weeks of paid leave in question

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday that she doesn't know if she can back a pared-down proposal to provide 12 weeks of paid medical and family leave to city workers, a policy that would be the country's most generous. Published February 9, 2016

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson cuts back benefits for paid family leave plan

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has pared down the District's plan to give city workers 16 weeks of paid medical and family leave. Published February 9, 2016

D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser outlines plan for homeless shelters in every ward of the city

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Tuesday outlined plans to close the homeless shelter at the former D.C. General Hospital and replace it with smaller facilities in every ward, receiving broad support from the D.C. Council even though one lawmaker said his ward has too many shelters. Published February 9, 2016

Nomination exposes D.C. election board issues

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser nominated Monday corporate lawyer David Michael Bennett to head the Board of Elections, which is embroiled in a court battle over whether its members had overstayed their terms when they approved a November ballot measure to raise the minimum wage. Published February 8, 2016

D.C.-area road crews already preparing for upcoming snowfall

Regional transportation agencies have deployed snow crews early to prepare for a potentially messy Monday evening commute. Published February 8, 2016

Health dept. confirms 3 Zika cases in D.C.

Three cases of the Zika virus have been reported in D.C., all from people who traveled outside of the United States, the city's health department said. Published February 5, 2016

Former Mayor Gray to vie against onetime protege in bid to return to D.C. Council

Former D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced Thursday that he will run for the Ward 7 seat on the D.C. Council this year, setting up a June 14 Democratic primary showdown with his former protege, council member Yvette Alexander. Published February 4, 2016