Philanthropists pledge $10 million to restore 7,000 Head Start seats

POLITICO

The money will allow programs that have recently closed to reopen. | AP Photo

By CAITLIN EMMA | 10/7/13 4:30 PM EDT Updated: 10/7/13 6:53 PM EDT

Head Start programs across the country closed because of the government shutdown will reopen Tuesday thanks to a $10 million contribution from a pair of Texas philanthropists.
The National Head Start Association said Monday the founders of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation came forward after learning about the shutdown’s effects on the federal pre-K program for children from low-income families. The money is a personal donation, however, not through the foundation, NHSA spokeswoman Sally Aman said.

At least 7,195 children lost access to their Head Start programs since the government shutdown began a week ago. One in South Carolina closed Monday.

The money will allow recently closed programs like Jonathan Bines’ in Prentiss, Miss., to reopen and programs that were facing possible closure to stay open. Bines program serves 900 children. He said he has made calls to all of the families and also plans to send letters this week. Parents told him they are thrilled, with many heaving a grateful sigh of relief and saying, “Thank you.”

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Citizen lawn mower at Lincoln Memorial: Shutdown or not, areas shouldn’t be neglected

 

(Michael Ruane/ The Washington Post ) - Chris Cox, 45, says he’s a chain saw sculptor. He said he’s been cleaning up around the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool for the past few days., using a leaf blower to clear sidewalks and a chain saw to cut up downed tree limbs.

By Michael E. Ruane, Published: October 9 E-mail the writer

Chris Cox says he bought the leaf blower at Home Depot for $200. He got the used lawn mower at a thrift store for 100 bucks. The heavy metal handcart with the squeaky wheels is his.

Cox, 45, a chain-saw sculptor from Mount Pleasant, S.C., grabbed the attention of shutdown-weary Washington on Wednesday when he showed up with all his gear and was reportedly spotted mowing the lawn at the Lincoln Memorial.

Video

Chris Cox of Mount Pleasant, S.C., is visiting the Mall despite the shutdown, and he's armed with a rake and lawn mower.

He said the police chased him away, but it was too late. He said he had already been tidying up around the memorial and the Reflecting Pool for the past few days, because nobody else is.
He drew rapid media attention — social and conventional — as well as a crowd of amused foreign tourists as he stood on the plaza of the memorial Wednesday afternoon and declared his purpose.
“I figured out that I could play a . . . valuable role as a janitor, if you will,” he said. “So I started cleaning up the overflowing trash cans. I bought a blower and I’ve been blowing all of the trails, and today I cut the grass out here.”


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Bears are clearly enjoying the government shutdown

Stephen Messenger
Science / Natural Sciences
October 11, 2013

CC BY 2.0 Beverly & Pack

Since the government shutdown got underway last week, the resulting furlough of federal employees and the closure of public land hasn't been good news for anyone.
Well, except maybe for bears.
In Fairbanks, Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for routine maintenance on the grounds of White Mountains National Recreation Area. Due to recent furloughs however, those duties are now delegated to just two rangers remaining on staff. Not surprisingly, making sure all the trash bins along the park's 1,000,000 acres are emptied on time has proven impossible for the pair.
Despite the shutdown, the sprawling recreation area has remained open for hikers, hunters, and other day-trippers. And while most of those visitors have been careful to safely dispose of their waste, it's adding up to be a problem.
According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, BLM ranger Jonathan Priday and his one remaining partner can't keep up with all the trash. Now, opportunistic grizzly bears are clearly enjoying the fact that those formerly impossible-to-paw-open trash cans have been bested by squabbling in Washington D.C.:


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