Deborah Simmons
Articles by Deborah Simmons
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Genocide in Washington D.C.
When the media uses the word gen-o-cide, it's most often referring to what people in other countries do to their own -- in the Mideast, in North and West Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia. But what's happening in our neighborhoods, on our college campuses, our military installations/government facilities, our houses of worship is the same: The death of humanity. Published April 11, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Incestuous party politics
The Democrats' cup runneth over on both sides of the Potomac River. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe is acting like an overseer of Old Virginny, telling lawmakers, parents and voters alike that he knows best when it comes to social values and family life -- everyone else be damned. Published April 7, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Coast to coast, states hop on the school-choice bandwagon
Public funding measures are moving the school-choice movement into unconventional territory in statehouses from Washington to Wisconsin to right here in Maryland. In short, parents and voters are pushing the right buttons, and lawmakers and governors are trying to beat their buzzers. Published April 5, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: An RFK Stadium win-win opportunity
As a fan of the NFL and an bigger fan of the Washington Redskins, it's only natural that I weigh in on D.C.'s proposition to redevelopment RFK Stadium and its surrounding environs. Published April 4, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: It’s the school boundaries, stupid
A new report says D.C. neighborhoods are seeing rising numbers of households with school-age children. Overall, that's pretty good news. Just don't expect the families to stay put unless public schools drastically improve in a short time. Published March 31, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Don’t let Capitol shooting lead to fear
Washington, D.C., is teeming with tourists this time of year, and we must remember as much even when fear tempts us to overreact. Published March 28, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: St. Benedict’s in Newark, New Jersey, a Catholic school worth mimicking
St. Benedict's has figured out what in a teaching and learning environment, and what measuring sticks, can be utilized to ensure that teachers are responsible and effective, and that students are learning as they grow. Published March 24, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Military families to get greater school choice
Leckie Elementary School in Southwest is the home school for scores of military families, and it's been that way for decades. Published March 23, 2016
Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend in Brussels airport: ‘I’m fine’
NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo, the 7-foot-2 shot blocker at the Brussels airport Tuesday during the Islamic State, took to Facebook to let family, fans and friends "I am fine." Published March 22, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: George Soros butting in to D.C. clemency rules
Linda Byrnes, a Michigan mother, has been behind bars for more than two decades. Published March 21, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: The genesis (and funky smell) of the mayor’s homeless plan
In a column published a month ago Friday, I pointed out a half-dozen questions that the Bowser administration should succinctly answer before the D.C. Council schedules a vote on the mayor's homeless plan. Published March 17, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Donald Trump supporters get religion (scrutiny)
Now you see evangelicals in Team Trump's corner, now you don't. Published March 15, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Jacai Colson, a solid cop, and the 3 Ford brothers
There are so many moving parts to Sunday's cop killing in Prince George's County, it's difficult to zero in on a single opinion -- mostly because the shooting was an ambush outside a police station. The family of the three brothers charged in the fatal shooting of Officer Jacai Colson must be at their wit's end. Published March 14, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Hillary Clinton on school choice and vouchers
Republican voters in D.C. are scheduled to begin divvying up delegates on Saturday. But the scene stealers next week will be delegate-rich Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida, where Republican and Democratic debates were held this week in Miami. Published March 10, 2016
LIFE AS IT HAPPENS: Review: ‘Underground’ railroad circa 2016
It can't touch the Academy Award-winning "12 Years a Slave." Published March 9, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: The plot to kill D.C. school vouchers
The scene: The Secret Service rolls away from the White House with first daughters Malia and Sasha in tow. The destination is Sidwell Friends School, which they've attended since Barack and first lady Michelle Obama moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (Hollywood-style liberties exercised.) Published March 9, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Muriel Bowser, D.C. lawmakers need to rethink homeless proposal
"Can you hear us now?" Published March 7, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Rushern Baker, Prince George’s County executive, didn’t get the memo
The late Huey Long, a progressive and Democrat, knew well that "all politics is local" before the phrase became popular in the 1930s. Published March 3, 2016
LIFE AS IT HAPPENS: Hillary Clinton’s race card
Hillary Clinton holds a race card, and she does not hold it close to her vest. As the South Carolina primaries and Super Tuesday draw nearer and dear to her ambitious plan to be the Democratic winner of her party's presidential race, she's likely to play that race card often. Published February 24, 2016
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Bernie Sanders vs. Hillary Clinton in the battle for black votes
That the mayor of Ithaca, New York, (population 30,000) wants to create a site for heroin users to shoot up narcotics is mighty scary. Published February 22, 2016
