Deborah Simmons

LIFE AS IT HAPPENS: Antonin Scalia — Foodie, ‘man of many appetites’

Swirl, smell, sip. Repeat. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was a foodie and wine aficionado. He was a full man who did not merely break bread with others; he enjoyed sharing meals with others. Published February 19, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: The Bowser Clique and our homeless shelter problem

Let's be transparent. All of you out there who are homeowners, live in strictly residential areas and want to welcome a 50- or 80-bed homeless shelter, please, raise your hand. Published February 18, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: ‘Race’ and Jesse Owens, race and the Democrats

"Race" is a movie I hope to see this weekend when it hits the theaters. Published February 15, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: D.C. election primary winners, losers, also-rans

Oh, goodie. There's a real battle brewing where there once was a mere race for the Ward 7 seat on the D.C. Council. Published February 11, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Out the pedophiles, predators, molesters, pornographers

A devious gadabout, Deonte Carraway, 22, has been arrested by Prince George's County Police and charged with 10 counts of felony child pornography, sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree sexual offense after pornography was found on his phone, according to court documents released on Tuesday. Published February 9, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Why Judge Maurice Ross, Harry Wingo are vital to democracy in D.C.

In short, a D.C. Superior Court judge named Maurice Ross is expected to rule this week on whether city officials broke laws pertaining to the D.C. Board Elections and whether they violated the intent and spirit of those laws. Published February 8, 2016

LIFE AS IT HAPPENS: Killing of Nicole Lovell, 13, of Blacksburg sends social media message

Forget about "the sex talk" for a moment, just a moment. There's another important talk. Published February 5, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: D.C. news flash: ‘Nothing’s going to change’

Vincent Condol Gray, the former mayor, announced Thursday that he is heading back to the campaign trail to run for the Ward 7 D.C. Council seat held by Yvette Alexander, another Democrat -- and he could win. Published February 4, 2016

LIFE AS IT HAPPENS: A winning wager on Super Bowl 50

Most of the estimated $4.2 billion being waged on Super Bowl 50 will be illegal. You know the annual rituals: friendly workplace wagers, bets at your favorite sports watering hole and bets between rival teams' mayors and governors. Published February 3, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Paying people not to become criminals, victims

The D.C. Council gave preliminary approval yesterday to legislation that would pay pre-criminals and pre-victims a stipend. The payment would turn on a dime -- more accurately, 90,000 dimes -- because the bill mandates the at-risk participants attend behavior therapy and the like. Published February 2, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Dolly Parton comes to D.C.

Dolly Parton -- yes, that Dolly Parton -- knows it takes a lot of imagination growing up in rural Appalachia, as she did. Published February 1, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Derail the mobs on Metrorail

Those of you who use public transportation haven't had the easiest of times since the blizzard, not that motorists fared any better. Indeed, roadways and neighborhood streets remain bogged down. Still, there's another worrisome and certainly more prevailing issue that lurks among us: Roving bands of unflashed mobs attacking Metro riders. Published January 29, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Black Potomac ‘Housewives’ are shallow, phony stereotypes

Do not believe the hype. I'm here to tell y'all that not all of the stars of "The Real Housewives of Potomac" are really wives. Published January 28, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: How to get Flint, Michigan, voters out from under water

The blizzard that blanketed the mid-Atlantic was no joke, and it's taught us a chilling lesson: Politics is very local and very personal. Published January 25, 2016

DEBORAH SIMMONS: Fun during the blizzard? Bet on it

Wimps don't want kids to play dodgeball any more, and schools say snowball fights are a no-no. But thanks to the Washington D.C. Snowball Fight Association, you'll be able to release your pent-up anxieties at the group's "Sunday morning rumble in Dupont [Circle]" in Northwest. Published January 21, 2016