Deborah Simmons

Barry: ‘I did a lot’ but not enough

Marion Barry opens the passenger door for his visitor, seats himself behind the wheel and slowly merges into the evening rush on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Southeast Washington. Published July 15, 2010

Mayor Fenty plays hide-and-seek with voters

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is not camera-shy when seeking publicity on his own behalf and managing what goes on in front of and behind the cameras. Published July 14, 2010

D.C. relies on charter schools as training tool

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is applying that old maxim "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" to her brand of school reform. Published July 13, 2010

SIMMONS: Tough discipline or a tougher fate

Spanking. Corporal punishment. A rap on the knuckles. All are no-nos. The "experts" call such measures abuse. They say we're traumatizing youths. Oy vey. Published July 8, 2010

D.C. mayor hopeful touts different goal

The top two rivals in the Democratic race for D.C. mayor are running full speed ahead on school reform as the summer heats up and the Sept. 14 primary draws nearer. Published July 8, 2010

Fenty boasts achievements as election nears

Know that old maxim an elephant never forgets? Well, Team Fenty doesn't want donkeys, independents and other prospective voters to forget either. Published July 5, 2010

SIMMONS: Quest to end homelessness is unrealistic

Bless President Obama's bleeding heart. He wants to end homelessness. His is a noble goal, to want to meet the needs of America's downtrodden. But let's be real. Published July 1, 2010

Mayor hopeful says D.C. families ‘in trouble’

The face of Leo Alexander is a familiar one to longtime viewers of NBC's Washington affiliate, where he covered local news for several years. Published June 27, 2010

D.C. Council set to tighten school-truancy standards

The D.C. Council is scheduled to vote June 29 on legislation that would tighten truancy requirements and quicken the pace at which child welfare and law enforcement authorities intervene on behalf of truant youths. Published June 24, 2010

Killing tests D.C. anti-gun mentality

The hustle and bustle along the District's Florida Avenue and its arteries Thursday morning betrayed what occurred less than 24 hours earlier when urban desperados shot a father and son. Published June 24, 2010

Officials wary of D.C. healthy food law’s implementation

A law passed unanimously in early June by the 13-member D.C. Council is being hailed by vegan and animal-protection groups as a model for the nation, yet parents aren't so sure. Published June 22, 2010

SIMMONS: The political bedfellows get even stranger

The Rev. Willie Wilson is an old-school black Southern Baptist minister - the kind of preacher who casts aspersions upon sin but embraces the sinner. Published June 17, 2010

Gay alliance set to make voice heard in elections

It's a mayoral election year in Washington, and special-interest groups are laying out their agendas. The gay community is no exception. Published June 15, 2010

Gray’s bid for mayor looks good early

The primary votes for mayor won't be tallied for another three months, but Democrats and D.C. workers are already casting favorable looks at Vincent Gray, Adrian Fenty's chief challenger in the race for mayor. Published June 14, 2010

SIMMONS: Back-door entry undoes welcome

America has a strong record of opening her arms to people in search of liberty and democracy, a place where all are free from religious persecution. Published June 10, 2010

GOP hoping anti-incumbent wave brings red tide to D.C.’s sea of blue

The national anti-incumbency wave is hitting Republicans and Democrats alike. Published June 6, 2010

SIMMONS: No free-agent status as a dad

Between now and Father's Day, we'll know whether Kobe Bryant lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to their 16th NBA title or whether the aging Boston Celtics added an 18th winner-take-all banner to the rafters of the Garden. In the interim, the yakety-yak about LeBron James' free-agent status is never-ending. Published June 3, 2010

D.C. teachers get raises, accept merit pay in pact

As their colleagues in New York City and suburban Washington face salary freezes, furloughs and layoffs, D.C. teachers on Wednesday approved a $140 million contract that grants them raises retroactive to 2007. Published June 2, 2010

D.C. teachers’ union OKs new contract

Members of the Washington Teachers Union approved a new contract Wednesday that both city and labor leaders called beneficial for schoolchildren and will include a voluntary merit-pay component and reduce the impact of tenure in teaching-firing decisions. Published June 2, 2010

D.C. mayor cites ‘emergency’ to raise fees, fines

The cost of living, working and doing business in D.C. rose a little more Tuesday, after Mayor Adrian M. Fenty again reneged on his no-tax-increase pledge and implemented "emergency" executive orders that increase scores of fees for business permits and traffic fines to pay for his 2010 and 2011 spending plans. Published June 1, 2010