Metro Subway Disaster

{Thanks, AP}

Congressman Chris Van Hollen is among the Maryland leaders keeping a watchful eye on the aftermath of Monday’s deadly metro train disaster.

The accident sent shockwaves through communities both in Washington, D.C. and here in Maryland because many who work in the DMV, use mass transit.

The suburban Maryland Congressman said in a statement, ” Over the coming days we need to determine the cause of the deadliest accident in the history of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and ensure that the Capitol area’s metro system is safe for the millions of riders who rely on it every day.”

So far investigators have signaled at least two areas where their investigation may likely focus a) a malfunction of the train’s signal system which should have automatically slowed the train, and b) operator error due to the fact that the train operator failed to engage the emergency break manually.

Nine people died when the train plowed into the back of another train at a station just outside Washington.

WJZ-TV has a report on where Maryland’s mass transit authorities are doing to ensure the local subway is safe.

Also making the news in and around Washington:

The battle over health care reform is about to heat up Washington, just as the start of summer will warm up the rest of the country.

Last week President Obama addressed the American Medical Association where he once again called for healthcare reform, and he did so again in remarks earlier this week at the White House. The President hopes to underscore the need for all Americans to have access to adequate health care coverage.

Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings is doing his part to make sure dental health care isn’t overlooked in discussions about health care coverage.

Cummings who has teamed up with the Children’s Dental Health Project as a result of the death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver, due to a toothache turned tooth decay turned brain infection, to keep attention focused on making sure oral health particularly for children is what Americans get from health care reform efforts.

Cummings said in an article in The Washington Post, ‘”It is important that the health reform plan includes full integration of oral health into our nation’s health-care system.’

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