Metro Briefs

VIRGINIA

Rates to increase on Dulles Toll Road

Tolls on the Dulles Toll Road in Virginia will increase in January and over the next three years.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors voted Wednesday to increase the toll by 25 cents at ramps and another 25 cents at the main toll plaza. Current tolls are 75 cents to drive through the main toll plaza and 50 cents to enter the roadway from one of the ramps.

The tolls will help pay for construction of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project and improvements to the Dulles Toll Road.

The increases take effect Jan. 1. Tolls at the main toll plaza will also increase by 25 cents in 2011 and 2012 under the plan approved by the board.

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Community asked to look for student

The parents of a Virginia Tech student who went missing in Charlottesville last month are asking the community to help search for her this weekend.

Dan Harrington told a news conference Wednesday the three-day search will be coordinated by the Laura Recovery Center, a Texas-based group that helps to recover missing children.

Morgan Dana Harrington, 20, was last seen on a bridge that crosses railroad tracks after she became separated from her friends at a Metallica concert Oct. 17.

Searchers will get instructions at a meeting at the Cavalier Inn on Thursday night.

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said police have received 350 tips so far, and have followed up on every one.

She said Metallica has added $50,000 to the reward for the young woman’s return, bringing it to $150,000.

ROANOKE

Palin book tour to include Roanoke

Sarah Palin is bringing her “Going Rogue” book tour to Roanoke.

Bypassing the usual promotional route, the former Alaska governor has penciled in Roanoke for the tour, but has yet to schedule a date. Other stops include Noblesville, Ind., and Rochester, N.Y., but no New York City or Seattle.

A HarperCollins spokeswoman said the unconventional tour reflects the writer.

“Going Rogue” has an announced first printing of 1.5 million copies and has been at or near the top of Amazon.com’s best-seller list for weeks.

The tour starts Nov. 18 at a Barnes & Noble in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Mrs. Palin made a campaign appearance as the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate.

MARYLAND

ANNAPOLIS

About $9.6 million netted in tax amnesty

Maryland’s tax-amnesty program is netting an estimated $9.6 million, the comptroller’s office said.

Joseph Shapiro, a spokesman for Comptroller Peter Franchot, said about 6,493 people have been accepted into the program. He also said about 100 applications are still being reviewed.

Mr. Shapiro said many are on payment plans. That means the state will receive the money during this fiscal year and the first half of the next fiscal year.

A tax-amnesty program in 2001 brought in $39.5 million in revenue for the state.

ANNAPOLIS

Parks announce holiday schedule

Maryland’s state parks are closing to participate in the state’s furloughs plans to help balance the budget.

But state parks will be open on Thanksgiving, Native American Appreciation Day and New Year’s Day.

On the days before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, parks will be closed. Christmas is a state holiday, so the parks will be closed.

Any reservations for campgrounds or cabins will be honored when the parks are closed. Law enforcement personnel tied to state parks will be working on holidays and furlough days

BALTIMORE

Man admits to stealing Ripken ’8’

One of four young men accused of stealing a monument to Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. has pleaded guilty to theft.

Baltimore prosecutors said Jason Stoneburner, 19, of Essex, received a two-year suspended jail term Wednesday and was ordered to pay restitution to the Orioles. If he completes all the terms of his sentence, the conviction could be turned into probation before judgment, effectively wiping it off his record.

Three other defendants in the case have opted for jury trials, which are scheduled to begin Friday.

Police said the men ripped the 3 1/2-foot aluminum No. 8 from its base outside the Camden Yards ballpark Sept. 9, then threw it into the back of a pickup. They were arrested about two hours later.

DISTRICT

Evaluation delayed in museum shooting

Officials at a prison hospital housing the 89-year-old accused of fatally shooting a guard at Washington’s U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum say chronic medical problems are complicating his psychiatric evaluation.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton granted an eight-week extension for the evaluation of James W. von Brunn. Judge Walton said the warden at Butner Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C., requested the extension because several chronic ailments were preventing officials from conducting necessary tests.

The report on Mr. von Brunn’s competency to stand trial had been expected at the end of November. Monday’s order extends Mr. von Brunn’s time at Butner to Jan. 2.

Mr. von Brunn is accused of killing Stephen Tyrone Johns at the museum on June 10. Mr. von Brunn was shot near the ear by other museum guards.

Elderly sloth bear dies at National Zoo

A 27-year-old male sloth bear named Merlin has died at the National Zoo after an illness that lasted two days.

Officials said Merlin underwent a routine examination Monday, but his recovery from his anesthetic drew concerns. He also had a history of stomach problems. Veterinarians performed additional tests and surgery to correct a twisted spleen.

The zoo said Merlin was placed on 24-hour watch for two days, but died Wednesday morning.

Merlin was born at the zoo in December 1981 and fathered seven cubs. The zoo has two female sloth bears on exhibit.