The D.C. Council approved an overhaul of the city’s ethics laws Tuesday, toughening disclosure requirements and for the first time agreeing on an impeachment process that punishes misconduct. The bill, approved by a vote of 12 to 1, caps a six-month effort by the council to respond to a series of ethical controversies involving some council members that have shaken the public’s confidence in its ability to police itself . Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) voted no. Read full article > >

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D.C. Council overhauls ethics rules

A group of Prince George’s County residents who allege that the County Council secretly approved zoning legislation without a public hearing two years ago is engaged in a legal battle to overturn the measure. The residents say the council approved it without giving the public ample opportunity to state any objections. The bill, known as Subregion 5 Master Plan, included numerous sectional map amendments and would allow more development in some rural parts of the county, dramatically altering the area’s landscape. Read full article > >

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Prince George’s County residents say zoning measure approved without a public hearing

The D.C. Council voted Tuesday to pay a District contractor until the end of the year to mow grass on city land but will hold a hearing Friday to sort out whether Mayor Vincent C. Gray exercised “undue” influence on the contracting process. At Gray’s request, the council allocated about $1.2 million to pay Baltimore-based Lorenz to continue its work through the growing season, along with District-based Community Bridge. But the city plans to rebid the contracts in the coming months as Gray (D) tries to follow through on a campaign promise to award more work to D.C. companies. Read full article > >

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D.C. Council votes to extend grass-cutting contract with Baltimore-based Lorenz

 The D.C. Council voted Tuesday to raise income taxes on residents who earn at least $350,000 annually, capping off a heated debate that revealed a deep philosophical divide on the city’s chief legislative body. In the 7 to 6 vote, the council agreed to raise the rate from 8.5 percent to 8.95 percent on about 6,000 District residents who have more than  $350,000 in annual in taxable income. Read full article > >

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D.C. Council approves tax hike for high earners

The two largest parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly are due to meet later to discuss the make-up of the new executive, as counting begins in the council elections.

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Parties in ministries discussions

The director of Birmingham City Council’s children’s social care department has been suspended, the council confirms.

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City suspends children’s director

Additional crews are working in Birmingham over the bank holiday to clear a backlog of rubbish from the streets, the council says.

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Binmen working over bank holiday