Washington City Paper: Contents for Mar. 10

A Sheriff Named Wilma
An obscure lawyer plucked from the federal bureaucracy to become the District's U.S. attorney two years ago, Wilma Lewis is getting comfortable with getting tough.

Cover Story

An obscure lawyer plucked from the federal bureaucracy to become the District's U.S. attorney two years ago, Wilma Lewis is getting

comfortable with getting tough.

Photographs by Darrow Montgomery

Wilma Lewis is looking for the Rev. Ronald Austin. He's somewhere in the crowd of people lingering after an awards luncheon for Neighbors Who Care, a national group that trains people to work with victims of crime. Lewis, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., has just given a short speech. She was less than riveting on the dais, but afterward, she is mobbed by well-wishers. As they come forward to pump her hand and load her up with platitudes and advice, she listens intently to each, nodding a subdued "Thank you" or "Terrific." After about 15 minutes, she pulls away and finds Austin: He is leaning on crutches by the podium where she gave her remarks. Austin is an important person to Lewis, but he's no powerful city official or high-level minion of Attorney General Janet Reno's. He's the victim of a high-profile carjacking two years ago, which left him without half of his left leg.

"Rev. Austin, good to see you again," Lewis says warmly. She places a kiss on his cheek. "How are you doing? How's the leg?"

"I'm still getting used to the prosthesis," Austin replies. "But I'm wearing it more and more."

She smiles again. Lewis specializes in small moments like this one.... Continued

Issue of Mar. 10 - 16, 2000

News and Features

A Sheriff Named Wilma
An obscure lawyer plucked from the federal bureaucracy to become the District's U.S. attorney two years ago, Wilma Lewis is getting comfortable with getting tough.
Cover Story By Annys Shin
February
The City By Michael Schaffer
Rent's Due
At Livingston Manor, the best intentions collide with the bottom line.
The City By Kevin Diaz
Cotton Gravestones
In D.C., death wears a T-shirt.
The City By Jason Cherkis
Prince George's County Correctional Center
The City By Judith Larsen
Loving Care
The Mail By Kelli Edwards
Storm From the Shelter
The Mail By Michael Jackson
Speak Easy
The Mail By Budd Whitebook
Art Imitates Life
The Mail By Mike Samoya

Columns

The Sitting Son
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Poll Axed
Paper Trail By David Carr
A Majority of One
City Desk By Kevin Diaz
Mufti's Law
City Desk By Jason Cherkis
Twelve Stephs
City Desk By Jason Cherkis
Tent Circus
Loose Lips By Erik Wemple

Eats

Tyranny of the Few
Young & Hungry By Brett Anderson

Movies

Don't Believe It
Film Review By Joel E. Siegel
The Temptation of St. Johnny
Film Review By Arion Berger
Four Glaswegians and a Funeral
Film Review By Mark Jenkins

Music

Olden Daze
Music Review By Christopher Porter
It's Now and Never
Music Review By John Dugan
Morning Glory Days
Music Review By Sean Daly

Theater

The Evil of Banality
Theater Review By Bob Mondello
No Hidden Answers
Theater Review By Trey Graham

Arts and Events

Scan and Deliver
Art Review By Jessica Dawson
Ballad of a Thin Woman
Books By Arion Berger
War and Remembrance
Finally, Loung Ung has unraveled her memories of life and death under Cambodia's Khmer Rouge. But those years still make no sense to her.
Arts By Mark Jenkins
Might as Well Jump
Opera By Joe Banno
Super Fat Tuesday
Artifacts By Patrick Tracey
Classical Texts of Our Time
Artifacts By Robin Bingham
Outsiders' Canon
Artifacts By Louis Jacobson