Leaders Discuss Region's Future at Forum
By the year 2057, metropolitan Washington will stretch from Baltimore to Richmond and the average home will likely cost more than $14 million, panelists told participants of a special Futures Forum sponsored by COG. The forum, “Charting the Future of the National Capital Region,” examined the region's past and asked leaders to consider how the area is likely to develop in the future. It was organized as part of the celebration of COG's 50th anniversary.

COG Re-Affirms Support for Metro Dedicated Funding
COG re-affirmed its support for a dedicated funding source for the region’s Metro transit system and thanked U.S. Senators from the region for introducing legislation that will allow this issue to move forward. COG has been a leading advocate for dedicated funding for Metro since 2005, when a special “blue ribbon” research panel released a report detailing the need for alternative sources of funding.

More Than 600 Celebrate at Fifth Annual Foster Gala
The fifth annual Foster Parent Appreciation Gala sponsored by COG and the Freddie Mac Foundation drew a crowd of more than 600 foster parents and their guests. The event was an opportunity for elected officials to honor nine outstanding foster families, and gave hard-working foster parents the opportunity to enjoy an evening of dancing and fine food. A special award was presented to honor former Freddie Mac Foundation president and CEO Maxine Baker, who has helped provide for more than $3 million worth of COG projects over the years, for her long-standing commitment to the region's foster parents.

More Than 6,000 Commuters Celebrate Biking to Work
Bicyclists turned out in droves at 25 different sites across the region to celebrate the Bike to Work Day event organized by Commuter Connections, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). The event is held every spring to increase awareness of bicycling to work in the National Capital Region.