POLITICS IN BRIEF: Entire National Mall to be open during inauguration

In a change from tradition, the entire length of the National Mall will be open to the public during the upcoming presidential inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural committee announced Thursday.

In the past, parts of the mall have been closed off as a parade staging area.

The National Park Service has said jumbo TV screens will line the mall to give overflow crowds a glimpse of Obama’s swearing-in.

Park Service officials have said they’re expecting at least 1 million people for the inaugural, and the city has put the number as high as 5 million.

Live, Oprah from Washington

Ms. Winfrey is going to Washington.

Oprah Winfrey will host a live episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from the Kennedy Center Opera House on Jan. 19, the day before Barack Obama takes the presidential oath of office, Harpo Productions said Thursday.

Information about ticketing will be available next week on Oprah.com. A Harpo spokesman said at least two shows are planned in Washington that week.

Winfrey has been a prominent Obama supporter, appearing with him at campaign rallies, donating money and cheering him at the Democratic National Convention. She famously shed tears on a stranger’s shoulder in Chicago after Obama’s election-night acceptance speech.

It’s official that Bushes move to Dallas

The White House confirmed Thursday that President George W.Bush and first lady Laura Bush have purchased a house in Dallas for the couple to live in after his presidency ends in January.

Laura Bush’s office declined to specify where the house is, but it appears likely the couple will live on a cul-de-sac in the upscale Preston Hollow neighborhood —- the same one where the couple lived before George W. Bush was elected Texas governor in 1994.

The president’s accountant in Midland, Texas, Robert McCleskey, purchased the house Oct. 3, according to Dallas records, which value the home at $2.1 million.

Built in 1959, the home sits on 1.13 acres, has four bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, a wet bar, a fireplace and 8,501 square feet of living space, including 896 square feet of servant quarters. The house next door, about half that size, was also recently sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Soldiers to be invited to parade

A businessman who bought a $1 million inauguration ball package plans to invite disadvantaged people, wounded soldiers and others to the prime event Jan. 20 on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Earl Stafford announced plans Thursday for what he’s calling the People’s Inaugural Project at the JW Marriott Hotel.

The package includes 300 rooms, four suites and $200,000 worth of food and drink at the hotel overlooking the inaugural parade route. Stafford also plans to stage two balls.

GOP wins last Calif. House seat

Democrat Charlie Brown conceded defeat to Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock on Wednesday in their hard-fought race for California’s 4th District House seat. With McClintock’s victory, Democrats have a 255-176 edge in the incoming House, compared to the 236 House seats they held through most of the current Congress. Final ballot counts are still at issue in one race each in Ohio and Virginia, and two Louisiana seats will be decided in hurricane-delayed elections Saturday.