Like many Donald Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Dona Sue Bissey has promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory on social media. But the judge sentencing her Tuesday to 14 days in jail said it was for her actions, not her beliefs. Bissey, 53, pleaded guilty in July to parading, demonstrating or…
When COVID-19 vaccines are available for young kids, will Montgomery Co. be ready?
When COVID-19 vaccines are available for children between ages 5 and 11, Montgomery County, Maryland, officials want to be ready, and they told the County Council that challenges remain. County officials estimate that 105,000 children are in the 5-to-11 age group, and Sean O’Donnell, with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, told…
Slain reporter’s father takes on Facebook over violent video
WASHINGTON (AP) — The family of a slain journalist is asking the Federal Trade Commission to take action against Facebook for failing to remove online footage of her shooting death. Andy Parker said Tuesday the company is violating its own terms of service in hosting videos on Facebook and its sibling service Instagram that glorify…
Police identify man found dead inside Poolesville home
Montgomery County police have identified the man who was found shot dead inside a Poolesville, Maryland, home Monday. The victim was 34-year-old Harry Trueman Powell of D.C. Authorities said they found his body inside the home after a homeowner called 911 around 9 a.m. Monday, to report that someone was trying to break into his…
Fewer in US turn to food banks, but millions still in need
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunger and food insecurity across the United States have dropped measurably over the past six months, but the need remains far above pre-pandemic levels. And specialists in hunger issues warn that the situation for millions of families remains extremely fragile. An Associated Press review of bulk distribution numbers from hundreds of food…
Appeal seeking early release denied in Yeardley Love slaying
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A former University of Virginia lacrosse player’s efforts to get released early from his 25-year sentence in the 2010 slaying of his ex-girlfriend have been denied, again, by a federal appellate court. George Huguely V, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was convicted of second-degree murder in the killing of Yeardley Love, who…
With 1st food delivery, Loudoun Co. drone test center navigates strict DC airspace
Celebrating the first proof-of-concept food delivery in Northern Virginia. (Courtesy Preston Huntington) It will be awhile before you’ll be able to order food and have a drone deliver it to you in Northern Virginia, but it has been done for the first time, locally. A brisket sandwich from Leesburg restaurant Roots 657 was delivered by…
Road closures, parking restrictions for IMF and World Bank fall meetings
Starting Monday and running through Friday, road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect for parts of Northwest D.C. during the 2021 IMF and World Bank fall meetings. Here’s what you need to know. The following streets will be posted Emergency No Parking from Monday, Oct. 11 at 9:00 a.m. to Friday, Oct. 15…
BWI Marshall Airport sees dozens of Southwest flights canceled
Dozens of Southwest flights at BWI Marshall Airport have been canceled. (WTOP/Luke Lukert) Many travelers Monday morning are starting their trips off frustrated as dozens of flights in the D.C. area are canceled. Southwest has canceled hundreds of flights since Saturday. In the D.C. area, BWI Marshall Airport saw the most cancellations from the Dallas,…
What you should be getting paid in DC (and why you might quit)
Staffing firm Robert Half has just released its 56th annual free Salary Guide. Created in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor, it covers projected starting salaries for more than 500 positions in professional services jobs, including finance, accounting, technology, marketing, creative, customer support, legal, health care, human resources and administration. Accompanying the guide is…
Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021: What’s open, what’s closed
Whether you call it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day, D.C.-area residents should be aware of some holiday closures that could impact their Monday. As a federal holiday, federal government offices are closed, along with many local jurisdictions’ offices. Some closures are region-wide. For example, all Virginia and D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles locations and…
Man arrested after driving onto FDA headquarters in Silver Spring
A man is under arrest after he drove dangerously around the Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Montgomery County, Maryland, early Sunday morning, police said. Montgomery County police told WTOP that officers were called to the FDA headquarters at 10903 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring around 2:30 a.m. after an unauthorized car drove onto…
DC region nonprofit aims to serve those in need with ‘Slice of Life’ fundraiser
Food & Friends has launched its annual pre-Thanksgiving pie fundraiser with a goal of helping as many D.C. area neighbors in need that it can. The D.C.-based nonprofit Food & Friends, which helps deliver thousands of meals to people in the region dealing with serious illnesses, has launched its annual Slice of Life fundraiser. The…
COVID-19 outbreak pauses in-person learning at Prince William Co. elementary school
A COVID-19 outbreak is causing problems at Bennett Elementary School in Manassas, Virginia. Starting Tuesday, in-person classes will be paused for the week due to 36 confirmed cases, the school system confirmed to WTOP. In an email to parents Friday night, Prince William County Superintendent LaTanya McDade said “It is important to note that quarantine…
Congressional Women’s Softball Game returns Oct. 27
The Congressional Women’s Softball Game will return this month after being canceled last year and postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The game, which is typically held in June, will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the Watkins Recreation Center on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan team of women members of Congress play…
New sports betting licenses create opportunities for businesses, but it’s not easy or cheap
The first-ever Class B sports betting licensee in D.C. began taking wagers this week; the operation, set up at Grand Central in Adams Morgan, could soon be joined by other sportsbooks in D.C. and Maryland. Class B licenses are for D.C. bars and restaurants that hope to use sports betting to attract customers. But while…
Trump hotel lost $70M during presidency, got help from bank
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s company lost more than $70 million operating his Washington, D.C., hotel while in office, forcing him at one point to get a reprieve from a major bank on payments on a loan, according to documents released Friday by a House committee investigating his business. In addition to…
2 dead, 1 in custody in Capitol Heights shooting
Two people were killed in a shooting at the Gateway Village, in Capitol Heights, Maryland. (WTOP/Shayna Estulin) Two people are dead and a man is in custody after a shooting at a senior living facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The shooting happened at about 9:15 a.m. at the Gateway Village, on Suffolk Avenue near Capitol…
National Harbor screens ‘Movies on the Potomac’ for a spooky family Halloween
toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘Movies on the Potomac’ (Part 1) Halloween brings plenty of gory horror flicks, but what about something family-friendly? Check out National Harbor’s “Movies on the Potomac” every Sunday in October at 4 p.m. “National Harbor is well known for our ‘Movies on…
DC police: Woody Harrelson punched man in self-defense at Watergate Hotel
Oscar-nominated actor Woody Harrelson punched a man in self-defense after the man apparently took photos of Harrelson and his daughter and then tried to choke the actor at the Watergate Hotel in D.C., according to police. The fight happened at Top of the Gate, a rooftop bar at the Watergate hotel, around 11 p.m. on…
Hundreds of students object to Fairfax County pulling controversial books
More than 400 students across Fairfax County, Virginia’s, public school system sent a letter to the school board on Thursday. The letter called on members to reject requests for controversial books to be removed from libraries. The signatures were gathered by the Pride Liberation Project, a group of Fairfax County students in the LGBTQ+ community. More…
Former Baltimore Co. Exec Ted Venetoulis dies at 87
Former Baltimore County Executive Ted Venetoulis spoke at a September 2018 event where the county unveiled the official portrait of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who died while in office. (Courtesy Baltimore County/Flickr) This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. Theodore G. “Ted”…
