At-Large D.C. Council member Robert White is joining the race for mayor. White, a native Washingtonian, made the campaign announcement Wednesday. He told WTOP many people asked him to think about running, and after considering it over the summer, he saw it as an opportunity. “When I thought about what we could do with a…
Teen charged in Loudoun Co. school groping was on electronic monitoring for earlier charges
A Loudoun County, Virginia, high school student who allegedly groped a girl at Broad Run High School last week was on electronic monitoring after being charged with sexually assaulting a young girl in a bathroom in an Ashburn high school in May. Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj told WTOP the same 15-year-old has been…
IG investigation probes whether DC crime lab tried to keep information from defense attorneys
It started with a ballistics error in a murder case, then spiraled into allegations that managers at the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences deliberately concealed conflicting findings to minimize the mistake. Now, documents reviewed by WTOP indicate a sprawling criminal investigation being carried out by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General is probing the…
Judge blocks Baltimore from banning Catholic group’s rally
Baltimore city officials can’t ban a conservative Roman Catholic media outlet from holding a prayer rally at a city-owned pavilion during a U.S. bishops’ meeting next month, a federal judge has ruled, saying the First Amendment right to free speech is “at the heart of this case.” U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander ruled late Tuesday…
Shortages prompt Loudoun Co. schools remote learning days
Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia said Tuesday that the “ongoing shortage of classroom and transportation substitutes” has prompted the system to shift two school days to virtual learning. “In preparation for anticipated substitute coverage shortages during that week (Nov. 1 to 5), the two instructional school days on November 3 and 5 will now…
McAuliffe urges Dems to use muscle on voting, infrastructure
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, on Tuesday called on leaders in Washington from both parties — including President Joe Biden — to “get their act together,” while pushing Senate Democrats to scrap the filibuster if needed to enact the party’s priorities on infrastructure spending and voting rights. The…
The AP Interview: McAuliffe wants Democrats to ‘get it done’
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, on Tuesday called on leaders in Washington from both parties — including President Joe Biden — to “get their act together,” while pushing Senate Democrats to scrap the filibuster if needed to enact the party’s priorities on infrastructure spending and voting rights. The…
Obama to campaign with McAuliffe in Virginia governor’s race
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will campaign with fellow Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the final stretch of the Virginia governor’s race. “The stakes could not be greater,” McAuliffe said, as he announced the news Tuesday morning on MSNBC. McAuliffe’s race against the GOP nominee, first-time political candidate Glenn Youngkin, is tightening, according…
Hairdresser linked to QAnon to be jailed for Capitol rioting
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…
