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Tag: alan etter

  • DC leaders consider reestablishing youth curfew zones permanently – WTOP News

    D.C. Council members are hearing from members of the public and law enforcement on the effectiveness of last summer’s youth curfew zones and whether they should be put pack in place.

    D.C. Council members are hearing from members of the public and law enforcement on the effectiveness of last summer’s youth curfew zones and whether or not it should be put pack in place this winter.

    Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, assembled members of the public and local leaders for a roundtable Thursday on the subject.

    The council voted to let the curfew zones expire Oct. 5, ending the summerlong emergency legislation that gave the police chief the authority to declare certain parts of the city as expanded juvenile curfew zones.

    “Over the summer, during which seven juvenile curfew zones were declared, MPD reported that they had zero curfew violations and zero arrests,” Pinto said. “We also have to make sure that we have tools to prevent these limited instances of disruptive behavior before it occurs.”

    Those zones banned anyone under 18 from gathering in groups of nine or more from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., with some exceptions.

    D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith testified that since the curfew zones ended, her department is seeing more instances of young people gathering in large groups and causing problems. She cited two recent examples that happened on Oct. 13.

    In one incident, she said a group of 100 or more teenagers and young adults gathered at the Navy Yard then went to Union Station, running into traffic along the way and damaging some road signs and trash cans. She said in that incident, a 14-year-old was struck by a car and received minor injuries.

    In the other incident on the same day, Smith said a group of 60-70 teenagers ransacked the movie theater at Gallery Place, causing property damage and stealing about $200 worth of candy. She said one person was struck in the forehead by a bottle thrown by one of the teens. She did not say whether any arrests were made.

    “As a result of this proactive effort, MPD did not cite any youth curfew violations in the zones during the active hours of 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., nor were there any large gatherings,” Smith said, adding the curfew zones should be in place permanently.

    She acknowledged some council members are against the curfews entirely.

    “But that is not where we are right now,” Smith said.

    “True public safety comes from addressing the root causes with robust youth programs and accountability,” Ward 8 Council member Trayon White said, adding that he saw curfews as a “short-term fix” and not a solution to youth delinquency.

    “I’m not inclined to support a permanent application of this curfew,” Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker said. “It was supposed to get us through the summer or winter while we work on something more long-term, maybe it does not exist yet.”

    Pinto said the vast majority of city youth are doing well, and that should be encouraged. She said she supported funding to “create new recording studios for our kids, making sure that our D.C. public libraries have spaces for young people.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • Flushing out homeless encampments causes more harm than good, expert says – WTOP News

    The order from President Donald Trump’s administration to clear out homeless encampments across D.C. might be causing more harm to those experiencing homelessness, according to one expert.

    The order from President Donald Trump’s administration to clear out homeless encampments across D.C. might be causing more harm to those experiencing homelessness, according to one expert.

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness said clearing the camps can backfire by disrupting access to critical services, destroying personal belongings and pushing people into more dangerous or hidden areas.

    Experts say the practice increases psychological stress, worsens health outcomes and can even raise the risk of death — all while failing to address the root causes of homelessness.

    “Simply moving people out of public sight doesn’t resolve homelessness,” Mary Frances Kenion, chief equity officer for the alliance, said. “They no longer have, not just their personal possessions, but they could have lost very important documentation … like an ID.”

    Kenion said the humane way to remove the camps is to first have a place for the individuals to go. Increasing the notice period for those living in an encampment, she said, is a good place to start.

    She cited an initiative in Dallas, Texas, as a good example of how a city was able to reduce the number of homeless individuals in a way that benefited the community.

    Suddenly dissolving a camp, she said, simply pushes people farther away from things they might need, such as access to health care, mental health services and food assistance.

    “Nobody wants to be isolated from their safety net, and that’s what displacement does,” Kenion said.

    Kenion also said it can destroy the relationship a homeless person may have developed with a caseworker. The practice can also erode trust between homeless individuals and authorities, she said.

    “Just sweeping folks from one part of a community to another is being done, but this isn’t new to us,” Kenion said.

    Under the Trump administration, Kenion said there has been a move to criminalize homelessness, and that homeless people are better served by counselors than law enforcement.

    She pointed to the state of Kentucky, which has enacted several laws to crack down on homeless people. But she said the problem there has only gotten worse.

    The NAEH and other organizations have coped with the tactic for decades. She said it’s much more expensive to a community to move encampments out instead of making the human capital investments in long-term solutions.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • A DC-region AI platform seeks to match displaced federal workers with available jobs – WTOP News

    The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) rolled out TalentCapital.AI to connect furloughed federal employees with current openings in the D.C. region.

    The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) earlier this month rolled out TalentCapital.AI, a robust workforce development initiative that uses an AI-powered platform to connect displaced federal employees with current openings in the D.C. region.

    COG executive director Clark Mercer told WTOP that the platform is gaining traction.

    “We’ve got over 32,000 unique users — that’s not repeat visitors,” Mercer said. “Every day we have around 3,000 active users, which is someone who is interacting with ‘Celeste,’ the AI agent, and is having a healthy back and forth in terms of looking for work,” he said.

    TalentCapital.AI is designed to connect talent with employers, strengthen the region’s economy, and provide a lifeline for those impacted by layoffs or looking to make a career change, Mercer said.

    Federal workers are logging in from across the D.C. area including the District, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Reston, Ashburn, and Alexandria, Virginia, Mercer said. “So it’s all over the metro capital region, which is pretty neat to see.”

    Mercer said more than half the users on the site are using desktop computers, which could be an indication that they are serious about their job search.

    The team at the Talent Capital platform go through every day and weed out dead links, an issue that’s been raised among users of other job boards, according to Mercer.

    Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the new initiative to help job seekers get back on their feet — and it combines cutting-edge tech with community support.

    The program partners with George Washington University, University of the District of Columbia and nonprofits to offer hands-on guidance.

    TalentCapital.AI was created “in response to what’s happening (in the federal government),” Mercer said. “Anyone can go on the site, but particular attention is being paid to federal workers and contractors, and we hope it’s the start of our three governments working more closely together when it comes to workforce development.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • VOA employees hope a comedy show in DC will raise awareness for laid off journalists – WTOP News

    Amid controversy over the misuse of funds at Voice of America, displaced staff are raising awareness through a comedy fundraiser in D.C.

    In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order firing hundreds of journalists and other employees at the Voice of America, an international multimedia broadcast news service funded by the U.S. government run by the United States Agency for Global Media.

    It was part of the Trump administration’s efforts to radically reshape the federal government by eliminating tens of thousands of positions across the government.

    Many lawsuits ensued, and judges issued temporary restraining orders blocking the effort, which some observers have called illegal.

    A movement emerged among the displaced employees called #SAVEVOA, and it seeks to raise awareness about the agency and funds for struggling employees.

    Kate Neeper served as director of strategy and performance assessment for USAGM and is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that aims to stop the administration’s efforts.

    She told WTOP about their latest effort to benefit VOA employees: A comedy show.

    “A colleague of ours got in touch with this organization that I guess has been running a number of fundraisers for folks affected by everything that’s been happening in the federal government in the last few months. And they offered to host a fundraiser for the SAVEVOA campaign,” Neeper said.

    The acting head of USAGM, Kari Lake, cited “radical propaganda” and misuse of taxpayer funds as reasons for the firings. A continuing resolution passed by Congress the same month had provided funding for VOA and its sister networks through September 2025.

    “We just want people to know what VOA does,” Neeper said. “We want them to really understand … that there’s been this American government-funded press outlet established for 83 years, talking about what’s happening in the world to people who live in places where they don’t have press freedom.”

    The show is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Festival Center in Adams Morgan. The lineup hasn’t been settled yet, but they are offering prizes for the best Halloween costume. You can learn more about the event and purchase tickets here.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • Man fatally shot ex-girlfriend right in front of her mother in Silver Spring, charging documents say – WTOP News

    Earl George Walker, 47, is charged with first-degree murder and several firearms violations in the shooting death of 47-year-old Monique Charles of New York City.

    A Derwood, Maryland, man will be held without bond on charges he killed his ex-girlfriend last Sunday morning in Silver Spring.

    Earl George Walker, 47, appeared in Montgomery County District Court on Wednesday afternoon for the bond hearing. He’s charged with first-degree murder and several firearms violations in the shooting death of 47-year-old Monique Charles, of New York City.

    According to charging documents obtained by WTOP, Walker ambushed Charles and shot her right in front of her mother as she was leaving a residence in the 1700 block of Imperial Drive around 8 a.m. on Sunday.

    Investigators said Walker was seen circling the block in a maroon Chrysler sedan minutes before the shooting. Then, as Charles’ mother was standing at the passenger side of Charles’ white Jeep saying goodbye, she told police the maroon sedan pulled into the driveway, and she heard several gunshots. She said she then saw her daughter suddenly slump over.

    Charles’ mother said she saw Walker shooting a handgun into the Jeep and then fleeing, according to the documents.

    Upon arrival, officers found Charles unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced her dead at the scene.

    Officers spotted the sedan some time later in Olney, Maryland, and tried to pull it over, but Walker took off.

    After a brief chase ensued, the vehicle rolled over and crashed, and Walker was taken into custody. Walker was treated for minor injuries as a result of the crash.

    Walker is also charged with first and second-degree assault and the felony use of a firearm, among other charges.

    He will return to court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 14.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • In the race for Virginia governor, negativity seems to be winning the day – WTOP News

    With just weeks until Election Day, the Virginia gubernatorial race is heating up with increasingly negative ads. Experts say both campaigns are leveraging national party tensions to sway voters.

    If you think the television, radio and online advertising in the Virginia governor’s race is increasingly negative, you’re not alone.

    With the election a mere three weeks away, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears are doing their best to link their opponent to the most negative elements of their national parties, according to a political communications expert from Virginia Tech.

    “The thing about negative advertising is that everyone says they don’t like it, but the reason why we have negative ads is because they work,” said Cayce Myers, director of graduate studies in the school of communications at Virginia Tech.

    The Republican lieutenant governor has flooded the airwaves with ads focused on the cultural divide that helped President Donald Trump win the presidency last fall, casting Spanberger as unwilling to protect Virginia’s children from sexual predators.

    Earle-Sears’ team even replicated some of the same messaging used against former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying Spanberger is “for they/them, not for us.”

    “They work because it allows people to frame their opponent in a particular way,” Myers told WTOP. “It also allows them to build a narrative in the election. And we know that people just in general respond, in a political sense, more to negative than to positive.”

    Myers said Republicans want the election to be a referendum on far-left progressive politics, especially parental rights and education. On the other side of the aisle, Democrats want the election to be about the chaos of Trump’s administration, including the government shutdown.

    “There’s a lot to be said for people who are motivated to vote against someone than to vote for someone,” Myers said. “That’s one of the reasons why the race has become much more negative than we normally see.”

    He pointed to last week’s debate in which Earle-Sears continuously interrupted Spanberger in an attempt to throw her off balance and make an unintentional comment, despite being admonished by the moderators.

    “It’s this kind of off-the-cuff remark that a lot of politicians seize upon that they can then repackage into advertising and also leverage for viral content,” he said. “I don’t think (Earle-Sears) really got that.”

    Spanberger faced forward throughout the debate, avoided eye contact and rarely addressed Earle-Sears directly. She did not speak during Earle-Sears’ answers, even when her opponent asked direct questions, resulting in moments of awkward silence.

    In any case, Virginia’s gubernatorial campaign will be historic, as it could result in the first woman being elected the Commonwealth’s 75th governor.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • Docuseries on the disappearance of Relisha Rudd hopes to generate new tips on the 11-year-old case – WTOP News

    Relisha Rudd, an 8-year-old girl who went missing in D.C. in 2014, is the subject of a new docuseries by the national nonprofit organization, Black and Missing Foundation.

    Relisha Rudd at 8 years old (left), compared to a photo rendering of what she may look like now.(Courtesy Henderson Long of D.C.’s Missing Voice)

    Relisha Rudd, an 8-year-old girl who went missing in D.C. in 2014, is the subject of a new docuseries by the national nonprofit organization Black and Missing Foundation.

    The trailer for the upcoming docuseries shows Rudd in a home movie spelling her name for her grandmother. Rudd, smiling with a missing front tooth, would vanish not long after the movie was made.

    Black and Missing Foundation is hoping the docuseries will generate new leads for police. The group raises awareness for missing people of color by creating public awareness campaigns, providing resources and tools to families and educating the community on personal safety.

    “We know that by bringing awareness to Relisha’s case, we can bring about answers as to what happened to her,” Black and Missing co-founder Natalie Wilson told WTOP. “We will never stop searching for her.”

    Rudd was a second grader at Payne Elementary School when she went missing March 1, 2014. She was last seen on surveillance video at the Holiday Inn Express motel in the company of Kahlil Tatum, a janitor for a D.C. General Family Shelter where Rudd had been living with her mother, Shamika Young.

    The motel in Northeast was known for criminal activities, including drug use and prostitution.

    A month after Rudd was last seen, Tatum was found dead in a shed in Kenilworth Park in an apparent suicide.

    Though more than 11 years have passed, Wilson hopes the film will spark new interest in the investigation.

    “She’s really D.C.’s baby that’s missing. We want to know what happened to Relisha,” Wilson said. “The community deserves to know what happened to Relisha, and it takes all of us — that’s the media, law enforcement, but most importantly our community — to get involved to help find and bring our missing home.”

    Officially, Rudd’s disappearance is unsolved, but police continue to ask the public for information about the case. The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information.

    The two-part docuseries will be released on Oct. 29, Rudd’s 20th birthday.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • American University offers free learning day for furloughed federal workers – WTOP News

    The American University School of Public Affairs opened its doors Friday to federal employees affected by the furlough, offering a full day of free learning and networking opportunities.

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    American University offers free learning day for furloughed federal workers

    In response to the ongoing government shutdown, the American University School of Public Affairs opened its doors Friday to federal employees affected by furloughs, offering a full day of free learning and networking opportunities.

    The event, part of the school’s “Classes Without Quizzes” initiative, featured more than a dozen sessions covering topics such as leadership during disruption, cybersecurity trends, workplace resilience, career development and even filmmaking.

    The program is designed to provide professional enrichment without the pressure of grades or tests.

    More than 500 people registered for the event, the third time AU has hosted such an event.

    “We are very committed to public service, and a lot of our alums go into public service, and we really wanted to support our federal colleagues who are dealing with a time of uncertainty right now,” said Alison Jacknowitz, interim dean of AU’s School of Public Affairs.

    Thousands of federal workers fired earlier this year during the sweeping purges by the “Department of Government Efficiency,” President Donald Trump’s administration’s team tasked with slashing federal spending, as well as thousands more affected in the latest government shutdown, are dealing with heavy emotions now, according to Jacknowitz.

    She said this program offers those former and furloughed employees an outlet for those emotions and an opportunity to connect to others in the same situation.

    “I think the number one issue is uncertainty,” Jacknowitz said. “We have people here that are impacted by the shutdown and also people that have been impacted by layoffs and reductions in force from earlier in the year,” she said.

    “We’re here today because we both worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and we were RIFed in July,” said John Spears, who attended the classes along with his wife, Margaret.

    “I’m looking forward to today, looking forward to today, learning about some new things,” Margaret said. “It ranges from artificial intelligence to management techniques to other kinds of pivoting or the current situation in the United States.”

    Originally launched in January 2019 during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, “Classes Without Quizzes” reflects SPA’s 85-year commitment to public service and its continued support for federal workers.

    “I very proudly served in the federal government for more than 10 years, and I had a chance to serve in the USAID, and I became a career civil servant, then things went in a very different direction,” said Cara George, of Northeast D.C., who was fired earlier this year.

    George is an AU alum and called her participation in the program a sort of “homecoming.” She said she is employed now, but not in the area she wants.

    She was hoping to gain new skills and insight to hopefully pivot back into her preferred career.

    “Hoping for the chance to find community and solidarity with other fired and furloughed feds and folks in the federal space,” George said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • Virginia liberal arts Christian school shines among nation’s best in US News ranking – WTOP News

    The US News & World Report ranking of the best schools in the country came out this week, and listed for the second year in a row was a small liberal arts Christian School in Purcellville called Patrick Henry College.

    Empty classroom with no students(Getty Images/GlobalStock)

    The US News & World Report ranking of the best schools in the country came out this week, and listed for the second year in a row was a small liberal arts Christian school in Purcellville called Patrick Henry College.

    Situated right off Leesburg Pike, the college, founded in 2000, was ranked 107 overall in the nation, up a stunning 29 points from its first appearance on the list last year.

    “We have some of the highest LSAT (Law School Admission Test) scores in the nation for kids entering law school,” said Patrick Henry spokesman Tom Ziemnick. “And that includes the Ivy League.”

    Ziemnick said the law school’s moot court programs are considered the best in the nation, recently defeating Yale to claim its 14th win in the National Moot Court Championship, hosted by the American Moot Court Association.

    “We’re sort of this best kept secret —— an Alabama or Ohio State for football —— we are that for moot court,” Ziemnick said. “No other college in the nation has more than two national championships.”

    “So, it’s funny, in our gym, our banners aren’t for basketball, they’re for moot court national championships,” Ziemnick said.

    Patrick Henry College is a private liberal arts school. The campus sits on 119 acres in Purcellville and has 425 undergraduate students.

    Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, the University of Virginia and the University of Maryland at College Park still rank in the top 50 best national universities for the 2026 Best Colleges standings, which were released Tuesday.

    Hopkins remained in the top 10, coming in at No. 7 in a four-way tie, down one slot from 2025, while Georgetown remained at No. 24, the same as last year.

    Nationally, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University came in first, second and third, respectively, in the overall National Universities category, just like last year.

    The University of Maryland, College Park, rose two to No. 42 in a tie with the University of Washington, while the University of Virginia dropped two slots, coming in at No. 26 in the National Universities category.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • National Week Without Driving challenges DC region to get out of our cars – WTOP News

    Monday begins the National Week Without Driving, an effort to get people to park their cars and walk, bike and take public transportation.

    Monday begins the National Week Without Driving, an effort to get people to park their cars and walk, bike and take public transportation.

    But it’s not just an initiative to benefit the environment, organizers say it’s also a time to help people reflect on the barriers some still have in choosing public transportation.

    Thanks to strong local investment in sidewalks, bike and bus lanes, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the District stands out as one of the most livable cities in the U.S. D.C. offers some of the nation’s best public transit, a thriving bikeshare system and walkable neighborhoods that are relatively accessible to all.

    Yet, one advocacy group says both transit riders and drivers continue to pay a steep transportation time tax — the result of severe traffic congestion and a system that still underfunds and under-prioritizes non-car modes of travel.

    “The goal is to get public officials and members of the public to experience what life is like when driving is not an option,” said Kai Hall, policy manager for Greater Greater Washington.

    According to its website, his advocacy group works to “inform, engage and influence both the public and policy makers to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in land use, transportation, and housing” around the D.C. region.

    Greater Greater Washington is working with the D.C. Transportation Equity Network to coordinate National Week Without Driving in the D.C. area and to influence leaders to participate.

    Hall said 40% of District residents don’t drive.

    “That’s nearly 280,000 people,” he said. “Even though we have one of the best transit systems in the country, there are still barriers for people to access the options they need to go about their daily life.”

    Hall estimated it takes an average of at least two-and-a-half times longer to take public transit than to drive. He said that’s because D.C.’s overall system was designed to accommodate the individual motorist rather than focusing on mass transit.

    “There’s a huge disparity in how people’s time is valued in our system,” Hall said.

    For thousands of D.C. residents, driving isn’t an option — whether due to age, disability or the high cost of car ownership.

    Hall encourages area residents to participate in the National Week Without Driving, which runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, by signing up online.

    Participants can share their experiences on social media using #WeekWithoutDriving, send reflections for a post-week blog or keep a transit diary.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

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  • DC residents can now get a COVID-19 shot without a prescription – WTOP News

    Emergency legislation signed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will authorize licensed pharmacies to administer COVID-19 vaccinations without a prescription.

    Emergency legislation signed this week by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will authorize licensed pharmacies to administer COVID-19 vaccinations without a prescription.

    Changes in federal recommendations this year made it a requirement for those who wanted the COVID-19 vaccine to get a prescription first, unless a person was 65 or older or was considered at risk. The Centers for Disease Control’s immunization schedule lists the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, but not the 2025-26 version — leaving the newer shots subject to a prescription requirement.

    That has resulted in several states resorting to implementing their own policies to negate the need for a prescription, which was not required in previous years since the pandemic.

    “D.C. will now match both Maryland and Virginia, so that residents don’t have to travel out of state to be able to get access to the vaccine,” said At-Large Council member Christina Henderson, who chairs the Committee on Health.

    It was her bill that was passed 12-0 by the council and signed by Mayor Bowser.

    Eligible Virginians also now have an easier time getting vaccines due to an order issued by the Virginia Department of Health two weeks ago. Neighboring Maryland will also protect access to vaccines for all of its residents with flu season approaching.

    “The D.C. Department of Insurance Securities and Banking has required that all insurance plans in the District continue to cover all vaccines that were approved as of last December through 2026,” Henderson added.

    Henderson is concerned that the current administration is not focused on proven, health-based practices.

    “I do wish that the federal government would get back on track in terms of truly following the science, as opposed to these associations not correlations that they are seeing in research,” she said.

    She pointed to President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that pregnant women should not take Tylenol because he said — without any supporting scientific evidence — that there is a link between acetaminophen and autism in children. The maker of Tylenol, Kenvue, as well as numerous scientific groups immediately and forcefully rebuked that claim.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • Maryland congressman blasts Trump for using Justice Department for personal vendettas – WTOP News

    Maryland’s Jamie Raskin is taking the Trump administration to task over a social media post that called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after his political enemies.

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    Maryland congressman blasts Trump for using DOJ for personal vendettas

    Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin is taking President Donald Trump’s administration to task over a social media post Trump sent over the weekend that called on his attorney general to go after those he considers his political enemies.

    In the post, Trump seemingly directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue legal action against New York Attorney General Letitia James, California U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and former FBI Director James Comey.

    “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” he said. Noting that he was impeached and criminally charged, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

    Shortly after the post was published, it was removed but then reposted some time later, which sparked speculation that Trump meant to send it as a direct message to Bondi but mistakenly posted it publicly.

    Trump later wrote in a follow-up post that Bondi was “doing a GREAT job.”

    Raskin, who represents the state’s 8th District, said it’s no surprise Trump would try to use the Justice Department to carry out personal vendettas.

    “He is castigating U.S. attorneys and federal prosecutors all over the country, forcing them to do his will, to indict people even if there isn’t probable cause to believe that they’ve engaged in a crime,” Raskin told WTOP in an interview.

    Raskin, the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee and part of the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, said the administration is dismantling institutions and taking rights away from Americans.

    “We have a president who is now trampling every constitutional principle and rule we’ve got,” Raskin said. “America knows that there is something profoundly wrong with what’s going on.”

    And Raskin said judges across the country agree with him.

    “Here’s the great news,” he said. “There have been more than 400 cases now brought against Trump for violating the Constitution and the rule of law. And in the district courts, we are winning more than 96% of the time with also overwhelming numbers in the appeals court.”

    Raskin was issued a pardon in the final days of former President Joe Biden’s administration for his role on the House Select Committee and in impeachment proceedings against Trump.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • Maryland leaders fight a plan to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center – WTOP News

    Leaders from Maryland have launched a campaign to stop a proposal that would close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and move personnel to other states.

    Leaders from Maryland have launched a campaign to stop a proposal that would close the 115-year-old Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and move personnel to other states across the U.S.

    On Monday, lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Glen Ivey, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy and other state leaders, gathered to highlight the importance of the facility and why it should stay in Maryland.

    “It was not that long ago that we all gathered together with this simple message: BARC provides really important resources and research to the country and that it should stay right here in Prince George’s County, Maryland,” Van Hollen said, who took a tour of the facility located in Beltsville.

    “After [speaking to employees] on the tour, the special nature of BARC came through to all of us,” Van Hollen said.

    “There’s been a multi-billion dollar investment of American’s taxpayers dollars in this space,” said Ivey.

    “If you just pick it up and move it, you’re squandering that money, and it’s expensive to move, and you’ll have to build a new facility wherever you go,” Ivey said. “And you’re going to lose the human capital to move out to wherever they’re trying to take them to. It just doesn’t make sense.”

    In July, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins unveiled a major restructuring plan aimed at relocating Department of Agriculture employees out of the D.C. area, citing high housing costs and salaries as key factors. However, Rollins acknowledged that as many as half the affected staff may opt to leave the agency rather than move.

    BARC spans 6,500 acres and has been a cornerstone of agricultural innovation in Maryland for over a century.

    It is home to the George Washington Carver Center, which houses the headquarters of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, as well as several University of Maryland research initiatives. These include a premier turf grass research facility and long-term agricultural study fields.

    BARC employs more than 1,000 federal workers and plays a vital role in supporting hundreds of jobs throughout the community.

    “We’re going to fight this for the American people,” said Hoyer. “For the AG community, not only here, but around the country,” he said.

    “Our global standing will be hurt even further,” said Alsobrooks. “We’re losing revenue. We’re losing our workforce. And this would mean much of the same.

    “This is really the collective voice of each of us, standing up and saying now that BARC is so important, not only to the state of Maryland but to our country, and we are here to say that we absolutely cannot afford to close it.”

    “You can’t just move soil,” Braveboy said, who notes it makes sense to keep the facility in Beltsville because of Maryland’s diverse climate. “And so the decades of research that has been conducted here means something.”

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  • DC man catches alligator at The Wharf – WTOP News

    A 23-year-old man fished out an alligator that was swimming along the boats at The Wharf Marina in Southwest D.C.

    Imagine Phoenix Norwood’s surprise when he heard there was a four-foot alligator swimming among the boats at The Wharf Marina in Southwest D.C.

    CLICK TO ENLARGE: A 23-year-old man fished out an alligator that was swimming along the boats at The Wharf Marina in Southwest D.C. (Courtesy Phoenix Norwood)

    “At first I heard about it … then I started looking for it, and I actually saw it twice,” Norwood told WTOP.

    The 23-year-old resident of The Wharf thought the gator was fake at first.

    Then, it started swimming. That’s when he grabbed a dip net and fished it out Thursday.

    “If I had just let it be on its own, it would have probably swam away again, and authorities were about like 10, 15 minutes away at the time,” Norwood said. “I had to get it at that point in time. I probably should have had shoes on, though.”

    Norwood is a reptile enthusiast and an avid fossil collector.

    “I got some crocodile teeth and all that stuff, but I don’t really have experience with live gators,” Norwood said. “This is definitely a first for me.”

    Norwood held the reptile until officials with D.C. animal control arrived to secure it. They will work with a group to relocate the animal to a more appropriate environment.

    Hopefully, far away.

    Where did it come from? There’s plenty of speculation, but authorities guess it was someone’s pet that was released into the Washington Channel recently.

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  • ‘There’s a long way to go’: Sierra Club blasts DC council in approving Commanders stadium deal – WTOP News

    After the D.C. Council approved a $3.7 billion plan to build a new Commanders stadium, the D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club said it plans to hold the team accountable during construction.

    After the D.C. Council approved a $3.7 billion plan, including more than $1 billion from taxpayers to build a new stadium for the Commanders, the D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the most famous environmental groups in the world, said it plans to hold the team to account during construction.

    In a statement, the group criticized the council for what it called a billion-dollar “giveaway” for the billionaire team owners without having environmental safeguards in place.

    David Whitehead, who serves as the director of the D.C. chapter, told WTOP that his group plans to hold the team responsible for protecting the Anacostia River and the surrounding neighborhood through a series of public engagement meetings. He urged the team to consider their sustainability platform for the RFK grounds moving forward.

    “We’ve got the zoning commission, we’re going to have lots of different community meetings. The development team is going to be talking to our neighbors for the next couple of years, frankly about what’s going to be happening there,” Whitehead said.

    “So, have a lot of points of intervention to try to improve this. And, frankly, the Commanders have a really good opportunity to take the lead on this.”

    Whitehead said the Commanders have the opportunity to build the greenest stadium in the country.

    The statement issued by Whitehead’s group contends that the construction plan, as it stands now, falls short across the board, namely on its zero waste commitments and efforts to ensure flood protections for the region, among other concerns.

    In a statement from Commanders managing partner Josh Harris, the football organization laid out its commitment to a partnership with Recycle Track Systems, a professional waste disposal company that will oversee an effort to keep waste as environmentally responsible as possible.

    The Commanders have also agreed to preserve “many” of the legacy trees on the construction site. Environmentalists are concerned about the trees being removed, which could lead to a greater risk of erosion.

    “We have an opportunity to really lead sports and entertainment greenifying the stadium on a number of measures,” Whitehead said. “We’re not there today, but I’m hopeful that we can figure that out in the next couple of years. There’s a long way to go.”

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  • In a first, organized female flag football hits Virginia high schools – WTOP News

    Four Prince William County high school teams kicked off the first girls flag football season inside the “Bubble” at the Washington Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn.

    For the first time, female high school students in Prince William County, Virginia, are playing organized flag football. And their opening games were held Tuesday at the Washington Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn.

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    Prince William County introduces flag football for high school girls

    Four teams squared off in the “Bubble” a gigantic, white covered structure that has workout equipment and a regulation-size football field contained inside. Brentsville High School met Battlefield High, and Gar-Field played Osbourn Park.

    Twelve of the 13 high schools in Prince William County have fielded girls flag football teams after about two years of considering adding the sport.

    “I’ve always loved football, and I love that it’s like a sisterhood,” said Adriana, a 17-year-old senior at Gar-Field. She says she’s been playing football all her life and now appreciates the opportunity to play with girls from other schools within the county.

    Her coach, Ginger Scott, agrees, saying, “Gar-field has always been a home to me as an alumni and being a teacher now, so being able to bring a sport to the girls that love it, has been great.”

    The event at the Commanders’ facility on Tuesday was not only historic, it also drew out some Washington football legends as honorary coaches and cheerleaders.

    “I have three daughters,” said former Commanders running back Brian Mitchell. “I’m excited about it because it gives them a chance to go out there and play a game that they love,” Mitchell said.

    “When I heard about this game of flag, you know with the girls, I’ve been intrigued just to know that we’re able to share our sport with them,” said Santana Moss, a former Commanders wide receiver.

    Girls flag football is catching on.

    The National Federation of State High School Associations reports that participation in the 2024-25 school year increased by 60% compared to the year before — making it the fastest-growing high school sport for girls. Nearly 69,000 athletes took the field last year, and the number of schools offering the sport grew by almost 1,000 nationwide.

    “They’re very excited; they’re learning the sport, and they’re honing their athleticism,” said Jillian Ross, head coach of the Osbourn Park High School girls flag football team.

    “I feel good to be part of this team,” said Eliana, who says this is her first year playing flag football. “I feel like it’s basically a family here at Osbourne Park to do flag football, we can all relate on things together,” she said.

    Right now, 16 state associations officially sanction girls flag football, while another 18 states are running independent or pilot programs.

    The school system partnered with the Commanders to introduce girls to the sport, hosting a clinic in January at Woodbridge High School and two more in May.

    For now, competition is limited to Prince William County schools at the club level, though out-of-county opponents may be added in future seasons. The regular season runs through late October, with all teams advancing to the postseason. Semifinal and championship games will be held Nov. 8.

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  • ‘It’s not fully over’: DC leaders talk about what’s next after the crime emergency ends – WTOP News

    Now that the federal law enforcement surge in D.C. has come to an end, many don’t believe there will be a sudden disappearance of police and National Guard.

    Now that the federal law enforcement surge in D.C. has come to an end, many don’t believe there will be a sudden disappearance of police and National Guard. However, one Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner said he’s heard of fewer interactions with residents.

    “It’s not fully over, but I think there is a decrease in the number of instances I’m hearing about,” said Jeremy Sherman, who represents ANC single-member district 1A04 in Columbia Heights.

    But he added, “There are neighbors who are still afraid and scared and so I think this is a rebuilding time.”

    Sherman’s colleague in 1A06, Anthony Thomas-Davis, agreed there were lessons learned during the surge.

    “I think the surge exposed some gaps in our system that require some level of attention,” Thomas-Davis said. “That was largely around public safety and how our officers are deployed in certain manners across the neighborhoods … and largely how our public spaces are being maintained to either discourage crime or to incentivize public space activation in a way that may also deter crime.”

    Thomas-Davis said while D.C. residents, for the most part, did not want the law enforcement surge, as evidenced by the massive protests held over the past month, he does think lessons can be taken from it.

    “I hope as we pivot from the emergency, a lot of residents come together to push District government to address these issues,” Thomas-Davis said, adding that it was his hope D.C. can continue to develop in a way that would not give the Trump administration “an excuse” to impose another emergency.

    “We want to see MPD get back to community policing and not infringing upon neighbors’ rights and building positive relationships,” Sherman said. “On the positive side, a lot of neighbors have come together. … There are a lot of WhatsApp and Signal groups that have formed over the past month, and those continue to be places for neighbors to connect and support each other.”

    Sherman and Thomas-Davis represent areas in Columbia Heights with a large Hispanic population and the location of several interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. They said they expect some of those interactions to continue.

    Sherman said he is hoping the city will come together now and support their neighbors and local businesses.

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  • Virginia families face hurdles getting updated COVID-19 vaccine amid prescription confusion – WTOP News

    Virginia families are hitting roadblocks getting the new COVID-19 vaccine, as shifting federal rules spark confusion over pharmacy prescription requirements.

    Virginia families are hitting roadblocks while getting the new COVID-19 vaccine, as shifting federal rules spark confusion over pharmacy prescription requirements.

    According to the Virginia Department of Health, pharmacists can give vaccines in two ways: with a prescription from a medical provider, or under statewide protocols that allow vaccinations without a prescription — as long as they follow the immunization schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    The CDC’s current immunization schedule lists the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, but not the 2025-26 version, which is why a prescription is now required for the newer shots.

    Jim Hardin, a 75-year-old resident of Haymarket, told WTOP he was asked to present a prescription recently when he tried to get a vaccination at a Giant Foods Pharmacy near his home. He said he’s never been asked for a prescription.

    “To me, this is kind of a federal bureaucracy … that’s really useless,” Hardin said. “If you think about it, what doctor is going to say, ‘No, I’m not going to give you a prescription for a COVID shot?’ I mean, they’ll all give it to you.”

    Hardin said he is retired veteran and can get a shot at a local military base. But he said that’s at least 20 miles away and not at all convenient.

    Several states have already acted on similar concerns. In Colorado, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, pharmacists can give COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription.

    The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee meets Sept. 18 and 19 to vote on updated COVID-19 shots. If approved, pharmacists could give the vaccines without a prescription.

    “I just think the government is trying to dissuade citizens from getting a shot,” Hardin said. “I think that’s wrong.”

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  • DC leaders react to lawsuit aimed at ending National Guard deployment – WTOP News

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said her focus remains on planning for the exit out of President Donald Trump’s declared crime emergency, while council members supported the lawsuit.

    As legal and political tensions escalate over federal intervention in the District, Mayor Muriel Bowser is turning her attention toward the end of President Donald Trump’s declared crime emergency — while council members rally behind a lawsuit challenging the continued deployment of the National Guard.

    At a news conference on Thursday morning following the announcement of the lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb challenging the use of the National Guard, Bowser said, “This has been a legal question throughout the emergency, not just today. And I will just reiterate that my focus, and the focus of our emergency operations center, is on planning for the exit out of the emergency next week.”

    The Army later said it’s extending orders for the D.C. National Guard to remain in the nation’s capital through Nov. 30, two U.S. officials told ABC News on Thursday.

    The crime emergency is scheduled to end Sept. 10.

    Bowser said she has not been consulted on any possible extension.

    “I’m not sure that that’s an indication of how long they’ll be deployed. I know that there’s a lot of reporting about how weary they are. And I get that, because deployments are hard. People are away from their families, and they may not necessarily think they’re on mission,” Bowser said.

    “So, I think that the deployments themselves are running their course,” she added. “We are organized to best use our own public safety resources and any additional public safety resources. And I think that’s a message for the Congress.”

    Council members react to lawsuit

    Speaking to WTOP, Ward 3 Council member Matthew Frumin and At-Large Council member Robert White expressed support for the lawsuit.

    “There was just a decision that said the president has improperly deployed the National Guard in other places,” Frumin said. “So, the fact that the attorney general would capitalize on those findings in other jurisdictions to try to get us to where we want to be, which is not having armed soldiers on our streets, makes sense.”

    White echoed that support, saying he believes AG Schwalb has built a “strong case.”

    “What the president is doing is illegal. He’s not respecting Congress, he’s not respecting Home Rule, he’s not respecting D.C. residents,” White said.

    Frumin also spoke about the mayor’s position, describing it as “incredibly difficult.” He acknowledged the criticism Bowser has faced but said she is trying to find a way forward.

    “If we could get to a place where the ICE activity got under control and the National Guard left, that would be a vast improvement over where we are,” he said.

    He said Bowser likely has the clearest sense of what might lead to the end of the emergency, given her direct communication with federal officials.

    “I have to believe she knows this might not work, but she’s made the determination that this is the best, most constructive path forward. And I want to support her in that,” Frumin said.

    White, however, took a sharply different view. He warned the mayor’s recent order establishing an operations center to coordinate with federal law enforcement could send the wrong message and undermine D.C.’s autonomy.

    “We have to protect D.C., Home Rule and democracy,” White said. “It’s hard for national voices, other governors, members of Congress, to say ‘stop what’s happening in D.C.’ if they’re getting a message that D.C. welcomes it. D.C. does not welcome it.”

    Bowser, in responding to criticism on Wednesday, said her goal is to end the emergency, not to invite federal intervention.

    Still, White accused the mayor of trying to appease the president, a strategy he believes is bound to fail.

    “It’s not going to work,” he said. “We have to make sure we work with our allies, those who believe in democracy and Home Rule, to protect it.”

    The White House has defended the federal effort. On Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in D.C. “has yielded tremendous results in such a short time. Violent crime has plummeted, and dangerous criminals are being removed from the streets every single night.”

    Frumin acknowledged the drop in crime but cautioned that the current approach is not sustainable. He said some residents now feel unsafe while simply being outside.

    White agreed. He warned that while crime may be down, the long-term damage to the community’s trust in the government could make the city less safe in the future.

    “So, when the military leaves our city, we are left with that broken reputation that’s going to make us less safe,” he said.

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  • New Carrollton neighborhood braces for the loss of a popular grocery store – WTOP News

    Residents of New Carrollton, Maryland, are facing the closure of their longtime Shoppers Food Warehouse on Riverdale Road, one of four Maryland locations shutting down by Oct. 11. Locals expressed concern over limited grocery options and hope a new store will replace the beloved neighborhood fixture.

    The Shoppers Food Warehouse grocery store, a New Carrollton fixture for decades in the 7700 block of Riverdale Road, is shutting down next month.(WTOP/Alan Etter)

    In New Carrollton, Maryland, residents are bracing themselves for a major change in their grocery shopping habits.

    Their local Shoppers Food Warehouse grocery store, a neighborhood fixture for decades in the 7700 block of Riverdale Road, is shutting down next month. It’s one of four Maryland locations set to close in October.

    For longtime shoppers, the news comes as a tough blow. Many say the store has been more than just a place to buy groceries. But with the doors closing, neighbors worry about what comes next.

    “It’s just bad that they’re closing stores that’s close to neighborhoods that people depend on,” said Neal, a neighbor to the store that’s slated for closure.

    He lives right around the corner and has been coming to this particular Shoppers for two years, ever since he moved to the neighborhood.

    “I’m just trying to figure out what would they turn this into if they close this down for the community?” Neal said.

    “It’s going to be an inconvenience to have to find another Shoppers, because we like Shoppers,” he added. “Now, it’s going to take us out of the way, but we have to go.”

    There are two other grocery stores in walking distance of the Shoppers, and are the only other grocery stores in the city.

    “A lot of families depend on Shoppers to feed their families,” said Chiquita from Capitol Heights, who said she’d been coming to this Shoppers for about 15 years.

    “I don’t know why they would do that, unless they’re going to give us some food for free,” she said with a laugh. “That’s a bad idea.”

    She worries about people in the neighborhood who don’t have transportation being able to get their groceries.

    “Some walk if they have apartments in the area. Or if they don’t, they depend on walking to the store to get their food,” she said. “If the Shoppers is not here, where are they going to go to get their food?”

    “It’s a good access to the community. It shouldn’t close at all, for real,” said Don, a neighbor who has been shopping at this Shopper’s for about a decade. “I know they closed the one on Martin Luther King (Jr. Highway) at one time. And then they reopened it. I don’t even know why they closed that one. It’s a shame, though. This shouldn’t go nowhere.”

    Some hope another grocery store will take the place of the Shoppers. The New Carrollton, Waldorf, Essex and Westminster locations are set to close by Oct. 11.

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