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  • WTOP reflections: Staffers and listeners look back on the work of Jeff Clabaugh – WTOP News

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    WTOP staffers, past and present, as well as listeners, remember business reporter Jeff Clabaugh, who died Thursday night at age 63.

    WTOP staffers, past and present, as well as listeners, remember business reporter Jeff Clabaugh, who died Thursday night at age 63.

    He was known for delivering money news twice an hour on WTOP’s airwaves and writing short-to-the-point stories for the website.

    WTOP business reporter Jeff Clabaugh has died at 63 following a battle with cancer.
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    Jeff in the WTOP Carribbean bureau
    Jeff Clabaugh reported some of his money news reports on WTOP from his home in St. John.
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    Jeff Clabaugh and his partner Russ Rader
    Jeff Clabaugh (right) and his partner of 35 years, Russ Rader (left).
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    Jeff Clabaugh in the WTOP Caribbean bureau
    Jeff Clabaugh reported some of his money news reports on WTOP from his home in St. John.
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    A group photo including Jeff Clabaugh (far right) taken in the British Virgin Islands.
    A group photo, including Jeff Clabaugh (far right), was taken in the British Virgin Islands.
    (Courtesy Mike McMearty)

    Courtesy Mike McMearty

    Jeff Clabaugh prepares feast at his home in St. John
    Jeff Clabaugh loved to cook. Pictured above, he prepared a feast at his home in St. John.
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    Jeff Clabaugh
    Jeff Clabaugh was quite the “foodie.”
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    A group photo from early in Jeff Clabaugh's career
    A group photo from early in Jeff Clabaugh’s career. He’s pictured in the second row, second from the left.
    (Courtesy Mike McMearty)

    Courtesy Mike McMearty

    Staffers reflect on their colleague

    Former WTOP editor Judy Taub remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    But to his colleagues, he was one of the nicest people they’ve ever known.

    “Jeff was a great writer and storyteller, and the stories he found for his business reports were so relatable and interesting. But most of all, he was a consummate professional. What a nice guy. He’ll really be missed,” said Judy Taub, former WTOP editor.

    WTOP General Manager Joel Oxley remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    WTOP General Manager Joel Oxley said he looked forward to listening and reading what Clabaugh said on the air and on his web stories.

    “I don’t think there was anybody who I ended up Googling more after their stories than Jeff. He was such a great journalist and such a great reporter, and he was so insightful and gave me information I didn’t know to the point where I was always curious to find out more. Jeff was also just one of the greatest guys you could ever meet. I’ll miss him,” Joel Oxley said.

    WTOP’s Director of News and Programming Julia Ziegler remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

     

    Clabaugh was known to master his craft on-air and on the web, according to WTOP’s Director of News and Programming Julia Ziegler.

    “The best way to describe Jeff is just that he was a master of his craft. He was a real wordsmith and the type of journalist that I think all of us just wish we could be. He was just so good at what he did on a daily basis,” Ziegler said. “He was just a titan. To lose him and Dimitri Sotis in the same year it’s devastating. It’s just so incredibly devastating for this newsroom and I know I speak for all of us when I say we’re going to miss both of them so much.”

    For his on-air and web work, Clabaugh set a high standard for himself and his co-workers.

    “Many friends, listeners, and even myself, as a coworker of Jeff would say to me, when Jeff was on ready to present his money or business reports, you would literally make that motion to turn the volume up, because you knew whatever he was going to say on there was going to be different, off beat, but yet, everyone could relate to the story, not just some average money report like you hear on radio and TV, and that was really special,” WTOP’s Steve Dresner said.

    WTOP Evening Anchor Nick Iannelli remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    Clabaugh had battled cancer for a year and gave his final money news report Tuesday, capping off a successful career of business reporting at WTOP.

    “Jeff was more than just a great business reporter and a passionate journalist. Jeff had a special ability to make any sort of business story come alive with his writing and words to make confusing numbers and business jargon easy to understand. Jeff loved being on the radio,” WTOP evening anchor Nick Iannelli said. “To all of us here at the station, Jeff was such a kind, warm person who also had a quick wit right up until the end.”

    WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    Clabuagh was very personable to others and on-air.

    “Just like any other WTOP listener, I would hear his comforting voice teasing a story with a cogent line or two, and I needed to make sure I was listening for the payoff when I heard the full story in his money news report. Jeff was a consummate pro, but he was also a wonderful person to talk to. And yes, like many others, I was a bit jealous, but also happy for him having that beautiful home in St. John. We’ll miss you Jeff,” WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller said.

    Former WTOP reporter Luke Garrett remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    Former WTOP reporter Luke Garrett said that one of his best memories of Clabaugh was when he told him about trying the ukulele, which peaked Clabaugh’s interest.

    “I walked into the newsroom. It was a few days before Christmas, and Jeff walked up to me and my colleague, then Megan Cloherty, and he said he has a gift for us. He then sat us down and he played us a song, and it was just one of the sweetest gifts I’ve ever received for Christmas. Jeff learned a song, remembered that I told him about the ukulele, and played us a tune,” Garrett said.

    WTOP National Security correspondent J.J. Green remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    Along with his reporting, Clabaugh was also a guy who had a sense of humor.

    “One day, I came into the office smiling, and he said, ‘What are you smiling about?’ And I said, because it’s good. And he said, ‘Well, I like the other you better,’” J.J. Green said.

    WTOP meteorologist Matt Ritter remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    He was also very complimentary toward his co-workers.

    “When I stepped outside of my usual job before casting and I went to the grand opening of the Wawa near Dupont Circle, and I scored an interview with the CEO, because I went to high school with him, and I asked a bunch of questions. I recorded it all, and I sent it to Jeff. And wouldn’t you know, Jeff used that content in his reports for the entire weekend that followed the grand opening, and he didn’t have to do that,” WTOP meteorologist Matt Ritter.

    WTOP Traffic reporter Dave Dildine remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    “A lot to respect about Jeff’s career, but also his contemplative personality. His observations were usually either witty or poignant, but never banal, and it’s likely what made his teases so sharp and his temperament so welcoming,” WTOP Traffic reporter Dave Dildine said.

    WTOP reporter Scott Gelman remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    “We have this bit in the newsroom where we all greet each other with nicknames. He was J-Clay, and for reasons I may never understand, I was Mr. Gelman, but he didn’t say it so seriously. It was more like ‘Mr. Gelman,’ as if he was excited. He wrote some of the best teases and some of the best web copy you’ll ever come across, and now it’s up to us to carry that legacy forward,” Scott Gelman said.

    WTOP reporter Kyle Cooper remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    WTOP reporter Kyle Cooper once trained Clabaugh to be an anchor and remembered one time that they weren’t getting along. However, they had a chat and found out that they were from the Midwest and talked about family and Midwest values.

    “And Jeff quipped something like, ‘You know, I wasn’t really sure we were going to get along, but now that I know your story. I think we’re gonna be friends.’ And that just said a lot about him as a co-worker and a colleague. He wanted to know what you were about, not just work with you. And so I really appreciate that about Jeff,” Cooper said.

    Staffers share their thoughts on social media

    Listeners share their thoughts

    Listeners who tuned in for the money reports from Clabaugh were impressed by his knowledge about business and how he delivered it.

    “I grew up in the DC area and always listened to WTOP. Each day I turned the radio up when Jeff Clabaugh made his financial report. Five years ago I moved to Lancaster, PA and still EVERY morning I would listen to WTOP. My heart is breaking for Jeff’s family, his colleagues and most of all for all of his listeners who never met him, but still call him a friend. God has welcomed an amazing reporter. God please listen to his financial reports and guide us along the way,” Jennifer Teale said.

    “I am saddened to hear of the death of Jeff Clabaugh. As a Bethesda resident and WTOP listener for more than thirty years, Jeff’s calm and understandable delivery of the latest information on business and the markets was always an integral part of the station’s sound. My condolences to all at WTOP, and may Jeff’s memory be for a blessing,” said Howard Schoenholtz, retired ABC News Washington reporter.

    “When I’m in the car, I will often put on WTOP and just leave it on for long stretches. As a result, the on-air personalities have become very familiar, almost like personal acquaintances.  Jeff’s death feels like the untimely loss of a friend. Very sad. My condolences to his colleagues and friends,” G. Newell, of Reston, Virginia.

    “I am a longtime, daily listener and was heartbroken to learn of Jeff Clabaugh’s passing. I always enjoyed his reports. My heart goes out to his partner, family, and colleagues,” David Hall, D.C. resident.

    WTOP listener Bassam Munayer remembers Jeff Clabaugh.

    “I always loved to listen to his report. I used to even tell my younger brother what he says because he knew a lot, and he always brought so many news that you want to hear. He’s going to be missed. I’m really sad, and I send my regard to his family and to all of you at that ability of your radio. God bless his soul. And me here is in peace. And God bless you all guys. Thank you for your service,” Bassam Munayer said.

    Listeners who would like to share a memory of Jeff Clabaugh can send us a voice note through the WTOP News app, available on Apple or Android. Click the “Feedback” button in the app’s navigation bar.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

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

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    Tadiwos Abedje

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  • Business reporter Jeff Clabaugh dies at 63 after delivering DC money news on WTOP for 30 years – WTOP News

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    WTOP Business reporter Jeff Clabaugh has died at the age of 63 after delivering money news reports to D.C.-area listeners for 30 years.

    WTOP’s Jimmy Alexander has more with some of those here at WTOP who knew Jeff best.

    WTOP business reporter Jeff Clabaugh has died at 63 following a battle with cancer. (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    WTOP business reporter Jeff Clabaugh, whose steady-paced voice conversationally delivered money news to the D.C. region for three decades, has died at 63.

    Following a yearlong battle with cancer, Clabaugh died Thursday night in his home, with his long-term partner, Russ Rader, at his side.

    A master of consumer business news, Clabaugh gave reports twice an hour on WTOP’s airwaves and wrote punchy, popular stories for WTOP.com.

    Clabaugh gave his final money news report Tuesday, capping off more than 30 years of business reporting on WTOP.

    “Jeff loved his job so much he could sometimes not stop doing it,” said Rader, Clabaugh’s partner of 35 years. “And he so admired his colleagues at WTOP and how they strove for quality and accuracy with what hit the air every single day.”

    WTOP’s Director of News and Programming Julia Ziegler wrote an email to staff Friday morning to announce Clabaugh’s passing.

    “Jeff Clabaugh made WTOP’s Business Reports what they are today,” Ziegler said. “His work ethic was incredible. And his voice was so smooth. He was one of the best storytellers in the WTOP newsroom.”

    From the Midwest to the Netherlands to the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center

    Clabaugh was born Sept. 11, 1962, and was raised in the Midwest.

    “When he was 3, he would run around with an empty toilet paper roll and report on what was happening inside and outside the house,” said his sister, Becky Nash, of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

    From a young age, it was clear Clabaugh was destined for a career in radio, she said.

    “Now our neighbor is in his backyard,” she recounted of Jeff’s reports as a toddler.

    His professional journalism career started in Omaha, Nebraska, where he covered commodities markets for then juggernaut radio station WOW. His reporting took him everywhere from USA Today Sky Radio to Radio Netherlands in Holland.

    Jeff Clabaugh reported some of his money news reports on WTOP from his home in St. John. He jokingly referred to it as the “WTOP Caribbean Bureau.”
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    Jeff Clabaugh (right) and his partner of 35 years, Russ Rader (left).
    Jeff Clabaugh (right) and his partner of 35 years, Russ Rader .
    (left)

    left

    Jeff Clabaugh reported some of his money news reports on WTOP from his home in St. John.
    Jeff Clabaugh at his home office in St. John.
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    A group photo including Jeff Clabaugh (far right) taken in the British Virgin Islands.
    A group photo including Jeff Clabaugh taken in the British Virgin Islands.
    (far right)

    far right

    Jeff Clabaugh loved to cook. Pictured above, he prepared a feast at his home in St. John.
    Jeff Clabaugh loved to cook. Pictured above, a feast at his home in St. John.
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    Jeff Clabaugh was quite the “foodie.”
    (Courtesy Russ Rader)

    Courtesy Russ Rader

    A group photo from early in Jeff Clabaugh's career. He's pictured in the second row, second from the left.
    A group photo from early in Jeff Clabaugh’s career. He’s pictured in the second row, second from the left. To his right, former WTOP Sports Director Dave Johnson.
    (Courtesy Mike McMearty)

    Courtesy Mike McMearty

    Why WTOP celebrates ‘Jeff Clabaugh Day’

    Clabaugh has been heard on WTOP since the 1990s. He started as a news anchor at WTOP before taking a job at the Washington Business Journal.

    He worked for the Washington Business Journal for decades, which included delivering on-air reports for WTOP.

    In January 2016, Clabaugh was officially hired as WTOP’s in-house business reporter.

    “This was really special to him,” Ziegler wrote in her email to WTOP staff, announcing Clabaugh’s passing.

    “He even created ‘Jeff Clabaugh Day’ — bringing in lunch for the newsroom each year to celebrate his career at WTOP but more to say thank you to everyone else for everything you do on a daily basis.”

    A talent for breaking down money news

    In the WTOP newsroom, Clabaugh was known for his dedication to his craft and his talent for money news.

    “Jeff had the kind of voice and writing style that was conversational yet informative. He was warm,” WTOP General Manager Joel Oxley said. “He was smart.”

    He could turn otherwise mundane news into punchy headlines and relatable storytelling.

    “When Jeff was on, ready to present his money or business reports, you would literally make that motion to turn the volume up because you knew whatever he was going to say on there was going to be different, off beat, but yet, everyone could relate to the story,” WTOP reporter Steve Dresner said.

    At times business news may feel high brow, but Clabaugh simplified the stories for the everyday listeners.

    “He was able to pick out those money stories that people really cared about, and he would talk about them in a way that made it easy to understand, even really complicated stock or business stories that were out there,” WTOP anchor and reporter Kyle Cooper said.

    Ziegler agreed, adding Clabaugh understood how to connect with listeners.

    “Jeff had the incredible ability to break down the complexities of the business world and tell us how it impacted our daily lives,” Ziegler said. “He made it matter.”

    Clabaugh’s life off the air

    Outside his money news reports, Clabaugh enjoyed visiting his second home on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was known for getting to the Virgin Islands and not leaving his slice of paradise for the entire vacation — no beach, no outings, just him, Rader and their pool with an incredible view.

    His love for the Caribbean even made it’s mark on WTOP’s newsroom.

    When WTOP moved its headquarters in 2019, reporters were allowed to name their audio booths. Clabaugh opted to label his station the “Soggy Dollar” — a nod to one of his favorite beachside bars in the British Virgin Islands.

    Jeff Clabaugh poses for a photo with a sign outside his audio booth, "Soggy Dollar."
    Jeff Clabaugh poses for a photo with a sign outside his audio booth, “Soggy Dollar.” It’s named after a bar he loved in the Caribbean. (WTOP/Jeff Clabaugh)

    From nicknames to one-liners, Clabaugh brought a sense of humor to the newsroom characterized by wit, sarcasm and self-deprecating jokes.

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    Jeff Clabaugh learns ukulele to perform to WTOP coworkers

    “A lot to respect about Jeff’s career, but also his contemplative personality,” said WTOP Traffic Anchor Dave Dildine. “His observations were usually either witty or poignant, but never banal, and it’s likely what made his teases so sharp and his temperament so welcoming.”

    And he was committed to bringing a smile to other people’s faces. At one point, a colleague suggested he learn the ukulele. Months later, after even that colleague had forgotten the conversation, Clabaugh showed up to work with a ukulele and performed a song he had written for that coworker as a Christmas gift.

    His love for food went beyond reporting restaurant openings. Former WTOP midday anchor Debbie Feinstein described herself and Clabaugh as “foodies.”

    “In fact, he used to expertly (think food tweezers) plate small portions of whatever incredible delicacy he prepared for dinner the night before, and serve it up to Mark Lewis and me in the 10 a.m. hour during commercials. His one-bite delicacies could rival any Michelin-starred chef,” Feinstein wrote of Clabaugh.

    Clabaugh made home videos as he prepared some of that food, tempting his coworkers with the sizzling sounds of the tasty food before bringing it to the newsroom.

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    Home video of Jeff Clabaugh preparing a dish

    Still, perhaps what he may be remembered for most around the newsroom was how much he cared.

    “He cared deeply about serving our audience, he cared deeply for his family, and he cared deeply for his colleagues and friends,” Ziegler said.

    WTOP anchor and reporter Dan Ronan has filled in for Clabaugh as a business reporter when he was absent from work over the past year. Ronan said he’s received notes of encouragement from Clabaugh.

    “It means an awful lot to me, and I will cherish those emails and those conversations that we had as we’ve gotten to know each other over the last couple of years,” Ronan said.

    Cooper at one point trained Clabaugh to anchor the newscast, a process he said is at times dicey and heated with any trainee. But the two bonded over their roots in the Midwest off the air.

    “Jeff quipped something like, ‘You know, I wasn’t really sure we were going to get along, but now that I know your story, I think we’re going to be friends.’” Cooper recalled. “That just said a lot about him as a coworker and a colleague. He wanted to know what you were about, not just work with you.”

    Clabaugh served as a mentor to many in the newsroom, sharing words of encouragement with young staffers and meticulously training journalists on best practices for delivering money news in his absence.

    “He is someone I have told young journalists they should try to emulate because of his ability to tell stories,” Ziegler said.

    Jeff Clabaugh (right) smiles for a photo during a midday newscast with anchors Debbie Feinstein and Mark Lewis.
    Jeff Clabaugh (right) smiles for a photo during a midday newscast with anchors Debbie Feinstein and Mark Lewis. (Courtesy Debbie Feinstein)

    Clabaugh’s passing follows the loss of WTOP anchor Dimitri Sotis, who died in January at the age of 55.

    “To lose a titan like Jeff the same year we lose the titan Dimitri Sotis is devastating. These two men were two of the best journalists I’ve ever worked with,” Ziegler said.

    Listeners who would like to share a memory of Jeff Clabaugh can send us a voice note through the WTOP News app, available on Apple or Android. Click the “Feedback” button in the app’s navigation bar.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

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

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  • Eli Lilly to invest $5B on new Virginia manufacturing facility – WTOP News

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    Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly confirms plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility just west of Richmond, Virginia.

    Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly confirms plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility just west of Richmond, Virginia. (Courtesy Eli Lilly)

    Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly confirmed plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility just west of Richmond, Virginia, in Goochland County, and create 1,800 construction jobs as well as another 650 high-paying science and engineering positions within the next five years.

    Lilly chose Goochland County from hundreds of applications based on several criteria, including workforce potential in the Richmond area, local incentives, ready access to utilities, transportation and favorable zoning. Lilly is receiving job creation support through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, created by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, in collaboration with higher education partners.

    Any financial support from the state was not disclosed.

    The facility, the first of four new facilities it will announce in the U.S. this year, will be its first dedicated, fully integrated active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product facility for its emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio.

    At the Richmond-area site, it will also boost its domestic manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, a targeted therapy designed to deliver potent medicines directly to diseased cells. They act like highly-specialized carriers, maximizing treatment effectiveness while reducing harm to healthy tissue.

    ADCs are currently primarily used to treat cancer but are being explored for autoimmune diseases and other conditions.

    Lilly said it expects that for every dollar invested in the Virginia facility, up to four dollars will be generated in local economic activity, and each manufacturing job will support multiple positions in related industries, such as supply chain, logistics and retail.

    Lilly will also engage locally, partnering with area universities and supporting community education initiatives in Virginia.

    Lilly will announce its three other new U.S. facilities before the end of this year, and expects to begin making medicines at them within five years.

    Eli Lilly announced in February it would spend at least $27 billion to build new U.S. manufacturing plants, adding to $23 billion previous investments since 2020. It is among drugmakers moving to boost U.S. production on President Donald Trump’s warning to clamp down on pharmaceutical imports with steep tariffs.

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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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  • New rooftop lounge in Shaw brings ‘Seychellois cuisine’ to the menu – WTOP News

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    The new rooftop lounge at the Hyatt House Washington, D.C. Downtown Convention Center opening next month includes “Seychellois cuisine” on the menu.

    Standing out among D.C.’s growing list of rooftop bars and restaurants takes more than just sweeping views of the city, and the new rooftop lounge at the Hyatt House Washington, D.C. Downtown Convention Center opening next month includes “Seychellois cuisine” on the menu.

    Realm Rooftop Bar & Lounge is at the hotel, which is located at 899 O Street, NW, and it straddles the Shaw neighborhood and D.C.’s convention center.

    Realm is as much an indoor lounge and restaurant as it is outdoor, with a large patio and fire pits. Hotel general manager Donte Johnson said it has been designed to create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere with a “sophisticated yet relaxed vibe” unlike anything in the city.

    The menu may be one of the things that distinguishes it. Executive chef Keem Hughley’s menu blends French cuisine with flavors of the Indian Ocean. The menu refers to the Seychelles, the chain of islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, once a French territory in the 1700s before Great Britain took possession in the early 1800s.

    The Seychelles became an independent nation in the 1970s, but retains English, French and Seychellois Creole as the official languages

    Small plates include flavors like coconut, tamarind, citrus and curry leaf, with dishes that include oysters with coconut-lime-ginger mignonette, tamarin-gazed lamb chops, Wagyu sliders with mango chutney, coconut crab cakes and ginger-lemongrass chicken skewers.

    Hyatt House is run by Donohoe Hospitality. The Realm Rooftop Bar & Lounge is open to hotel guests, business and locals.

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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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  • MGM National Harbor gambling slows to end the summer – WTOP News

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    For August, MGM National Harbor patrons made $70.1 million in bets, but the total was down 6.5% from August of last year.

    Maryland’s six casinos generated $170.3 million in gaming revenue from slots and table games in August, down 2.1% from a year ago, but MGM National Harbor was the only big-three casino to see a slowdown in gambler spending.

    For August, MGM National Harbor patrons made $70.1 million in bets, the largest share of the state’s six casinos, but the total was down 6.5% from August of last year. Gaming revenue was up 2.1% at Live! Casino and Hotel, to $63.2 million, and up 4.4% at Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, to $15.1 million.

    Among the state’s three smaller casinos, Ocean Downs and Rocky Gap posted year-over-year gaming revenue gains. Gaming revenue was down at Hollywood Casino.

    The state collected $72.8 million from its share of gaming revenue in August, down 2.1% from a year ago. Of that total, $52.4 million went to Maryland’s Education Trust Fund, with the balance going to other state-funded programs.

    August marked the second month in the state’s new fiscal year.

    For fiscal year 2025, the state’s six casinos generated just shy of $2 billion, the third-best single year in the 15-year history of legalized casino gambling in the state. Casinos contributed $831.3 million to the state, most of which went to the Education Trust Fund.

    Maryland Lottery and Gaming has published a full breakdown of casino gaming revenue in August online, as well as totals for legalized gambling revenue for fiscal 2025, including casinos, sports betting and lottery online.

    Maryland lottery had its fourth-best year in its 52-year history for FY 2025. Scratch-off ticket sales surpassed $1 billion for the fourth consecutive year.

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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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  • Country and western bar brings line dancing (and spare ribs) to Union Market warehouse – WTOP News

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    Desert 5 Spot, a country and western dance bar, has opened its newest venue at a two-story warehouse in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood.

    Desert 5 Spot, a country and western dance bar that debuted in Los Angeles in 2021 and expanded to New York City last year, has opened its newest venue at a two-story warehouse in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood.

    Desert 5 Spot is named after the desert five-spot flowering plant native to the Southwest U.S. and Mojave Desert.

    The D.C. location, at 400 Morse Street, NE, opened Sept. 5, and spans both levels of the warehouse, which was previously home to combination art gallery and restaurant Palette 22.

    The Union Market location, operated by Ten Five Hospitality, is all country and western vibe, with a mechanical bull, a vintage Chevy truck that serves as the DJ booth, desert-inspired interior, a rooftop cactus garden terrace, and plenty of retro neon signs.

    There is live music nightly, as well as line dancing classes Ten Five Hospitality promises some of the D.C. region’s top musicians.

    There are two live music stages, and a menu that includes Nashville Hot Chicken, smoked pork spareribs, brisket sandwiches and cast iron cornbread.

    “Desert 5 Spot has always been about great live country music, strong drinks, and zero pretense — just a place where friends can meet and have a good time,” said Dan Daley, managing partner at Ten Five Hospitality. “We’re excited to bring D5 to D.C., a city with a vibrant dining and nightlife scene, and to add something fresh and unique to the mix.”

    Cowboy boots aren’t required, but the dress code encourages a country and western look.

    “We kindly ask y’all to abide by the country dress code. Cowboys don’t wear athletic shorts, athletic tops, sweatpants or flip-flops. It’s boot country around here,” a dress code on Desert 5 Spot’s website reads.

    Desert 5 Spot is open Wednesdays through Sundays. The venue is also available for private parties or events bookings.

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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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  • Big Chevy Chase food hall The Heights closes after less than 2 years – WTOP News

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    A food hall welcomed along the Chevy Chase, Maryland, border with D.C.’s Friendship Heights has closed after less than two years in the business.

    File photo of The Heights food hall. (Courtesy Common Plate Hospitality)

    An eclectic food hall that was welcomed along the Chevy Chase, Maryland, border with D.C.’s Friendship Heights and lunchtime-spare restaurant scene has closed after less than two years in the business.

    The Heights took over space formerly occupied by PF Chang’s restaurant, including a total of 10,000-square-feet with outdoor dining and a variety of food styles. Among the original tenants: both Michelin-starred chefs and a James Beard Award nominee.

    At its peak, the half-dozen food stalls also induced full-service restaurant Urbano and full-service Bar, The Heights Bar.

    The Heights’ last day, at 5400 Wisconsin Avenue, was Sunday, Aug. 24.

    “After many wonderful memories, The Heights Food Hall will be permanently closing our doors. This space was built for gathering, sharing food and creating moment together — and that is exactly what you all made it. We’ll carry those memories with us,” Food Heights posted on social media.

    Common Place Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Urbano, launched the food hall after it underwent months of delays in December 2023.

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  • Food Network’s ‘Great Food Truck Race’ finalist Bao Bei opens Rockville restaurant – WTOP News

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    Bao Bei, a Taiwanese street food concept and finalist on Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race with celebrity chef-judge Tyler Florence, is opening its first restaurant in Rockville.

    From left to right — Zak Keres, Kevin Hsieh, Food Network’s Tyler Florence and Cody Hoover are seen in this photo.(Courtesy Bao Bei)

    Bao Bei, a Taiwanese street food concept and finalist on Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” with celebrity chef and judge Tyler Florence, is opening its first restaurant in Rockville, Maryland.

    Bao Bei is opening the 1,900-square-foot restaurant on Aug. 27 at Federal Realty’s Montrose Crossing, next to Kosmo Nail Bar.

    Bao Bei is “a term of endearment in Taiwanese, describes someone or something you treasure deeply,” chef Kevin Hsieh said.

    “Our ghost kitchen is just a mile down the road from our new brick-and-mortar location, so it made sense to stay close to the community we first built Bao Bei.

    Hsieh is a Montgomery County native and 2013 graduate of Gaithersburg High School.

    Bao Bei serves traditional bao sandwiches and steamed dumplings, as well as bowls and sweet treats, such as swirly buns and almond tofu.

    Hsieh and his team finished in second place on Season 17 of the “Great Food Truck Race,” losing out to Wally’s Waffles in the final episode.

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  • DC home prices are still rising, but there’s a caveat skewing that headline – WTOP News

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    While home sales have slowed, prices are still rising, which could indicate buyers are still willing to pay list prices or close to them for homes in the D.C. market.

    The D.C. area’s most expensive home sale in the second quarter was a McLean, Virginia, home that sold for $14 million.(Courtesy Washington Fine Properties)

    Home sales in the D.C. region’s market have slowed this spring and summer, and so have annual price gains. While sales have slowed, prices are still rising, which could indicate buyers are still willing to pay list prices or close to them for homes on the market here.

    But the metric that measures the median selling price of all properties being sold, including those in the upper 5% of price range, is defined as the luxury market. In the D.C. metro, that is homes priced at $1.8 million or more.

    “The most active buyers in the market right now are higher-income buyers,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at listing service Bright MLS. “Because they are more active in the market, they are actually skewing that median sold price, making it look like the overall market is seeing price gains. But it is really about the middle of homes being sold.”

    The luxury market has traditionally seen less competition from buyers, but Bright MLS noted a change in competition at the higher level starting in the second quarter of this year.

    “The luxury market is still pretty competitive,” Sturtevant said. “Homes are selling more quickly than other homes in the overall market. And, as always, luxury sales are more likely to be cash sales. So right now, the luxury market is slowing, but it is still more resilient than the overall market.”

    The annual median selling price gain in the overall D.C.-area market in the second quarter was 2.0%, compared to 2.3% in the luxury market.

    Luxury buyers also need to ask quickly. The median days on market for those listings in the second quarter was just 11 days, with 25.1% of sales closing above list price.

    The luxury market also appears to be more isolated from federal government spending and job cuts in the D.C. region than the overall market, though Sturtevant said that may change.

    “The threshold for the luxury market is $1.8 million,” she said. “That is an expensive home. But it is also a home that people who work in the federal government could potentially afford to purchase. We are going to see more impact on the housing market from the federal government cuts this fall, and I think that could rise up into the luxury segment of the market.”

    The definition of the luxury market may also need rethinking. Those entry-level luxury market prices no longer necessarily represent only wealthy buyers who may have no concern about how local economic changes affect them.

    “I think we are going to have to do a better job at differentiating between luxury — those $1.8 million and $2 million homes that include a lot of suburban, single-family homes. We need to distinguish that luxury market from the upper end,” Sturtevant said. “Because I think we are going to see a divergence in how those two markets perform this fall as the federal layoffs and cuts have more of an impact on our local housing market.”

    The D.C. region dominates the luxury market in the mid-Atlantic region, which Bright MLS listings cover. Five of the top 10 luxury market ZIP codes in the mid-Atlantic are here, including Dupont Circle’s 20007 in D.C., where 42% of second quarter sales were defined as luxury. In McLean, Virginia’s 22101, 38% of sales were luxury. ZIP codes in Bethesda, Arlington and Potomac all saw an outside share of total sales fall in the luxury category in the second quarter.

    ZIP code 20007 also ranked No. 2 in the mid-Atlantic for sales in the “ultra luxury market,” with 19% of sales priced in the top 1%, topped only by 24% in Princeton, New Jersey.

    All-cash sales accounted for one-third of all luxury sales in the second quarter. In the mid-Atlantic, the top all-cash market was Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where more than half of luxury properties are purchased with cash.

    The highest-priced sale in the D.C. region in the second quarter was a riverfront estate that sold for $14.05 million.

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  • A Maryland estate planner’s advice for your digital afterlife – WTOP News

    A Maryland estate planner’s advice for your digital afterlife – WTOP News

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    Planning for your death may not be pleasant, but it’s important for the family left behind. Planning for your digital legacy is equally important.

    Planning for your death may not be pleasant, but it’s important for family left behind. Most know things such as a will, power of attorney and burial and funeral wishes should be part of that plan. But planning for your digital legacy is equally important.

    “I think a lot of us take for granted how deeply intertwined our lives are with the digital world. Ignoring that can really leave a confusing mess for loved ones to handle, and even lead to security risks or loss of important data,” said James Crosland, an estate planning attorney at Rockville, Maryland-based Stein Sperling.

    He recommends starting with an inventory of all devices and online platforms, and designating emergency access to them. For social media, most platforms make thinking about a user’s digital legacy straight forward.

    “A lot of platforms like Google or Facebook offer the ability to set up legacy contacts or account management settings, which essentially allow you to designate somebody to manage your account after you pass away,” Crosland said.

    “Do want them to be a digital memorial? Do you want that information to be just accessible by family members, or frankly do you just want it deleted? Letting your loved ones know what you want to do would really go a long way.”

    Passwords are another potential hurdle for survivors to overcome. Keeping an accurate and up-to-date offline list of all passwords is probably unrealistic, with too many logins and passwords that change. There are many password managers available that can store passwords across multiple logins, and most allow for the designation of an emergency contact.

    A social media legacy may not be at the top of the list when planning for your death. Finances is something much more important. Most of what we do financially — paying bills, saving, investing — is done online now. Preparing for that helps guide survivors as well.

    “I would start by listing all bank accounts, retirement funds, auto-pay subscriptions, investment platforms and basically map out your financial digital presence,” Crosland said.

    Idle financial accounts are ripe for financial fraud. A recent report by Express VPN estimated by 2100, the U.S. could see almost 700 million deceased accounts, nearly double the projected U.S. population.

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  • Marriott brings City Express brand to the US – WTOP News

    Marriott brings City Express brand to the US – WTOP News

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    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International, whose hotel brands include high-end properties like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, is bringing a more affordable hotel brand to the U.S. and Canada with the launch of City Express.

    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International is bringing a more affordable hotel brand to the U.S. and Canada with the launch of City Express.(Courtesy Marriott International)

    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International, whose hotel brands include high-end properties like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, is bringing a more affordable hotel brand to the U.S. and Canada with the launch of City Express.

    Marriott acquired the City Express hotel brand in late 2022 from Mexico City-based Hoteles City Express for $100 million, becoming Marriott’s 31st hotel brand and gaining 512 locations in 75 cities across Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Chile.

    By bringing City Express by Marriott to the U.S. and Canada, Marriott marks the company’s entry into the affordable midscale segment in the region.

    “With this announcement, Marriott is excited to continue our growth in the affordable midscale segment and provide a new welcoming, affordable and reliable option for value-conscious travelers in the U.S. and Canada,” said Diana Plazas-Trowbridge, senior vice president of select brands.

    Since acquiring City Express, Marriott has expanded it to other markets, including Bolivia and Nicaragua — and will expand next to Brazil.

    The City Express brand appeals to owners because it is designed to be conversion-friendly from existing buildings. It said it has already received inquiries from owners and franchisees and expects to begin opening the brand in the U.S. and Canada over the next few months.

    Marriott now has 9,000 hotels in 141 countries and territories, including vacation ownership resorts. The company is expected to reach more than $25 billion in annual revenue this year.

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  • Amazon Fresh stores in Chevy Chase, Franconia get a refresh – WTOP News

    Amazon Fresh stores in Chevy Chase, Franconia get a refresh – WTOP News

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    Amazon, which recently resumed openings of new Fresh grocery stores after a yearlong pause, held “grand reopenings” for two of its D.C.-area stores Saturday.

    Amazon, which recently resumed openings of new Fresh grocery stores after a yearlong pause, held “grand reopenings” for two of its D.C.-area stores Saturday.

    The redesigned Amazon Fresh stores, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Franconia, Virginia, followed similar redesigns of Fresh stores in Chicago and Southern California. The stores carry more national brands, higher-quality produce and meats, and more of Amazon’s own private-label brands, including Aplenty, Amazon Fresh, 365 by Whole Foods and Amazon’s newest private-label brand, Amazon Saver.

    Some changes have also been made to the stores’ layouts.

    Neither store closed during the changes. The Franconia store, which opened in 2021, was the first Amazon Fresh store in the D.C. area as part of its East Coast expansion. The Chevy Chase store, near the Friendship Heights Metro station, opened that same year. Amazon opened a second Fresh store in Chevy Chase in 2022.

    There are other Amazon Fresh stores in Fairfax City, Lorton and Manassas. Its newest Fresh store is in Potomac Yard in Alexandria, which opened in July. Another opened in Gaithersburg in August. And similar upgrades are likely.

    “Based on what we have heard and seen from customers and heard from our teams, we will continue to bring the concept to new and existing store locations with many of the elements you see in Chevy Chase and Franconia,” an Amazon spokesman said.

    In addition to the D.C. area and Southern California, the only other Fresh stores are in the Chicago area, Seattle area, Philadelphia area and New York and New Jersey.

    There are about 40 Fresh stores nationally. The Amazon Fresh store in Crystal City closed earlier this year.

    “We are doing a fair bit of experimentation today in those stores to try to find a format that we think resonates with customers,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said following Amazon’s fourth quarter earnings report in February. “We’ve decided over the last year or so that we’re not going to expand the physical Fresh until we have that equation.”

    Amazon has since slowly resumed Fresh additions. This summer, in addition to the Potomac Yard and Gaithersburg locations, Amazon opened nine other Fresh stores in other markets.

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  • Used EV prices in the DC market are down 27%, bargains, but beware – WTOP News

    Used EV prices in the DC market are down 27%, bargains, but beware – WTOP News

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    Vehicle search site iSeeCars.com said the average price of a used 1- to 5-year-old EV in the D.C. market has dropped 27.4% over the past 12 months.

    Used vehicle prices in the D.C. market have fallen dramatically over the past year.

    Vehicle search site iSeeCars.com says the average price of a used 1- to 5-year-old EV has dropped 27.4% over the past 12 months, or the average equivalent of $9,728. That compares to a drop of just 5.3% for similarly-used gas-powered vehicles.

    iSeeCars said the accelerating decline in used EV prices reflects a continuing drop in demand and a slowdown in sales for new models.

    For shoppers considering a used EV, it means some good prices. But used EVs also come with used batteries, and that can be a cost-probative replacement.

    “Having some level of the batteries’ condition, maybe have a health report which they’ve developed, having some kind of analysis to see what its health is probably a smart way to go because you don’t want to buy a used EV and end up having to replace the battery pack,” said iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Bauer.

    The dramatic drop in resale value for used EVs is also something for buyers or brand new models to consider.

    “Our data says that electric vehicles are only driven about 10,000 miles a year, while gas vehicles are driven about 12,000. So you are getting 20% less use out of an electric vehicle, while also taking a bigger hit out of resale value,” Bauer said.

    The average price of a used Tesla Model 3 in the D.C. market is now $25,977. Almost all used EV prices hover around the $25,000 mark, which may actually be a sweet spot for the used EV market.

    “So will the average price of a 1- to 5-year-old used EV drop down to about $25,000 and stabilize? There is the government incentive on used EVs. If you buy one for $25,000 or less you can get a $4,000 credit on a used EV purchase. That might very well help them stabilize under $25,000 on the used EV market,” Bauer said.

    Below are the top five used EV vehicles with the biggest 12-month price drop in the D.C. market, courtesy iSeeCars:

    (Courtesy iSeeCars)

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  • Peter Chang opens tapas-style restaurant in Herndon – WTOP News

    Peter Chang opens tapas-style restaurant in Herndon – WTOP News

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    Prolific local Chinese chef Peter Chang opens his 12th D.C.-area restaurant on Sept. 28 in Herndon, Virginia.

    Peter Chang is opening a new restaurant in Herndon, Virginia. (Courtesy Peter Chang)

    Prolific local Chinese chef Peter Chang opens his 12th D.C.-area restaurant on Sept. 28 in Herndon, Virginia.

    The Peter Chang Herndon is in the Arrowbrook Shopping Center at 2322 Silver Arrow Way.

    Like others recently opened in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Crystal City, the Herndon location will feature a tapas-style menu, with smaller, shareable plates, which is a departure from the traditional banquet-style menus at Peter Chang’s other locations.

    The Peter Chang Gaithersburg location opened in April. Peter Chang’s NiHao, a more casual sit-in and takeout restaurant highlighting small plate versions of his Szechuan dishes, opened in May. It was a partnership between Chang, his daughter Lydia Change and D.C. restaurateur Erik Bruner-Yang, whose other spots include Maketto, and Brothers and Sisters.

    The new Herndon location will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. In addition to the Chinese tapas menu, it will include signature Peter Chang dishes like steamed BBQ pork bao, popcorn chicken broiled branzino, scallion pancakes and dan dan noodles.

    Here is the Herndon menu.

    Peter Chang came to the U.S. more than 30 years ago as head chef for the Chinese Embassy in D.C. The first Peter Chang restaurant opened in Charlottesville in 2011 Chang’s Dupont Circle location was added to the Michelin Guide last year, and he was a 2022 James Beard Award Finalist for Outstanding Chef.

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  • Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls opens at Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront – WTOP News

    Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls opens at Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront – WTOP News

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    It is the ninth D.C.-area location for Mason’s, which opened its first restaurant in D.C.’s Dupont Circle in 2020.

    Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls has opened its newest location at the Rio Lakefront shopping center in Gaithersburg, Maryland.(Courtesy Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls)

    Annapolis, Maryland-based Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls has joined more than two dozen dining spots at Peterson Cos.’ Rio Lakefront shopping center in Gaithersburg.

    It is the ninth D.C.-area location for Mason’s, which opened its first restaurant in D.C.’s Dupont Circle in 2020.

    Mason’s, which sources only Maine lobster for its menu, was founded by Dan Beck, a veteran seafood buyer in the restaurant industry. He opened the first location in Annapolis in 2014. It has since expanded across the country through franchising.

    The menu includes several variations of lobster rolls, starting at around $20, shrimp rolls, bisques, chowders and salads.

    The Rio Lakefront location is at 201 Boardwalk Place, next to Chipotle Mexican Grill and across from Courtyard by Marriott.

    Rio Lakefront underwent $30 million renovation just before the pandemic. In addition to restaurants, hotels and an AMC Theatre, its anchors include Target, Ikea, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s.

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  • DC’s MahoganyBooks is looking for a new flagship home – WTOP News

    DC’s MahoganyBooks is looking for a new flagship home – WTOP News

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    MahoganyBooks is looking for a new home for its original bookstore after losing its space at the Anacostia Arts Center in Southeast, D.C.

    The National Harbor location of MahoganyBooks. (Courtesy MahoganyBooks)

    MahoganyBooks, a husband and wife venture launched in 2007 online to showcase books written for, by and about people of color, is looking for a new home for its original bookstore after losing its space at the Anacostia Arts Center in D.C.

    The Center, at 1231 Marion Barry Avenue SE, closed in August for renovations.

    MahoganyBooks still has locations at National Harbor and Reagan National Airport.

    The Anacostia Arts Center is undergoing an 18-month renovation. Bookstore co-owner Ramunda Young did not identify a potential future location.

    “As the Art Center closes for renovations we are looking for a location that better fits the needs of our business and customers,” Young said.

    Finding a space for an independently owned, niche bookstore may be a challenge. Co-owner Derrick Young said they are looking for a middle ground where property owners and developers understand the value MahoganyBooks brings to the community, and are open to conversations with landlords who share their vision and will invest in a space.

    Mahogany Books has one of the largest online inventories of books for, by and about people of the African diaspora, and was started in a one-bedroom apartment in Alexandria, Virginia. The Anacostia Art Center store opened in 2014. Its bookstores have hosted a wide range of African American authors, including well-known names such as President Barack Obama, Spike Lee and Marion Barry.

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  • DC metro area unemployment rate creeps up – WTOP News

    DC metro area unemployment rate creeps up – WTOP News

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    The D.C. metro’s unemployment rate in July was 3.5%, up from 3.3% in June, and up from 2.7% a year ago

    Unemployment rates in July rose in 350 of the 389 metropolitan area tracked by the Department of Labor, mirroring an increase in the national average.

    The D.C. metro’s unemployment rate in July was 3.5%, up from 3.3% in June, and up from 2.7% a year ago. Baltimore’s unemployment rate in July was 3.4%, up from 3.2% the previous month.

    Metropolitan unemployment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

    The D.C. region ended July with 25,340 more jobs recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics than a year earlier, or an annual growth rate of 0.7%. Camden, New Jersey, had the highest annual job growth rate in July, at 3.2%, followed by Miami and Philadelphia, at 3% and 2.8% respectively.

    Among big cities with a metropolitan population of more than 1 million, Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville, Tennessee, tied for lowest state unemployment rate at 2.9%. Las Vegas had the highest, at 6.7%.

    Among all metro areas, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had the lowest July unemployment rate at 1.6%, followed by Rapids City, South Dakota at 1.8%. El Centro, California had the highest July jobless rate, at 18.7%.

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics posts monthly an annual changes to metropolitan area unemployment rates and civilian workforce numbers online.

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  • Marriott opens 9,000th hotel. It’s $1,200 a night – WTOP News

    Marriott opens 9,000th hotel. It’s $1,200 a night – WTOP News

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    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International has opened its 9,000th hotel property with the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida.

    The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida is Marriott International’s 9,000th hotel property.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    A hotel room
    The resort, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, has nightly room rates that average $1,200.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    A wide shot of the resort
    The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort sits on 800 feet of white sand beach, and has multiple swimming pools with cabanas.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    Hotel spa with pool
    There’s a 21,000-square-foot oceanfront spa and fitness center, and 34,000-square-feet of meeting and event space.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    There are seven dining venues, including the signature steak and seafood restaurant CW Prime, an Italian restaurant, an open-air pool grill and a tiki bar.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International has opened its 9,000th hotel property with the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida.

    The 18-acre property is on Longboat Key, off the coast of Sarasota. The 168-room property includes 26 suites with terraces, as well as 69 residences, all of which sold out in less than a year, according to Marriott.

    The resort, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, has nightly room rates that average $1,200.

    For that price, guests get a lot of resort. It sits on 800 feet of white sand beach, and has multiple swimming pools with cabanas. There is a 475-foot long winding river with waterfalls, and an “under the sea” lagoon wildlife reserve. The 350,000-gallon lagoon has stingrays, plus 2,800 local reef fish and tortoises. A Reef Rangers Children’s Club has educational events for kids.

    There are seven dining venues, including the signature steak and seafood restaurant CW Prime, an Italian restaurant, an open-air pool grill and a tiki bar. There’s also a 21,000-square-foot oceanfront spa and fitness center, as well as 34,000-square-feet of meeting and event space.

    “This is not just another hotel opening; it represents a new era in luxury travel to the Gulf Coast,” said Winfred van Workum, general manager at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. “Longboat Key is a rare beach locale that boasts an understated elegance, unparalleled natural beauty and rich cultural heritage all in one place.”

    The resort is a 20-minute drive from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

    The resort was developed by Florida-based Unicorp National Developments and is the largest development on the island in more than 50 years.

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  • DC AG settlement means $126,000 for former Moon Rabbit restaurant workers – WTOP News

    DC AG settlement means $126,000 for former Moon Rabbit restaurant workers – WTOP News

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    The D.C. Attorney General’s office has reached a settlement with IHG Management resolving compensation claims at the former Moon Rabbit restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel at The Wharf.

    The Intercontinental Hotel can be seen on the right at the Wharf Marina in Washington, DC, on February 6, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images/DANIEL SLIM)

    The D.C. Attorney General’s office has reached a settlement with IHG Management resolving compensation claims at the former Moon Rabbit restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel at The Wharf.

    It will result in $126,650 going to 42 former restaurant workers and $60,000 in penalties paid to the District.

    The settlement is unrelated to the current Moon Rabbit restaurant in D.C.’s Penn Quarter, opened by chef Kevin Tien shortly after Tien and the Intercontinental Hotel parted ways in 2023.

    The Intercontinental Hotel abruptly closed Moon Rabbit in May 2023, around the time hotel employees were planning a vote to unionize. The Intercontinental denied the decision to close had anything to do with pending worker unionization.

    Tien, who reopened a new iteration of Moon Rabbit in Penn Quarter shortly after The Wharf location closed, has previously declined to discuss the closure.

    In announcing the settlement with IHG Management, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said it resolves allegations that it failed to provide accurate, honest, timely and transparent compensation policies to workers, including tip-sharing policies.

    “Workers are legally entitled to know how much they’re going to be paid and when — full stop,” Schwalb said. “IHG kept employees in the dark, sowing fear and confusion amongst staff and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.”

    IHG denies the District’s allegations, and the settlement is not an admission of an wrongdoing.

    The Attorney General’s office said it would contact eligible former employees in coming months. A copy of the settlement is online.

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  • Maryland Lottery had 33 tickets that won $1M or more in FY 2024 – WTOP News

    Maryland Lottery had 33 tickets that won $1M or more in FY 2024 – WTOP News

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    Maryland’s casinos, lottery sales and legalized sports betting drew a total of $9.43 billion in ticket sales and gaming revenue in Fiscal Year 2024.

    Maryland’s casinos, lottery sales and legalized sports betting drew a total of $9.43 billion in ticket sales and gaming revenue in fiscal year 2024, with the state of Maryland collecting $1.59 billion, just shy of the record transfer in fiscal 2023.

    Maryland’s fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30.

    Sports betting accounted for the largest share of both wagering and contributions to the state. Sports betting between the state’s 13 retail operations and through a dozen mobile betting apps totaled nearly $5.2 billion in fiscal 2024, with more than $4.6 billion of that paid out in winnings.

    Lottery sales in Maryland totaled $2.73 billion. Scratch-off ticket sales totaled $1.1 billion, surpassing the $1 billion mark for the third consecutive fiscal year.

    Lottery players won a total of $1.7 billion in prizes in fiscal 2024, including 1,808 prizes of $10,000 or more; 586 tickets that paid a prize of $50,000 or more; and 33 prizes of at least $1 million.

    Commissions to retailers totaled $220.2 million, with the average retail commission being $51,000. Maryland Lottery has more than 4,300 retailers in its network across the state.

    Maryland’s half-dozen casinos generated $1.96 billion in gaming revenue in fiscal 2024, the third-best year — though down 4.7% from fiscal 2023.

    The majority of the nearly $1.6 billion collected by the state in fiscal 2024 was earmarked for the state’s Blueprint For Maryland’s Future education fund. The state’s remaining share of gaming revenue is split between other programs, including Maryland’s horse racing industry, the state’s fund for small, minority- and women-owned businesses, and its responsible gaming programs.

    The full breakdown of gaming revenue and contributions to the state from casinos, lottery, sports betting and fantasy competitions is available online.

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    Jeff Clabaugh

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