The fight over gender and bathrooms at Fairfax County Public Schools is continuing, as the school system appealed the dismissal of a lawsuit against the Department of Education.
The fight over gender and bathrooms at Fairfax County Public Schools is continuing, as the school system appealed the dismissal of a lawsuit against the Department of Education to regain federal funding.
The Fairfax County School Board on Tuesday filed the appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Virginia’s Fourth Circuit after a judge denied the school district’s request to obtain a preliminary injunction on Friday that would prevent the Department of Education from freezing its federal funding.
The Education Department placed Fairfax County Public Schools and four other Northern Virginian districts on “high risk” status, meaning the Education Department would scrutinize their federal reimbursement requests.
This all comes after the Department of Education claimed Fairfax, along with Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington and Alexandria City public schools are violating Title IX with their policies that let students use bathrooms based on their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
Judge Rossie Alston Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled Friday that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction.
Fairfax and Arlington counties filed the initial lawsuit last month.
In a statement, FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said they believe their current policies on Title IX regarding bathroom and locker room usage comply with state and federal law. They are continuing to reach out to the DOE about the “high risk” status designation.
“These vital federal funds that remain at risk support food and nutrition services, as well as staffing cafeterias. Other funding supports services and instruction for students with disabilities, aims to improve student achievement, enhances technical education, promotes teacher development, and funds community education programs,” Reid wrote.
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Some D.C.-area commuters have no choice but to factor in extra time to wait on an escalator. Like, at the Wheaton Metro station, where the escalator extends to 230 feet.
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The longest metro escalator has an even longer wait time
Some commuters in the D.C. area have to factor in the time it takes just to wait on an escalator to get to their train. But, that’s because it’s the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere, and it’s in Wheaton, Maryland.
Residents in the region have to wait roughly 2 minutes and 54 seconds when riding the escalator down to the platform of The Wheaton Metro station.
Metro said the station’s escalator is the longest in the system, measuring at a whopping 230 feet.
To give some perspective, it is a little more than half as long as the pyramid of Giza.
“Every time I take this escalator I have to get here five minutes early,” Jelani Blakey told WTOP as he was about to hop on.
Blakey had no idea the escalator holds the title of being the longest in the Western Hemisphere.
“That’s crazy,” he said “ It’s amazing. I’m glad we do, though. It gives us something to be known for.”
Gerry Champa, however, knew it was the longest in the New World. “Other ones from Metro are also long,” he said.
The second-longest escalator is at the Bethesda station – also one of the longest in America – and it stretches out to 212 feet, according to WMATA.
Some hustle up and down the escalator to get where they’re going faster, but others use the opportunity to scroll.
“You get on your cellphone,” Blakey joked.
Champa said she likes to go with the flow and either check messages or people watch.
Others, however, don’t even want to stand the whole time.
Mark Williams said he had to take a seat on the escalator during his trip. “It’s a long ride,” he said.
Williams did point out that Metro does have signs asking commuters not to sit down but, “It’s a little scary on the way up and a little scary on the way down.”
Now, while it takes a long time to ride it every day, the real problem is when it stops running and you have to make that hike to the top.
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In this Small Business September installment, presented by EagleBank, WTOP visited Himalayan Wild Yak, where that’s not just the name — it’s one of the main dishes.
This story is part of WTOP’s Small Business September coverage. Each week, WTOP will be highlighting small businesses across the D.C. region, along with financial, government and other organizations that help our small business community thrive.
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This Nepalese restaurant in Arlington serves up yak and goat intestines
If you haven’t tried the cuisine found deep in the Himalaya Mountains, a restaurant in Northern Virginia is giving you the chance to do so.
In this Small Business September installment, presented by EagleBank, WTOP visited Himalayan Wild Yak, where that’s not just the name — it’s one of the main dishes.
“If somebody wants real Nepalese food, they must visit here,” chef and restaurateur Keshar Jarga Magar told WTOP.
He described traditional Nepalese food as a fusion between the cuisines of the country’s two neighbors, India and China. That means dishes such as goat curry and dal, as well as dumplings and chow mein.
Some dishes, such as momos, traditional Nepalese dumplings with ground yak, and goat Bhutan, have struck a chord with those missing their home country’s cuisine.
Jarga Magar believes his is the only Nepalese restaurant in the country serving goat Bhutan, which is goat intestines stuffed with organ meat.
“We were like discussing, ‘Can we serve this intestine to the customers?’ And me and my brother said, ‘OK, we’ll try it,’” he said “People are loving it.”
But their specialty is promptly advertised outside their doors, “Himalayan Wild Yak.” And while the yak that diners order isn’t exactly from the Himalayas, it’s still the same species, just raised in small farms in Pennsylvania and Colorado.
“They love it,” Magar said, referring to customers’ reactions to dishes such as Yak Korma. “It’s very, very lean. And people love to try different meat.”
Jarga Magar grew up in a small village just outside Kathmandu, Nepal, where he discovered his love of cooking.
“I had to wake up very early in the morning, and I had to cook myself before I went to school,” he told WTOP. “My mom was the person who taught me.”
He moved to the U.S. in his 20s, working at a variety of hotels and restaurants before he and his brother and business partner pushed ahead in 2022 with opening the first location in Ashburn, Virginia. Three years later, the popular spot opened a second location in Arlington.
“This is our family restaurant. Everybody has a responsibility,” Jarga Magar said. “We always work like a team.”
Chef Jarga Magar said the restaurant prides itself on bringing authentic dishes that you would see in the average Nepalese home to both the immigrant community and diners who have never tried them.
“People come here and they say, ‘You guys remind me of Nepal,’” he said.
That immigrant community was very supportive when they first opened in the wake of the COVID pandemic, according to Jarga Magar. At first, they were told over and over that a Nepalese restaurant would not have the customers to create a good business.
If you visit their location in Ashburn, you can even hang out with their mascot, a giant furry taxidermized yak named “Rocky.” It will soon move to their Arlington location, and a new mascot will be brought into their original location.
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If you are driving around on the streets of D.C. this weekend, watch out for thousands of cyclists enjoying the cool morning air and views of monuments.
If you’re driving around on the streets of D.C. this weekend, watch out for thousands of cyclists enjoying the cool morning air and views of monuments.
“D.C. is an iconic U.S. city, right? There’s so much to see. And what better way to see D.C. than on a bike,” said Danielle Ruiz, director of partnerships and communications with D.C. Bike Ride.
“The best views of some of the monuments and things you’ll see around the city are from the roads, and this is a great way to see it, without any kind of traffic.”
Riders will zigzag around the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Georgetown and Hains Point. They will cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge and other sections near the District’s riverfront all leading to an “iconic backdrop at the Capitol for a big finish,” Ruiz said.
All in all riders will spend Saturday morning traveling on the 20-mile course.
“If that feels a little ambitious for you, we do have a shortcut about halfway, 10 miles,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz stressed that this is not a race, more a leisurely ride.
“It’s for all ages … We’ve got three year olds riding with their families,” Ruiz said. “We’ve got grandparents in their 80s and 90s riding with their kids and grandkids. It is for everyone.”
Ruiz said the federal surge of National Guard and federal police will not affect the day.
“We work every year with the federal and local officials to make sure this is super safe and super fun,” Ruiz said. “We don’t anticipate any changes.”
Beyond just a leisurely car-free ride around D.C.’s streets, the bike ride also works with D.C. Public Schools to raise money and donate bikes to kids in need in Wards 7 and 8.
“Every second grader in the DCPS system learns how to ride a bike,” Ruiz told WTOP. “That’s part of their curriculum in PE and this year and last year we’ve partnered with them. We’ve donated 200 bikes.”
When the ride is over, cyclists can enjoy a bite to eat and cold beer to cool off at the finish line festival near the Capitol.
The D.C. Bike Ride begins at 8 a.m.
The finish festival takes place from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
You can register for the D.C. Bike Ride up until Friday afternoon.
D.C.’s tourism marketing organization is making plans for an influx of visitors coming to the city next year to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
America’s 250th birthday is next year and D.C.’s tourism marketing organization is making plans for an influx of visitors coming to the city to celebrate the occasion.
“America’s 250th has the potential to be really good for Washington next year, simply because it’s yet another reason to visit the city and take advantage of things happening,” said Elliott Ferguson, Destination DC’s president and CEO.
Ferguson said the city will be planning for the yearlong celebration in 2026 alongside the federal government, but emphasized there will be D.C. specific components that they are planning with “75 partners.”
“The city of Washington, like … Philadelphia and Boston, we’re going to also do things that are specific to our community,” Ferguson said.
Even though D.C. had not been founded in 1776 at the birth to the country, Ferguson pointed to the obvious connection to the founding, even the housing of the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives.
The city will have programming that will discuss the country’s racial history, Ferguson said during Destination DC’s Marketing Outlook Meeting last week.
“We know that as the Declaration of Independence was written and saying that all men were created equal … we know that was not the case,” Ferguson said.
Destination DC will use the 250th anniversary as an opportunity to showcase and celebrate all of the things that happened in the District 250 years ago, and elements about the fight for equality through the centuries.
One of the programs that Destination DC its highlighting for the anniversary is “51 Steps to Freedom,” an outdoor museum telling stories through an augmented reality trail.
“It ties into the history of the Black community in Washington, D.C. across eight miles and 300 stories,” Ferguson said.
Stories will include an AI augmented reality of jazz singer Billie Holiday that stands in front of the Howard Theater and describes performing there. Visitors will also be able to see the smartphone-based augmented reality at the Frederick Douglass home in Anacostia.
The District is also expected to see numerous new attractions opening in 2026. The National Geographic Museum of Exploration is expected to open as well as a Lincoln Memorial Museum located underneath the feet of the 16th President.
While the semiquincentennial is expected to bring more visitors to the District, a forecast performed by Destination DC shows an expected 1.3% growth in visitors, the amount of money coming into the city through tourism is expected to decrease.
The RevPAR (revenue per available hotel room) is expected to take a nearly 2% hit next year, which could be explained by a downturn in international travelers to D.C. who typically spend far more money in the city than domestic visitors.
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Twenty years ago to the day, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast, wreaking havoc especially on the city of New Orleans in Louisiana.
Twenty years ago to the day, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast, wreaking havoc especially on the city of New Orleans in Louisiana.
Over 1,800 people were killed in the most devastating storm in decades, which dumped over 15 inches of rain and moved at a pace of 175 mph.
Now, one D.C.-based group is commemorating the disaster’s anniversary and remembering those who lost their lives.
“Hurricane Katrina, literally, forever changed, not only New Orleans, but also this nation,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. of the Hip Hop Caucus, an organization that encourages young people to get involved in policymaking.
In 2006, profound failures by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response prompted Congress to pass the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act. At the time, the administration of former President George W. Bush wrote that the natural disaster taught the federal agency 17 lessons on how to treat the next disaster — including community preparedness, public health and debris removal.
Yearwood was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised near New Orleans.
“It’s been 20 years, but there are also parts (of the city) that look just like it did back in 2005, and that’s probably the most shocking part, things that have been this left to this (squalor),” Yearwood said.
In 2010, a study by the National Institutes of Health found there were long-term impacts on the health of low-income parents that survived Katrina. The report showed that the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, rose to 47.7% among the 392 participants surveyed after the storm.
Environmentally, the hurricane damaged millions of trees and caused an estimated $130 billion in damage. Significant damage still persists in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward where there are noticeably fewer residents.
Yearwood recalled the traumatic event but said “the courage, the fight, the power and the love of our people” over the last 20 years has made honoring it even more poignant.
“I’m just excited that we’re now approaching this 20 year anniversary in a way that’s more than about remembrance, it’s about justice. It’s about honoring the lives lost, and it’s ensuring a safer, healthier and a more equitable planet,” he said.
New Orleans-based rapper Sess 4-5 serves as the co-founder of New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Inc. “Even today, some areas in New Orleans still look like Katrina hit yesterday,” he said.
He recalled evacuating to Baton Rouge and hearing the news that the levees had broken around the city and seeing people waiting outside the Superdome with all of their personal belongings.
“We were living in the richest country in the world. That’s disrespectful. That’s disheartening for citizens of the country to have to go through that,” he said.
His organization, in the true style of his city, is holding a “second line” — a march through the streets led by a brass band — to honor those that lost their lives, as well as celebrating New Orleans’ reemergence.
“We wanted to honor the lives of the citizens who lost their lives in 2005,” he said. “It was very important for the people to come back and keep our culture.”
For Yearwood, the performance is “a moving concert.”
The two groups are also calling for a national moment of silence at 11:20 a.m. on Friday to remember those who died.
“I just think that fighting spirit was one of the reasons that made us come back and continue the culture,” Sess 4-5 said.
WTOP’s Ciara Wells contributed to this report.
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The E Street Bridge Housing Program features dorm-style rooms fitting two per room in twin beds and is expected to house 190 homeless residents in D.C.
The E Street Bridge Housing Program features dorm-style rooms fitting two per room in twin beds.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
A bedroom is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for homeless adults in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
A bedroom is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for homeless adults in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
A bathroom is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for adults homeless people in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
A kitchen is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for homeless adults in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
A dinning area is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for homeless adults in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
A living room is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for homeless adults in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
The lobby area is seen at the opening of a new housing shelter for homeless adults in Washington, Thursday, August. 21, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
The federal emergency on crime and homelessness established by President Donald Trump continues, and as homeless encampments are being cleared in D.C., the city will be opening a new facility for people experiencing homelessness next month.
“We want to use this facility as a way to make it easier to convert people to more permanent housing,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, comparing the new E Street Bridge Housing Program to The Aston, which opened last year.
“When we expand options, tailor our services, we can get … better outcomes and get more people to come inside. So, our message … is that there is shelter space available in Washington, D.C.,” she added.
The housing complex, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, features dorm-style rooms fitting two per room in twin beds. The hundred or so rooms are expected to house 190 homeless residents in D.C.
Each room has a private bathroom, and the facility will even be able to host couples in a larger sized single bed.
City Administrator Kevin Donahue said this will be a useful new tool in the fight against homelessness.
“They don’t often want to come into low barrier shelter, but they may not be ready for a voucher. So, we needed to be able to have part of the portfolio be a building like this, that allows for someone who otherwise might turn away the opportunity to go inside,” Donahue said at the building’s preview last week.
The E Street Bridge Housing Program will also provide grab-and-go food options as well as employment, mental health and substance abuse services.
“We really will be focusing on getting people to come in to receive services, and then housing-focused case management to help them to get permit housing. So we are very excited with this collaboration,” said Rachel Pierre, acting director of the D.C. Department of Human Services.
An additional 25 people will be able to be placed there during hypothermia season in the winter.
While there is no time limit for people living at E Street, the target for residents’ stays are 90 to 120 days.
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It has been a tougher year for the tourism in D.C. and amid the surge of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops patrolling the streets, Destination D.C. is attempting to alleviate the concerns of travelers.
It’s already been a tough year for D.C. tourism with a data firm projecting a 5.1% drop in international visitors this year.
There’s concern the surge of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops could drive away more visitors.
Meade Atkeson, a regional director of two Sonesta Hotels in D.C. and Destination D.C. board chair, said hotels are on the defensive over the past few weeks.
“It has put us in position where we need to counterbalance that rhetoric by making it a point to potential travelers to tell them that the crime situation is actually much better than it’s been previously, and we’re a very welcoming place and a very safe place, and hopefully we can turn that around,” Atkeson said.
Destination D.C., the city’s tourism marketing organization, is attempting to reassure wary travelers.
“The surge has given people reason to pause and ask questions as to whether or not we should consider coming to Washington,” said Destination D.C. President and CEO Elliott Ferguson. “But that number of people is not as large as you would anticipate.”
Ferguson said Destination D.C. workers have been throughout the city, surveying visitors over the past few weeks and asking if they had considered canceling their plans.
Most who had already shown up said they felt comfortable going to D.C.
“There are those that are saying, ‘We don’t feel comfortable because we’re hearing that there are tanks going down the street.’ So, the rhetoric and perception are not the reality, and that is what we’re trying to kind of rightsize,” Ferguson said.
The surge in federal law enforcement comes as D.C. holds its Summer Restaurant Week, a marketing event with specials and deals meant to drive diners to the city.
CNN obtained data that showed foot traffic is down 81% in D.C.’s retail stores from last year.
Projected 5% drop in international visitors
The surge could cause complications for an already hard-hit subset of tourism: international travelers.
At Destination D.C.’s marketing outlook meeting Tuesday, the data firm Tourism Economics revealed the city’s updated forecast of a 5.1% drop in international visitors in 2025. Still slightly better than the around 8% decline across the U.S. as a whole.
“Their biggest concern is, ‘Will we be welcomed in the United States? Will the process of going through customs be cumbersome?’ Because that’s what they’ve heard,” Ferguson said. “It’s not remotely the reality.”
Typically, international travelers far outspend domestic visitors to the capital.
Destination D.C. over the last few weeks launched a new social media campaign in the wake of the federal crime emergency called the “Love Letter to DC.”
Ferguson said it was an opportunity to focus on how Washingtonians feel about the city.
“It really showcases Washington through a different lens, which is the real lens, not what the federal government is saying about Washington as a destination,” Ferguson said.
They will also be launching a new marketing campaign titled “We the People DC,” which leans into the more personal side of the city featuring 20 D.C. residents.
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D.C. students head back to school Monday amid new challenges, including a new cellphone ban and a federal surge of law enforcement.
From saving on school supplies to the impact of federal cuts, the WTOP team is studying up on hot-button topics in education across the D.C. region. Follow on air and online in our series, “WTOP Goes Back to School” this August and September.
Students enter Stoddert Elementary School for the first day of classes, on Aug. 25, 2025. (WTOP/Luke Lukert)
Students enter Stoddert Elementary School for the first day of classes, on Aug. 25, 2025. (WTOP/Luke Lukert)
D.C. students with their first-day jitters head back to school Monday. And the school year comes with challenges including a new cellphone ban and a federal surge of law enforcement.
“What I want to be clear to all of them, is our children deserve and will get a joyful start to their school year,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, while addressing dozens of teachers amid the federal crackdown that brought hundreds of more federal law enforcement and National Guard members to the streets of D.C.
The surge came after President Donald Trump declared a public emergency two weeks ago.
D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said during a news conference about the influx of police: “It’s business as usual; we have prepared for this moment. We’re ready to receive students, our teachers, our educators, staff, school leaders.”
“We want our students to know that the schoolhouse continues to be the safest place for our young people,” he continued.
Ferebee and the mayor encouraged the tradition of clapping the students back into school.
“Tell them that we’re with them. We want them to have a great school year, and we’re all going to be standing shoulder to shoulder with them,” said Bowser.
As for possible violent incidents on school grounds, Ferebee said “our staff is trained to intervene if there are any altercations.”
“If you look at violent acts among students in schools and DCPS, specifically, we’ve seen a decline in those events that are happening on our campuses,” said Ferebee.
The chancellor also noted that DCPS hopes the new bell-to-bell ban on cellphone usage will lead to fewer incidents of bullying.
That ban on cellphones during the entire school day that was piloted by D.C. middle schools will now spread to every school across DCPS.
“Last two years we’ve had a phone-free environment for our middle schools, we’ve seen great results from that,” said Ferebee.
He said DCPS had conducted surveys and focus groups surrounding that ban.
“Students who said they were resistant at first, but found themselves to be better connected with their peers, and less distracted in the classroom. So, we believe this is going to be a strong approach to ensure that students continue to thrive,” said Ferebee.
While each school may have a different policy on how those phones are stored during the school day, they must be out of sight during class and in the hallways.
Some have raised concerns that if there is a school emergency, should students have access to their phone?
“If there’s an emergency, the last thing we want students to do is to be on their cellphone, right? We want them to be focused on the guidance and directions that they’re receiving from adults in emergency situations,” said Ferebee.
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Hurricane Erin is passing by Virginia, Maryland and Delaware as the work week closes out. Although it won’t likely make landfall, the storm is causing dangerous conditions along coastal areas.
Three women walk the beach at sunrise as waves from Hurricane Erin crash ashore in Nags Head, N.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)(AP/Allen G. Breed)
Three women walk the beach at sunrise as waves from Hurricane Erin crash ashore in Nags Head, N.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)(AP/Allen G. Breed)
Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 storm, is passing by Virginia, Maryland and Delaware as the work week closes out. Although it won’t likely make landfall, the storm is causing dangerous conditions along coastal areas.
The greatest impacts from the hurricane will be along the beaches with dangerous surf, rip currents, beach erosion and coastal flooding, according to 7News First Alert Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff.
“If you have any beach plans in the next couple of days that rip current and high surf is going to be pretty intense and they are saying you have to stay out of the water even after the storm passes until things start to calm down,” he said.
There’s rough surf and rip currents in Ocean City, according to an update from the city’s department of emergency management Thursday morning.
Ocean City’s Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald wrote in a statement, “Due to strong waves and dangerous rip currents, we are prohibiting swimming and surfing in the ocean.”
That is until further notice.
Maryland’s Eastern Shore beaches are currently under a coastal flood warning from the National Weather Service until 11 a.m. Thursday morning. But a high surf advisory and coastal flood warning will be in effect stretching into Friday.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement that they do not expect significant impacts but to remain vigilant as coastal flooding is expected to peak Friday.
In Virginia, the Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach area are under a Tropical Storm warning, with forecast winds of up to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during a press briefing, “This is a dangerous storm, and because of the size of this storm, even though it is offshore, we will see rain bands that will bring heavy rain.”
He also said state and local teams are ready to respond to flooding and other storm impacts.
“Make sure you have a plan and do not drive through heavy water,” Youngkin said. “Your car is not a submarine. Turn around, do not drown at the end of the day.”
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Four high school girls’ flag football teams from Montgomery County, Maryland, scrimmaged on the field during the Commanders’ preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Four high school girls flag football teams from Montgomery County, Maryland, scrimmaged on the field during the Commanders’ preseason game on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, against the Bengals.(Courtesy Ciara Durkan)
Four high school girls flag football teams from Montgomery County, Maryland, scrimmaged on the field during the Commanders’ preseason game on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, against the Bengals.(Courtesy Ciara Durkan)
The Washington Commanders weren’t the only team preparing for their new season at Northwest Stadium on Monday night. Four high school girls’ flag football teams from Montgomery County, Maryland, scrimmaged on the field during the Commanders’ preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
One team described the experience as “electric.”
“When we got down to the field, we were like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re actually on NFL soil,’” said Sonia Pegoue, a senior linebacker and captain for the Walter Johnson High School flag football team.
“When I walked out onto the field, I almost blacked out. I can’t describe the feeling. It was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” added fellow captain Evalyn Grocki.
Teams from Seneca Valley High School, Paint Branch High School and Wheaton High School joined them for the scrimmages at halftime.
“Never again are they going to play with that many people, there’s thousands of people out there watching the game. They cheered us on like we were the actual team. And it was just … oh, my gosh,” Walter Johnson head coach Butch Worden said.
It is the team’s second year throwing touchdowns, running jet sweeps and pulling flags. Worden said he has been involved with traditional tackle programs but got involved with the inaugural flag football season last year.
“For over 100 years, the game has been around. They’ve been denied the chance to actually play the game. And so, I felt this is something I want to get myself into,” Worden said about girls getting involved in football.
And over the course of his first season, he saw the ladies on his team grow their love of the game.
“Every single day — and this is what keeps me coming to practice and what keeps me upbeat every single day — these girls love this. I mean, it’s an actual love for the game,” he said.
Grocki decided to leave the volleyball team and get involved in flag football after fondly remembering passing the pigskin in the yard with her dad.
“When you’re out there and the ball is snapped, at least for me, I just really kind of lock in on where the ball is and where the people are, and trying to get the flags, because it all happens so fast,” she said.
Pegoue, meanwhile, had some experience with tackle football before she joined the flag football team.
“I love how fierce we get on the field, even though it’s still no contact, there’s still a lot of energy around the flagpoles and the touchdowns and the interceptions and everything. I love to see it,” she said.
Walter Johnson will kick off its season on Sept. 3 at John F. Kennedy High School.
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The U.S. Secret Service told WTOP that they are working with local and state partners “to ensure the heightened levels of safety and security this Election Day.”
U.S. Capitol Police keep watch at the Capitol in D.C. as the Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Pedestrians walk past metal security barriers on a street leading to the White House in D.C., Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in advance of election day.
(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
AP Photo/Ben Curtis
A pedestrian walks past stores open for business but boarded up with wood, near the White House on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in advance of Election Day.
(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
AP Photo/Ben Curtis
Security bike racks stand outside the U.S. Capitol ahead of the National Women’s March in D.C. on Nov. 2, 2024
(Photo by ALLISON Robert/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by ALLISON Robert/AFP via Getty Images
The Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest D.C. was surrounded by additional black riot fencing Monday before Election Day.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Workers erect anti-scale fencing around the White House and the Treasury Department along 15th St NW on Nov. 3, 2024 in D.C.
(Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Workers erect anti-scale fencing around the White House and the Treasury Department along 15th St NW on Nov. 3, 2024 in D.C.
(Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
The Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest D.C. has been surrounded by additional black riot fencing Monday before Election Day.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
The Naval Observatory, where one of two Master Clock facilities are located, is enclosed behind black security fencing days before Election Day.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
As millions of Americans prepare to decide the next president of the United States, extra security measures have been put in place around D.C. in anticipation of Election Day.
Fortifications go up around key facilities
Crews have been seen setting up black riot fencing around the U.S. Capitol building throughout the weekend, a sight that has become all too familiar in D.C.
In addition, the U.S. Secret Service told WTOP they are working with local and state partners “to ensure the heightened levels of safety and security this Election Day.”
The Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest D.C., where Vice President Kamala Harris lives, is also surrounded by additional black riot fencing, enclosing one of the nation’s master clocks, which keeps the accurate time of the East Coast.
That same fencing was put up around the White House, as well as the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida where former President Donald Trump will host his election night watch party.
Harris’ watch party will take place at her Alma Mater Howard University. D.C. police said the security surrounding the school will be increased and road closures will begin for a dozen streets at 7 p.m. Monday.
“These enhancements are not in response to any specific issue but are part of wide-ranging public safety preparations for Tuesday’s election,” the Secret Service said in a statement to WTOP.
During security briefings for media last month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said to expect “hardened” security around the Capitol Complex, including more law enforcement.
Police to use helicopter, drones in security plan
During a news conference Monday, D.C. police Chief Pamela Smith said the city’s Joint Operations Center will be activated Tuesday morning, and there will be increased patrols in key areas Downtown and near the White House.
“There will be no tolerance for violence in our city, no destruction or any unlawful behavior,” Smith said. “As I’ve said before, we will hold all offenders accountable. We will not tolerate the destruction of property and we will not tolerate threats to public safety, as well as this election process.”
The chief also said D.C. police will leverage its new helicopter, Falcon 1, and drones to monitor and protect critical areas during the election process.
“We made these investments to strengthen our air support assets this year for the very purpose of managing and protecting events that bring large crowds to our city,” Smith said.
Bowser said Monday the city will make a National Guard request for assistance sometime between now and Inauguration Day, though she didn’t share specifically when that request would be made.
She was also quick to note there are no credible threats of violence in D.C. ahead of Election Day on Tuesday. She that while she feels good about the city’s preparation, it’s a different story when it comes to the political landscape.
“I feel very sad, the state of things, to be honest with you,” Bowser said. “But the way that I deal with anxiety is to work and to make sure that we are as prepared as we can be and that people, all people, win or lose, do the right thing. And that is important.”
The statue shows a bronze hand clasping a bronze lit tiki torch. It appears weathered, to suggest it’s been at D.C.’s Freedom Plaza for years.
“The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame” is located at the southeastern corner of D.C.’s Freedom Plaza.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Plaque at the base of the “The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame” statue.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
One week before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a statue has popped up in downtown D.C. that takes a swing at former President Donald Trump and his comments made after the 2017 “Unite The Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The roughly 8-foot-tall statue shows a bronze hand clasping a bronze lit tiki torch. It appears weathered, to suggest it’s been at the southeastern corner of D.C.’s Freedom Plaza for years.
The plaque on a plaster base made to look like a pillar titles it, “The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame” and refers to comments Trump made in the aftermath of riots and protests that happened in August 2017.
The plaque reads:
This monument pays tribute to President Donald Trump and the “very fine people” he boldly stood to defend when they marched in Charlottesville, Virginia. While many have called them white supremacists and neo-nazis, President Trump’s voice rang out above the rest to remind all that they were “treated absolutely unfairly.” This monument stands as an everlasting reminder of that bold proclamation.
The “Unite the Right” rally was initially planned to protest the city’s removal of the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, from what was then known as Lee Park.
It turned deadly when 32-year-old Heather Heyer, was run down by James Alex Fields, Jr. who purposely drove his car into a group of counterprotesters.
In July 2023, white supremacist leaders and organizations that participated in the rally were ordered to pay a total of more than $26 million in damages to people with physical or emotional injuries from the event.
A similar statue done by the same artist popped up last week on the National Mall with a replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk, featuring a bronze swirled poop on top. It was dedicated to Jan. 6 rioters.
Permits for both statues show they were filed by the same group. The statues must be watched by someone affiliated with the group at all times, according to the permit.
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The 49th Annual Marine Corps Marathon is in the books. It was an emotional journey for many runners and several of them already have next year’s race on their mind.
Runners participating in the 49th Marine Corps Marathon. (Courtesy U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joaquin Dela Torre)
Runners participating in the 49th Marine Corps Marathon. (Courtesy U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joaquin Dela Torre)
The 49th Annual Marine Corps Marathon is in the books. It was an emotional journey across the 26.2 miles for many of the runners — and several of them already have next year’s race on their mind.
Among the runners, a teenager, a 90-year-old and every age in between. The course crisscrossed through D.C. and Arlington, Virginia.
“I’m going to start crying because it was so emotional. … When you go through the ‘Wear Blue Mile,’ that was just amazing … and it’s just awesome. I loved it,” Margaret Dwyer, 60, told WTOP.
Dwyer said she traveled from Vermont for her first Marine Corps Marathon.
Nick Schneider also completed his first Marine Corps Marathon and first 26.2 mile distance race.
“Feels really good,” he told WTOP while laying in the grass just after high-fiving a Marine at the finish line. “To be able to have this notch in my belt and be done with it, I honestly couldn’t be happier.”
One of the more sobering moments of the race comes at Haynes Point.
Runners enter the stretch pumped up because the halfway point is approaching and then the “Wear Blue Mile” hits. All the chatter and high-fives stop and all the runners get quiet and slow down, as they pass by signs with the name and picture of fallen service members every 10 yards or so.
“I was just hyperventilating because I was already tired and trying to cry, but I didn’t have any water left in my body, so there were no tears coming out,” said Erin Ghostlaw.
Many of the young men and women pictured were only in their teens and early twenties. The pain and fatigue for runners is put into perspective, as they continue past that section of the course.
“I’m actually active duty Air Force myself, so to see my brothers and sisters along the way, the fallen heroes, it was pretty emotional,” said Matthew Amiot, who is stationed in Dover, Delaware.
“Even though I’m in the Air Force, we’re all brothers and sisters.”
The somber moments though are contrasted by the highs of a raucous crowd cheering them on for much of the distance.
As racers tack on the miles and legs are fatigued and feet are about to fall, runners still have a smile on their face thanks to the crowd and their comical signs.
Several of the silly phrases spotted: “You Run Better Than The Government,” “Run like there are Taylor Swift tickets available,” “If Frodo can bring the ring to Mordor you can do this race” and “Never stop chafing your dreams.”
It’s tough not to laugh and smile as your body is in pain.
“Whoever told me it was a flat course, we need to have a chat, because that was not flat,” joked Ghostlaw.
“But it was a beautiful crowd, a perfect day for running,” she admitted.
If crowd-goers did not have an amusing sign, many still offered high-fives and yells of encouragement.
“The crowd was crazy. I couldn’t believe that people were doing shots at Mile 22,” said Schneider. “The atmosphere pushed me through this for sure.”
The big question is, will these runners be back next year for the 50th Marine Corps Marathon?
“I’ll be back next year, if I can do it. I gotta be there for the 50th … come on!” said Dwyer.
“Candidly, probably not,” said Schneider. “But you know what? Honestly, there’s enough people in my circle that need to still do their first so maybe they can convince me.”
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Thousands of runners are clogging 26.2 miles of pavement in D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, for the 49th annual Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday morning.
Runners take part in the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Runners line up for the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. (WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Runners line up for the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Thousands of runners are hitting the pavement in the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Robert and Donna Taylor are running Sunday’s race. Robert has has been running the race for four decades and calls the race a “pilgrimage.”
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Thousands of runners take part in the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Thousands of runners clogged 26.2 miles of pavement in D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, for the 49th annual Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday morning. With the race comes dozens of road closures, crowds of cheering spectators and more than a few emotional tears.
Kyle King of Yucca Valley, California, was the first to cross the marathon finish line for the men, finishing with a time of 2:26:06. Tessa Barrett of Arlington, Virginia, claimed first place in the marathon for the women, finishing with a time of 2:39:36.
Calum Neff of Fulshear, Texas, won the men’s 50K with a time of 2:56:36. Anna Staats of Arlington, Virginia, finished in first place for the women in the 50K with a time of 3:44:42. Staats also won the women’s 50K in 2023.
Robert Taylor, who has been running the race for four decades, called the race a “pilgrimage.”
“I started in 1983 on a bet from a friend of mine who was in the Marines, and I got hooked. I ran it once, and I’ve been back every year since then,” said Taylor, a New Jersey native.
Taylor’s wife, Donna, has joined him every year since 1989.
“He told me I could never do this. And I said, ‘Oh yes, I could,’” she said.
“Many times we said, ‘OK, that’s it. This is the last one.’ And next thing I know, she signed me up for the next one,” said Robert. “So we’ve been coming back. We’ve had groups as many as 10, 15 with us, and we’re the only two surviving.”
Robert, a veteran, called the organization of the race superb and pointed to the “Wear Blue Mile,” a stretch where posters of fallen troops are displayed, as one of the most impactful parts of the event.
Jason Mercado, who is visiting from the Bronx to run his first Marine Corps Marathon, said he was looking forward to that stretch on Haynes Point.
“I’m gonna be emotional for that one. It’s one of those marathons where it’s gonna be a different type of experience,” Mercado said ahead of the race.
He plans to dedicate this run to his family members who served in the Marines and other branches.
The Marine Corps Marathon is the largest marathon in the world that doesn’t offer prize money. It has been deemed “The People’s Marathon.” It is often a runner’s first race at the 26.2-mile distance.
“Not only is it in D.C., it seems like it’s like one of the top ones to do,” said Sarah Lowe, a District resident. “This is gonna be my first one.”
While the weather Sunday is supreme for running, the months of training — including long runs on D.C. streets during the summer months — were brutal, according to Lowe.
“I always picked, like, the worst time of day. So just like sweating up a storm,” she joked.
Most of D.C.’s waterfront and dozens of streets in Northern Virginia are closed off for the race. For most of the course, thousands of spectators line the way to encourage runners.
“Both my parents ran the Marine Corps Marathon and said that the crowd support is the most amazing thing. This is one of the most emotional races to be in,” said Elle Monticello, who is running the 10K race.
“It’s my first Marine Corps, but I’m really excited to do the hometown race, and I love the marathon distance, so I’m excited to have my running club out there and just know a lot of people running, so I’m looking forward to the crowd and just running the streets,” said Grace Marmaris, of Arlington, Virginia, ahead of the marathon.
For the many first-time racers, Taylor has some simple advice as a four-decade Marine Corps Marathon: “Don’t get caught up in anybody else’s pace and have fun.”
WTOP’s Valerie Bonk contributed to this report.
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A marathon coach has advice on what to do right before you head to the starting line at Sunday’s 49th annual Marine Corps Marathon.
As organizers are finalizing preparation for Sunday’s 49th annual Marine Corps Marathon by setting up water stands, aid stations and Runners Village, marathoners are also getting ready. A marathon coach has advice on what to do right before you head to the starting line.
It’s all about the fuel and hydration, according to Jill Brasky, the former vice president of training with D.C. Road Runners. First and foremost, if you are racing in the Marine Corps Marathon, don’t eat any strange foods that might upset your stomach.
“As wonderful as raw oysters are, if you’ve never tried them, night before race day is not the time to do things like that,” Brasky said.
She added that spicy foods such as Buffalo wings might also be a bad idea and could delay you on the racecourse with frequent bathroom stops.
Racers will often want to “carbo load,” or eat simple carbohydrates like pasta, rice and potatoes to increase their glycogen stores in their muscles and livers. Brasky warned not to overdo it.
“Maybe add a half a bagel or a piece of toast, you know, in the days leading up to it,” she said.
What about breakfast?
“Traditional prerace breakfast is oatmeal with a banana,” said Brasky about her own marathon experience. “Have some sort of protein bar right before the starting line.”
The eating doesn’t stop there: Newer runners, in particular, should fuel up with easy carbohydrates about every four miles or every 45 minutes.
“It keeps your energy levels up, and that’s what causes you to hit the wall.”
Keeping up with hydration is also incredibly important. Basky suggested eating chicken soup or miso soup, as well as drinking coconut water, in the days leading up to the race.
“Just keep a bottle of water on you, but don’t overdo it. You do not want to be up having to go to the bathroom every couple of hours the night before the race,” said Brasky.
The Marine Corps Marathon starts at 7:55 a.m. on Oct. 27.
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Several unions united Tuesday morning to urge the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to support a referendum that would allow voters to choose if a casino and entertainment district is approved for Tysons, Virginia.
Dozens of union workers and supporters rallied outside the Fairfax County Government Center on Oct. 22, 2024, urging the county board to back a ballot referendum before the new legislative session for the commonwealth begins in 2025.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Virginia Diamond, president of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO, told WTOP the jobs that would come out of the casino would “lift people out of poverty” and make buying homes and renting more affordable in the notoriously-expensive Northern Virginia suburb.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Groups who oppose the Tysons Corner Casino argue it will hurt local businesses and property values as well as increase traffic in the area. But union workers say it will bring much-needed jobs to the area,
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Members of several unions united Tuesday morning to urge the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to support a referendum that would allow voters to choose whether a casino and entertainment district is approved for Tysons, Virginia.
Dozens of union workers and supporters rallied outside the Fairfax County Government Center to ask the board to back a ballot referendum before the new legislative session for the commonwealth begins in 2025.
Rafael Cruz who works with a hospitality union said the jobs are life-changing in times of inflation and economic worry, “You can see … the benefit in wages.”
Virginia Diamond, president of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO, told WTOP the jobs that would come out of the casino would “lift people out of poverty” and make buying homes and renting more affordable in the notoriously expensive Northern Virginia suburb.
“We have agreements in place that will allow more than 5,000 workers to be able to choose freely, to become part of a union. And having a union job is life-changing,” Diamond said.
Unions that wouldn’t see direct jobs also support the project.
David Walrod, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, said in a statement, “This is an important opportunity to bring in more commercial tax revenue for schools and other county services, which is sorely needed.”
A study conducted in 2019 by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission found that a Northern Virginia casino could generate upward of $155 million annually in tax revenue.
Earlier this year, Virginia’s Senate Finance and Appropriations committee voted against a bill that would have allowed the county to have a ballot referendum on building a casino. They instead decided to carry the bill over to next year’s session, hoping to get more research on the project.
Groups who oppose the Tysons Corner Casino argue it will hurt local businesses and property values, as well as increase traffic in the area.
Democratic Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who represents parts of Fairfax County, is among those who opposes the casino.
“This is where Fortune 500 companies have come to make their home,” Boysko said of Tysons Corner during the session. “This is not something that Fortune 500s would like to have in their community.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Like the rest of the country, D.C.-area candy-lovers are buying a chocolaty and peanut buttery treat for the spooky holiday, according to a study from Instacart.
What is the most popular Halloween candy for in the D.C. area?
Like the rest of the country, D.C.-area candy-lovers are buying a chocolaty and peanut buttery treat for the spooky holiday, according to a study from Instacart.
It showed half the U.S. is going to be buying Halloween candy, and the most common kind sold through the grocery delivery service is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
D.C., Maryland and Virginia follow the national trend. Only a few Western states prefer M & M’s.
Meanwhile, the survey showed that Marylanders buy Sour Patch Kids more than the rest of the country. Virginia loves Hershey’s milk chocolate around Halloween compared to the rest of the country. For D.C., the unique favorite treat is Crunch Bars.
But Washingtonians aren’t huge into candy. Last year, they bought the third least amount of candy for Halloween from across the country. If you are looking to really fill that trick-or-treat pumpkin bucket, get a flight to Utah, which buys the most Halloween candy.
And if you haven’t bought that candy to hand out yet this year, don’t worry, you are not alone. About one-fifth of Americans wait until Halloween to actually buy candy.
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The election is three weeks away, but Inauguration Day preparations are already being made in the nation’s capital. Large black riot fences and concrete barriers surround parts of Lafayette park as well as the sidewalks near the White House.
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Inauguration Day prep begins in DC months ahead of time
The election is three weeks away, but Inauguration Day preparations are already being made in the nation’s capital. Large black riot fences and concrete barriers currently surround parts of Lafayette Park, as well as the sidewalks near the White House.
Construction crews in Lafayette Park are putting up Inauguration Day Parade stands and security barriers for the ushering in of the new president, which stands at nearly 100 days away on Jan. 20.
The National Park Service said the closures and riot fencing that’s all too familiar in D.C. are to ensure the safety of workers and visitors, and make it easier for building materials to be delivered and heavy machinery to be stored during the monthslong process.
Still, tourists eager for a photo in front of the White House are pushed a little further back behind the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Park.
The northern part of Lafayette Park will remain open for visitors and political demonstrations.
The fencing is expected to be in place until February 2025.
Work for the presidential inauguration typically begins in November, but this year, preparation began early “to accommodate additional time needed for a safer and more secure environment for construction activities,” according to an NPS release.
In addition to building the construction zone near the White House, D.C.’s Department of Transportation is repaving a major portion of the inauguration parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Riot fences and concrete barriers go up around parts of Lafayette Park.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Construction crews in Lafayette Park are putting up Inauguration Day parade stands and security barriers for the ushering in of the new president.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Construction crews in Lafayette Park are putting up Inauguration Day parade stands and security barriers for the ushering in of the new president.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
Construction crews in Lafayette Park are putting up Inauguration Day parade stands and security barriers for the ushering in of the new president.
(WTOP/Luke Lukert)
WTOP/Luke Lukert
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