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Tag: michelle basch

  • How much money and jobs would a Sphere at National Harbor generate? New figures are out – WTOP News

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    There are new estimates of how much a planned Sphere entertainment venue in Prince George’s County, Maryland, would benefit the D.C. region.

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    How are DC-area locals reacting to National Harbor Sphere news?

    There are new estimates of how much a planned Sphere entertainment venue in Prince George’s County, Maryland, would benefit the D.C. region.

    The project, announced last month, would bring a smaller version of the Las Vegas Sphere to National Harbor.

    Results of a comprehensive study conducted by Ernst & Young released Wednesday found the project would have an economic impact of $1.3 billion a year.

    It also determined the project would create about 3,350 jobs during the construction phase, and about 7,100 jobs once it opens. The permanent jobs would be at the venue itself and at businesses in the nearby area.

    Those are increases from earlier estimates of $1 billion a year in economic impact, 2,500 construction jobs and 4,750 permanent jobs.

    The study also estimated that more than 2 million people a year would attend events at the Sphere at National Harbor.

    “We continue to see just how transformational this is going to be, not just for Prince George’s County and not just for the state of Maryland, but truthfully for the entire region,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday.

    It was initially announced that the project would involve about $200 million in incentives from the county and state, and that amount has not changed, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy said Wednesday.

    Braveboy said tax revenues alone from the new project would more than triple what the county has been getting from the Six Flags amusement park in Bowie that closed late last year, and Northwest Stadium in Landover where the Washington Commanders play. The Commanders expect to start playing in a new stadium in D.C. in 2030.

    “I feel really good about getting this project up, hopefully before the Commanders leave. That would be our goal,” Braveboy said.

    Prince George’s County is not Las Vegas, she said, but it is “the destination of the East Coast.”

    She added that the project will solidify her county as the area’s “entertainment (and) tech capital.”

    “We already have quantum computing. We have a thriving aerospace and cybersecurity industry here … and now, we’ll be the center for entertainment tech in the region,” Braveboy said.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Basch

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  • The highlight of Super Bowl 60 may not come from the game itself – WTOP News

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    If you don’t tune into the Super Bowl performances and commercials in between the plays, this may be a great year to start.

    If you don’t tune into the Super Bowl performances and commercials in between the plays, this may be a great year to start.

    A big reason has to do with the halftime show, during which Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is set to sing entirely in Spanish. He’ll be the first solo headliner to do that.

    “This is something you’ve never really seen in a Super Bowl. This is the first time ever something of this caliber is happening,” Virginia Tech marketing expert Donna Wertalik said. “I feel like this is the year for cultural relevance.”

    Companies want to take advantage of the moment, and get commercials in front of the wide range of people who will be watching.

    “We’ve got more than big brands, we’ve got a lot of new brands this year, which is really interesting,” Wertalik said.

    A 30-second ad during Super Bowl 60 costs about $8 million. So, is it worth it?

    Many companies use their Super Bowl commercial as a launching point for a major ad campaign, Wertalik said.

    “This is the tipoff of it, and then they’ll run much of this throughout the rest of this year … getting a lot of value out of that one spot.”

    She’s already seen many of the ads, and said the audience can expect them to feature a lot of artificial intelligence and funny celebrities.

    The commercials may stick in your head, but will you remember the products they’re trying to sell?

    “A lot of brands suffer from that,” Wertalik said.

    For instance, you may remember a funny car commercial, but can’t remember which car it was trying to get you to buy.

    Something Wertalik will be tracking is whether what she calls the “Taylor Swift effect” is continuing.

    Swift has attended Kansas City Chiefs games to support tight end Travis Kelce, her fiance. Those appearances got more women interested in the NFL.

    “A lot of women started watching it, and brands started getting engaged and saying we have a lot of people here … that are new audience members,” she said.

    The Chiefs didn’t make the Super Bowl this year, and that has Wertalik wondering: “Do those women and young girls still stay? It will be interesting to look at that.”

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Basch

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  • Former police officer, Prince George’s Co. Council member join race to replace Steny Hoyer – WTOP News

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    Harry Dunn and Wala Blegay are officially joining the race to replace Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, who’s retiring after more than 40 years in Congress.

    Two more candidates are officially joining the race to replace Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, who’s retiring after more than 40 years.

    The latest to announce they’re running for the 5th District seat are two fellow Democrats: Prince George’s County Council member Wala Blegay and former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who defended the building during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

    Both made their intentions official Wednesday.

    Blegay was appointed in December to fill a vacant at-large seat on the Prince George’s County Council.

    Dunn ran for Congress in 2024 in Maryland’s 3rd District, but lost the Democratic primary.

    At least 10 other Democrats and two Republicans have already joined the race for Hoyer’s seat.

    Primaries will be held June 23.

    Hoyer has endorsed his former campaign manager, Maryland Del. Adrian Boafo, to replace him.

    The deadline to file for candidacy is about three weeks away, on Feb. 24.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Basch

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  • Switching supermarkets could save you big money on basic items – WTOP News

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    A new study finds that grocery prices vary widely by store, with Costco, Aldi, and Lidl often cheaper than Walmart, while Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s cost significantly more.

    Switching grocery stores could save you some serious cash, at least on some items, according to a new study by Consumer Reports based on research by Strategic Resource Group.

    In six U.S. cities, the price of a full basket at major supermarkets was compared against the price at Walmart, which is the biggest grocery store in the country.

    Researchers chose about 40 common items to conduct the study.

    “We looked at a marketbasket of products … Folgers Coffee, pineapple, lemons, Kraft macaroni and cheese, eggs, milk, chicken drumsticks, Gain detergent, that kind of thing,” said Tobie Stanger, a writer for Consumer Reports.

    The study included sale prices if they were available without a membership, but not prices you would only get as a store member or through a store’s app.

    The price of some items couldn’t be compared, because the products aren’t sold at certain places, such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.

    At Costco, where things are often sold in bulk, the price per unit was compared.

    “What we found are some pretty major differences, especially when you get into the specialty grocers,” Stanger said.

    The closest city to D.C. that the study looked at was Virginia Beach. There, it found the price of the basket compared with Walmart was nearly 17% lower at Costco, and a whopping 58% higher at Whole Foods.

    Also in Virginia Beach, prices at Aldi were about 16% lower than Walmart, and prices at Lidl were nearly 9% lower than Walmart.

    Averaging the results from all six cities studied, you find prices compared with Walmart were about 21% lower at Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Prices at Lidl and Aldi were lower, too. Also nationally, prices were about 40% higher at Whole Foods, about 25% higher at Trader Joe’s and 24% higher at Harris Teeter.

    “If you’re starting with a lower priced store to begin with, you stand a better chance of having a smaller bill at the end when you go to the register,” Stanger said.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Basch

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  • ‘Snowcrete’ has humans struggling. Wildlife? Not so much – WTOP News

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    If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the crusty snow in your yard, the answer is no.

    If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the icy snow in your yard, the answer is no.

    “Folks often feel a need to do something to support the wildlife,” John Burke, natural resources branch manager with the Fairfax County Park Authority, told WTOP. “(But) keep in mind that all of these critters are well adapted to survive in the conditions that we’re experiencing now, and sometimes much colder.”

    Many mammals rely on fat reserves to keep themselves warm and sustain them through the winter.

    “We might pack on a few pounds during the holidays; mammals do the same thing ahead of time,” Burke said.

    Deer can make do by eating some pretty boring meals.

    “They can survive well off of the types of plants that we find in this area that you may not consider to be particularly nourishing: twigs, bit of branches, things like that,” Burke said.

    As for gray squirrels, they hide food in many places, not just on the ground.

    “They’ll also huddle up, slow down, not spend a lot of time expending energy; and in some cases, gather communally in their dens or dreys to keep each other warm,” Burke said.

    It’s not necessary to put out bird feeders in the winter, but if you must, Burke said the feeders need to be well kept.

    “It’s really important that seed be kept clean, and that the bird feeders are cleaned once every couple of weeks with a 10% bleach solution,” he said.

    Burke strongly discouraged anyone from feeding wild animals and pointed out that it’s illegal in many places.

    “It can help spread diseases. It can get these animals used to being around people which can sometimes be dangerous, and generally because these animals can fend for themselves during the winter and survive quite well,” he said.

    Bottom line: if you’re worried about the creatures outside your window, Burke said, don’t be.

    “There’s really nothing we need to be doing, just observing and enjoying their presence. We should be seeing a lot more activity here come spring,” he said.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Basch

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  • Pirro: ‘Full court press’ as understaffed DC attorney’s office braces to prosecute more cases – WTOP News

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    Listen as U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro talks about President Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge and crime in D.C. with WTOP’s Michelle Basch and Mark Lewis.

    As President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. continues, new numbers show more than 1,000 arrests have been made in the first two weeks.

    More than 300 people have been arrested on immigration-related charges.

    U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who is D.C.’s top prosecutor, is the person responsible for prosecuting most criminal cases in the District. She joined WTOP’s Michelle Basch and Mark Lewis on Tuesday morning.

    You can listen below.

    U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro talks about President Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge and crime in D.C. with WTOP’s Michelle Basch and Mark Lewis. (8/26/25)

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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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    Matt Small

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