Tag: mike murillo

5-year-old DC boy becomes one of the youngest members of high-IQ society Mensa – WTOP News

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A 5-year-old boy whose dad is stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C. has just been admitted into an exclusive club. Kaleo Kekuewa-Kwon has been admitted to Mensa, the world’s oldest and largest society of people with high IQs.

Kaleo Kekuewa-Kwon (bottom left) with his family in D.C.
(Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family)
Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family

When his brother started piano lessons, Kaleo decided he wanted to learn the instrument as well, and two weeks into lessons, he could play the opening of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5.”
(Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family)
Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family

A beaming Kaleo Kekuewa-Kwon holds up his Mensa acceptance letter.
(Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family)
Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family

Kaleo Kekuewa-Kwon with his older brothers.
(far right)
far right

Kaleo can quickly pick up instruments, learning to play complicated scores with incredible ease.
(Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family)
Courtesy Kekuewa-Kwon Family

A 5-year-old boy whose dad is stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C. has just been admitted into an exclusive club.

Kaleo Kekuewa-Kwon has been admitted to Mensa, the world’s oldest and largest society of people with high IQs.

“We’re just completely just blown away,” said his mother, Mailani Kekuewa.

Kaleo’s father, Sebastian Kwon, is an Air Force major at the Southwest D.C. base, and his mother works for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The couple said they quickly noticed their son was very intelligent. At only 15 months old, he mastered the alphabet; a year later, he was counting to the thousands and could do basic math.

During his interview with WTOP, Kaleo rapidly called out addition problems and had their solutions.

By five, he had taught himself to read, according to his father: “In his pre-K class, his teacher (shared) that ‘I was reading to the class one day, and he popped up and said, let me read.’ And he read to the class!”

Kaleo has always been inquisitive, according to his parents, and drawn toward learning. He found joy in using his tablet to learn new things.

His mother recalled finding him one day, learning sign language.

“I’m like, ‘wow.’ It’s just inside and outside of the classroom, he just has this longing and desire for learning,” his mother said.

His parents said he quickly became bored with pre-K and kindergarten workbooks, so they gave his workbooks meant for first and second graders. He even helps his older brothers with their homework.

When his brother started piano lessons, Kaleo decided he wanted to learn the instrument as well, and two weeks into lessons, he could play the opening of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5.”

His parents said at around the age of 3, they had first talked about getting his IQ tested but decided to wait. But they didn’t wait too long.

“He just continued to shock us every day with his questions, his curiosity, the things that he would know or want to do. So, we’re like, ‘OK, I think we need to revisit this,’” his mother said.

Kekuewa said after the testing, they would discover he scored in the top .01% on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) test.

“He just tested off the charts,” his mother said.

But Kaleo is still a 5-year-old, his parents joked as he squirmed while sitting on his mother’s lap during the interview, but they are excited about what the future holds for their son.

As he begins kindergarten, Kaleo’s parents plan to get their son involved in Mensa activities as well. In two years, their goal is to move back to Hawai’i and have Kaleo attend Kamehameha Schools, a private school system.

“He’s going to have a bright future ahead of him, for sure,” his father said.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Mike Murillo

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August 22, 2024
16-year-old boy arrested, accused of starting Clarksburg apartment fire – WTOP News

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A 16-year-old boy is in the process of being charged for a fire at a Clarksburg apartment building Saturday that left two residents and two firefighters hospitalized.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials battle a blaze at a Clarksburg, Maryland, apartment complex on August 17, 2024. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue)

A 16-year-old boy is facing possible charges for starting a fire at a Clarksburg apartment building Saturday that left two residents and two firefighters hospitalized and killed three pets. The fire also displaced 43 people whose apartments were damaged or destroyed by the fire.

Assistant Chief Daniel Ogren with Montgomery County Fire and EMS said Saturday that investigators quickly determined the fire was no accident.

“After talking to the suspect, they made the decision to go ahead and charge that suspect with numerous crimes,” Ogren said.

Few details about the charges have been released, and the boy’s name is being withheld because he is a minor.

During his Tuesday media briefing, Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich revealed the teen had been in trouble for “two previous, similar incidents of fire setting” before being accused of setting the fire in Clarksburg.

Elrich said the Department of Juvenile Services released the boy after the first two fires. He expressed anger that the boy was released to his parents again after being questioned and named a suspect in the Clarksburg fire.

“If you just simply return them to an environment where they weren’t able to get any help, even when the parents tried to get them help, all you’re doing is making this situation worse,” Elrich said.

WTOP has reached out the Department of Juvenile Services for comment.

On Wednesday, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office said after prosecutors “filed motions in court,” a judge made the decision to detain the boy.

While he said he is unable to speak about this case specifically, Ogren said the department supports steps being taken, which could include detention, to prevent a suspected arsonist from committing another act in the future.

“Our main goal is to try and get these people identified and into the system in one shape or another, so that they can get the help that they need and, ultimately, protect the citizens of Montgomery County,” Ogren said.

He said the bottom line with this fire is the department is thankful no one was killed.

“It could have very easily been much, much worse, given the seriousness of this fire,” he said.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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August 21, 2024
DC man says he was beaten up after kissing partner at Dupont Circle Shake Shack – WTOP News

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Video captured by those inside the D.C. restaurant shows employees wearing Shake Shack uniforms hitting the man and others pulling him away as customers looked on.

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DC police investigate suspected hate crime at Shake Shack, restaurant suspends employees

A D.C. man says he and his partner were attacked by employees of a Shake Shack restaurant in Dupont Circle because they are gay.

Christian Dingus, 28, said it happened Saturday evening after a store employee told them to stop kissing.

“He kind of interrupted us and said, ‘Hey, stop. You can’t be doing that here,’” Dingus told WTOP.

According to Dingus, the comment made his partner upset.

“He was like, ‘We’re not doing anything wrong,’” he said.

His partner was escorted out of the restaurant, moving the confrontation from inside the restaurant to the sidewalk. From there, Dingus said the incident escalated.

According to Dingus, several additional employees came over. He said after attempting to defuse the situation from the doorway of the store, he got more involved when the group had his partner backed up against a brick wall.

“I stepped fully outside, and at that point, raised my voice for the first time, where I was like, ‘Hey, stop, leave him alone,’” Dingus said.

He said after waving his hands in the air, he was targeted.

“I was pushed and pretty quickly after that, it’s kind of a blur. But I just know I was jumped on by multiple of them at that point, getting punched in my face, in my head, falling to the ground, and then while I was on the ground, continued to be hit in my head and my body for what seemed like forever,” Dingus said.

Video captured by those inside the restaurant shows employees wearing Shake Shack uniforms hitting the man and others pulling him away, as customers looked on from inside the restaurant.

Dingus said he’s not sure who broke things up.

When the police arrived, they spoke with the employees of the restaurant and, according to Dingus, told him it would be best if he left the area.

According to a police report, one of the people involved claimed Dingus “placed his hands on his neck” and that “he was defending himself.”

Christian Dingus, 28, said he was attacked by Shake Shack employees after kissing his boyfriend. (Courtesy Christian Dingus)

“I was on the ground with multiple people hitting me with my hands on my head. Did I have my hand on all their necks? Kind of just absurd,” Dingus said.

He also claimed some videos of what happened that have appeared online also discredit that claim.

Dingus said his jaw was injured and he suffered a concussion.

In a statement to WTOP, Shake Shack said the employees involved have been suspended as the restaurant investigates what took place.

Police said it is also still investigating the incident as a hate crime for which the motivation may be “Sexual Orientation — Anti-Gay.”

For Dingus, he said he moved to D.C. with the hope of living in a place where he can be comfortable being who he is, and only recently became comfortable with expressing physical affection in public.

“For me to finally be comfortable to do that, and in a place that I deem safe, to be kind of torn away that quickly is just … it’s pretty awful,” he said.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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August 19, 2024
Opioids are increasingly impacting Black and brown communities in this Northern Virginia county – WTOP News

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In the greater Prince William County area, overdose cases more than doubled among Black and brown people between 2017 and 2023, according to a new study.

In the greater Prince William County area, overdose cases more than doubled among Black and brown people between 2017 and 2023, according to a new study.

“The opioid overdose has traditionally been a Caucasian or white person issue but that’s not what we’re seeing in today’s opioid crisis,” said Kirstin Sievers, community engagement specialist for the Prince William Health District.

The health district, which is part of the Virginia Department of Health, investigated overdose cases and deaths in the region, which includes Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Route 1 corridor hit hard

“In the Hispanic community alone, there’s been a 500% increase in drug-related injuries, which is astronomical,” Sievers said.

Among Black people, there was a 273% increase and there was a 106% increase among white people in the region.

Sievers said the Route 1 corridor was hit the hardest.

“Almost twice as many drug overdoses are happening on the east end of the county, as opposed to the west,” she said.

When it comes to age groups, the 30- to 39-year-old group accounted for the most overdose cases, but the problem is skewing younger.

“There’s a huge burden happening within the young adult population, so that 20-to-25 age group has grown tremendously, and they have a harder time engaging in treatment,” she said.

‘Chilling insight’

In total, the region saw 454 people lose their lives to an overdose between 2017 and 2023.

Sievers also said data concerning where overdoses are happening is telling, as is who is around victims at the time they overdose. The study found that 66% of people who overdosed did so at home and 79% of them had a bystander present.

“That meant that someone was in the home, someone was within a certain amount of feet away from an individual who was unfortunately expiring based off of the opioids in their system,” she said.

The study also found an increase in children overdosing by getting their hands on drugs around the home.

And in what Sievers called “the most chilling insight,” the report also found one in four deaths was witnessed by a child.

“These are all children under the age of 14,” she said.

High costs

The study also found the high costs associated with hospitalizations associated with opioid use disorder, with more than $3 million spent in 2022 alone. Also, $1.03 million was spent to treat infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is result of being exposed to drugs while in the womb.

All the information, according to Sievers, will help the region better understand the situation and get help and resources that areas that need them.

“Prince William region is really working on creating low-barrier access to either medication assisted therapy or other … services, whether it’s treatment, rehab, group therapy, we’re really trying to close those gaps in care,” she said.

Also, despite most overdoses occurring with a bystander present, only a third of victims received naloxone. She said this shows a need to encourage everyone to carry the opioid overdose reversal drug.

“You never know when you’re going to come across an incident where you could save someone’s life,” she said.

Removing the stigma

She also said a stigma exists, which makes those in need of help less likely to ask for it. That, she said, needs to be addressed.

“I think it’s really important to stress that people should get educated, that they should check on their neighbors, that they should recognize that addiction is not a moral failing. It is a disease that people are really fighting for their lives to get through,” Sievers said.

She said while there is more funding coming in to help in this fight, even more will be needed.

“There’s always a greater need than what we have funding for, but we, we will find a will and find a way,” she said.

The numbers showed a dramatic spike in cases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Sievers said a light improvement has been seen in year-to-year overdose numbers since then.

“We’re not yet at pre-pandemic levels for fatalities or nonfatal overdoses, but we are beginning to see a slight decline in our region, as well as across the state of Virginia,” she said.

In presenting these findings, the state also plans to hold a listening session in which residents can weigh in on possible solutions to the crisis.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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August 13, 2024
Safety watchdog: Metrorail needs to do more to make sure operators are fit (and awake) for duty – WTOP News

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The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission outlined incidents that led to close calls and several of the investigations found Metro workers reported being fatigued at the time.

The commission that keeps a watchful eye over safety concerns at WMATA’s Metrorail system said the transit agency needs to do more to make sure employees are trained, get enough sleep and are fit for duty.

During a Tuesday meeting, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) outlined incidents — from running red signals, to improper rail switches — that led to close calls. Several of the investigations found Metro workers had reported being exhausted at the time of the incidents.

The commission also criticized Metro for not doing enough to screen workers who might not be fit for duty. WMSC cited an incident from last September when a train operator who admitted to drinking the night before came into work on little sleep, then failed to let passengers off the train and stopped in between stations.

“I’m reading between the lines here, but essentially, for two hours, we had the risk of a collision — if the operator didn’t respond, didn’t stop, (and) continued to operate the train erratically, as he was,” said Commission Vice Chair Robert Lauby, reacting to the findings of the investigation.

According to the WMSC report, “inefficient duty checks” played a role in the incident and Metro is taking corrective actions.

Following the report, Metro issued a statement saying safety is one of its core values.

“As part of our commitment to safety, we value the observations made by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) and opportunities for improvement,” the transit agency said in the statement.

Metro also defended its record on screening for alcohol and drugs, saying its program is in compliance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and includes random and post-accident testing. Over the past three years, Metro’s positive test results have been below the industry average of 1.09%, the transit agency said.

“We are troubled by some of the misleading language surrounding this topic as it has led to sensational headlines that do not accurately describe the safety risk of the rail system and undermines the incredible work the 13,000 Metro team members do every day to deliver safe service for our region,” Metro said in its statement.

WMSC also looked into red signal running, and found that it’s on the rise at Metro. In 2023, it happened nine times. Through July of this year, there have been 11 cases of train operators not stopping when they should.

In another case, a train operator accidentally opened doors that were not near a platform when the train stopped to pick up Metrorail employees at an Alexandria rail yard.

“The investigation identified fatigue risk for this operator who had worked 12 consecutive days with a mix of shifts, which led to sleep debt,” WMSC investigations program manager Adam Quigley said.

The commission expressed concerns about the number of days a Metro train operator and other employees can work consecutively, since in one incident report an operator had worked more than 15 days in a row. According to the WMSC, to limit that, Metro and the union that represents workers would need to make a deal, which hasn’t happened.

“There’s nothing in place that restricts a train operator from working as many consecutive days as he wants. Is that what we’re hearing?” Lauby asked Quigley, with Quigley answering yes.

The FTA has indicated it plans to make rules that could put limits on how many hours and days in a row that train operators are allowed to work, but that will take time. Metro said it’s encouraged by the FTA’s plans and has provided formal comment to the administration to that end.

“Metro has also worked to lead the industry in the proactive identification and management
of fatigue risk,” the transit agency said in its statement.

WTOP has reached out to Metro’s union, ATU Local 689, for comment.

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August 7, 2024
Fishing limitations in effect for Maryland as heat wave brings up water temps – WTOP News

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Anglers cannot target certain types of fish in certain parts of Maryland for the time being, and extreme heat is to blame.

Recreational fishers and anglers cannot target certain types of fish in certain parts of Maryland for the time being and extreme heat is to blame.

This week, the state began encouraging people fishing in areas designated for catch and release to not target trout, and in the Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries, targeting striped bass is prohibited until the end of the month.

“This is to protect the population of fish and avoid additional mortality during the hottest time of the year, which is typically mid-July into early August,” said Erik Zlokovitz, recreational fisheries coordinator for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Zlokovitz said this summer, especially with instances of extreme heat, water temperatures have reached the upper 60s and low 70s — temperatures that can really stress out and risk the lives of fish in catch-and-release areas.

“We have high temperatures, low oxygen, which is a bad combination,” Zlokovitz said.

When it comes to striped bass, Zlokovitz said the heat isn’t the only reason for the restriction, since the summer prohibition has been in place since 2020. Around that time, the state of Maryland saw a big spike in the number of fish dying after being caught and released.

When the temperature of the water rises, fish go deeper or toward the mouths of cold water streams or rivers, seeking cooler water. The problem for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay is there a limitation on how deep they can go.

“The problem in the bay is we have an issue with low dissolved oxygen as well. So they can’t go too deep or otherwise, the striped bass will have some issues with low oxygen,” he said.

The bass fishery is expected to open back up Aug. 1, but those fishing in the bay can expect advisories on days when the temperature outside exceeds 95 degrees. Zlokovitz also said advisories for trout are expected to continue until things cool down.

Zlokovitz said there are fish that the state welcomes everyone to fish for right now — invasive blue catfish and Chesapeake Channa, better known as the northern snakehead fish, which are challenging the state’s ecosystem by eating smaller native fish, freshwater clams and blue crabs.

“So we’re targeting all these invasive fish. They provide sport and a lot of fun times for our anglers in Maryland and, by the way, they’re also excellent to eat and are served at several restaurants,” he said.

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July 16, 2024
New details on DC’s bid for hosting the 2027 NFL Draft – WTOP News

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In planning documents obtained by the Washington Post, it appears Events DC, the events arm for the city, is in talks with the NFL.

The District is trying again to bring the NFL draft to the nation’s capital — and it could potentially include some events on the National Mall. This comes several years after the city was named a finalist for the 2024 NFL draft but ultimately lost to Detroit.

In planning documents obtained by the Washington Post, it appears Events DC, the events arm for the city, is in talks with the NFL — and the documents obtained were those that included the National Park Service in these discussions.

According to the Post, some portion of the three-day event would take place on the National Mall, though it is unclear which specific activities would happen at the home of D.C.’s most iconic monuments.

Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, in a letter to the NFL provided to WTOP from Jan. 18, indicated that the NPS backs the move.

“The National Park Service supports this proposal to the degree that portions identified to take place on the National Mall can be organized and managed within the special event, sponsor recognition, and turf management guidelines in place for this iconic cultural landscape,” Reinbold wrote.

The city brought back proposals from years past to enter the competition among cities.

The Post reports that some of the people behind the bid for the 2027 event believe the city would have hosted the event this year — if not for the controversies surrounding former Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder back in 2022.

To host events on the National Mall, there are many rules aimed at preventing the “over commercialization” of events and protecting the grounds.

In one email the Washington Post obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Reinbold cited one such event that was “over the top,” which was a 2003 Britney Spears concert put on by the NFL.

Historically, the NFL makes its city selection a couple of years ahead of the event, though when the choice for the 2024 draft location will be made is unknown. The Post said the city has some strong competitors, including Denver and Charlotte.

In an email to WTOP, Christy Goodman, director of communications for Events DC, said the organization has no comment on the bid.

WTOP also reached out to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office for comment.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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July 1, 2024
DC barbershop owner prosecutors call a ‘dangerous predator’ takes plea deal in rape case – WTOP News

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A D.C. barber shop owner accused of drugging and then raping teenage girls has pleaded guilty to four of the assaults in a plea deal with prosecutors.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy speaks at a news conference after Julian Everett, 40, whose accused of raping several teenage girls, took a plea deal.(WTOP/Mike Murillo)

A D.C. barbershop owner accused of drugging and raping multiple teenage girls has pleaded guilty to four of the sexual assaults in a plea deal with prosecutors.

“We are pleased with the plea agreement, because this will take a dangerous predator off the streets,” said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.

As one of his victims watched on, Julian Everett, 39, of New Carrollton, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree rape and took an Alford plea to a fourth count in a Prince George’s County, Maryland, courtroom. An Alford plea is taken when someone doesn’t plead guilty to a crime but agrees the evidence in the case would have led to a conviction.

Last week, Everett also pleaded guilty to the kidnapping of a minor and possession of child pornography.

Between the years of 2005 and 2015, prosecutors say Everett befriended three teenagers. Braveboy outlined how he would pick up these underage girls and serve them alcoholic drinks laced with an unknown substance.

“They would later wake up finding themselves in a different location than they started and having been sexually assaulted,” Braveboy said.

The four victims who came forward in this case ranged in age when they were assaulted, from 16 to 18 years old.

Braveboy said Everett, whose barbershop was near Howard University in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, targeted students at the college. Two of the victims were Howard students.

“While there are four victims, whose cases were resolved today, we believe that there are other victims out there who, for whatever reason, chose not to come forward,” Braveboy said.

In the plea deal, Everett would be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for January 2025, after he is sentenced for federal charges related to the case. Those charges include kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines.

Everett was arrested on March 21, 2019, and is being charged for four sexual assaults of teenagers that happened in 2016, 2015 and 2005.

The victims

In the case of the first victim, a then 17-year-old girl told police that Everett picked her up from her D.C. home in August of 2016, and drove her to his barbershop. There, Everett is accused of serving the teen a drink which made her feel sick. She began to come in and out of consciousness as Everett allegedly drove her to his New Carrolton home and raped her.

He is also accused of filming and taking pictures of the sexual assault.

The second victim said Everett picked her up from her home in Virginia and promised they would remain in the area but instead took her to his home in Maryland, where he served her an alcoholic drink before, prosecutors said, he sexually assaulted her.

After the assault, the second victim accused Everett of breaking her phone when she tried to call 911 and punching her in her mouth, breaking a tooth, when she tried to scream for help. The 16-year-old girl was able to get away and flag down an oncoming car for help.

The third victim told police Everett took her to a gas station and served her a drink that made her unable to walk on her own. He is accused of then raping her in his home.

Her sexual assault was linked to Everett after DNA from her sexual assault kit matched the DNA submitted in the kit from the second victim.

The fourth victim, according to prosecutors, came forward after Everett’s arrest and said in 2015, when she was 16, he took her to his home and served her a mixed drink that made her lose focus, feel lightheaded and weak. Then the teenager said she was raped by Everett.

Electronic devices

In 2019, police searched Everett’s home and confiscated several electronic devices, including phones and computers. Prosecutors said they found sexually explicit images and videos taken of the victims, including videos of the sexual assaults, on Everett’s devices.

Also, images of a fifth unidentified victim were also found.

Prosecutors search for other victims

Prosecutors said they are still searching for other victims and encourage any victims to come forward if they haven’t already. Braveboy said this includes not only possible victims of Everett but any victims of rape.

“We want to take these violent predators off the streets. In order to do so, we do need victims to come forward and know that they can be and will remain anonymous to the public, obviously, in court, if we are pursuing a case they will have to testify,” she said. “But we take good care of our victims.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Garth thanked the victims for their bravery during this case, where one victim was waiting almost 20 years for justice. Garth said these types of cases are very difficult for victims, which results in some not coming forward.

“There’s a certain feeling of responsibility taken on by victims, when you’re the person who’s chosen to consume an alcoholic beverage, you take a certain amount of responsibility on yourself for what might happen to you, when you’re assaulted after consuming that beverage,” Garth said. “Even if you’re at the point where you cannot consent.”

Garth said in these cases, prosecutors must educate jurors on the fact that people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot consent, even if they took the alcohol willingly.

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June 28, 2024
Father of girl hospitalized with E. coli after swim in Lake Anna: ‘It’s just been a whole nightmare for us’ – WTOP News

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The father of a teenager from Warrenton, Virginia, said his daughter has been hospitalized with kidney failure after she was diagnosed with E. coli after a Memorial Day swim at Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County.

After spending Memorial Day weekend at Lake Anna with friends, Ava Inglett (top right in left photo) was hospitalized with kidney failure.(Courtesy John Inglett)

The father of a teenager from Warrenton, Virginia, said his daughter has been hospitalized after she was diagnosed with E. coli after a Memorial Day swim at Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County.

John Inglett said his daughter Ava was one of 20 reported cases of the illness linked to the lake. Ava had gone to the lake with friends on Memorial Day. A day later, she started getting sick.

“We thought it was just going to be a quick sickness kind of thing,” Inglett said. “So we let it go a little bit further than we really wanted to, but it ended up in an emergency room visit.”

Inglett said other parents contacted him and his wife, Judy, to let them know their children also came down with a similar illness and that doctors told those parents to keep their children hydrated as it runs its course.

“We were not alarmed until that Friday, when she started having bloody diarrhea and throwing up violently,” Inglett said.

He said they consulted their pediatrician who said the best course of action was to keep Ava hydrated, but when she showed little improvement over time, they decided to take her to the emergency room.

“We’re just going to take her to the ER, maybe just get her on an IV just because, based on what everybody’s telling us, she’s got an issue with being hydrated,” Inglett said. “Later in the afternoon, (they) explained our situation, said, ‘Hey, you know she needs to be on fluids. We think she has E. coli, and it’s not getting any better.”

Doctors also took blood work, and the results showed Ava was in kidney failure.

“I was in just disbelief,” her father added. “It’s just been a whole nightmare for us.”

Ava was later transferred to the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus where she underwent days of dialysis and three blood transfusions.

On Thursday, Ava’s parents said doctors were optimistic that Ava will eventually be able to come off dialysis and be released on Friday.

Both parents believe more should have been done to test the water of Lake Anna and other Virginia lakes, and visitors should be warned about the possible danger of bacteria such as E. coli.

“There needs to be a warning system or a way for people to get more information on, ‘Hey, when I go to this lake, not just Lake Anna but any type of lake, that this could possibly happen,’” Inglett said.

The Virginia Department of Health said it is investigating reported cases and testing the water. On Monday, the state said water testing results could be back as soon as Thursday.

WTOP has reached out to the Virginia Department of Health for an update.

John and Judy are warning other parents to be aware of this risk, which can come with swimming in lakes.

“My daughter went down there 100% healthy, and she came out of there pretty much on life support, hoping that her kidneys will recover,” her father said.

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June 13, 2024
Naples named best place to live in new ranking. But how did DC do? – WTOP News

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What does Naples, Florida, and Boise, Idaho, have in common? According to a new ranking by U.S. News and World Report, they lead the pack for the 150 Best Places to Live.

Beachgoers soak in the sun in Naples, Florida, (top) which tops U.S. News’ list of Best Places to Live. Coming in behind the coastal town is Boise, Idaho, (bottom) at No. 2. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images (Top) and Getty Images/iStockphoto/knowlesgallery (Bottom) )

What do Naples, Florida, and Boise, Idaho, have in common? According to a new ranking by U.S. News and World Report, they lead the pack for the 150 Best Places to Live.

“I think what did surprise me the most was the variety of different places at the top of the list,” said Erika Giovanetti with U.S. News and World Report.

Topping the list is Naples, and it’s not just the sunshine behind the desire to live there but also the strong job market.

“Naples has a really low unemployment rate and relatively high salaries,” she said. “It’s a resort city. So of course, there’s the tourism industry, but it’s also a place where a lot of retirees live. So, a lot of health care work in Naples.”

U.S. News ranked the cities based on their job markets, value, quality of life and desirability.

Boise was No. 2 and did better than Naples when it comes to quality of life. Colorado Springs, Colorado, was No. 3 followed by Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina, which rounded off the top five.

D.C. came in at No. 44 — not bad for a big city, according to Giovanetti.

“It was really lifted up by its strong job market and quality of life,” she said.

The cost of living was a big mark against the city, which left the District, and several other pricey big cities, further down on the list.

No other cities in the D.C. region made the ranking. In Virginia, Virginia Beach did come in at No. 8 and Richmond ranked No. 64. In Maryland, Baltimore was ranked No. 118 and Salisbury was No. 126.

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Mike Murillo

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May 23, 2024
Flowers of Remembrance Day returns to Arlington National Cemetery – WTOP News

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On Sunday, visitors to Arlington National Cemetery will have the chance to pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a unique way — laying a flower at the tomb.

The shadows of a soldier with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” is seen as he moves flowers during a centennial commemoration event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)(AP/Alex Brandon)

On Sunday, visitors to Arlington National Cemetery will have the chance to pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a unique way — laying a flower at the tomb.

“Until we had our centennial, the 100 years of the Tomb of the Unknown, which happened in 2021, the public had not been allowed to get that close in over 90 years,” said Army National Military Cemeteries and Office of Army Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera.

Durham-Aguilera said the reaction to the 2021 Flowers of Remembrance Day led to the decision to make it an annual way for people to honor the fallen.

“I just saw people just being so emotionally touched, and I said, ‘We can’t wait to do this every 90 to 100 years,’” Durham-Aguilera said.

According to the cemetery, the day pays homage to the first official national Decoration Day, which is now known as Memorial Day. The first ceremony happened May 30, 1868, to honor U.S. service members who died in the Civil War.

The day will also include historians telling the story of Memorial Day at the Memorial Amphitheater at 10 a.m. That presentation will be followed by a walking tour to the James Tanner Amphitheater, the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns and other locations at the cemetery.

The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation will provide flowers for the remembrance, so visitors will not need to bring their own.

On Memorial Day, the Arlington National Cemetery will hold the national observance of Memorial Day, which historically includes the president laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. For now, the cemetery is only saying the wreath will be laid by a “senior government official” at 10:15 a.m. While that ceremony will be limited to official participants, an official observance at 11 a.m. is open to the public.

Durham-Aguilera said the weekend is about taking time to reflect, appreciate and remember those who fell defending the country.

“Memorial Day is about sacrifice, those who gave the ultimate measure of devotion. In other words, they gave their lives for us,” she said.

If you would like to participate and lay a flower, contact the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation.

For more information on Memorial Day events, visit the Arlington National Cemetery website.

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May 22, 2024
Anacostia Hub opens to help connect DC residents to city services – WTOP News

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Many of the services that D.C. provides are only steps away, but people might not realize it. Wendy Glenn, the city’s first ward manager, is helping connect residents to the services that District has to offer.

In a building off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Southeast, Wendy Glenn sat behind a desk, helping residents connect to the services that the District has to offer them. She’s the city’s first ward manager, a position D.C. plans to introduce to all eight wards.

Her team will operate out of the newly-opened Safe Commercial Corridor Hub in the Salvation Army Building. Many of the services that D.C. provides are only steps away, she said, but people might not realize it.

Glenn will lead Ward 8’s team of representatives with the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. She said nearby residents who come to the hub can connect with the Department of Housing and Community Development and D.C. Health for any sort of assistance they may need.

The hub is staffed by outreach teams from multiple public safety and human services agencies that can respond to challenges in the community, including crime, mental health issues and substance abuse. For people returning to the community after incarceration, they can find help at the Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens Affairs.

“There’s so many things along this Avenue that you cannot and will not miss a beat as far as getting your city services done,” Glenn said.

With concerns over crime in the city, WTOP heard from residents last year who called for city leaders to be more visible in Ward 8, and Glenn said her hope is the team, along with the other resources provided at the hub, will help show the city is there.

“We walk around the Corridor to make sure that people know that the mayor’s office is here,” she said.

The hub will also be staffed with a D.C. police officer, who Glenn said will not only help residents in times of need but also better relationships between the community and law enforcement.

“Having the police here to just say, ‘Hey, how you doing? How’s your day going? Can I help you with something?’ Just to have them here, to have a presence, is really good for us,” she said.

Additionally, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said the new hub would add law enforcement resources to Anacostia.

“It’ll give our officers the opportunity to be readily accessible,” Smith said. “We will cut down on response time.”

City leaders said the Safe Commercial Corridor Hub that’s already been established in Chinatown has been a success, noting a 78% drop in violent crime within 1,000 feet of the hub since it opened.

Who is Wendy Glenn?

Ward 8 Safety Hub Manager Wendy Glenn (center) with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at the opening of the Anacostia location on Thursday.

Glenn’s passion for helping her community came from her experience of being someone who needed assistance but didn’t have access to it when she was young, she said.

Glenn was in foster care early in her life in Philadelphia, which she said was difficult because, at the time, the city lacked the services to help her. She later became an emancipated minor at 16.

Her move to D.C. didn’t come for another 13 years. In 1995, the a newly-divorced mom of two decided to move to the nation’s capital after being inspired by the Million Man March where thousands of Black men marched on the National Mall to promote unity and combat negative stereotypes.

“I didn’t really need to stay in Philadelphia, where I felt like it was just too many bad memories,” Glenn said.

After moving to the District, she worked in several federal government roles before starting with the D.C. government. She worked for the city’s Department of Employment Services, Parks and Recreation, and eventually was hired by the mayor’s office.

Beyond all that, she said her children have flourished in the city.

“For me, raising my children here has been the best thing ever,” she said.

Her goal in this position is to see Ward 8 flourish too, and she believes this hub will help it continue to grow, she said.

“I love this role,” Glenn said. “Managing this hub, working in this hub, is the best thing that I could have done in my career.”

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli contributed to this report.

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Mike Murillo

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May 17, 2024
DC’s Bread for the City aims to lift people with chronic conditions up with ‘a prescription for cash’ – WTOP News

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D.C. nonprofit Bread for the City is offering extra financial support to people in need who are suffering from a chronic condition.

Helena Smith, right, of Washington, chooses fresh food items while being helped by Bread for the City volunteer, Pixie Alexander, of Washington, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the food pantry in Washington. The formal end of the national Public Health Emergency on Thursday marks the end of several U.S. pandemic-era emergency support program, from extra food assistance to automatic enrollment in Medicaid. “I like this a lot because they give us a variety of fruit,” says Smith, “instead of just cans.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)(AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

Helena Smith, right, of Washington, chooses fresh food items while being helped by Bread for the City volunteer, Pixie Alexander, of Washington, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the food pantry in Washington. The formal end of the national Public Health Emergency on Thursday marks the end of several U.S. pandemic-era emergency support program, from extra food assistance to automatic enrollment in Medicaid. “I like this a lot because they give us a variety of fruit,” says Smith, “instead of just cans.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)(AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

D.C. nonprofit Bread for the City is offering extra financial support to people in need who are suffering from a chronic condition.

The program is called “Cash RX” and its goal, according to the organization, is to address economic inequality and health disparities in the District.

“It’s literally a prescription for cash,” said Brittany Pope, the economic security supervisor in the social services department at Bread for the City.

The program is helping five D.C. residents suffering from chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, depression and anxiety.

“Food insecurity, housing insecurity, community safety, being able to have access to reliable transportation — all of the things that contribute to our well-being,” Pope said of what residents can do with the funds the organization gives out.

Pope said the participants are the ones who determine how much money they receive from the program and decide on how they want to spend the funds. Among the first participants, organizers found the average monthly ask was between $1,100 and $1,400 a month.

“We wanted to do something innovative, something new, and show that if the participants have the keys and they are involved in selecting their cash amount, it’ll sort of contradict these narratives that the participants won’t spend the money in ways that will benefit their lives,” Pope said.

The program is only being announced now, but it officially kicked off late last year and has been successful, according to the organization.

The recipients are also required to check in quarterly. Results show that those recipients are using the money they’ve received in positive ways, according to Daisy Gomez Palacios, a member of the economic security team.

“They’re less stressed about being able to afford utilities, rent, food,” Gomez Palacios said.

It has also decreased a sense of food and housing insecurity, according to Gomez Palacios.

In one case, Gomez Palacios said a participant used the money to pay for a pair of “more fashionable” glasses for her middle-aged son that were not covered by their insurance.

“Yes, it’s just a pair of glasses, but to a child and to a mother who can provide that for the child, it means a lot more,” Gomez Palacios said.

In another instance, a diabetic woman is using the money to pay for a pescatarian diet, which helps her to treat her condition.

With a third participant, not having a limitation on how to spend the money allows them to buy culturally important foods that remind them of the country in which they grew up.

“Because of Cash RX, she’s able to buy that food with more frequency and it helps her with her homesickness,” Gomez Palacios.

The group said going into the projects, one of the concerns was whether or not a participant would spend the money on harmful items, such as alcohol or drugs.

“‘What if people spend money on things that are nefarious? What if people are spending money on alcohol [or] unnecessary things?’ What we’re seeing is that it’s not true,” Gomez Palacios said.

The program is funded in part from a health fund made with the proceeds of a settlement between D.C. and insurer Care First. Other donations that help fund the program come from both the Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation and the Hartfield Foundation.

Pope said the early results show this program is working and that they plan to select five more participants.

“This is a holistic project. We’re lifting up not only things that support their physical and mental health, but their spiritual health and their well-being as a whole,” said Pope.

Her hope is that this program not only expands down the road, but also serves as an example to others.

“We’re hoping that when the program reaches the end of this phase, and that we’re able to report our outcomes, that it’ll be a model that will change systems,” said Pope.

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Mike Murillo

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May 14, 2024
From World War II draft cards to immigration records, National Archives inks deal with Ancestry.com to digitize 65M documents – WTOP News

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The National Archives has announced that it has inked another multiyear deal with Ancestry.com in which the website will digitize tens of millions of records.

Howard Hochhauser, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Ancestry, signs an official agreement with Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States, at a signing event at the National Archives Building on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy National Archives)

It is common to hear about public-private partnerships being formed to expand highways or build new public transit options, but did you know one such “partnership” is being used to make history more accessible to you?

The National Archives has announced that it has inked another multiyear deal with Ancestry.com in which the website will digitize tens of millions of records.

“It’s going to result in over 65 million digital images that are going to be made available online, on both their platform and our platform,” said Carol Lagundo, director of Digital Partnerships and Outreach at the National Archives.

Over the years, Lagundo said the partnership has produced more than 187 million of the 278 million digital images in the National Archives database.

The deal will allow for the digitizing of U.S. military morning reports from World War II and Selective Service draft cards covering the post-World War II draft registration between 1948 and 1959. The records will also include naturalization and immigration records held at the National Archives in San Francisco related to Asian Americans, and records held at the National Archives in Denver relating to Native Americans.

“There’s a wealth of information there that we’re going to be able to make available to researchers online who can’t come into our research rooms,” Lagundo said.

The records are stored at facilities around the nation and while some will be taken to Ancestry’s facilities to be scanned, others such as Selective Service draft cards will be scanned at National Archives’ facilities under the watchful eye of the agency’s monitors.

As part of the deal, the Archives will receive all the files of the digitized content. While some of the material, such as the Army morning reports, will be available for free on the Archives database soon after being scanned, other documents will be behind the paywalls of Ancestry’s website or its military records website Fold3.

“It’ll be a few years, probably a little more than three years, before we can make those available for free in our online catalog,” Lagundo said.

Lagundo said the goal is to make sure any type of researcher, from professionals to people looking to learn about their family tree, have access to the information that the Archives has.

“Just being able to make these records available online to the public. I find a lot of satisfaction in my job being able to do that,” Lagundo said.

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Mike Murillo

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May 9, 2024
How Rockville became a hub for Asian Americans in the DC area – WTOP News

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Sitting down to a plate of pork dumplings at MaMa Wok, a popular Chinese restaurant in the town, John Lin shared the story of how Rockville became a hub for the Asian American community.

All throughout May, WTOP is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with stories about the people and places shaping the D.C. region.

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How Rockville became a hub for Asian Americans in the DC area

Rockville, Maryland, a town of around 67,000 residents, has over the past four decades become an enclave for Asian Americans living in the D.C. area.

From businesses that cater directly to the community to the many Asian grocers the town has seen, the Asian American community became its largest racial minority group.

John Lin is president of CapStar Commercial Realty and is also a member of the city’s Asian Pacific American Task Force. He said that he has watched the town grow since moving to the region from Taiwan in the 1970s.

“It’s a place where all the Asians want to move in because they have all they want,” Lin said.

Sitting down to a plate of pork dumplings at MaMa Wok, a popular Chinese restaurant in the town, Lin shared the story of how the town became a hub for the community.

It began, according to Lin, on Maryland Route 355 with the opening of Meixin Supermarket in the 1980s. Other Asian grocers would soon follow, and so would other Asian American-owned businesses.

“Over time, you see a lot of others. Businesses like restaurants and salons and doctors and (lawyers) moving near that, and all the new immigrants would come in,” Lin said.

He said grocery stores were key to the growth of the Asian American community in the town.

“[Residents] can go to other grocers and get exactly the things they have back home,” he said.

Another factor he believes is the gentrification of D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood which lead to an exodus of Asian businesses from the nation’s capital.

“D.C.’s Chinatown is pretty much phased out. It’s like a tourist spot because it only has a few businesses left,” Lin said.

More AAPI stories

Lin added that you’ll even see businesses which may not be owned by Asian Americans, going out of their way to welcome in residents who are. One example, according to Lin, is the Citibank on Research Parkway, which has its sign also in Chinese.

“So when immigrants come in, they feel comfortable. They can walk into the bank and talk to the cashier and do what they need. That makes a difference,” Lin said.

The other big draw for families is the quality of education in the county.

“The Rockville area has the best schools in the nation, and that’s what’s attracting all the people to come,” he said.

Lin said while the city should be a case study for other towns, there is more that he hopes to see come down the road when it comes to restaurants and shops.

“I will say, compared with Virginia, I feel that they are moving so fast. We need to catch up a little bit,” he said.

But Lin said when it comes to those in the Asian community, Rockville continues to rank as the best place to call home.

Rockville, Maryland, has become an enclave for the Asian American community in the D.C. area.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo

Restaurant staff prepare foods at a Rockville eatery.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo

MaMa Wok is a popular Chinese restaurant in Rockville, Maryland.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo

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Mike Murillo

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May 7, 2024
‘Drivers are flouting rules’: Bill before DC Council aims to address rise in moped use – WTOP News

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A new bill introduced before the D.C. Council on Monday would address the rise in moped use in the city by implementing point-of-sale regulations regarding registration.

A new bill introduced before the D.C. Council on Monday would address the rise in moped use in the city by implementing point-of-sale regulations regarding registration.

Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau introduced the Motorized Vehicle Registration Accountability Amendment Act of 2024 alongside Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen.

“Residents throughout the District have seen a rapid increase in the number of mopeds, many of them used for food delivery. This presents both an opportunity and some challenges — mopeds are better for the environment and for traffic safety than cars, but without proper oversight, some drivers are flouting rules and creating dangerous situations without accountability,” Nadeau’s office said in a news release.

The bill would require companies that rent out mopeds to register their fleet. Companies that sell mopeds would be required to provide written notice of a vehicle’s classification and registration requirements to potential buyers before selling a vehicle.

According to D.C. law, similar looking vehicles fall into different classifications, such as motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and motorized bicycles, depending on factors including maximum speed and engine size.

Each vehicle class has its own rules on registration, insurance and where they can be operated, and according to Nadeau’s office, her bill would also forbid the practice of mislabeling vehicles at the point of sale in order to circumvent legal requirements.

“We are working to bring some order to the moped food delivery industry and hold sellers, renters, and operators of mopeds accountable,” Nadeau said in the news release.

She also told WTOP she hopes the bill can make it easier for consumers to purchase the vehicles while complying with the law.

“The goal here is to make it more like the car buying experience, where the dealership puts in your paperwork with the [Department of Motor Vehicles] and then you wait for it to come in the mail and not drive off the lot with your vehicle unregistered,” Nadeau said.

“This is about registering the vehicle with the DMV, which is already legally required, but it’s hard for us to enforce after the fact. And so getting at that point of sale is really important for broader implementation and broader enforcement.”

WTOP’s Mike Murillo contributed to this report.

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Thomas Robertson

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May 1, 2024
DC Small Business Week kicks off with ribbon cutting, grant announcement – WTOP News

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D.C. kicked off its Small Business Week on Monday, with a ribbon-cutting and an announcement of dozens of grants for small businesses in the city.

DC Small Business Week 2024 kicked off April 29. (Courtesy Department of Small and Local Business Development)

D.C. kicked off its Small Business Week on Monday, with a ribbon-cutting and an announcement of dozens of grants for small businesses in the city. On Rhode Island Avenue, Mayor Muriel Bowser and others cut the ribbon, to open the newly renovated offices of Bandura Designs.

The interior design company is one of several along Rhode Island Avenue to benefit from the city’s Robust Retail grants.

“We are starting today to bring our office to the next level along with this amazing thriving community here on Rhode Island Avenue,” said Jennifer Farris, owner of Bandura Designs.

“We’re grateful to our small business owners who serve us and who represent the best of D.C. values,” Bowser said.

The grants provide businesses with up to $10,000 in funding that can be used on anything from renovations to payroll. Bowser said that since 2019, $4 million of the grants have been awarded.

Bowser also announced that 64 more businesses will receive the grant money to help them operate and grow.

“Small businesses are truly the backbone of our local economy,” Council member Kenyan McDuffie said.

McDuffie, a native of D.C.’s Ward 5, said he remembers the days when fewer businesses called the now-bustling six-mile stretch of Rhode Island Avenue home.

“Today, with these additional investments that we’ve been making, you see the build out of wonderful businesses,” McDuffie said.

The city’s D.C. Main Street program, which provides services and funding to D.C.’s 28 non-profit led programs to revitalize the neighborhood and business corridor, has also helped.

“The real spirit of the Main Street model is that nonprofits, local organizations start and fund their activities on local corridors, and they become the champions of the corridors,” Bowser said.

In the spirit of the week, which is all about small businesses, the city also announced events geared at helping small business owners:

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Mike Murillo

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April 29, 2024
‘Honored and blessed’: Md. native Jordan Wallace on becoming first African American to compete in Porsche Carrera Cup North America – WTOP News

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WTOP caught up with Maryland native and Porsche Carrera Cup North America racer Jordan Wallace to talk about being the first African American to compete in the race and what’s to come.

In March, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native Jordan Wallace become the first African American to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.(Courtesy Vision Motorsports)

A D.C.-area native is breaking barriers in the sport of racing: In March, Jordan Wallace become the first African American to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.

“It never really registered that I would be the first African American to compete in the series or anything like that,” Wallace told WTOP.

The Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native said while the D.C. region had a great car scene, it was hard getting into racing because there wasn’t a racing scene in the region. He had to travel hours to get to the tracks.

“The closest one, which was Summit Point, West Virginia, that’s where I first started carting and doing everything I could to get into racing,” he said.

Wallace’s father served as a Prince George’s County Police officer and his mother was a teacher. He said while not always “understanding” of his passion for racing, they were very supportive.

“They’ve always been incredible in that sense, and they’ve always pushed me to be elite and the best at anything I’m going to do,” he said.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. Among the hurdles was financing his racing career, which at times he said was paid for through other jobs he held.

He said being the only Black driver on the track also came with its challenges.

“Lewis Hamilton described the same; you’re in the pits and people look over and see you come in, and everyone just kind of stops and stares,” he said. “‘What are you doing here? Who is this?’”

For Wallace, he also said another difficult time was the coping with the killings of his former boss Savvas Savopoulos, his wife, Amy; their 10-year-old son, Philip; and their housekeeper, Vera Figueroa in 2015.

During the murder trial for the man who killed them, Daron Wint, a defense attorney for Wint attempted to convince the jury that Wallace was involved in the crime. Prosecutors said the mastermind was solely Wint and he was later convicted of the murders.

“That was really tough,” Wallace said. “I was blessed enough to have the love and support of my family and friends in the area.”

The negative attention from the trial, he said, forced him to move out of the area to escape.

“I had to move away just to find work for a while, I kept my head down. I worked as a mechanic, and like a janitor and things like that for a little while just to have work,” Wallace said.

He said over time, as people actually got to know him, any misunderstandings and perceptions of him changed.

He said the Savopoulos family is always on his mind, and he was thankful to have had them in his life.

“I do everything in my life and in my career out of the respect and love for them and, to be honest, there’s not a day I don’t think about it,” Wallace said.

Looking at his career in racing, Wallace said he’s thankful for where his career has taken him.

“I’m definitely honored and blessed to be where I’m at,” Wallace said.

While behind the wheel of the Vision Motorsports #23 Porsche Carrera, his hope is to take the podium on the weekend of May 4, when he races ahead of the F1 qualifying race and main race during the Miami Grand Prix.

Jordan Wallace’s racing car, the Vision Motorsports #23 Porsche Carrera. (Courtesy Vision Motorsports)

When asked what he sees himself doing in the future, Wallace said he sees himself pursuing some of the biggest races in the world.

“The Daytona 24 hours, the Le Mans 24 hours, Sebring 12 hours, and going after being the first African American to win those. … I want to grow Vision Motorsports as a minority-owned motor sports team that is elite and professional. And I want to provide access and opportunity for more people like myself to get into the sport and have real, elite opportunities,” he said.

Wallace will hold a meet and greet with fans at a “Cars & Coffee” event Sunday morning from 8-10 a.m. at Porsche Chantilly on Stonecroft Boulevard in Virginia.

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April 25, 2024
Beltway in the dark: More than 300 streetlights out along the busy highway – WTOP News

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A drive along the Capital Beltway showed almost 20% of streetlights were not working. A Maryland highway official said that while lighting is essential, one big problem remains.

WTOP drove along Interstate 95’s Outer Loop earlier this week and found that it appears that more than 18% of the road’s streetlights are not turning on at night.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo

In an email to WTOP, MDOT SHA spokesperson Shanteé Felix said, “In the month of March, we had 90% of the highway lighting systems operational on highways in Montgomery and Prince George’s [counties].”
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo

In all, WTOP tallied at least 300 streetlights that were dark on both sides of the Beltway that were visible from the Outer Loop.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo

In early April, a WTOP staffer noticed an unusual number of streetlights were out along the Beltway in Maryland, with more than 60 spotted between Interstate 95 and the exit to Connecticut Avenue. This left large sections of the interstate where streetlights exist, in the dark.

Was it just one section of highway being plagued by the outages?

On April 15, WTOP decided to drive only the Outer Loop from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the American Legion Bridge — and discovered the 60 downed lights just scratched the surface for the total number of lights out.

In all, we tallied at least 300 lights that were dark on both sides of the Beltway that were visible from the Outer Loop.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the nighttime fatality rate during crashes is three times higher than during daylight hours. The FHA also said that adequate lighting along roads can reduce crashes by 42%.

Before the drive illustrated an issue more widespread than initially thought, the Maryland State Highway Administration issued a statement, saying that an initial report from the WTOP staffer has been passed on to its team.

Derek Gunn, an MDOT SHA transportation engineer who oversees the area that includes the Beltway, told WTOP while lighting is seen as a “critical part of our infrastructure,” one big problem remains: the system is old.

“It’s an aging infrastructure,” Gunn said. “It’s approaching, if not well over, 60 years old.”

Gunn named other issues that affect lighting: “For example, rodents and vermin. You’re dealing with environmental issues. And it’s just tougher to maintain an underground system.”

He said work continues to not only repair the downed lights, but also convert them to newer, longer lasting LED technology.

Gunn also said the state conducts monthly surveys to see if any of the lights are down.

“I would say that our inspectors and our crews, they’re working around the clock,” Gunn said. “They’re working day and night, to get all our lights up and running as quickly as possible.”

After speaking with WTOP, the SHA investigated the number of lights that were out and provided a response.

“In the month of March, we had 90% of the highway lighting systems operational on highways in Montgomery and Prince George’s [counties],” spokesperson Shanteé Felix said in an email to WTOP.

On April 15, after the full nighttime drive along the Outer Loop, it appeared the problem was bigger than state officials realized. With 1,600 total lights, it appears that more than 18% of the road’s streetlights are not turning on at night. It’s not clear if those lights quit working since March.

When questioned, the state provided another statement which spoke only of the initially reported outage.

“We received a recent report the Beltway outages from [Maryland Route] 185 to MD 650 were addressed,” Felix wrote.

This isn’t the first time WTOP has reported streetlight outages along Beltway. Just last year, a three-mile stretch between Connecticut Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue had malfunctioning lights.

The state urges anyone who sees a streetlight out to report it on the Maryland Department of Transportation’s website.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Mike Murillo

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April 18, 2024
Skinny home offers 6-foot-wide accommodations in Northwest DC for under $600K – WTOP News

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A 6-foot-wide, 600-square-foot listing in Northwest D.C. quickly went viral, with some amazed by the finished product and others criticizing the home.

With only a 6-feet-wide, 20 feet in length lot to work with, Virginia-based contractor Omnifics decided they could build a two-story home which could fit a bedroom, kitchen, living room and a bathroom.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

This 600-square-foot home doesn’t face the street, with a back entrance through a gate.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The 6-feet-wide home can’t fit a dining room table, but it does have a built-in breakfast bar.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The living room gets plenty of light, with windows surrounding the small sitting area.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The full bathroom upstairs features floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiles and a standing glass-walled shower.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The upstairs bedroom features a closet and space for bedside tables despite its diminutive size.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The 600-square-foot house still features outdoor space, with a five-foot-wide deck surrounded by wooden fencing.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The tiny house is tucked away on a side street, Glick Court, in the Northwest D.C. Shaw neighborhood.
(Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes)
Courtesy Andre Rowe/Jennifer Young Homes

The housing market has been tough, but in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood one home may be someone’s chance to get into a brand-new single-family home. But there is a catch — it’s only six feet wide.

Nady Samnang, CEO of a contractor based out of Virginia called Omnifics, said when he and his brother had the opportunity to acquire the small lot at 1738 Glick Ct. NW, they knew it would be a tight area to build on. However, they thought they could make it work on a 14 to 15-feet-wide foundation.

“That original idea was supposed to be a four-level single family home,” Samnang said.

Then, after work had begun, he said the city threw a new challenge their way — approving a structure that was six feet wide, which is essentially the width of a driveway.

“We almost walked away at that point,” Samnang recalled.

But he said after talking with his brother and their team, they made the call to accept the challenge and got to work drawing up the plans for the 600-square-foot home.

He said with 45 feet in length to work with, they decided they could build a two-story home which could fit a bedroom, kitchen, living room and a bathroom. The next struggle was constructing the home in the tiny lot.

“When you have a 10,000-square-foot house, you’ve got plenty of room to bring in equipment to bring in crew to bring and all the materials, but here you see the lot, it’s basically a parking spot,” he said.

A year and a half after accepting the skinny home challenge, the home was built. Once listed, the listing quickly went viral, with some amazed by the finished product and others criticizing the home.

Samnang said he read the comments from the naysayers and encourages the critics, even if they are not interested in buying the home, to take a tour of the home, which is a proud accomplishment for his team.

“If we got one thing wrong, the entire house would have failed. But our architects and our builders and my brother, our crew, we really nailed it down to the centimeter,” he said.

He also believes the plans for this home could be a blueprint for developing more homes in smaller spaces. Samnang said some of his research included looking at similar homes built in cities like Seoul and Tokyo.

“I think what we need to do is think smaller, think micro-living, think simple living,” he said.

The home was originally listed at $630,000 and is now down to $599,900, but Samnang said he believes it will sell, when the right buyer is found.

“I’m looking for someone who maybe likes that high rise, condo/apartment-type feel but without the condo fee, without the HOA fee and without neighbors,” he said.

He also said with the slim footprint, it also has an outdoor space which is 5-feet wide.

Looking back he said he’s proud that they were able to bring the one bedroom, one-and-a-half bath home to life in that space, but joked this sort of project may be a one and done for him.

“I may never do something like that again, because it was just so hard to do,” Samnang said with a laugh.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Mike Murillo

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April 17, 2024