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Tag: prince georgeu2019s county

  • A look at the political dominoes that could fall in Prince George’s County – WTOP News

    The end of 2025 saw big political shake-ups in D.C. The early part of 2026 could be Prince George’s County’s turn to see similar upheaval.

    The end of 2025 saw big political shake-ups in D.C. Two members of the city council started their run for delegate in the House of Representatives. In October, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced her decision to forgo running for a fourth term, triggering more movement on the council.

    The early part of 2026 could be Prince George’s County’s turn to see similar upheaval.

    On Dec. 29, Prince George’s County Council member Wala Blegay moved from representing District 6 to becoming one of two at-large members on the council. She swapped seats after being chosen from a list of about three dozen candidates who all applied for the at-large spot.

    A similar process will play out for the District 6 seat she just vacated. Applications for that opening close at 5 p.m. Monday. On Friday, Blegay and the rest of the council will hear from those applicants and pick their newest colleague.

    But a lot more pieces could also begin to move around the county’s political chessboard between now and Feb. 24 — the deadline to file for county office this year.

    For one, a source tells WTOP at least one more council member could be giving up their seat. And further shake-ups could occur if Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer decides not to run for reelection.

    Democrats in the county had expected an announcement from Hoyer back in November, but so far that hasn’t happened.

    Initially, the belief was that he was ready to leave office at the end of his current term. The departure of his longtime chief of staff Jim Notter for a similar role in Sen. Angela Alsobrooks’ office was seen as an indication that Stoyer would not seek reelection. Now, county Democrats aren’t so sure.

    A source close to Hoyer tells WTOP that no decision has been made one way or the other.

    Over the years, the list of those talked about as potential successors have gone to take other jobs instead. That includes Alsobrooks, who ran for and won an open Senate seat in 2024. More recently, Michael Jackson, who was the county sheriff before he was elected to the state Senate, was appointed the head of Maryland State Police by Gov. Wes Moore. And outgoing Del. Jazz Lewis, who once worked for Hoyer, just took a job with the University of Maryland.

    “Jazz’s leadership and service has benefited our entire state,” said Hoyer in a statement on Dec. 17. Even before giving up his seat in Annapolis, however, Lewis had sounded skeptical about pursuing life on Capitol Hill while also raising a young family.

    If Hoyer decides to run again, any talk of a desire for generational change that you hear coming from Democrats around the country won’t apply here. Those who are eyeing the seat, should it open up, have no interest in pursuing what they believe would be a Sisyphean challenge against someone who is both well-funded and likable.

    But should Hoyer decide not to run, it would set off a contested primary. Just in Prince George’s County, at least one member of the county council and one state delegate are waiting to see what Hoyer decides to do, with the intention of jumping in if the longtime incumbent decides to retire.

    But a congressional seat that also includes Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties, as well as southern and Western Anne Arundel County, may draw a long list of candidates to what could quickly become a crowded primary.

    The filing deadline for county office is Feb. 24, but the dominoes could begin to fall before that date arrives.

    John Domen

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  • Charles County taps Yonelle Moore Lee for vacant House seat, in conflict with Prince George’s pick – WTOP News

    The conflict means that Gov. Wes Moore will make the choice between Yonelle Moore Lee and Darrell Odom Sr., the Prince George’s County nominee, to represent the district that straddles the two counties.

    This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.

    The Charles County Democratic Central Committee chose Yonelle Moore Lee on Saturday to fill the vacant District 27A seat in the House, setting up a conflict with Prince George’s County Democrats who backed a different candidate Tuesday.

    The conflict means that Gov. Wes Moore (D) will make the choice between Moore Lee and Darrell Odom Sr., the Prince George’s County nominee, to represent the district that straddles the two counties.

    Moore Lee, 50, chair of the county’s school board, won the support of 12 of the 14 central committee members present at Saturday morning’s roughly two-hour meeting.

    “Your trust in me really means a lot. I will not let you down,” Moore Lee said after the vote. “I’m not sure what the next steps may be and what will happen, but either way, I’m very, very proud.”

    The governor has 15 days to choose between Moore Lee and Odom, once the names are forwarded to him, but the 2026 General Assembly is set to convene sooner than that, on Jan. 14.

    The seat became vacant after Kevin Harris was sworn in last month as state senator for District 27, that includes portions of Charles, Calvert and Prince George’s counties. Harris replaced former Democratic Sen. Michael Jackson, who left to become superintendent of Maryland State Police.

    Harris attended Saturday’s special public hearing in Charles County and spoke on behalf of Odom, 71, a member of the Prince George’s Democratic Central Committee who received one vote.

    Lamont Tyler Bunyon, who runs an optometry practice in Prince George’s, also received a vote from the Charles County Democrats, as he did at the Prince George’s meeting.

    As at Tuesday night’s meeting in Prince George’s, Harris was among a few elected officials to speak on behalf of a candidate Saturday.

    Reuben Collins II, president of the Charles County Board of Commissioners, and Del. Debra Davis (D-Charles) both spoke on behalf of Moore Lee.

    “As chairperson of the Board of Education, she leads one of the most complex public institutions in our region overseeing a $529 million budget and serving over 28,000 students,” Davis said. “She has proven her ability to lead in high-stakes environments, build consensus across diverse viewpoints and deliver outcomes that matter to families. That’s real governing experience.”

    Each candidate was asked several questions that included their plans to support the central committee as a “valued” partner. They all agreed.

    They differed slightly when asked what legislation or policy areas they would be most prepared to immediately work on.

    Although each candidate mentioned education as a priority, Moore Lee specifically touched upon the multibillion-dollar Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan.

    “We have made a promise and a commitment to a world class education with the Blueprint. It’s supposed to be fully implemented by 2030, that is something that’s very important to me,” she said.

    Bunyon said a main priority for him would be health care, especially with his work as an optometrist. He noted how several friends died in their 50s.

    “We have to do a better job arguing for better health care, advocacy [and] awareness resources, because it’s a lot of preventable things that can be done,” he said. “I hate to say that I’m going to run there and try to be a doctor to folks, but I’m supposed to because I’m trained to do it.”

    Odom said public safety “is a strong suit” for him, with a specific focus on juvenile justice reform, domestic violence and emergency response and prevention. Besides his 31 years of service in the Army and Coast Guard, he also worked as an acting fire chief in Prince George’s.

    The meeting did have a little humor when Charles County committee Vice Chair Elaine Hardee asked Odom how he would define ethical leadership and model it as a delegate.

    In a previous question, Odom summarized ethics in public service.

    “Should I say ditto on that?” Odom said to several laughs in the room.

    In the meantime, the Prince George’s Central Committee has scheduled another public hearing Monday to select someone to replace Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s). The former House majority whip, who has represented District 24 since 2017, announced more than two weeks ago he’s stepping down to work as the director of government relations at the University of Maryland, his alma mater.

    Lewis’ last day will be the same day as the central committee meeting.

    Sam Delgado

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  • NASA says historic materials will be preserved as Goddard research library shuts down – WTOP News

    The library at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, home to thousands of books and documents chronicling America’s space history, is closing in the coming months, raising concerns that rare records could be lost.

    The library at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, home to thousands of books and documents chronicling America’s space history, is closing in the coming months, raising concerns that rare records could be lost.

    NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said on X that every item will be reviewed before the closure as part of a facilities consolidation plan approved in 2022 under the Joe Biden administration.

    “The physical library space at Goddard is closing as part of a long-planned facilities consolidation,” Isaacman said. He added that the goal is to digitize materials, transfer them to other libraries, or preserve them for historical purposes.

    Isaacman pushed back on reports suggesting NASA might discard documents, calling that characterization misleading. Critics have warned that historic and technical records could disappear.

    “At no point is NASA ‘tossing out’ important scientific or historical materials, and that framing has led to several other misleading headlines,” Isaacman wrote.

    He said preserving history is important, but NASA’s focus remains on future missions, including sending astronauts farther into space and returning to the moon to stay. Researchers will continue to have access to the resources they need, he said.

    The library’s closure is part of a broader plan that includes shutting down more than a dozen buildings and labs at the center.

    According to the New York Times, the closure will mark the eighth NASA library to close its door across the country since 2022. Libraries expected to remain open include those at the Ames Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, both in California. Also staying open is the library at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Mike Murillo

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  • Prince George’s Co. Council appoints District 6 member Blegay to vacant at-large seat – WTOP News

    The Prince George’s County Council voted Monday to appoint current District 6 Council member Wala Blegay to the at-large seat previously held by Calvin Hawkins II.

    The Prince George’s County Council voted Monday to appoint current District 6 Council member Wala Blegay to the at-large seat previously held by Calvin Hawkins II, who announced his resignation earlier this month.

    The unanimous vote sets off another appointment process for Blegay’s District 6 seat. Anyone hoping to join the council should submit a statement of interest and a resume online by 5 p.m. Friday. Applicants must be registered voters in Prince George’s County’s District 6 for at least one year.

    Blegay, who was elected to her first term on the council in 2022, told her colleagues Monday she was ready to step into a new role representing all the county’s residents.

    “When it comes to the budget, I’ve worked on that. When it comes to working with relationships in Annapolis, I’ve done that. I’ve done all of those things on the council, and I want to take ‘the peoples’ champ,’ thanking councilman Hawkins for his work, but taking that baton and continuing his work to be the peoples’ champ of all of Prince George’s County,” she said.

    Dozens of others seeking the seat spoke before the council Monday, including former Cheverly Mayor Kayce Munyeneh, teachers, social workers and federal government employees.

    “It’s very clear that we have so much talent in Prince George’s County, and I was blown away by some of the experience and ideas of the residents who applied today,” said District 8 Council member Edward Burroughs III, who went on to make the motion to appoint Blegay after hearing from all the candidates.

    Blegay’s term as District 6’s representative on the council was set to expire Dec. 5, 2026. Her term as an at-large member will end on the same date.

    Hawkins stepped away from his at-large seat on the council to take a job as the county’s assistant deputy chief administrative officer for economic development.

    “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the residents of Prince George’s County for the trust and support you’ve shown me throughout my tenure on the Council,” Hawkins said in a news release announcing his resignation. “Serving on this body has been a profound honor, and I take immense pride in what we’ve achieved together.”

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

    Thomas Robertson

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  • California man charged with kidnapping Maryland woman from 2024 crash scene, raping her – WTOP News

    A California man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly forced the driver of a single-vehicle collision into his car, and later raped her on two occasions in December 2024 in Maryland.

    A California man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly forced the driver of a single-vehicle collision into his car and later raped her on two occasions in December 2024 in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

    Montgomery County police identified the man as 27-year-old Mauricio Martinez-Garcia, of Madera, California, in a Wednesday news release. He is facing two counts of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree sexual offense, two counts of kidnapping and five counts of second-degree assault.

    According to police, the charges date back to Dec. 18, 2024, when a woman ordered a meal at a restaurant on the 16100 block of Shady Grove Road. While waiting for her order at the restaurant bar, an “unknown male” approached her and paid for her meal after insisting on covering the tab.

    After returning to her table, the woman ate some of her meal but stopped and left the restaurant before finishing her plate because she felt sick, according to Montgomery County police.

    On the drive home, the woman was involved in a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of Sam Eig and Great Seneca Highways. She was approached by Martinez-Garcia, police said, who offered her help but then forced her into his car against her will.

    Martinez-Garcia drove away from the crash to his apartment in Montgomery County, where authorities said the woman was raped. She was raped a second time after he drove the woman to her home in Prince George’s County.

    Martinez-Garcia was officially arrested Tuesday, nearly a year after the woman reported the assault and underwent a forensic examination. Police said investigators were able to confirm Martinez-Garcia as the suspect after being alerted to a secondary analysis of a DNA sample that had been collected through a separate investigation carried out by the Department of the Army.

    Police were not able to confirm to WTOP whether the “unknown male” the woman encountered at the bar was Martinez-Garcia. The case remains under investigation.

    While Martinez-Garcia is awaiting extradition from California to Maryland, police are urging anyone with information about the suspect or incident to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400.

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

    Gaby Arancibia

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  • Report offers 14 recommendations to guide data centers in Prince George’s Co. – WTOP News

    An anticipated report on data center development in Prince George’s County is out, after community pushback to a fast-tracked data center at the Landover Mall site halted the plan.

    An anticipated report on data center development in Prince George’s County is out, after community pushback to a fast-tracked data center at the Landover Mall site halted the plan and contributed to the county taking a closer look at how it will handle the controversial projects moving forward.

    The 400-page report makes clear that data centers will be welcomed in the county, but only under certain circumstances — and with lots of community say in where they’re located.

    “We really don’t want what happened in Landover to ever happen again,” said Prince George’s County Council member Wala Blegay, who also served on the task force behind the report. “The process that will be put in place will require some sort of special exception, which will require many community meetings. So the community will have very much of an impact on what happens.”

    Those special exceptions will add layers to the approval process, resulting in more hearings and more chances for community input that could slow down or even stop projects from moving forward, if there’s enough opposition.

    Of the report’s 14 recommendations, many focused on zoning and environmental concerns. The report calls on data centers to be steered toward industrial zones, especially ones considered underperforming and vacated, while keeping them away from urban areas with large populations. It also aims to keep them away from parts of the county considered environmentally sensitive.

    One recommendation even suggests letting developers go bigger in size in certain circumstances.

    “There was a consensus if you had an area that was sort of far away from the community, in a place where it was kind of deserted, and that you had the land to go big, that would be an easier process than some of the other areas,” Blegay said.

    Other recommendations called on incentivizing more sustainable operations, due to concerns about how data centers would have an impact audibly and visibly around the county.

    Right now data centers have to be at least 300 feet away from residential homes. The report recommends moving that to 400 feet in most cases. If certain design elements are implemented that reduce overall impact, the 300-foot buffer could stay in place.

    The report also calls on county leaders to push for a high-energy use surcharge in the hopes of keeping power bills lower for residents.

    “I do think that Landover put us in a bad situation because it was not done the right way,” Blegay said. “That has put a lot of fear and concern in the community about any data center moving forward. However, there are areas that I do think some people might say that there might be a better place for data centers versus Landover. And at least if there is an agreement, those be can be considered. But definitely not in the middle of a residential community.”

    Those concerns also helped lead the task force to recommend the creation of community benefit agreements, which essentially attaches strings to any future data center proposals.

    “The benefit has to go to the community,” Blegay said. “The residents will be a part of that, and the community will be guaranteed to get something.”

    She told WTOP not all the recommendations were unanimous among committee members, as some were concerned about discouraging development.

    Blegay said she isn’t buying that.

    “A lot of our residents are very well connected in the industry, and are bringing these ideas to the table, and they’re bringing it regardless of the process,” Blegay said. “Even if they go other places, they’re going to experience the same opposition.”

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

    John Domen

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  • A 6-year-old’s courage celebrated by kids in Prince George’s County – WTOP News

    Dozens of Maryland kids took part Friday in a special walk-to-school event to honor Ruby Bridges’ courage and mark her historic role in the Civil Rights Movement.

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    The courage of a 6-year-old celebrated by kids in Prince George’s County

    This month, 65 years ago, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges had to be escorted by U.S. Marshals, as she started attending a formerly all-white William Frantz Elementary school in New Orleans.

    On Friday, dozens of local kids took part in a special walk-to-school event to honor Bridges’ courage and mark her historic role in the Civil Rights Movement.

    The students walked along the sidewalk, escorted by parents and local leaders, to make their way to Mount Rainier Elementary School.

    Principal Jocelyn Price said it’s important kids never forget they have the right to go to school.

    “Ruby Bridges’ story is very powerful, and we like to share that and keep the history going,” Price said.

    Bridges’ story was also discussed in class with students at the school.

    Ryan McGranaghan, whose daughter attends the school, praised the event.

    “The kind of education you get here is just being with the community that’s here, and this is a celebration of that,” McGranaghan said. “A celebration of overcoming the boundaries and barriers that existed for a long time.”

    Price said her school is an example of a diverse community working together.

    “We have a very diverse population so it’s very important for me personally as a woman of color to make sure our kids know this,” Price said.

    The walk was part of hundreds of walks that take place across the country every Nov. 14, sponsored by the Ruby Bridges Foundation.

    Bridges, now 71 years old, is quoted on her foundation’s website saying, “Racism is a grown-up disease, let’s stop using our kids to spread it.”

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

    Kyle Cooper

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  • Workforce training center opens in Bowie, with more to come – WTOP News

    The goal of the new facility is to help job seekers find employment, as Maryland and Prince George’s County have been hit hard by federal job losses and other blows to the job market.

    Leaders from the city of Bowie and Prince George’s County gathered Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, to cut the ribbon on a new workforce training center.(WTOP/John Domen)

    It’s been several months in the making, and Wednesday morning leaders from the city of Bowie and Prince George’s County gathered at the Kenhill Center — the original city hall — to cut the ribbon on a workforce training center.

    The goal of the new facility is to help job seekers find employment. It comes at a time when the state of Maryland, and Prince George’s County in particular, has been hit hard by federal job losses and other blows to the job market.

    “We have a computer lab that’s free and open to residents, where you can come and do job searches, work on your resume and do skills assessment,” Kay Starr, with the city of Bowie, said. “There’s also free online skills training provided through Employ Prince George’s and we also are going to offer career coaching and counseling.”

    Maryland has seen more job losses due to federal cutbacks than any other state. Prince George’s County has seen its unemployment rate jump from 3.8% in August of 2024 to 4.8% this past August, which is the most up to date number on employment that exists.

    “You can learn so many things from the systems that we have in Employ Prince George’s to really be able to thrive in this economy,” said state Sen. Alonzo Washington, who is also the director of strategic partnerships with Employ Prince George’s.

    “The opportunities they can tap into is resume building, ensuring they have online training that will be ready for them 24 hours a day, and ensuring that they have access to our technical assistance adviser.”

    Employ Prince George’s also offers 14 different certification programs. This workforce training center is the third one to open in the county. Similar facilities can be found in Largo and National Harbor.

    Eventually, Washington hopes there will be centers in all 27 of the county’s municipalities.

    “Have a jobs and resource lab right in their community, so it’s in walking distance of all the residents that live in their town,” Washington said. “So that they can have an opportunity.”

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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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  • Exclusive: Future of Six Flags site could be gaining clarity soon – WTOP News

    Leaders in Prince George’s County, Maryland, think the future of the Six Flags’ site will become much clearer in the coming weeks.

    Six Flags America closed for good last weekend, but leaders in Prince George’s County, Maryland, think the future of the land where the amusement park sits will become much clearer in the coming weeks.

    “We are really excited about the future of Six Flags,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy during a press conference last week. “Six Flags operates on about 20% of the entire site, which means we really have not seen the full potential, the full economic potential of that site. So we’re working with the ownership of Six Flags now, as they vet those who have bid on that project.”

    Braveboy said, “the county has a real interest in seeing quality development that really should be able to generate tens of millions” of dollars.

    County Council member Wala Blegay said it’s her understanding that at least 10 bids were submitted by parties interested in taking over the 500-acre site in Bowie. About 400 acres of the land can be developed into what the county said will be another premier entertainment destination.

    Blegay, Braveboy and state leaders will be meeting with Six Flags later this month to discuss the top bids they’re considering, the council member told WTOP. She believes a final decision will be made by the park early next year.

    “Most people are asking what we want,” Blegay said, when asked to characterize conversations with the different groups that have expressed interest in buying the land. The comparison being made around the county is something akin to the way National Harbor is now.

    “When I brought that concept to almost all the bidders, they have been very open to it. No one has been like, ‘no,’” Blegay said.

    “What I feel encouraged by is that there’s been no pushback. There’s been more like — some people have to find some partners that are in that industry, more entertainment, because we are looking for be a destination in entertainment.”

    Blegay said there’s been lots of demand, but it’s not clear how much the sale could be worth.

    And while county residents are worried about a slew of townhouses going up on the site, Blegay said the focus will be about making the site a destination. That doesn’t mean there will be no housing at all, but the park isn’t zoned for it and county leaders have insisted that isn’t where the emphasis will be.

    “That’s not the focal point,” Blegay said. “You know, we could talk about that later. What we want to see from the new owners is the entertainment destination idea — moving that forward, and that is the key.

    “We could do a destination that might not have housing, might not need housing,” she added. “We want people to understand the main point is destination.”

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

    John Domen

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  • Hundreds of furloughed feds and others looking for work swarm Prince George’s County job fair – WTOP News

    The line to get in was 200 people deep before the doors opened Thursday at a job fair sponsored by Prince George’s County. In line, furloughed federal workers and others looking for jobs.

    Long lines of people looking for work are seen during a job fair in Prince George’s County.
    (WTOP/Kyle Cooper)

    WTOP/Kyle Cooper

    job fair
    In addition to employers, there are agencies on hand to help people looking for a job in Prince George’s County.
    (WTOP/Kyle Cooper)

    WTOP/Kyle Cooper

    job fair
    Furloughed federal workers and others looking for work attend a job fair in Prince George’s County.
    (WTOP/Kyle Cooper)

    WTOP/Kyle Cooper

    The line to get in was 200 people deep before the doors opened Thursday at a job fair sponsored by Prince George’s County. In line, furloughed federal workers and others looking for jobs.

    Egypt Mason is one the laid off feds looking for work.

    “Thirty-seven days — a bit concerned. Hopefully things will change soon,” Mason said.

    Mason has been to three job fairs recently and they’ve all had long lines, and money is getting tight. “We’re hanging in there, getting close. This month is getting tough,” she said.

    Danisha Wilson has also been furloughed since Oct. 1.

    “Stressful trying to figure out the money situation and how you gonna pay this and pay that,” Wilson said.

    Her big decision is whether to go ahead and leave her federal job she’s held for 7 years, if she finds something at this fair.

    Organizers of the job fair said 1,300 people registered. 54 employers with jobs were on hand, and there were a dozen agencies offering food and other assistance on site.

    It’s all part of an initiative designed by Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy called We Elevate Our Own.

    There was also the opportunity to pick up food in at a drive-up pantry on your way out of the parking lot.

    Marquis Moore is not a furloughed federal worker, but showed up to the job fair. He knows he’s competing with federal workers for open jobs.

    “It’s tough. I’ve been online, gone through a couple of interview processes but no luck,” Moore said.

    Mason said the government shutdown needs to end.

    “I hope they can communicate — the Democrats and the Republicans — so that we can get back to work,” Mason said.

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

    Kyle Cooper

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  • Prince George’s County teacher acquitted in sexual abuse against minor case – WTOP News

    A high school teacher in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was found not guilty on seven counts of sexual abuse against a minor.

    A high school teacher in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was found not guilty on seven counts of sexual abuse against a minor. The state’s attorney’s office confirmed the verdict on Friday.

    The judge released Amir Johnson, a Bowie resident and former social studies teacher at Parkdale High School in Riverdale, Maryland, on his own recognizance.

    Johnson was arrested after being accused of having several sexual encounters with a minor between January and April 2025.

    “Teachers hold a unique position of trust and responsibility in shaping and protecting our children, and any allegation that violates that trust is taken very seriously by this office. We want to thank our attorneys who prosecuted this case and the jury for their service,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson said in a statement after the verdict was announced.

    Other than the seven counts, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on one other count of sexual abuse of a minor, which resulted in a mistrial. The state will re-evaluate that count.

    Officials said no additional details on the case will be released due to its sensitive nature.

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

    Zsana Hoskins

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  • Maryland heat-related deaths reached highest number in over a decade this summer – WTOP News

    Thirty-four people died from heat-related causes in Maryland during the late April to early October “heat season” this year, the…

    This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.

    Thirty-four people died from heat-related causes in Maryland during the late April to early October “heat season” this year, the second-highest number of heat-related deaths since records became publicly available in 2012.

    Since deaths hit 46 in 2012 — when a July storm disrupted the power and air conditioning to many Maryland homes for days as a heat wave hit — the number had never been above 30, and has been as low as five in a year.

    Of the 34 people who suffered heat-related deaths this summer, 24, or about 71%, were 65 or older, according to state data. Six people who died from heat-related causes were between ages 45-64, two were 18-44 and two were under age 18.

    “Older adults often have chronic medical conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory, that can increase their susceptibility to excessive heat,” according to a statement from the Maryland Department of Health.

    Despite that, 18- to 44-year-olds had the highest number of emergency department and urgent care visits this year, accounting for 688 of the total 1,672 this summer. Those 65 and older recorded 416 emergency room visits, followed by the 399 for the 44-65 age group, as of the Oct. 8 report.

    Emergency department visits were significantly higher than the 1,206 recorded last year. The number of calls for emergency medical service was also up sharply this year, from 1,502 in 2024 to 1,645 this year.

    The number of heat-related emergency room visits spiked during a heat wave in late June that saw 379 emergency department or urgent care visits and 400 EMS calls, according to state data. Almost two-thirds of the deaths, 21 of them, occurred over a two-week period in June and July that saw extremely high temperatures and heat indices, according to the health department’s statement.

    “Daily heat indices during this time exceeded 100 degrees with some areas exceeding 110 degrees,” the statement said.

    The region that includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties and Baltimore City had the most emergency department or urgent care visits this season. Their total of 688 surpasses other regions’ totals by at least 250 visits and past years’ totals by at least 200.

    Of the 34 deaths, half were reported to be indoors. Some of the indoor deaths were related to non-functioning or non-existent cooling systems, such as fans or air conditioning units. Other reports indicated “hoarding or cluttered living conditions which can cause a decrease in air flow reducing the effectiveness of cooling systems,” according to the health department’s statement.

    The other eight and nine deaths were in vehicles and outdoors, respectively.

    Baltimore City and Baltimore County had the highest number of heat-related deaths this season, reaching eight and six, respectively. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties both had three heat-related deaths, and the 10 other counties that recorded heat-deaths had one or two each this heat season.

    The Baltimore City Health Department issued four extreme heat alerts during this heat season — with one late July alert lasting almost a week after two extensions, according to department statements The press releases reference multiple instances of daily high temperatures that reach over 100 degrees, and “dangerously high temperatures and high humidity.”

    “The sustained heat wave continues to pose a serious threat to public health, particularly for our most vulnerable residents,” Mary Beth Haller, Baltimore City’s interim health commissioner, said in a July 30 press release concerning the second extension of an extreme heat alert.

    Montgomery County issued two heat emergency alerts during this heat season, warning citizens of high “feels-like” temperatures and heat indexes.

    “Extreme heat affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature, which can create dangerous conditions if appropriate safety measures are not taken,” a July 24 Montgomery County press release said. “Heat may affect air quality, especially in urban areas, and may have a stronger impact on the elderly, children and sick persons.”

    The Maryland Department of Health recommends utilizing the Extreme Heat Resources page for future days of intense heat.

    Diane Morris

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  • ‘We want to recover that spirit’: DC reverend recalls the Million Man March 30 years later – WTOP News

    Hundreds of thousands of Black men gathered in D.C. for the Million Man March in 1995. Thirty years later, local leaders and communities are celebrating its legacy with events across the region.

    Thirty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Black men attended the Million Man March in D.C. This weekend, celebrations marking the anniversary of the demonstration are being held around the region.

    Ahead of the celebrations set for Saturday, the Rev. Willie Wilson of the Union Temple Church in Southeast D.C. reflected on the work done at his church to make the event happen, and the celebrations they’ve been holding throughout the week in the lead-up to the weekend event.

    “We didn’t have social media in 1995, so we met in Chicago, and we had all of these religious organizations on board,” Wilson said.

    But before everyone got the go ahead to say they were on board, someone spilled the beans, triggering denials from several churches about their intentions.

    “This almost destroyed our effort before it got off the ground. Nonetheless, we were able to regroup, overcome that, and the rest is history. We know how many people turned out. We know what a great response there was,” he added.

    While various estimates put attendance in the hundreds of thousands, Wilson said nearly 2 million people showed up in D.C. on Oct. 16, 1995. But, it wasn’t until a few days before the march that he started gaining any confidence about how significant the event would be.

    “We had no way of knowing. But when we started getting reports about the many organizations on board officially, and about the number of buses and cars … the government then was able to assess that it was going to be a big, big, big crowd,” Wilson said.

    On Saturday, Union Temple is holding an anniversary celebration with events starting as early as 7 a.m. and running until 4 p.m. It’ll have both gospel music and go-go music, and representation from numerous community groups.

    “We know that if we can come together in unity, there’s a lot that we can do in our communities, in our neighborhoods and in the nation,” he said.

    Another big event is being held in Prince George’s County at Fairmont Heights High School from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

    County Council member Calvin Hawkins and Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Chair Darryl Barnes will be leading the event, which will include conversations about the successes and setbacks since the 1995 march.

    Attendees confirmed for that event include Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Glenn Ivey, among other various political and business leaders. Numerous nonprofits and government agencies will also be represented and offering programs and services to the public.

    Wilson admits there has been some setbacks along the way. He specifically cited the crack cocaine epidemic and mass incarceration of Black men.

    “I have been asked on many occasions whether we need another Million Man March, and my answer is no,” Wilson said. “What we do need, however, is the spirit of the Million Man March, where there was such unity and comradery with all those men coming together.”

    “We want to recover that spirit and have it manifest in our neighborhoods, in our communities and among our people, so that we can do many more positive things for the uplift of everyone,” he added.

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

    John Domen

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  • DC area high schools increase police and security presence at football games – WTOP News

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games. This is after several high-profile incidents during and after games.

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games. This is after several high-profile incidents during and after games.

    At Bowie High School in Prince George’s County Friday night when Bowie played against rival Wise High School, the number of officers was noticeably increased.

    “If you do not have a ticket, we are asking you to exit the premises,” said a school official on a megaphone standing in front of the entrance to the stadium. “Your parent or guardian must remain with you, throughout the game.”

    Before entering, spectators must pass through a metal detector, and tickets must be bought in advance to the sold-out game.

    Police also cleared out the parking lot and made sure people were not milling around. A large eye in the sky camera platform, similar to the one used in shopping centers, also stood over the entrance to the stadium.

    School officials are also moving some games to Saturday to allow for additional police and oversight.

    The new rules also mean that only students of the two schools playing can attend and all tickets must be purchased in advance. There are no walk-up ticket sales.

    Parent Kevin Wolfork, a former pro football player himself, is good with the security changes.
    “Everybody’s going to be safe, the students, all the parents and all the players. That’s very important,” he said. “The students are safer. Parents are safer, and the kids are safer. That’s what it’s all about.”

    At many stadiums, now if you leave during the game, you can’t come back in.

    Bowie High Teacher Jessica Mealey supports the additional police.

    “I know some people are very gung-ho about their teams and words can be spread quickly, to altercations,” she said. “Sometimes people get very spirited, and it’s good to have protection in case things get a little out of hand.”

    Many school districts are urging spectators to arrive early at future games to get through security.

    Expect the new restrictions to remain in place for the rest of the school year.

    On Sept. 19, at Wise High School, two students were arrested during a robbery that was taking place in the parking lot.

    “We did not want to penalize the school when, in fact, the incident did not involve students from Wise or Flowers this weekend,” the Prince George’s County Public School District said in a statement to 7News. “Police and sheriffs will support monitoring the exterior and PGCPS security and staff will monitor inside the game. Only students from the schools playing will be able to attend and students must bring their student IDs.”

    Former Wise High School player Travon Burrells says it’s important for people to experience the excitement of high school football, but he agrees fan safety is very important.

    “I believe more students or more parents should get an opportunity to purchase their tickets, but I agree with the safety out here,” he said. “For the kids’ safety and for everybody’s safety out here, so there won’t be no nonsense going on.”

    In D.C., officials recently announced that parents must be with their students at games following an incident at Archbishop Carroll High School when two students were stabbed.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC Public Schools and Charter Schools will increase security. This, after what officials called “instances of spectator conflict” and the mayor said the new security rules that began Sept. 12 will last through Oct. 10.

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

    Dan Ronan

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  • DC-area high schools increase police and security presence at football games – WTOP News

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games.

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games. This is after several high-profile incidents during and after games.

    At Bowie High School in Prince George’s County Friday night when Bowie played against rival Wise High School, the number of officers was noticeably increased.

    “If you do not have a ticket, we are asking you to exit the premises,” said a school official on a megaphone standing in front of the entrance to the stadium. “Your parent or guardian must remain with you, throughout the game.”

    Before entering, spectators must pass through a metal detector, and tickets must be bought in advance to the sold-out game.

    Police also cleared out the parking lot and made sure people were not milling around. A large eye in the sky camera platform, similar to the one used in shopping centers, also stood over the entrance to the stadium.

    School officials are also moving some games to Saturday to allow for additional police and oversight.

    The new rules also mean that only students of the two schools playing can attend and all tickets must be purchased in advance. There are no walk-up ticket sales.

    Parent Kevin Wolfork, a former pro football player himself, is good with the security changes.
    “Everybody’s going to be safe, the students, all the parents and all the players. That’s very important,” he said. “The students are safer. Parents are safer, and the kids are safer. That’s what it’s all about.”

    At many stadiums, now if you leave during the game, you can’t come back in.

    Bowie High Teacher Jessica Mealey supports the additional police.

    “I know some people are very gung-ho about their teams and words can be spread quickly, to altercations,” she said. “Sometimes people get very spirited, and it’s good to have protection in case things get a little out of hand.”

    Many school districts are urging spectators to arrive early at future games to get through security.

    Expect the new restrictions to remain in place for the rest of the school year.

    On Sept. 19, at Wise High School, two students were arrested during a robbery that was taking place in the parking lot.

    “We did not want to penalize the school when, in fact, the incident did not involve students from Wise or Flowers this weekend,” the Prince George’s County Public School District said in a statement to 7News. “Police and sheriffs will support monitoring the exterior and PGCPS security and staff will monitor inside the game. Only students from the schools playing will be able to attend and students must bring their student IDs.”

    Former Wise High School player Travon Burrells says it’s important for people to experience the excitement of high school football, but he agrees fan safety is very important.

    “I believe more students or more parents should get an opportunity to purchase their tickets, but I agree with the safety out here,” he said. “For the kids’ safety and for everybody’s safety out here, so there won’t be no nonsense going on.”

    In D.C., officials recently announced that parents must be with their students at games following an incident at Archbishop Carroll High School when two students were stabbed.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC Public Schools and Charter Schools will increase security. This, after what officials called “instances of spectator conflict” and the mayor said the new security rules that began Sept. 12 will last through Oct. 10.

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

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

    Dan Ronan

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  • Waldorf woman arrested in stabbing death of grandmother, injuring of family member – WTOP News

    Police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, have ended a multiday search and arrested a Waldorf woman accused in the stabbing death of her grandmother and of injuring a family member.

    Police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, have ended a multiday search and arrested a Waldorf woman accused in the stabbing death of her grandmother and of injuring a family member.

    Breante Thomas, 28, was arrested Thursday and faces first- and second-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree murder and other related charges

    According to police, officers arrived to the 500 block of Bonhill Drive for a welfare check at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Sunday.

    There, they found the 81-year-old Helen Thomas, who is Breante Thomas’ grandmother, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Helen Thomas died at the scene. Police also found another family member who had been stabbed and they said was in critical but stable condition.

    During her bond hearing Friday, Breante Thomas’ attorney Thomas Mooney waived the formal reading of the charges against his client and asked the court to conduct both a mental health evaluation and competency evaluation for Thomas.

    The judge agreed.

    Breante Thomas will remain in jail without bond.

    Members of Thomas’ family appeared in court. Mooney told WTOP a plea will be entered once the evaluations are completed. The results will be revealed during a preliminary hearing on Oct. 17.

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

    Jose Umana

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  • Prince George’s County wants more of these types of restaurants, and less of fast food joints – WTOP News

    With no shortage of fast food joints in Prince George’s Co., council members are looking to encourage more sit-down places in the county.

    When it comes to dining out in Prince George’s County, Maryland, there’s no shortage of fast food joints offering fried chicken, flimsy burgers and anything greasy. And, in some parts of the county, there’s no sign of any kind of dining establishment where you can sit down with your whole family around a table.

    While forcing better restaurants to open up isn’t an option, a new bill proposed in the county hopes to try to make it worth their while to do so. At the same time, another bill is looking to put more restrictions on the grease traps found all over the place, but especially inside the Beltway.

    Both bills were introduced this week, with the Prince George’s County Council returning back to session after a long summer break.

    Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha is backing a measure that would provide incentives for more sit-down restaurants to open up in neighborhoods otherwise marked by value meals and carry out bags.

    “We understand there’s an oversaturation of what’s not healthy — fast food restaurants on every corner — especially when we look inside of the Beltway,” Oriadha said. “And we don’t see a lot of sit-down restaurant options and things that have healthier menus. And so, we’re really trying to think strategically about, how do we shift that?”

    The oversaturation of unhealthy eateries rings especially true in Oriadha’s District 7.

    Her proposal emphasizes more tax incentives and less red tape.

    “About the permitting process, fast tracking it,” she explained. “If you bring your restaurant into an area, like inside of the Beltway, creating plans that (Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement) have that if you use this plan and this model, for example, a design that’s already been approved, it fast tracks your process.”

    “And then we’re also looking at the state level to give us the ability to have tax incentives to strip malls that rent to restaurants specifically inside of the Beltway,” she added.

    While there’s a demand for certain chain restaurants to open up inside the Beltway — the Cheesecake Factory is often mentioned, including by Oriadha — she’s also hopeful smaller, locally-owned restaurants would see this as a push to open up an establishment.

    On the flip side of that attempt is a new bill from Council member Tom Dernoga, whose proposal would put new restrictions on where a new fast food restaurant with a drive-thru is allowed to open. It would stop them entirely in residential areas, and make it harder to open in other areas, too.

    “We can’t just talk about what we don’t want, if we don’t create pathways for what we do want,” Oriadha said.

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

    John Domen

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  • Higher unemployment, fewer jobs in Prince George’s County – WTOP News

    The unemployment rate is higher and there are more than 23,000 fewer jobs in Prince George’s County, Maryland, right now compared to 2019, before the COVID pandemic. 

    Despite Prince George’s County’s deep ties to the federal government and higher education sectors, local leaders say those same dependencies are now exposing vulnerabilities in the region’s labor market.

    The unemployment rate is higher and there are 23,000 fewer jobs in Prince George’s County, Maryland, right now compared to 2019 before the COVID pandemic.

    “We are heavily reliant on federal government for jobs in our county, and then we’re also heavily reliant on post secondary education,” said Walter Simmons, president and CEO of Employ Prince George’s.

    He spoke to a county council committee on Monday.

    “Post secondary education is heavily reliant on federal government funding,” Simmons said.

    That may have helped during the pandemic, when the government was a source of stability, but that’s not the case anymore.

    “On average, you would see 100 to 250 unemployment claimants per week. We’ve seen them jump up to 300 to 500, but then you also see it go back down,” Simmons told WTOP after the briefing.

    “The scare is, is that unemployment data is based on where the person worked. So Maryland also isn’t getting all of the people that have been laid off in their place of work that’s a D.C. agency, where the agency is in D.C. So while we aren’t seeing it, that doesn’t mean the numbers don’t exist in larger numbers, we just don’t have access to it,” he added.

    Simmons said more regional cooperation and data sharing would offer an even clearer picture of the true situation. But he also expressed confidence that laid off federal workers will be able to bounce back — though he didn’t say it would be seamless.

    “The hardest part that we’ve seen is the realization that most likely, there could be a pay decrease for that exact same job when you transition — when you take that job and move from the federal government to the private sector or the federal government to local government,” Simmons said.

    Simmons said federal workers are skilled, qualified and have the experience.

    “They are going to be easily attractive to private sector employers,” he said. “The big thing that we’re going to work out is are they going to be willing to take that pay scale?”

    Simmons also said the county’s youth unemployment rate — defined as any worker 24 and under — is also significantly higher than the national average. In county council districts 4, 5, 7 and 9, the youth unemployment rate is over 12%. In District 6, it’s 22%.

    There are a myriad of reasons for it, but a lot of it has to do with education. For kids of school age, too many aren’t showing up to class. Those who are out of school might lack required literacy and math skills — in some cases because they aren’t native English speakers.

    He said he believes other social factors also influence that.

    “We have community problems that are systemic. They’ve been around for 50 years, and we’re working to address them,” he said. “This didn’t happen over one day, and it’s not going to be fixed in one day.”

    Simmons also said they need to boost enrollment in career and technical education programs around the county. Nonprofit groups with expertise in that area are also contributing to the work of turning things around.

    “We have not only identified the strategies, identified funding, and now we’re going through implementation,” he said.

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

    John Domen

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  • Long-running Prince George’s Co. charter school EXCEL Academy to close – WTOP News

    Imagine finding out just days before the start of the school year that your child’s school is closing. That’s the case for one Maryland school in Prince George’s Co.

    Imagine finding out just days before the start of the school year that your child’s school is closing.

    That’s what’s happening with the EXCEL Academy Public Charter School in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

    It’s one of the longest-running public charter schools in the county, and Prince George’s County Council members — and the public — are speaking out.

    “This is such a terrible situation to be in at the start of the school year,” Shayla Adams, the District 5 council member, said.

    “I just cannot imagine how stressed out those parents must be trying to find a placement for their child right now and then also for the students who I know were excited about being reunited with their classmates at the beginning of the year. I’m sure that this is very unfortunate and stressful for them right now.”

    She noted that, for a child’s life, that’s not a nice surprise.

    District 2 Council member Wanika Fisher said, “that is a really big pivot to their year, the EXCEL Academy Public Charter School is closing its doors after nearly 30 years, and it’s being blamed on both the move to a new location during the COVID-19 pandemic and a drop in enrollment.”

    Fisher said Prince George’s Public Schools is there to fit the needs of every child.

    WTOP’s Jimmy Alexander contributed to this report.

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

    Will Vitka

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  • 1 killed, 1 wounded in Prince George’s Co. shooting – WTOP News

    One person has been killed and at least one more was wounded in a shooting near the Eastover Shopping Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, police said.

    One person has been killed and at least one more was wounded in a shooting near the Eastover Shopping Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, police said.

    It happened Wednesday around 2 p.m. in the 5100 block of Indian Head Highway Service Road, police said.

    Both of the people who were shot are male, police said. One died at the scene and a teenage boy was taken to the hospital. The teenage boy’s injuries are considered not life-threatening, WTOP’s Alan Etter reported live from the scene.

    Police said a third person left the scene without being transported to a hospital. The third person who did not receive medical treatment “was injured just trying to get away from the scene,” Etter said.

    Police said the shooting is under investigation and there is currently no information on a suspect.

    Both lanes of traffic are closed around the area on Southern Avenue and motorists are instructed to follow police direction.

    Below is the area where the shooting happened:

    A shooting happened in the 5100 block of Indian Head Highway in Prince George’s County, Maryland. (Google Maps)

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

    Ciara Wells

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