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  • Police disrupt multiple ‘illegal gatherings’ of car rallies in DC area – WTOP News

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    Police are investigating multiple car rallies in the D.C. area with reports of crowds of up to 300 people taking part in the “illegal” gatherings.

    Police in Maryland and Virginia are investigating multiple car rallies in the D.C. area with reports of crowds of up to 300 people taking part in the “illegal” gatherings.

    Maryland State Police say that officers started breaking up gatherings around 10 p.m. on Saturday through 4 a.m. Sunday.

    They said the participants were taking part in “exhibition driving, disorderly behavior, and roadway shutdowns.”

    Fairfax County police told WTOP that shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Sunday they responded to the area Dolly Madison Boulevard and Georgetown Pike in McLean for reports of “reckless driving” in the area.

    When they arrived, they said about 15 vehicles were a part of the “car meetup.”

    Katie Watts, a public information officer with Fairfax County Police Department said the Fairfax 1 police helicopter also responded to the scene before the cars turned around and headed back to Maryland. She said that they were in Virginia for about an hour.

    During the time that the cars were in Maryland, Watts said that the group left a stolen car that came from an owner in Baltimore. She said they are currently investigating the stolen car and have not made any arrests so far.

    Maryland State Police said they made two arrests in the car rally in Camp Springs including Jossel Joan Maldonado Sanabria, 19, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the passenger in his car who is a 17-year-old from Falls Church, Virginia.

    Both people were charged with possession of a loaded firearm and taken to the Prince George’s County Detention Center for processing, according to Maryland State Police.

    The Maryland Car Rally Task Force said they responded to rallies at the following locations:

    • 15606 Emerald Way in Bowie
    • 6210 Allentown Road in Camp Springs
    • 8582 Fenton Street in Silver Spring
    • 9500 Marlboro Pike in Upper Marlboro
    • 6050 Fallard Drive in Upper Marlboro
    • 7705 Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase
    • 2600 Marble Court in Forestville
    • 1415 Magellan Road in Hanover

    The Maryland Car Rally Task Force is comprised of the Maryland State Police, and police departments from Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore counties, Baltimore City and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

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

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  • Police: Man killed, woman injured in Petworth hit-and-run involving garbage truck and e-bike – WTOP News

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    A Sunday update by D.C. police revealed that the Petworth hit-and-run involving a garbage truck and an e-bike involved a man and a woman, not two women.

    Police are continuing to investigate a crash in D.C. where a garbage truck hit two people on an e-bike and left the scene.

    An update from D.C. police Sunday clarified that a man was driving the e-bike and that a woman was riding as a passenger. Police originally reported Friday that it was two women on the e-bike.

    Kenny Jimmenez Rivera, 26, of Northwest D.C., was operating the e-bike and died in the crash, police said.

    It happened in Petworth in the 4100 block of Kansas Avenue near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Upshur Street in Northwest D.C. on Friday shortly after 2 p.m.

    Police said an investigation showed that a trash truck and an e-bike were both approaching the intersection at the same time, when the trash truck made a right turn into the 900 block of Upshur Street and struck the e-bike.

    The trash truck left the scene after striking the e-bike, police said.

    D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the incident and after all lifesaving measures failed, Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment of critical injuries, according to police.

    Following an investigation, the trash truck was located in Hyattsville, Maryland, and detectives have identified the truck driver. Police said an investigation is ongoing.

    D.C. police ask anyone with knowledge of the crash to contact investigators at 202-727-9099 or text a tip to the department’s “TEXT TIP LINE” at 50411.

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

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Fairfax County is hoping you will adopt a fire hydrant during the next snowstorm – WTOP News

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    Got a little energy left over after shoveling your driveway? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue in Virginia is hoping you’ll use that shovel to help them clear a path around local fire hydrants. 

    Got a little energy left over after shoveling your driveway? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue in Virginia is hoping you’ll use that shovel to help them clear a path around fire hydrants.

    Chip Galloway, the lead Geographic Information Systems analyst with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, said their Adopt a Hydrant program lets local residents find a fire hydrant near them to take care of.

    “People are passionate about this, and they take pride in keeping their hydrant clear,” Galloway said.

    In just the last week, they’ve approved 300 new adoptions, bringing the total number to more than 840.

    And, believe it or not, there’s around 30,000 fire hydrants in the county. So there’s a lot to choose from.

    “We view this program as a simple and easy way for residents to help support the fire department’s operations,” said John Woolverton, GIS analyst with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. “We’re just hoping to gain more (participation) essentially each year.”

    When you adopt a hydrant, you’re asked to clear snow, brush and debris at least 3 feet around it.

    “If the community can help out, shaving seconds off an emergency response can make a big difference. So if you can help your community, help with clearing the hydrant on your street, it may reduce the time in order to have that emergency response,” Galloway said.

    To adopt a fire hydrant, head to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Adopt a Hydrant app, input an address and a list of available hydrants will pop up and you fill out an application.

    “There’s an automated email that you’ll receive an adoption certificate, and a thanks from the department,” Woolverton said.

    And as much as it might be tempting, they want you to stick to just cleaning and keeping the area clear.

    “We ask that people not paint their hydrant or put decorations around it. The whole purpose of this program is to maintain that the hydrant is clear,” Galloway said.

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

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • DC Council chair announces nominee to fill McDuffie’s at-large seat – WTOP News

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    A former staff member for council member Kenyan McDuffie has been nominated to take his seat. McDuffie left the seat to run for mayor.

    There’s a new nominee to the D.C. Council and she’s no stranger to the District.

    A former staff member for council member Kenyan McDuffie has been nominated to take his seat. McDuffie left the seat to run for mayor, explaining his motivation for doing so in a recent interview with WTOP.

    D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson announced Monday that Doni Crawford was his nominee to fill the vacancy created by McDuffie’s departure.

    “I am honored that the chairman selected me as his proposed appointee,” Crawford said.

    She’s a former staff member who worked under McDuffie. She also was a committee director on the Committee on Business and Economic Development.

    “Nearly 10 years ago, I came to the city with a simple belief that government done right can help people build better lives,” Crawford said Monday. “I believe in a D.C. where every resident has the opportunity to thrive, and where our economy remains competitive with the region.”

    There will be a vote by the D.C. Council on Tuesday to decide whether to confirm Crawford. She needs at least seven votes to be appointed to the at-large seat.

    “I know I must earn the trust of residents, and I’m ready to do that through listening, collaboration and service,” she said.

    The person appointed to the at-large seat will be in the position through the special election in June.

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

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • A look at what you should be putting in your grocery cart after the recent food pyramid changes – WTOP News

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    WTOP talked with a local nutritionist and a physician about what this means and whether you should adapt your diet.

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently unveiled a new food pyramid that prioritized proteins and healthy fats.

    But what does this mean for you and your diet?

    “We see that there’s an emphasis on whole and minimally processed foods, and that really is a welcome shift away from decades of more nutrient-focused messaging,” said Patti Truant Anderson, policy director at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

    She said the focus of the new food pyramid moves away from added preservatives and toward fruits and veggies.

    “We see that fruits and vegetables are prominently in the new food pyramid, which aligns with evidence-based dietary patterns, which we know help people live longer,” she said.

    But there are parts of the new pyramid she thinks people should pay attention to. This includes the added emphasis on protein and meat.

    “I think that there are some aspects that may be misleading to consumers when you look just at the new food pyramid, compared to the actual guidelines,” Truant Anderson said.

    She said the big focus on meat and dairy products might be confusing to some.

    “How do you increase your protein content without increasing your saturated fat content too much? And it is possible, but you have to be really careful about that, and focus more on the plant-based and seafood sources of protein,” Truant Anderson said.

    Dr. Ashanti Woods, an attending pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said you should be paying attention to what the inversion of the pyramid means for you and your family.

    “We’re looking down the road and, ultimately, have a goal of keeping our children healthy,” he said.

    He said he liked that the new pyramid encouraged a diversity of foods.

    “We want families to consider a plate that has a little bit of everything on it. We want children to explore. We want families to take their children with them shopping to the grocery store so that children can pick out certain foods and give it a try,” he said.

    Woods said one of the biggest changes when it comes to the food pyramid is the goal for daily protein intake. Currently, the recommendation is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.

    “It’s now been increased to 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein a day, essentially doubling it. While we don’t think children should be eating, consuming, a lot of anything, protein included, we do think that there are some benefits to children eating lean protein,” he said.

    And Woods said the healthiest habits come not only from watching what you eat but, “anywhere from three to five days of good exercise in the work week, and good exercise to us is anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of activity that involves sweating.”

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  • Howard Co. police search for man accused of stabbing, killing ex-girlfriend – WTOP News

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    Howard County police are looking for a man who they say stabbed and killed his ex-girlfriend in his Columbia, Maryland, apartment. 

    Howard County police are looking for a man who they say stabbed and killed his ex-girlfriend in his Columbia, Maryland, apartment.

    Police said Arjun Sharma, 26, of Columbia, reported on Friday that his ex-girlfriend was missing and that he last saw her on Dec. 31 in his apartment.

    Nikitha Godishala, 27, of Ellicott City, was located by police in Sharma’s apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road on Saturday after executing a search warrant.

    She was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.

    After an investigation, police said they believe that Sharma killed Godishala on Dec. 31 shortly after 7 p.m.

    Police have a warrant to arrest Sharma on first- and second-degree murder charges and are currently looking for him.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.

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  • New Prince George’s County Council chair reflects on 2025, details what’s next for 2026 – WTOP News

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    Prince George’s County Council member Krystal Oriadha ends 2025 as the new council chair. She spoke to WTOP about this year’s accomplishments and what’s next in 2026.

    Prince George’s County Council member Krystal Oriadha ends 2025 as the new chair of the council. Oriadha spoke to WTOP about this year’s accomplishments and what’s next for the county in 2026.

    She said in 2025, there were good moments as well as trying times.

    “I think it overall was a good year, right? We did suffer some losses,” Oriadha said. “In the sense of knowing that we were losing the stadium, that we were losing Six Flags, but I really think that those are opportunities.”

    She said she sees the losses as a chance to create something, “even bigger and better, something that creates more revenue than either of those created. So I think that, yes, we had some challenging news, but I am optimistic to what the future holds.”

    Passing the county budget

    Oriadha said the budget was a big item to overcome this year on the council.

    “We were facing a huge deficit, and we were worried about what that would mean for the resources, the ones we would give our community,” she said.

    In May, the Prince George’s County Council adopted a $5.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, which began July 1, 2025.

    The decision comes at a time when the county is facing a more than $90 million budget gap.

    “I’m really proud of the budget that we passed. I think that we didn’t reach into the reserves, but we were still able to maintain a lot for the community,” she said.

    Legislative highlights

    When is comes to legislation, Oriadha said she’s proud of the “bread and butter” issues that were covered.

    “Like tackling vacant properties, properties that are unkept by the landlords, making sure that we hold them accountable for the beautification of our community,” she said.

    She said she was grateful that for the first time, the council dedicated money to the Black Maternal Health Fund with a $250,000 bill.

    “I think we were able to take care of the basic issues that are front and center, that community see every day, but also looking at the big picture and looking at new programs and new ideas,” she said.

    “So I think we had a balance of both of those things.”

    Tough possible difficulties to navigate in 2026

    Looking to 2026, Oriadha believes that housing, jobs and a loss of the job force could be coming in the new year.

    “I think those are all tied to what this administration is doing,” she said.

    “We also don’t know what the impact is going to be on our services, right? Because they kind of go back and forth between, what is going to be the long term impacts of Medicaid, what’s going to be the long term impacts of SNAP, what’s going to be the long term impacts of free and reduced lunch. What’s going to be the long term impacts of all of these programs that rely heavily on the federal government?”

    Oriadha said the council is trying to anticipate what steps to take next when it comes to helping those who are going to need it most.

    “So I think we’re just on a waiting pattern to see what the long term impacts are going to be,” she said.

    Things to look forward to in 2026

    Some of the things Oriadha is looking forward to the most in the coming year is getting more into some of the initiatives she has a passion for, like child care.

    “I’m excited about just some of my key initiatives around talking about child care,” she said.

    “Looking at universal child care in a way that we have not before, looking at the learning gaps that we have with our kids with autism, and doing early screening campaigns, because we know that’s a game changer to get kids the resources that they need from ages one to three, but we know our kids are getting diagnosed later in life.”

    Oriadha said she’s also looking forward to opportunities surrounding economic development.

    “Making ourselves self sufficient, right? The reality is, is that we have to build a commercial tax base at a higher rate than ever before, not just because the deficit we’re currently facing, but also the challenges that we don’t know that’s going to come from the federal government. And so I look at that as an opportunity.”

    WTOP’s John Domen 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.

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  • Police arrest Prince William Co. man, seize evidence in online child exploitation case – WTOP News

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    Bryan Barahona-Peraza, 34, of Bristow, Virginia, has been charged with producing child pornography, according to Prince William County Police.

    A Bristow, Virginia, man has been charged with the production of child pornography after police said they found evidence that he was “soliciting underaged minors online for inappropriate acts.”

    Prince William County Police said detectives from the D.C./Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force searched the home of Bryan Barahona-Peraza, 34, as part of an “ongoing child pornography investigation.”

    When police arrived at his home, Barahona-Peraza was arrested and evidence was seized by police.

    Barahona-Peraza was charged with the production of child pornography, use of a communication system to create child pornography and use of a communication system to solicit sexual acts.

    He is being held without bond. A court date in the case is pending.

    Anyone with information regarding Barahona-Peraza is asked to contact the Prince William County Police tip line at 703-792-7000 or submit a tip at pwcva.gov/policetip.

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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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  • Kwanzaa is here and there are several ways to celebrate in the DC area – WTOP News

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    The seven days of Kwanzaa are underway and there is no shortage of events to celebrate and learn about its history in the D.C. area.

    The seven days of Kwanzaa are underway and there is no shortage of events to celebrate and learn about its history in the D.C. area.

    “It is a time of reflecting, reset, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing in an atmosphere of peace, love and unity,” Rasafik Weusi, chairperson of the United Black Community Kwanzaa Planning Committee, said.

    He said Kwanzaa started in the U.S. in 1966 and is a cultural celebration that honors African American and Pan-African heritage and values.

    “Our theme this year is ‘unification is a solution,’” Weusi said. “We hope that we can bring all our people together and to work hard toward uniting all of our people in the community and to practice Kwanzaa, not only during Kwanzaa, but also 365 days of the year.”

    The events organized for the holiday in the D.C. area include African dance performances, educational talks, dinners, a fun run and more, with something for each day of the celebration.

    He said that each of the seven days “are based upon the Anguza Saba, or the Seven Principles of Blackness, with each day being symbolic of one of the principles.”

    On Saturday, there is a Kwanzaa Candlelighting Celebration & Program by the Ausar Auset Society, featuring spoken word, children’s presentations, traditional Kwanzaa songs and a silent auction at the Galbraith AM Zion Church from 6 to 9 p.m.

    The Ujima Joint Official Kwanzaa Party and Immersive Experience will be held on Sunday starting at 7 p.m. at the New Cultural Cafe at Studio W inside of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in D.C.

    The Annual Ujamaa Kwanzaa Candlelighting Celebration & Program is on Monday at 7 p.m. and features Ujamaa Shule student drummers and dancers and vegan food at 554 8th St. NW.

    The Annual Nia Night Celebration by the Official UNIA-ACL Woodson Banneker Jackson-Bey Division 330 on Tuesday will feature drinks, a candlelighting ceremony, children craft activities, live performances by African drummers and dancers from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Thurgood Marshall Center in D.C.

    On Jan. 1 is the annual Free the Land Kwanzaa Fun Run/Walk/Bike at Lake Artemisia Park in Greenbelt, Maryland. It starts at noon.

    Find more information on these events and more here.

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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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  • Report: Alcohol and drug-impaired traffic deaths are down in DC region, but crashes and injuries are up – WTOP News

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    While police enforcement increases during the holidays, a new report shows where the D.C. region stands on drunk and drug-related driving deaths and crashes.

    It’s the holiday season, which usually means an uptick in drunk drivers on the roads. While police enforcement increases during the holidays, a new report shows where the D.C. region stands on drunk and drug-related driving deaths and crashes.

    The good news?

    “Drug and drunk driving fatalities on D.C. area roadways have gone down, not just a little bit, they’ve gone down by a double-digit percentage, 26% between 2023 and 2024,” said Kurt Erickson, president of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

    Erickson said the new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments showed deaths fell from 100 to 74.

    He said he thinks that D.C. police are increasing enforcement has helped.

    “They’ve stepped up their efforts to identify and apprehend drunk drivers. They’ve done this through weekly traffic checkpoints. They’re not necessarily sobriety checkpoints, but they will catch drunk drivers, and also that they’ve stepped up their game in terms of training of officers to identify and apprehend drunk drivers,” Erickson said.

    But while deaths were down, he said there’s still some work to be done.

    “Drunk driving injuries are up, and drunk driving crashes are up, and that we’re still a region where, while DUI arrests are down, we’re still arresting somebody for drunk driving every 60 minutes … in the greater Washington area every single year,” Erickson said.

    Impaired driving-related injuries rose by nearly 4% while crashes increased by 2%, according to the report.

    “Each one of these fatalities, injuries, crashes, arrests, they’re all 100% preventable,” he said. “There’s an alternative to drunk driving between now and New Year’s, which is a free, safe ride — Sober RIDE program — a service that the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program has done since 1991, of which almost 100,000 people have taken advantage of.”

    Find more information on the Sober Ride program here.

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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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  • DOGE cut jobs, but did it cut government spending? – WTOP News

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    Did the Department of Government Efficiency deliver on its promise to cut government spending?

    Did the Department of Government Efficiency deliver on its promise to cut government spending?

    President Donald Trump’s DOGE has disbanded, but not before it cut hundreds of thousands of federal jobs in record time. But while the number of positions cut is one for the record books, Cato Institute Senior Vice President for Policy Alex Nowrasteh said that when it comes to government spending, it really didn’t make a difference.

    In the first 10 months after Trump took office, DOGE reduced federal employment by about 271,000 jobs, which is about 9% of all federal workers.

    “This is a faster and steeper decline in federal employment at any time since the demobilization of the U.S. military and economy at the end of World War II and at the Korean War,” Nowrasteh said. “It’s the biggest in peacetime, ever decline in federal workers over a 10-month period.”

    DOGE brought down federal employment to late 2014 levels over that time period, but with almost 60% of the decline in October, according to the analysis.

    “DOGE reduced federal employment enormously. It did not cut spending, and it couldn’t possibly cut spending just by firing people,” he said. “It just doesn’t show up when you take a look at the budget figures. So, for instance, spending went up in 2025 compared to 2024 and went up by about $250 billion.”

    Nowrasteh said the only likelihood to close the deficit “is by cutting the biggest programs. The biggest programs are Medicare and Social Security, Medicaid and the military.”

    The report put together by Cato, a D.C.-based libertarian think tank, did not focus on budget authority.

    When it comes to the portion of the budget that goes to federal employment, Nowrasteh said it’s only about 10%.

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

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  • New online hub helps young DC-area filmmakers get connected to start making movies – WTOP News

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    The website helps aspiring movie makers find the equipment and instruction needed to get started.

    Finding the equipment and instruction needed to get started as a young filmmaker can be extremely difficult. The D.C. Independent Film Festival has launched a new online hub that helps fill that gap.

    “We hope that we are giving young people useful skills to take with them,” said Deirdre Evans-Pritchard, executive director of the D.C. Independent Film Festival.

    She said they have launched a new unique online hub, Y-CAM.org, for young filmmakers aged 13 to 19.

    “We realized that it was necessary to make a space for young people who have not yet moved into the adult world, to be able to take part in this, to be creative, to build some community, to learn what’s out there, find opportunities,” she said.

    The website features are free and makes it easy for aspiring filmmakers to connect with professionals for advice and find local equipment to make their ideas come to life.

    “TikTok has opened up all sorts of possibilities in young people’s minds. You can film on your phone now, and so everything has suddenly changed,” Evans-Pritchard said.

    They also have a monitored and dedicated Discord channel.

    “That’s where we’re going to have a lot of our sort of immediate activities, conversations, opportunities, possibly for young filmmakers to say that they want to meet other filmmakers, and so that way we can keep an eye on it and make sure that it’s a good place for people to connect,” she said.

    Evans-Pritchard’s group is also launching special production awards for young D.C.-region movie makers to help them get going. The $600 awards are only available to emerging filmmakers in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

    The deadline for the first awards is Dec. 31. The grants will be awarded three times a year to two recipients per cycle.

    “Say you want to be an animator, and you started working in animation, but you just need that little extra money to get the camera or to make a stand, to buy yourself the iPad, or to get the materials you need to film something,” she said. “This is just a handout of money. All you have to do is apply.”

    In the application, she said you have to give them “a sense of what the project is” and have one adult be a reference to “say that this project is really going ahead in some way.”

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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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  • Virginia Lottery wants you to be aware of a scam when buying tickets this holiday season – WTOP News

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    The executive director of the Virginia Lottery said the newest scam states that you can win a $5 billion Mega Millions jackpot by following a link sent to you on social media. 

    The Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated grand prize of $1.25 billion as of Wednesday night. However, if you’re planning on playing the lottery to try to win your millions, there’s a new scam you should be aware of.

    Khalid Jones, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, said the newest scam they’re alerting the public to states that you can win a $5 billion Mega Millions jackpot by following a link sent to you on social media.

    “It’s still sort of bold and striking, smacking me in my face every time I look at it,” Jones said. “This is something that is just clearly erroneous from the start.”

    Jones said one of the biggest red flags is the fact “there’s no such thing as a guaranteed winner.”

    He also said that the amount of money is clearly not right.

    “They talk about a $5 billion jackpot. Mega Millions, the largest jackpot in the history of any game in America, has only been a little bit north of $2 billion,” he said.

    Jones recommended authenticating a real Mega Millions ticket by going to a Virginia Lottery retailer and making sure you see the proper logo.

    “The foolproof way is … you see those interlocking fingers, and you walk into the store, and they’ve got they got our tickets in there. Then, you know you’re playing someplace that is ours,” he said.

    He said you can also play online but make sure you’re on the right website.

    “If it’s not your retailer, and it’s not on your phone at VAlottery.com or on your computer, then it’s not us,” Jones said. “We put a notice immediately up on MegaMillions.com, and just started really going after getting this taken away.”

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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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  • Bowser talks about the next steps in the District’s response to the House Committee’s report on crime data manipulation – WTOP News

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    D.C.’s inspector general will be looking into the House Committee’s reports on accusations against the District’s outgoing police chief.

    Outgoing D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith has been accused by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of manipulating crime data to maintain the appearance of low crime in the District.

    On Wednesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser talked about the next steps D.C. is taking following the release of the report.

    Bowser said that they are digging further into the reports and data as they look into the allegations of crime data manipulation by outgoing Chief Smith.

    “The reports that have been issued leave a lot to be desired in terms of evidence and context,” Bowser said.

    She said she will be asking for an internal review of the accusations.

    “I am going to be asking the D.C. inspector general to look at the questions that were raised in those two reports,” she said.

    When asked about those people who have left the department and how far back the review will go, Mayor Bowser said, “I expect that the inspector general’s review will be inclusive of all the data allegations.”

    On Monday, Bowser lambasted the U.S. House Oversight Committee’s report accusing the city’s police chief of leading a pressure campaign to alter crime data. She questioned the Republican-led committee’s political motivation, methodology and timing.

    “The interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release,” Bowser wrote in a letter.

    Last week, Smith announced that she would be stepping down on Dec. 31 after two years in the position. Smith has said she doesn’t believe any crime numbers were manipulated during her tenure.

    Bowser has tapped Jeffery Carroll to serve as interim chief of the D.C. police department following Smith’s resignation.

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  • Why do heart issues spike around the holidays? A Maryland doctor has tips on what to look out for – WTOP News

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    While the holidays are meant for celebrations and time with family, research shows it’s also one of the most dangerous times for heart health.

    While the holidays are meant for celebrations and time with family, research shows it’s also one of the most dangerous times for heart health.

    The American Heart Association said there are more cardiac-related deaths between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day than any other time of the year.

    “It’s important that people are aware of this trend,” said Brian Case, an interventional cardiologist at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.

    “Be mindful of your health during the holidays,” Case said.

    What could cause heart issues on holiday break? He said one aspect is stress.

    “Friends and family, that always could create some stress. And then also for people who don’t have friends and family who are alone, there’s an increased risk for stress and associated depression,” Case said.

    Another reason is changes in habits surrounding food and drinking.

    “You might be drinking more, more alcohol intake, maybe a poor diet, less exercise during the holidays,” he said.

    He said the classic symptoms of heart attacks are chest pain on the left side, shortness of breath and sweating. But sometimes, you can catch other signs such as feeling weak, fatigue and some reflux or discomfort in your stomach.

    “So if you’re feeling any of these symptoms, it’s definitely important to get evaluated sooner than later,” Case said.

    Case said the American Heart Association found that there is a 37% increase in heart attack deaths on Christmas Eve and a 15% increase in heart attack deaths between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.

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  • Frederick police say untested bedding area identified killer in 37-year-old cold case – WTOP News

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    The 1988 murder of a 23-year-old woman was solved after detectives in Frederick, Maryland, retested DNA evidence.

    Detectives in Frederick, Maryland, said an untested section of bedding held the key to identifying who killed a 23-year-old woman in her apartment more than 37 years ago.

    Delores Marie “Mooda” Thompson was found dead in her apartment in the 100 block of S. Market on Feb. 1, 1988, according to a Frederick Police Department news release. Police said she died of “ligature strangulation” and that the case included evidence of a sexual assault.

    At the time of her death, police said DNA testing was “in its infancy” and samples of evidence failed to find an “identifiable suspect profile.”

    For nearly four decades, “her family has lived without answers,” said Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando. “Today, we can finally give them closure.”

    This year, detectives looked again at the evidence in the case using updated DNA equipment and techniques on a small area of bedding not previously tested, police said in the release.

    DNA on the bedding matched the profile of convicted offender Calvin Ziegler, police said. Ziegler was interviewed in the case following Thompson’s death and was known as having “frequently visited the victim’s apartment.”

    Ziegler died in 2010, according to police.

    After a review of the forensic findings, the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office issued a formal letter confirming that the evidence supports the identification of Ziegler as the contributor of the DNA and the person responsible for Thompson’s homicide.

    “Because the identified individual is deceased, criminal charges are not possible; however, the case will be listed as closed based on the evidentiary findings,” police said.

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  • What are some of the mental health benefits of going to a ‘friendsgiving?’ A local psychiatrist weighs in – WTOP News

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    An Inova psychiatrist says that the “friendsgiving” tradition could be a good way to de-stress and center yourself.

    Family Thanksgiving gatherings can be stressful. A local psychiatrist says that a “friendsgiving” could help give you a break this holiday season.

    “It makes sense that friendsgiving, to me, would be beneficial,” said Sam Schiavone, division chief of inpatient adult psychiatry at Inova in Falls Church, Virginia. “It’s more colloquial.”

    He said that the tradition could be a good way to de-stress and center yourself.

    “It’s (friends) that you’ve made and sought and get along with and now you’re spending time together, good quality time, and giving thanks to each other. Just celebrating the friendship that you made, rather than celebrating the holiday,” he said.

    Schiavone said just being grateful is a good thing for your mental health.

    “Being with people that you love and they love you is going to make you feel more connected, more grounded,” he said. “Just by virtue of social connection, that has been shown to improve well being.”

    Being grateful actually impacts your mood, which could help when we might be stressed about going to a traditional Thanksgiving with family you haven’t seen in awhile.

    “Giving thanks does a trick in our brain where it feels like we’re also getting thanks. So we tend to feel happy and good when we’re praising others,” he said. “A lot of healthy chemicals, neurotransmitters get expressed when we receive things, but even when we give thanks.”

    And when it comes to traditional Thanksgivings with family, he said tell them you’re grateful for them, and some physical touch can go a long way too.

    “Just hugging family members, hugging friends can release good happy chemicals in the brain, like oxytocin,” he said.

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  • A Virginia Tech researcher explains the dangers behind ultra-processed foods – WTOP News

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    A professor who helped conduct a new study showing harms from ultra-processed foods explains what they are and why we should avoid them.

    Consuming ultra-processed foods can cause harm to major organs, in addition to a host of other health problems, a new study published Tuesday in the medical journal the Lancet revealed.

    Another report released Thursday from researchers at Virginia Tech shows that young adults are more vulnerable to indulging in ultra-processed foods, according to Brenda Davy, a professor in the school’s Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, who helped conduct the study.

    Davy told WTOP that people need to pay attention to what they’re buying to avoid ultra-processed food, which are dangerous to our health.

    “An ultra-processed food is most easily recognized by having ingredients that would not be used in home cooking,” Davy said.

    Her study tested young adults who were put on diets with ultra-processed foods. After two weeks, the adults aged 18 to 21 ate more calories using a diet that was high in ultra-processed food even though they weren’t hungry. But this wasn’t true for adults in the 22-25 age group, Davy said.

    The study’s results suggest that adolescents may be more vulnerable to ultra-processed foods, which can be addictive.

    Some examples of ultra-processed foods include “things like Sunny Delight, rather than 100% fresh orange juice,” she said. “A Pop-Tart, which would be an ultra-processed food, compared to a homemade banana nut muffin.”

    “When you’re shopping at the grocery store, if you pick up an item and look at the ingredient list, if you see things like ‘fat, flour, oil, salt, sugar,’ those are things that are typically used in home cooking,” she said. “Those would not be considered ultra-processed ingredients.”

    “On the other hand, if you saw very long-sounding chemical names that you do not recognize, that’s one tip off of an item considered an ultra-processed food,” she added.

    She said the research released this week shows that these ingredients could be more dangerous than you think.

    “Ultra-processed foods are linked to increased risks of obesity and weight gain and a whole host of chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,” Davy said.

    She said in order to avoid ultra-processed foods, people should “prepare as many of their meals as possible at home.”

    “That might help folks reduce their risk of some of these chronic diseases related to their diet,” she said.

    Davy said that there are some advantages to food processing by manufacturers.

    “One of the biggest advantages for using processed foods is that they do have a longer shelf life,” she said. “That is an important benefit of ultra-processed foods.”

    But she said that one of the big drawbacks is how addictive they can be.

    “They may drive us to overeat them,” she said.

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  • Loudoun County schools see a major increase in the number of students unable to pay for school lunches – WTOP News

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    Unpaid school lunch debt is becoming a primary issue in Loudoun County Public schools as food insecurity continues to impact the D.C. area.

    Unpaid school lunch debt is becoming a primary issue in Loudoun County Public Schools as food insecurity continues to impact the D.C. area.

    “Our unpaid meal date has increased year over year,” Sharon Willoughby, chief financial officer for Loudoun County Public Schools, said during a joint meeting of the Loudoun County Board of Education and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on Monday.

    She said unpaid meal debt is up 52% compared to last year. And requests to be included in the Free and Reduced Lunch program have jumped 180%.

    “This year, we’re off to the same trend, where we will most likely be exceeding last year’s unpaid meal debt,” Willoughby said. “After the pandemic, LCPS, along with other school divisions across the nation, has seen their meal debt really increase just across the board.”

    She said debt status will not stop students from getting their lunches, but families are getting notifications if they have a negative balance that’s over $5.

    Students with a negative balance are not allowed to get extra items in the lunch line but will still get a breakfast and lunch.

    Willoughby said school meal prices have increased by 20 cents a meal to address the rising cost of the program. Lunches now cost $3.55.

    “We understand the need of having students have food in their stomachs in the morning so they can focus on the day,” Loudoun County Board Supervisor Sylvia Glass said.

    At the end of a fiscal year, any outstanding meal debt is absorbed by the school system and does not roll over into the next school year. Families then start with a zero-dollar balance even if they can’t pay their meal debt.

    LCPS has partnered with Giant Food and some other organizations to help with donations to cover some of the unpaid debt.

    “You may notice when you check out at the grocery store sometimes you have the option to round up for a certain charitable cause. One of those causes has been donating to the school nutrition program,” Willoughby said.

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  • Judge hears arguments in a lawsuit to halt ICE arrests without a warrant in DC – WTOP News

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    Some D.C.-area residents shared their stories about being arrested without a warrant by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a hearing Wednesday for a lawsuit aimed at stopping illegal arrests of people perceived to be immigrants.

    Some D.C.-area residents shared their stories about being arrested without a warrant by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a hearing Wednesday for a lawsuit aimed at stopping illegal arrests of people perceived to be immigrants.

    “I was detained by D.C. police and then ICE arrived,” said a plaintiff named Elias through a representative who read his story in U.S. District Court because he is currently in the hospital.

    Elias was arrested by ICE and said he was detained for more than 8 hours. At the time he was detained, he was headed to D.C. for a dialysis appointment, which he has three times a week.

    “I didn’t have my medication with me and I felt very ill. My family was suffering not knowing what will happen to me,” Elias wrote.

    He is one of four plaintiffs represented in Escobar Molina et al. v. the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a lawsuit challenging what they allege are illegal arrests by ICE without warrants or probable cause.

    The plaintiffs are being represented by the ACLU of the District of Columbia, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, CASA, the National Immigration Project, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and the law firm of Covington, Burling LLP.

    “People are still experiencing these harms day in and day out in the streets of D.C. So we certainly do hope that the court will rule urgently on these issues,” Yulie Landan, staff attorney with the National Immigration Project, said.

    During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell listened to arguments in a motion for a preliminary injunction in the case led by CASA to put a stop to the arrests while the case is being considered. They are also asking for class certification of the plaintiffs.

    “We recognize that there are individuals who are impacted by this unlawful policy and practice, far beyond the individual plaintiffs who have bravely put their names and their information before the court,” said Aditi Shah, staff attorney with the ACLU of the District of Columbia.

    Judge Howell asked for more information from both parties in the case with a deadline of Tuesday, Nov. 25.

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