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Tag: valerie bonk

  • How this Virginia-based lab is helping bicyclists with safety in mind – WTOP News

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    Those in the market for a new bike helmet have a handy new resource they can refer to in order to pick the safest option, and it’s thanks to the work of a lab based in Virginia.

    Those in the market for a new bike helmet have a handy new resource they can refer to in order to pick the safest option, and it’s thanks to the work of a lab based in Virginia.

    “We spent a lot of time trying to figure out how we can get these data in the hands of consumers so that they can make informed decisions,” said Steve Rosen, professor of biomedical engineering mechanics at Virginia Tech and director of the Helmet Lab.

    “A helmet is a safety product, and it should be held accountable for how safe it is,” he added.

    Rosen said the lab has come up with a ranking system that’s now in many sporting goods stores. A five star helmet is the best. Many manufacturers of helmets now have Virginia Tech’s rating on their tags.

    “As people are browsing the helmets in the store, you can see what the rating of that helmet is, and it’s really allowed us to expand our reach and educate people on the protective performance of these helmets,” he said.

    Rosen said helmet safety has come a long way.

    “The best helmet, way back in 2011 when we first released, would be the worst helmet today. So there’s really good improvement in head protection that’s available to people in the field,” he said.

    Thanks to the helmet safety rating system developed by the Helmet Lab, consumers now have access to critical data that can guide their purchasing decisions.

    “It’s going to help people looking to buy a helmet have an idea of how it’s going to perform because that type of information is not typically available,” he added.

    He said choosing the right helmet could be the difference between a minor injury and a life-threatening one.

    “Sometimes, those differences could be over 50% in risk reduction,” he said.

    Find the safety rankings for helmets on the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab website.

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s newest forecast is in. How much snow is the DC area expected to get? – WTOP News

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    With fall just around the corner, it’s almost time to start thinking about getting ready for the winter weather.

    With fall just around the corner, it’s almost time to start thinking about getting ready for the winter weather.

    The Old Farmer’s Almanac has just come out with its forecast for winter and told WTOP what the D.C. area can expect.

    “We’re calling for the coldest times to be in mid to late December and early and late January,” said Carol Connare, editor of the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

    So does the new forecast say this is the year of the blizzard? The short answer is — no.

    “We’re calling for above normal temperatures this winter and precipitation, meaning snowfall and rainfall, below normal,” Connare said.

    Overall, the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a milder and drier winter for the D.C. region with most snow falling around the holidays and in late winter.

    The temperatures are expected to be above normal with fewer snow days this year.

    That’s carrying forward a warm pattern from this summer, which Connare said lined up with the almanac’s forecast. 

    “We did predict warm for your area,” she said. “We’re just seeing warmer temperatures overall.”

    The Old Farmer’s Almanac started in 1792 and is the only almanac that’s been continuously published. The almanac makes its predictions by “comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity,” according to its website. They uses three disciplines: solar science, climatology and meteorology.

    This winter, Connare said the warmer months this winter will be February and March. They’re forecasting the temperature to be five degrees warmer on average in February and three degrees warmer in March.

    She said the region will see more slushy snow without much accumulation.

    “We’re seeing the snowiest times for your region will be late December and early January, during those cold snaps, and then late February,” she said.

    If you want to see and experience blizzard-like snow, where should you go this winter if it’s not going to happen in the D.C. area?

    “We are predicting snow, certainly in the Ohio Valley, we’re saying that the eastern Ohio Valley will have more above normal snowfall,” she said. “Also the Carolinas, which we know also happened last year, pretty far south, there was snow. And the southern Appalachians are going to have more snow than normal.”

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • DC town hall answers some questions about how federal officers are being deployed – WTOP News

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    D.C. Council member Robert White’s virtual town hall revealed new details about the deployment of federal officers and National Guard troops in D.C., including daily operations with local police and limited interaction with the National Guard.

    D.C. Council member Robert White hosted a virtual town hall Monday night, shedding new light on how federal officers and National Guard troops are being deployed in the District.

    A D.C. police officer at the meeting talked about how the officers and guard members are being used.

    “We very much see this as an enhancement of our normal operations,” said Capt. Jon Dorrough, who is the acting commander for the Seventh District. “Since the inception of MPD, we’ve worked with our federal partners. However, it has been much, much enhanced that we’ve heard the mayor describe it as a ‘surge.’”

    Dorrough said the federal partners sent in by President Donald Trump have been deploying with D.C. police on a daily basis.

    “Primarily, they’ve been going out with our crime suppression teams, which are our teams that focus on proactive enforcement in the neighborhoods,” he said.

    Dorrough said they have been working with their special operations division and traffic units as well.

    “With that, you have seen increased levels of enforcement, things like serving warrants, traffic stops, but it is things that we do on a daily basis, just at a higher level,” he said.

    When it comes to the National Guard, he said they haven’t had much interaction with them.

    “I know there’s a lot of concern about the National Guard. That is not someone that we’ve been partnering with on a day-to-day basis, as far as patrolling or anything of that sort. They are very much focused on securing federal properties and the monuments right now,” he said.

    When asked about whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been working with D.C. police on daily operations, Dorrough said they have been out with them.

    “They have been deploying with some of our units. So, there is some cooperation on the street, as you might have seen,” he said. “There was an executive order issued by the chief that allows some very limited assistance to ICE, as far as transports.”

    When it comes to the information ICE gets, he said they are getting information about who they are arresting.

    “If they’re on the scene with us, the identity of folks that are stopped or arrested, they will be privy to that obviously if they’re on the scene with us,” Dorrough said.

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • How can AI help the mental health of breast cancer patients? A local doctor explains a new study – WTOP News

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    Anxiety and trouble sleeping can impact many cancer patients as they navigate treatments. WTOP talked to a local doctor about a new initiative to use artificial intelligence to help clinicians detect and treat mental health for patients.

    As cancer patients face the emotional toll of treatment, a new AI-powered initiative is helping clinicians identify and address mental health challenges, like anxiety and insomnia, bringing timely support to those who need it most.

    “Breast cancer is a worldwide issue,” said Dr. David Penberthy, associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Virginia. “It affects 2.3 million people worldwide.”

    He said more people are surviving breast cancer as treatments get more targeted and more effective, but his team said they’re focusing on finding ways they can help with the mental health challenge of breast cancer.

    “There is uncertainty, and wrestling with that creates some challenges for people and everybody handles that a little bit differently,” he said.

    “Remote patient monitoring” is a way to keep an eye on someone to see if they’re having trouble at home. Smart watches that detect stress, virtual counselors that can help detect depression in someone’s voice, and monitoring the amount of sleep someone gets are just some of its uses.

    “Wearable technologies, such as smart watches, smart rings, that can actually identify things like heart rate variability or sleep patterns and sleep disturbances. And so if we recognize that a pattern of challenges are there, maybe we could intervene,” Penberthy said.

    Those helpful steps are outlined in a new paper by Penberthy and his colleagues.

    “We want to intervene and address things before they become a real issue. And that’s the promise of AI,” he said. “Uncertainty is probably a really challenging concept for most people in oncology to wrestle with.”

    Penberthy said he hopes getting breast cancer patients help for the mental health impacts of treatment earlier through the use of AI will help them have better outcomes.

    “The special sauce that AI is really going to impart upon us is when we’re able to use data analytics in such a way to help prevent things from happening in the future,” he said.

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Summer Restaurant Week extended in DC following announcement of federal law enforcement surge – WTOP News

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    You have some extra time to enjoy summer restaurant week in D.C. as it has been extended an additional week.

    You have some extra time to enjoy Summer Restaurant Week in D.C. as it has been extended an additional week.

    Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, said August is usually slow for businesses and restaurants in D.C. But this year, with the announcement of the federal surge of officers in the District, it’s been especially slow for some areas compared to last year’s restaurant week.

    “That week after President Trump announced, reservations were down in restaurants pretty significantly,” Townsend said.

    This year’s Summer Restaurant Week was also a week later than last year’s.

    “Our folks are resilient,” Townsend said. “As a result of feedback that we’ve heard from our members, in terms of how slow the foot traffic has been, we decided to extend Restaurant Week by an additional week.”

    It now runs through Aug. 31.

    “My hope is that an extended Summer Restaurant Week gives restaurants an additional lifeline and additional boost that they so desperately need in the month of August,” he said.

    Townsend said 230 of the 380 restaurants that signed up to participate for the first week of Summer Restaurant Week will be taking part in the second extended week.

    “That really shows the value of Restaurant Week,” Townsend said. “We hope that restaurants get back to some sort of sustainability, which normally happens after Labor Day.”

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • 10 speed camera zones added in Arlington ahead of new school year – WTOP News

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    New speed cameras will greet drivers Monday around school zones on the first day back to classes in Arlington County, Virginia.

    New speed cameras will greet drivers Monday around school zones on the first day back to classes in Arlington County, Virginia.

    There will be 10 additional school zone speed safety cameras, which brings the total in the county’s PhotoSPEED program to 28 cameras, according to a county news release.

    There is a “30-day warning period” for the 10 new cameras and the two relocated cameras starting Monday. After that, those who are caught speeding will be issued a $100 civil fine per ticket.

    Any drivers who speed by the returning cameras will be issued citations starting Monday.

    The new cameras are at the following locations:

    • NB 4700 block of Williamsburg Boulevard
    • NB 1300 block of S. George Mason Drive
    • SB 1000 block of N. George Mason Drive
    • NB 700 block of S. Carlin Springs Road
    • EB 4200 block of Lorcom Lane
    • EB 6000 block of Wilson Boulevard
    • SB 1400 block of N. Quincy Street
    • WB 1500 block of Wilson Boulevard
    • WB 5100 block of Williamsburg Boulevard
    • SB 2600 block of Military Road

    There are two cameras that are being relocated from the eastbound 5200 block of Yorktown Boulevard and the northbound 1300 block of N. Kirkwood. Those will now be at the following locations:

    • SB 1600 block of Kirkwood Road
    • WB 5100 block of Yorktown Boulevard

    Locations at which the speed cameras are returning include:

    • WB 5800 block of Wilson Boulevard
    • SB 400 block of N. George Mason Drive
    • SB 600 block of S. Carlin Springs Road
    • SB Unit block of S. Carlin Springs Road
    • SB 1900 block of S. George Mason Drive
    • NB 1900 block of S George Mason Drive
    • SB 1200 block of S. George Mason Drive
    • EB 4500 block of Washington Boulevard
    • NB 700 block of N. George Mason Drive
    • SB 2500 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road
    • EB 5800 block of Williamsburg Boulevard
    • SB 1000 block of N. McKinley Road
    • EB 3500 block of 2nd Street S.
    • NB 1600 block of N. Veitch Street
    • WB 5800 block of Little Falls Road
    • NB 1100 block of Patrick Henry Drive

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Tensions boil at Arlington School Board meeting on transgender bathroom policy – WTOP News

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    The debate was heated Thursday night at the Arlington County School Board meeting in Virginia as dozens of speakers lined up to give their thoughts on the school system and its transgender bathroom policy. 

    The debate was heated Thursday night at the Arlington County School Board meeting in Virginia as dozens of speakers lined up to give their thoughts on the school system and its transgender bathroom policy.

    The room was packed and tensions were high from the beginning, including just after the Pledge of Allegiance with the room screaming, “for all, for all.”

    The debate comes after Arlington County schools decided to keep its policy allowing students to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

    Arlington is one of five Northern Virginia school divisions that the federal government warned this week could have funding withheld if they don’t change their policies.

    Republican candidate for governor of Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears attended and spoke at the meeting.

    “Here’s the truth. There are two sexes, boys and girls, and for generations, we’ve understood this, that they deserve their own sports teams, their own locker rooms, their own bathrooms. That’s not discrimination. It is common sense,” Earle-Sears said.

    Democratic candidate for Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger said in a statement:

    “As a mom of three daughters in Virginia public schools, a former federal law enforcement officer, and a candidate for Governor, Abigail’s priority is ensuring that all of Virginia’s kids are safe and supported. While Abigail’s opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears stokes division and backs the Trump Administration’s threats to strip funding from Virginia schools, as Virginia’s next Governor, Abigail will work to protect public school funding, address the Commonwealth’s chronic teacher shortage, and contend with our last-in-the-nation math recovery ranking. While Winsome Earle-Sears has a decades-long record of trying to defund Virginia’s public schools — and has offered no plan to increase student achievement, Abigail will continue to focus on preparing students for success and bringing Virginia parents to the table.”

    Parent Hans Bauman said he supports the school system’s decision as a parent of three students who graduated from APS and a graduate himself.

    “Thank you for remembering that we are your constituents. Arlington has long stood for universal values that ensure all communities feel welcome and supported,” Bauman said.

    “Supporting the human rights of all students is core to Arlington’s identity, but standing behind those values when tested is not easy.”

    Arlington parent Amy Killelea said she’s worried about the impact of the school system potentially losing funding.

    “It’s our kids’ education at stake, and there have now been thousands of our Arlington community voices that have publicly asked you to refuse to back down to political theater and pressure our kids are not a political point for Richmond and Washington, D.C. to score.”

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • ‘Truly a groundbreaking discovery’: U.Va. gets funding for clinical trial to stop sepsis – WTOP News

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    A team at the University of Virginia has developed a monoclonal antibody to stop sepsis, the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals.

    There is good news from Virginia when it comes to the deadly infection sepsis.

    “This is truly a groundbreaking discovery,” said Jianjie Ma, a professor in the department of surgery at the University of Virginia. “Sepsis is a very challenging disease to treat.”

    Ma is part of the team at U.Va., along with the University of Michigan, that has developed a monoclonal antibody to stop sepsis. The deadly infection impacts up to 50 million people worldwide every year, killing about 11 million people, according to researchers. It’s the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals.

    “It’s a really urgent matter in the hospital, because when patients are admitted to the hospital, they have to be treated right away,” he said. “Any delay, one hour delay will cost 5% to 10% chance of people dying.”

    U.Va. has received $800,000 from the research company Virginia Catalyst to launch a clinical trial of the antibody at U.Va. Health and Virginia Commonwealth University.

    “Our technology will, can stop the dying process by targeting the very innate immune defense of our body,” Ma said.

    He said the antibody has the potential to treat a range of inflammatory conditions, including autoimmune disorders.

    “We are ready, and we have a lot of goals ahead of us,” Ma said. “It’s a really urgent matter in the hospital.”

    He said applications could include deadly acute respiratory distress syndrome, which came to public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is tissue damage caused when blood flow is cut off and restored.

    “We have now made the antibody drug product available to start the clinical trial as soon as we can,” he said.

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Prince George’s Co. food bank expanding its reach after its new distribution event brings out large crowd – WTOP News

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    A food bank in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is working to expand its reach as the group is seeing hundreds show up at its food distribution events.

    The StoreHouse holds a food distribution event in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
    (Courtesy The StoreHouse)

    Courtesy The StoreHouse

    Volunteers carry food for distribution at an event held by The StoreHouse in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
    (Courtesy The StoreHouse)

    Courtesy The StoreHouse

    Volunteers hand out backpacks at a Back2School event by The StoreHouse on Saturday.
    (Courtesy The StoreHouse)

    Courtesy The StoreHouse

    The StoreHouse holds a food distribution event in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
    (Courtesy The StoreHouse)

    Courtesy The StoreHouse

    Food is seen for The StoreHouse food distribution event in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
    (Courtesy The StoreHouse)

    Courtesy The StoreHouse

    A food bank in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is working to expand its reach as the group is seeing hundreds show up at its food distribution events.

    “We’re a community, and we show up for our families,” said Mel Johnson, executive director of The StoreHouse.

    Johnson founded the food bank about three years ago because she saw a need in the community. It’s the first Black-run food bank in the United States, and it serves the D.C. region.

    This past weekend, the group held a “Back2School Bash” at G. James Gholson Middle School in Landover. The organization had 40 volunteers help give away 500 backpacks filled with school supplies. They also did a “makeover” of two classrooms for teachers at the school.

    Right now, they’re focusing on the county’s eighth district with a new food drive.

    “There’s a lot of chronic illness, and families just really needing some support in that area,” Johnson said. “People are hungry, people need support, and we’re showing up for them in that way.”

    They have partnered with Prince George’s County Council Chair Edward Burroughs and Victory Church International for a biweekly food distribution in District 8 at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Camp Springs. It started on July 12 and will run for a year.

    Johnson said she was shocked by the turnout.

    “The lines have been wrapped. Families are coming at 6 a.m. already, even though our giveaway doesn’t start till 11 a.m., and that really shows you the need, and the importance of the work that we do,” Johnson said.

    More food giveaways are scheduled

    Johnson said because of how many people showed up, her group is starting a similar event in District 7 next month.

    So far, they’ve served almost 2,800 families at the biweekly event and distributed 62,000 pounds of food.

    The StoreHouse also runs a food bank on its own on the third Saturday of each month in Lanham.

    The organization doesn’t only help with food, they also provide gently used clothing, baby items and mental health resources.

    “Everyone needs more help now,” Johnson said. “I’m thankful and grateful that they do show up to receive support. But it also talks about how we’re able to serve them. People feel loved.”

    Since it was founded, the StoreHouse has distributed 2.1 million pounds of free, healthy food to more than 3,000 families each month. They have served more than 52,000 families in the D.C. region.

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Restaurant reservations are down in DC following federal takeover of police force – WTOP News

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    President Donald Trump claimed that his recent takeover of the D.C. police has made residents feel safer, leading to a surge in restaurant visits. However, data contradicts this, showing a significant drop in reservations compared to last year.

    President Donald Trump said on Monday that since his announcement to take over the D.C. police department, people are now more comfortable going to dinner in the District. WTOP is digging into the data that shows restaurant reservations are actually significantly down compared to this time last year.

    “People that haven’t gone out to dinner in Washington, D.C. in two years, are going out to dinner, and the restaurants, the last two days, were busier than they’ve been in a long time,” Trump said Monday from the White House.

    But according to the booking site OpenTable, reservations have plummeted since this time last year. The site showed that reservations on Saturday and Sunday were both down around 20% from last year.

    Trump boasted the opposite, adding that he’s had people calling him saying, “Sir, I want to thank you. My wife and I went out to dinner last night for the first time in four years, and Washington, D.C. is safe. And you did that in four days!”

    Restaurant reservations in D.C. dropped 27% on Tuesday; 31% on Wednesday; 29% on Thursday; 25% on Friday; 20% on Saturday; and 22% on Sunday compared to last year’s reservations, according to OpenTable.

    “I’m definitely concerned about it,” said Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. “This is about supporting families who rely on these restaurants to pay their rent, to pay tuition, to send their kids to college. This is more about that, and I want to make it clear that our industry is resilient.”

    Townsend told WTOP the number of restaurant diners are usually low this time of year, but these numbers are especially low. He encourages people to go out for D.C.’s annual Summer Restaurant Week, adding that crime this year has been down and the restaurants are ready for diners.

    “The business community, we have all been working diligently with MPD on bringing crime down due to the surge in 2023. Is our city perfect? Absolutely not. However, we have made great strides. Crime is down. Our city is safer because of the work that’s been put in,” Townsend said.

    He said they’re hopeful that Summer Restaurant Week will bring in business with a record 380 restaurants participating. It runs Aug. 18-24.

    “If you want to send a message to the administration and to the country, support your local restaurants this week, and for the next couple of weeks, while we have this increased presence of federal agents in our city — that’s the strongest way to send a message,” he said.

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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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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Spotsylvania deputies shoot armed suspect, bystander at gas station – WTOP News

    Spotsylvania deputies shoot armed suspect, bystander at gas station – WTOP News

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    An armed suspect and a bystander were shot by deputies and hospitalized following a traffic stop at a gas station in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, on Saturday night.

    An armed suspect and a bystander were shot by deputies and hospitalized following a traffic stop at a gas station in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, on Saturday night.

    The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said deputies fired after the man pointed a gun at them.

    It happened when deputies tried to arrest a suspect wanted on “multiple felony warrants” at a gas station in the 3000 block of Plank Road in Fredericksburg just before 9 p.m., according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

    When deputies were walking up to the stopped vehicle, the suspect, Lawrence D. Toler II, 37, of Woodford, “attempted to flee” and backed into a deputy’s vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

    Toler pointed a firearm at a deputy and “multiple deputies” responded by discharging their service weapons, according to the news release.

    Both Toler and an unnamed male bystander outside of the gas station were shot, the sheriff’s office said.

    The deputies provided aid to Toler and the bystander before they were transported to Mary Washington Hospital for treatment of their injuries, the release said.

    The bystander was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital. Toler is still at the hospital being treated for life-threatening injuries, the release said.

    The sheriff’s office said that a firearm was found in Toler’s vehicle.

    The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Culpeper Field Office said it is investigating the incident. Once that investigation is done, the file will be given to the Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney for review.

    The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is requesting anyone with information contact the department at 540-829-7400 or bci.culpeper@vsp.virginia.gov.

    A map of the area where the shooting happened is below:

    (Courtesy Google Maps)

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

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  • Howard Co. father who built go-kart track on property is at the center of controversy over whether he can keep it – WTOP News

    Howard Co. father who built go-kart track on property is at the center of controversy over whether he can keep it – WTOP News

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    A father in Maryland built a track on his private property for his son. But issues surrounding permits and noise are now at the center of the controversy.

    The go-kart track that Chris Siperko built on his private property in Highland, Maryland.
    (Courtesy Chris Siperko)

    Courtesy Chris Siperko

    Chris Siperko and his son Achilles
    Chris Siperko and his son Achilles, who races go-karts competitively.
    (Courtesy Chris Siperko)

    Courtesy Chris Siperko

    Achilles races go-karts
    Siperko says he’s spent nearly $200,000 to build a go-kart track for his son on their property.
    (Courtesy Chris Siperko)

    Courtesy Chris Siperko

    Achilles races go-karts
    Permits and noise are at the center of the controversy over whether the family can keep the racetrack.
    (Courtesy Chris Siperko)

    Courtesy Chris Siperko

    A father in Howard County, Maryland, built a go-kart track on his private property for his son. But permits and noise are now at the center of the controversy over whether he can keep it.

    “I just didn’t think it was going to be an issue,” said Chris Siperko, who lives on 11 acres in Highland.

    Siperko said he spent close to $200,000 constructing a go-kart track on his private property for his son Achilles. The track was completed around mid-January, he said.

    The family travels to Florida almost every weekend for Achilles to train as a racer. Siperko said he did some research and didn’t see anything about permits.

    “So I called some paving companies,” Siperko told WTOP. “They came out and they said, ‘Oh, it’s your property. You don’t need a permit, as long as it’s not touching a main road. So as long as it’s not touching the driveway that touches the road or accesses the main road, you don’t need a permit.’”

    Dan O’Leary, chairman of the Greater Highland Crossroads Association, told WTOP that his group is strongly supporting neighbors who object to the track. He called the opposition to the go-kart track “emotional and overwhelming.”

    Siperko said when neighbors saw the construction, they contacted the county. He then received two citations, one for the paving and one for constructing it on wetlands.

    “We are sympathetic that a family has gotten itself in a such financial and emotional situation. Everyone wants to help their children succeed in their aspirations,” O’Leary wrote in a statement. “A simple call to Howard County officials would have confirmed that extensive permissions are required to disturb more than 5,000 Sq. Ft. (about 1/8 acre) of ground.”

    There have been two community meetings on the matter, and Siperko said he is gearing up for hearings with the county on fighting to keep the track.

    A Change.org petition on the issue supporting the Siperko family in keeping the track has received more than 1,700 signatures as of Saturday afternoon.

    “I’ll do everything to try to make it right for the county,” Siperko said. “If he wanted to do basketball, I’d build him up a basketball court. I mean, if he wants to swim, I could build him a pool, but he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to be a racer, so I built him a track.”

    The Greater Highland Crossroads Association represents Highland and rural areas of Fulton, Dayton and Clarksville. The goal of the association is to “see new development evolve in a way which compliments, not compromises, the Highland area,” according to the association’s website.

    In his statement, O’Leary wrote that the go-kart track was not approved and is greatly impacting the neighborhood.

    “The principle objection — other than the environmental damage — was the noise generated by the tires on the EVs, prompting distant neighbors to call the police and the authorities,” he said.

    O’Leary said that the association will “continue until the end to support our neighbors and members. In our experience, this may take around two years if it goes to the District Court.”

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

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  • Alexandria police release body camera footage of shooting that left armed man dead – WTOP News

    Alexandria police release body camera footage of shooting that left armed man dead – WTOP News

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    Police in Alexandria, Virginia, have released body camera footage from the August night an officer shot and killed an armed man in an apartment building.

    Police in Alexandria, Virginia, have released body camera footage from August when an officer shot and killed an armed man inside an apartment building.

    You can see the body camera video below. Warning: The following video contains imagery that may be unsuitable for certain audiences.

    Police negotiators spoke to Paul Behan, 61, in the moments before he was shot three times by an officer on Aug. 12 at the Maris Avenue apartment complex.

    According to police, someone called them after Behan was acting upset after he lost a job, was having marriage issues and seemed intoxicated. Behan can be seen in the body camera footage holding a rifle, which he appears to point at officers during the incident.

    Behan, police said, pointed the rifle at officers right before he was fatally shot, but the view of that moment is obstructed in the body camera footage. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

    The officer who shot him is a nine-year veteran of the Alexandria Police Department. An external investigation found the officer was justified in his actions and the use of force was reasonable.

    “We’re going to look at everything — police, training, supervision. We’re going to look at everything,” said Raul Pedroso, Alexandria’s interim police chief. “Our policy is to protect the dignity, the rights and the safety of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.”

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  • DC man sentenced to +50 years of prison time for sexual abuse of 3 children – WTOP News

    DC man sentenced to +50 years of prison time for sexual abuse of 3 children – WTOP News

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    A D.C. man was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for sexually abusing three children — including an infant.

    A D.C. man was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for sexually abusing three children — including an infant.

    Matthew Stitt Johnson, 34, plead guilty in August of 2022 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for abusing three minor children, according to a Friday news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

    Between 2015 and 2020, Johnson sexually abused an 8-year-old, 5-year-old and 8-month-old infant. In some instances, he recorded videos of the attacks.

    The 8-year-old and 5-year-old reported the abuse to their mother, according to the news release. At the time, it was not reported to police.

    It wasn’t until May of 2021 that police searched Johnson’s home, after receiving a tip from a “cloud-based service” that he had downloaded child sexual abuse material.

    During that search, police found videos Johnson recorded on his cellphone of two of the children being sexually abused. There were also more than 13,000 images of various child sexual abuse material, according to the news release.

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  • Maryland, Virginia beaches closed to swimming after reports of washed up ‘medical waste’ – WTOP News

    Maryland, Virginia beaches closed to swimming after reports of washed up ‘medical waste’ – WTOP News

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    Popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia are closed Sunday to swimming and even wading as officials investigate reports of “medical waste,” including needles, washing up on shore.

    Popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia are closed Sunday to swimming and even wading as officials investigate reports of “medical waste,” including needles, washing up on shore.

    Swimming is not allowed at Ocean City, Assateague Island and Fenwick Island in Maryland, as well as Chincoteague Public Beach, officials announced Sunday afternoon.

    The Town of Ocean City said that the beach patrol has closed the local beaches for swimming and urged “everyone to adhere to this closure until further notice.”

    “We will work closely with the Worcester County Health Department and other public health authorities to investigate the source of the medical waste,” said Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald.

    He added that the situation is “serious, especially given the combination of rough seas and the current health concerns.”

    There is no estimate on when the beaches may reopen to swimming. Visitors in the area are urged to wear shoes and should be “avoiding the ocean entirely,” Theobald said.

    The Town of Fenwick Island also closed its beaches to swimming Sunday, citing reports of waste washing to shore, according to a Facebook post from the town’s government.

    The National Park Service said there are closures on the Maryland side of Assateague Island National Seashore because of the reports of medical waste.

    The North End of Assateague Island is closed to all visitors and the beaches in the Maryland District are closed to swimming and wading.

    Chincoteague Public Beach in Virginia has also been added to the closure list. All ocean-facing beaches at Assateague Island National Seashore are now closed to swimming or wading.

    Officials with the park service and with Fenwick Island echoed calls for visitors to keep their shoes on while walking on the beach.

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  • Is your house ready for the next big storm? WTOP talks to an expert for National Emergency Preparedness Month – WTOP News

    Is your house ready for the next big storm? WTOP talks to an expert for National Emergency Preparedness Month – WTOP News

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    Is your house ready for the next big storm that may hit the D.C. area? September is National Emergency Preparedness Month so WTOP talked with an expert for tips on simple ways to prepare for emergencies.

    Is your house ready for the next big storm that may hit the D.C. area? September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, and WTOP talked with an expert for tips on simple ways to prepare for emergencies.

    If there’s a lot of rain in the forecast, you have to think about whether your home is at an increased risk for flooding.

    “If you’re less than 10 feet above the bottom of a creek, you should be thinking about the risk of flash flooding,” said Aris Papadopoulos, founder of the nonprofit Resilience Action Fund and a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor.

    He said that the month is important, as it helps remind homeowners they should be ready for whatever comes their way.

    “If you’re planning to do any improvements, now is the time to think about your priorities,” Papadopoulos said.

    One of the most important things you need to think about is right above your head.

    “The roof is probably one of the most vulnerable parts of the house, because if the roof gets damaged, all sorts of other damages cascade from there to the rest of the house. And if your roof is over 15 years old, you need to be planning to replace that roof,” he said.

    Papadopoulos said that when it comes to removing the risk of fires, make sure you clear trees, debris and other potential flammable items from your property.

    “Create what they call a ‘defensive space,’ 5 feet around the house, so that you know if a fire starts at a distance, the house won’t catch on fire that easily,” he said.

    For flood protection, the Resilience Action Fund said there are various door and property barrier/dam products that go beyond the traditional “filling-and-piling the sandbags.” To limit wall water damage, the group said there are sealants and coatings that can “dry-proof” walls. All these work best in 1 to 2-feet water situations.

    Overall, he said the theme of the month should be a good reminder to all homeowners: “This is a good month to do an annual checkup for your house. … So let’s make a checklist and say, ‘OK, what needs to be fixed in this house? What if a storm comes by? What if the neighbors, the neighborhood, catches on fire?”

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  • DC man sentenced to 18 years for carjacking, shooting driver – WTOP News

    DC man sentenced to 18 years for carjacking, shooting driver – WTOP News

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    A judge has sentenced a D.C. man to 18 years in prison after he was convicted by a jury in March of armed carjacking, assault and related charges. 

    A judge has sentenced a D.C. man to 18 years in prison after he was convicted by a jury in March of armed carjacking, assault and related charges.

    Tayvon Owens, 31, was sentenced for shooting and carjacking a woman on Newton Street NW in December of 2022, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

    According to the prosecution’s evidence, Owens walked up to a woman sitting in the driver’s seat of her car, “flung the car door open” and pointed a gun at her. He then ordered her out of the car. The victim began to comply, but then tried to “use the car door to shield herself” from him, according to the release.

    He then went around the car door and shot the woman in the knee before pulling her out of the car onto the sidewalk. Owens took her car and drove off, the release said.

    D.C. police used officers on the streets and in a helicopter to track Owens after he left the scene. When his car approached the 1400 block of Bangor Street in Southeast, Owens “jumped out of the victim’s car while it was still moving.” The car then crashed into a tree.

    Police say Owens ran off and stashed his gun behind a home before he was taken into custody by the D.C. police.

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  • DC apartment was target of 2 arson attacks in just over 24 hours – WTOP News

    DC apartment was target of 2 arson attacks in just over 24 hours – WTOP News

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    A D.C. apartment was on fire for the second time in just over 24 hours on Friday morning in what are being called targeted arson attacks.

    Investigators have identified a person of interest in two arson attacks on the same apartment in D.C.
    (Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue)

    Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue

    An investigation is ongoing in the case of an arson attack on the same apartment in D.C. twice in a little over 24 hours.
    (Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue)

    Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue

    Firefighters respond to an arson attack twice in the span of a little more than 24 hours.
    (Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue)

    Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue

    A first floor apartment in D.C. was attacked twice by an arsonist.
    (Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue)

    Courtesy D.C. Fire and Rescue

    A fire broke out at a D.C. apartment building for the second time in just over 24 hours on Friday morning. Authorities said the fires are the result of targeted arson attacks and a suspect has been taken into custody.

    An accelerant was thrown in an attack on a first floor apartment in the 2100 block of Suitland Terrace in Southeast, according to police.

    Fire and EMS spokesperson Vito Maggiolo said the first incident happened around 7 a.m. Thursday. The more serious attack happened Friday just before 9 a.m.

    More than a dozen firefighters responded to the scene Friday morning. Maggiolo said the accelerants were tossed from outside the building.

    He said the people living in the apartment were staying elsewhere after the first attack and weren’t in the building Friday morning.

    Police have since taken a suspect into custody whose identity hasn’t been released.

    An accelerant-sniffing K-9 team was there Friday morning checking the area.

    Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the D.C. arson hotline at (202) 673-ARSON (2776).

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  • 6-year-old boy dies after shooting at July 4th celebration in Prince George’s Co. – WTOP News

    6-year-old boy dies after shooting at July 4th celebration in Prince George’s Co. – WTOP News

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    A 6-year-old boy died on Saturday after he was shot during a Fourth of July celebration in Temple Hills, Maryland, according to police.

    Ahsan Julian Payton of D.C., died days after a shooting in Prince George’s County. (Courtesy Prince George’s County police)

    A 6-year-old boy died on Saturday after he was shot during a Fourth of July celebration in Temple Hills, Maryland, according to police.

    In a news release Sunday, Prince George’s County police identified the deceased child as Ahsan Julian Payton, of D.C.

    Payton was shot in the 4500 block of Akron Street shortly before 8 p.m. on Thursday during a holiday neighborhood gathering, police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and died two days later.

    Two other people were also injured in the shooting, according to police. A man, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a woman, who was treated on the scene for a graze wound.

    Police said they are currently working to determine a motive for the shooting and identify possible suspects. They’re asking anyone who attended the party, or who may have information that could assist in the investigation to contact homicide unit detectives at 301-516-2512.

    A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.

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  • After ‘whites only’ job posting, Va. tech company hit with fine from the Justice Department – WTOP News

    After ‘whites only’ job posting, Va. tech company hit with fine from the Justice Department – WTOP News

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    A tech company based in Ashburn, Virginia, has been fined by the Department of Justice after it advertised that it was seeking “white” candidates for an open job posting.

    A tech company based in Loudoun County, Virginia, has been fined by the Department of Justice after it advertised that it was seeking “white” candidates for an open job posting.

    The job posting by Ashburn-based Arthur Grand Technologies Inc. was published in March 2023 and said that the company was only looking for “U.S. Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates],” according to a Justice Department news release.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section opened an investigation in May 2023 and “determined that Arthur Grand discriminated based on citizenship status and national origin after a recruiter working for Arthur Grand’s subsidiary in India posted the advertisement on the job website Indeed.”

    Following that posting, the advertisement was widely circulated online. An investigation by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs determined that the company advertised for an open business analyst position in Dallas through a public online hiring site.

    “It is shameful that in the 21st century, we continue to see employers using ‘whites only’ and ‘only US born’ job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in the release. “I share the public’s outrage at Arthur Grand’s appalling and discriminatory ban on job candidates based on citizenship status, national origin, color and race.”

    As part of a Justice Department settlement, Arthur Grand will pay a civil penalty and will train its personnel on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring.

    Arthur Grand must also pay compensation to those who filed complaints with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

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