DMV Download from WTOP News

When an international superstar says she went swimming in the Potomac River, D.C. takes notice. The singer Lorde recently told fans that she took a dip in the nation’s river to get a feel for the city. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein, who has been covering water issues in our area and is a musician himself, tells us why it got such a gushing reaction. We also hear from Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks who argues e...

The D.C. sports and crime worlds clashed this weekend when two teens tried to carjack Washington Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson. They shot the star player multiple times. Megan Cloherty is learning more details about what happened from her law enforcement sources and we talk about how prevalent this crime has become in the nation's capital. And this has the potential to be a huge hi...

The deadline is now extended for students in DC to get COVID vaccines. School leaders announced today they have until January 3 and explained why, just days before school begins, they are delaying the shot that was mandated. And it’s not just students who have new requirements to follow. A judge struck down Mayor Muriel Bower’s mandate that employees of the city, including teachers, must be vaccin...

Washingtonians are reacting to President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness announcement with mixed feelings. Some are relieved — freed from crippling debt – while others say it either won’t make much difference or feel left out from free $10,000 to $20,000 dollars. We also talk with financial advisor Barry Glassman of Glassman Wealth about the details of the plan and what you have to do if you...

The Purple Line was supposed to take riders between Montgomery and Prince George’s counties this year, but the light-rail project is four years behind schedule because of labor disputes and rising costs. This week, the construction union and contractor signed a new bargaining agreement that will kick-start the idling project. WTOP’s Luke Lukert tells us where the Purple Line stands. We also speak...

A Fairfax County middle school counselor was able to interact with kids for nearly two years after police charged him with soliciting a minor for prostitution. An investigation by our colleague Scott Gelman found that Fairfax County Schools never knew he was arrested for this offense, in part, because emails from Chesterfield Police alerting them to his arrest bounced back. And have you thought ab...

College students caravanned to American University this morning with backpacks and boxes – all in anticipation of their upcoming classes. Huge banners line welcomed the students, but just beneath the waving flags, hundreds of university workers protested for better wages. More than 500 clerical, technical, and academic staff members went on strike today after wage negotiations stalled out last wee...

Spraying for mosquitos is pretty commonplace around the DMV. You’ve likely seen it in your neighborhood if you haven't paid for the service before. But the chemicals used by most commercial companies that spray are beginning to worry scientists who say pollinators like bees, butterflies, and even birds are also falling victim to the deadly treatment. We talk about alternatives with Dr. Lynn Goldma...

There’s no question that Jeremy Duffie is having a good week. Last weekend, he won the 49th annual White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland - billed as the world’s largest and richest billfish tournament. But this is not something that Duffie and his family took lightly. We talk to Jeremy Duffie about how he wrangled a 77.5 lb. marlin into the boat his brother, Jon, built. See Privacy Policy at h...

As students prepare to head back to school, many student-athletes are set to start a new season. It's the first for most without covid restrictions. But the last two years have changed the game, especially when it comes to football. After a former pro player had to walk away from coaching a team that had a roster of only 11 players, Chad Ricardo who covers high school sports in the DMV says it's t...

Restaurants are struggling to survive as two and a half years after the pandemic, covid is still keeping some customers who are working from home from spending a few bucks on coffee or lunch. You also may have noticed you're waiting longer to get your food, or even get a drink, when you go into your favorite spot. The staffing shortage coupled with the rising cost of food is hitting local restaura...

An incredible project to honor those who gave their lives in the War in Vietnam reached a milestone - collecting photos of the more than 58 thousand servicemembers who lost their lives. Tim Tetz from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund shares the story of a servicemember from Alexandria, Virginia, and why it still needs help with the project that’s so important to our country’s history. Also, Megan...

The race for Montgomery County Executive was supposed to be certified Friday, but during an audit election officials found more than a hundred provisional ballots in need of counting. We talk to WTOP’s Kate Ryan about whether these ballots could change who is elected. And the number of migrants bused from the southern border to Union Station has now topped 6,000. WTOP’s Nick Iannelli says the reso...

Two massive storm systems washed through the D.C. region causing significant flooding. Flash flooding overtook cars, stranded drivers and poured into low-lying buildings. WTOP’s John Domen went to Riverdale, Maryland and talked to a business owner about the flood. And the mantra “Turn Around Don’t Drown” is good as gold, but WTOP’s Dave Dildine gives additional flood safety advice as it’s sometime...

It’s the Smithsonian Institution’s birthday. The museum juggernaut is now 176 years old, but it very nearly never existed at all. WTOP’s Rick Massimo brings us this little known story of twists and turns of fate that ultimately brought us the Smithsonian as we know it today. And a local baseball team made it to the Junior League Baseball World Series. WTOP’s Mike Murillo tells the story of a Loudo...

More fourth and fifth grade students in Arlington County, Virginia needed literacy help at the end of the last school year than at the beginning, according to data from the Virginia school system. We talk to WTOP’s Scott Gelman. He helps us make sense of these concerning numbers and the stories behind them. And WTOP's Kristi King tells us the story of beagles rescued from a 'torturous' facility in...

Only one person survived a lightning strike that hit four people in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. The bolt hit a tree in Lafayette Square near the White House and then electrocuted four people standing underneath. How did this happen? And what can we do to prevent this? We talk to meteorologist with National Lightning Safety Council Chris Vagasky about how we should think about lightning safety. S...

We spend the whole episode on monkeypox and how the region is handling the vaccine scarcity. It’s the first day D.C. is holding it’s pop-up vaccine clinics for monkeypox and Luke spoke to some of those waiting in a line that wrapped around the block. Then, we speak with Dr. Anthony Fauci on the history of the virus and if we should make any changes to our daily lives given the public health emerge...

Hundreds of students across Virginia are taking a stance, and urging the state’s Department of Education to change guidelines that define any references to LGBTQ+ people in the classroom as ‘sexually explicit content.’ Their request questions the basis of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s bill that would require parents be alerted when school materials contain sexually explicit content. WTOP’s Scott Gelma...

A change could be coming to D.C. streets including the possibility drivers can no longer turn right on red. This would happen if legislation proposed by Councilmember Mary Cheh is approved as-is. The Safer Streets Amendment Act of 2022 comes after three cyclists died in the city last month. We talk about the bill with Jeremiah Lowery of the Washington Area Bicylists Association. We also zoom out w...

Nationals fans are reeling today at word superstar Juan Soto is officially traded to the San Diego Padres along with first baseman Josh Bell. In return, the Nats get a bevy of prospects on their roster, but as WTOP’s Dave Preston tells us, no matter the details of the deal, this move won’t long be forgotten. WTOP’s Shawn Anderson weighs in on the tremendous gut punch fans are experiencing in losin...

One of two men who is accused of impersonating a federal officer and allegedly not only offered US Secret Service agents free rent but iPhones, surveillance systems, a TV, and guns is changing his plea to guilty and sharing the details of their scheme with federal investigators. WTOP’s John Domen listened in on the court hearing and shares some of what investigators learned. See Privacy Policy at...

Election workers are accepting the last batch of mail-in ballots for a tight Democratic primary race for Montgomery County executive today. WTOP’s Kate Ryan tells us why this run-off between incumbent Marc Elrich and businessman David Blair – despite its length – is just part of a step-by-step ballot counting process. And while some ballots are still coming in, the candidates running for Maryland...

Metro’s new General Manager Randy Clarke is starting his role officially by addressing the fallout from a viral TikTok video where rider says she was sexually harrassed by a man on a station and no one came to help. Questions remain over what exactly happened on the Metro platform, but all eyes are on the question of how to ride Metro safely. WTOP’s John Domen asked Clarke about this issue and we...

Kids go back to school in about six weeks depending on their school district, and education leaders in DC say now is the time to get students vaccinated. WTOP’s Kristi King tells us about the aggressive ‘no shots, no school’ policy in the District and how it’s accommodating parents to ensure in-person instruction can go on without any quarantine interruption this fall. See Privacy Policy at https:...