Diane Morris – WTOP 太子探花 Washington's Top 太子探花 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:02:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Wtop太子探花Logo_500x500-150x150.png Diane Morris – WTOP 太子探花 32 32 Montgomery County police release bodycam video of shootout in Montgomery Village /montgomery-county/2026/04/montgomery-county-police-release-bodycam-video-of-shootout-in-montgomery-village/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:40:15 +0000 /?p=29101799 Montgomery County police have released body-worn camera footage showing an exchange of gunfire between officers and a suspect now charged with attempted murder in an incident in Montgomery Village last week.

pursuing 27-year-old Andre Duvall through an apartment complex after he fled police near Contour Road, where police had been responding to ongoing complaints about crime in the area.

The video shows an officer chasing Duvall on foot, identifying himself as a police officer and ordering him to stop. As the officer rounded the corner of a building, Duvall allegedly fired multiple shots, prompting the officer to take cover and then return fire.

The footage shows the gunfight, with officers shouting commands and reporting 鈥渟hots fired鈥 over the radio as the confrontation unfolded.

Duvall, of Germantown, was struck by police gunfire in the upper torso and leg, according to Assistant Police Chief Darren Francke.

First-responders can be seen on the video administering first aid to Duvall.

Duvall was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries before being released the same day and taken into custody, authorities said.

No officers or bystanders were injured in the incident.

Police said a handgun was recovered at the scene and noted that Duvall is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions. He now faces multiple charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, assault and firearms violations.

Francke said the department has received frequent complaints about potential criminal activity in the area and officers have been directed to patrol the area to “restore order.”

The case remains under investigation.

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

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鈥楤ig dog adopters, we need you鈥: Md. shelter at ‘critical capacity’ finds homes for 18 dogs /montgomery-county/2026/03/big-dog-adopters-we-need-you-montgomery-co-shelter-reaches-critical-capacity/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:50:22 +0000 /?p=29014885 The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is urgently asking residents to adopt or foster dogs after the shelter exceeded its max capacity this week.

“Big dog adopters, we need you!” MCASA posted on its on Friday.

On Sunday, 11 dogs found homes, according to shelter spokesperson Maria Anselmo, who said seven dogs were adopted Saturday as another six were placed in foster homes.

Two other dogs are also pending adoptions as they await spay and neuter surgery.

“We had a great day today with dogs getting adopted,” Anselmo told WTOP. “As of this moment, there are 79 dogs in shelter and 27 dogs in foster.”

The shelter hopes the momentum continues so they can get down to 75 dogs in the shelter.

Officials previously said the center in Derwood, Maryland, had taken in a surge of dogs in recent days, pushing the total number of pets at the shelter to more than 100. During the past week alone, staff took in 29 dogs, filling every available kennel,

The situation put the shelter in a “critical” status, particularly for larger dogs, which historically take longer to find homes.

鈥淲e鈥檝e never put out an urgent list or euthanized solely for space, but with what we鈥檙e facing now, that possibility is hanging over our heads,鈥 Anselmo had said in the shelter’s first call to the community for help.

The shelter said dogs were arriving faster than staff and volunteers could safely place them with adopters or foster families.

Animal service workers say adopting, even temporarily, can help relieve pressure on the overcrowded facility.

鈥淏y opening up your heart and home 鈥 even just for a while 鈥 you鈥檙e saving a life,鈥 read a Facebook post by the shelter. 鈥淕ive them a second chance at the happiness they deserve, while also freeing up a kennel for another dog in need.鈥

Although the shelter is closed on Wednesday, residents who are interested in adopting can visit the shelter at the following times:

  • Monday and Tuesday: noon to 7 p.m.
  • Thursday and Friday noon to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

The shelter is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road.

If you can’t adopt, the shelter says there are other ways to help, including fostering large dogs, donating pet food, sharing adoption posts on social media or helping reunite lost pets with their owners before they enter the shelter system.

More information about adoption and volunteer opportunities is available at the .

WTOP’s Will Vitka contributed to this report.

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Custodian arrested after hiding in girls鈥 locker room during basketball game at West Virginia high school /local/2026/02/custodian-arrested-after-hiding-in-girls-locker-room-during-basketball-game-at-west-virginia-high-school/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:49:11 +0000 /?p=28921725 A West Virginia school custodian is facing 29 charges after police say he was found hiding in a girls鈥 locker room during a basketball game at a Berkeley County high school.

Berkeley County Schools report the custodian, who has been identified as William Howard Shoup, 25, 鈥渨ill not be returning to the school or to Berkeley County Schools.鈥

School officials said the incident happened during a girls鈥 basketball game Thursday at Martinsburg High School, involving the visiting team from Hedgesville High School, located just across the Maryland border.

Shoup was discovered hiding inside a closet within the visiting team鈥檚 girls鈥 locker room during the game, officials said.

Law enforcement was contacted immediately.

The Martinsburg City Police Department responded to the school and arrested the custodian. Authorities have since filed a total of 29 charges, though police have not publicly detailed the specific counts.

Shoup was arraigned Thursday before the Berkeley County Magistrate, where he pleaded not guilty to all 29 charges.

Shoup is in the Eastern Regional Jail on $1.3 million bail.

In a statement to families and staff, Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ryan Saxe called the situation 鈥渄eeply concerning.鈥

鈥淭he safety and dignity of our students is non-negotiable,鈥 Saxe said.

鈥淲hat happened is deeply concerning, and our priority is supporting the students and families impacted. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will take every appropriate step to ensure accountability and to strengthen supervision and access procedures around student areas at school events.鈥

School administrators from both Martinsburg and Hedgesville worked with police to interview all students involved, and families were contacted the same evening, according to the district.

Officials confirmed the custodian will not return to Martinsburg High School or to Berkeley County Schools.

District leaders said Berkeley County Schools follows a comprehensive hiring process that includes background checks for all employees. However, they declined to release further details about the case, citing privacy concerns and the need to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

鈥淲e understand that this situation may raise serious concerns within our school community,鈥 the district said in a . 鈥淲hile we recognize the desire for additional information, we are unable to share further details at this time.鈥

Support services have been made available to students who may be experiencing fear, stress or emotional distress as a result of the incident.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Virginia health officials warn to avoid contact with Potomac River due to sewage spill /virginia/2026/02/virginia-health-officials-warn-to-avoid-contact-with-potomac-river-due-to-sewage-spill/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:39:45 +0000 /?p=28921087 Do not go into the Potomac River.

A is now in effect for a large stretch of the Potomac, three weeks after a 72-inch sewage pipe burst along the Clara Barton Parkway, the Virginia Department of Health said Friday.

Hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac on Jan. 19 before crews were able to contain the overflow. The area of contamination was just inside the Beltway along the C&O Canal in Montgomery County, Maryland and extended into Virginia. It was considered the largest spill of wastewater in U.S. history.

With reports of E. coli levels thousands of times higher than the recommended limit for human contact, VDH issued the advisory about river contamination along a 72.5 mile stretch that includes the Northern Virginia area of the Potomac.

Warm weather brought crowds to Old Town Alexandria on Valentine鈥檚 Day, where families, dog walkers and couples gathered along the waterfront 鈥 even as officials urged people to avoid the water.

Aaron, a Fort Belvoir resident who frequently walks the Mount Vernon Trail, said the contamination has been difficult to see.

鈥淎t certain points on the trail, you’re right up on the water,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o, it’s kind of, it’s kind of really sad the impact that the contamination has had on the water.鈥

With the advisory in place, Aaron said the river is essentially off-limits.

鈥淵ou can’t even touch it. So that definitely rules out fishing, boating, swimming, everything,鈥 he said.

Nearby, D.C. Shadow Sen. Paul Strauss was checking his boat for the first time since the winter snow and ice storm from two weeks earlier.

鈥淭his is a serious environmental problem, and you need to take the warning seriously,鈥 Strauss said, while being careful not to touch the water.

鈥淒o not let your dogs play in the water. Don’t let them near the riverfront or the mud,鈥 Strauss said. 鈥淒on’t want to be around here in the exposed areas, even if it doesn’t look like it’s the water where the tide has rolled back.鈥

Cleanup efforts are now expected to take four to six weeks longer than originally planned, and officials said progress has been slowed by setbacks.

VDH said there is no evidence of impacts to drinking water.

To avoid recreational water illnesses tied to the sewage spill, officials said people should avoid contact with water in the advisory area zone and follow posted warnings near river access points.

Residents should also avoid any area of the river where there us a foul odor or dying fish, or discolored water. Anyone who comes in contact with contaminated water should wash skin If you do come into contact, wash skin immediately with soap and water and wash any items that come into contact with the water, according to the advisory.

“When harvesting fish or crabs, discard skin, organs, cook the meat to proper temperature, and clean cutting boards and cutting implements with warm soapy water,” the advisory stated.

WTOP’s Jimmy Alexander contributed to this report.聽

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Republican Dan Cox to run for Maryland governor, looking for rematch with Moore /maryland/2026/01/republican-dan-cox-to-run-for-maryland-governor-looking-for-rematch-with-moore/ Sat, 31 Jan 2026 21:36:59 +0000 /?p=28868206 Dan Cox, a Republican who lost against Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in the 2022 gubernatorial election, has filed to run for governor again this year.

The former Maryland delegate’s candidacy was posted on the Friday, and he listed Rob Krop as his running mate for lieutenant governor.

The Cox campaign is launching , which says it will be operating soon.

President Donald Trump endorsed Cox during his first run for governor. Cox is a father of 10 and served in the Maryland House of Delegates between 2019 and 2023, representing the 4th District, which includes Carroll and Frederick counties, according to his .

Cox, who was a constitutional lawyer and first-term state delegate when he first ran against Moore, advocated conservative positions following Trump’s Make America Great platform. He spoke out against 鈥渃ritical race theory鈥 and 鈥済ender identity indoctrination鈥 in schools and against the COVID-19 lockdown measures, which did not win over Maryland’s deep blue electorate.

Cox lost his 2022 election bid in a lopsided victory where Wes Moore held more than 60% of the vote.

On Saturday, Maryland Democratic Party Chair Steuart Pittman released a statement in response to Republican’s filing that said, “Dan Cox鈥檚 entry into the Maryland Governor鈥檚 race, and his likely nomination by the Republican Party, creates a historic opportunity for Maryland Democrats to expand our base of support everywhere.”

“Cox demonstrated his blind allegiance to Donald Trump when he bussed insurrectionists to Washington on January 6, 2021,” the statement continued.

“He will serve as a reminder to Marylanders what Donald Trump has done for us: his economic assault on farmers, blue collar workers, small businesses, and public servants; his disdain for the rule of law; his disrespect for our veterans; and his lack of fiscal discipline.”

Cox’s filing on Friday expands the Republican governor’s race, which now includes Baltimore businessman and Baltimore Blast soccer team owner Ed Hale, Sr., who recently switched party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

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Bowie Mayor Tim Adams breaks inclusivity barrier as newest member of Prince George鈥檚 County Council /prince-georges-county/2026/01/bowie-mayor-tim-adams-breaks-inclusivity-barrier-as-newest-member-of-prince-georges-county-council/ Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:49:54 +0000 /?p=28841412 The Prince George鈥檚 County Council selected聽Bowie Mayor Tim Adams to fill the vacant District 4 seat during a Jan. 23 virtual hearing.

Adams, who has been mayor of Bowie since 2019, was chosen from a list of seven candidates.

鈥淲e congratulate Mayor Adams and look forward to him joining us on the Council,鈥 Council Chair Krystal Oriadha .

鈥淚n welcoming the first council member to serve while using a wheelchair, we celebrate a milestone in inclusivity. I know his leadership will inspire us to prioritize accessibility and representation in our legislative efforts.鈥

In addition to breaking barriers in inclusivity on the Prince George鈥檚 County Council, Adams was also the first Black mayor in Bowie鈥檚 138-year history when he was first elected in 2019. In 2023, Adams was elected to a second term.

Adams is a longtime CEO of a defense contracting company headquartered in Prince George’s County and a former chairperson and member of the Bowie State University Foundation, which provides scholarships to students. He also serves as a member of more than a dozen philanthropic, business and other boards and commissions.

鈥淒istrict 4 reflects many of the same priorities I鈥檝e addressed at the municipal level, including strong schools, reliable transportation, affordability, environmental stewardship, and thoughtful development that serves existing communities as well as future generations,鈥 Adams told the Council during Friday鈥檚 public selection process.

鈥淢y commitment is to listen first, govern responsibly, and be a reliable partner focused on advancing the best interests of District 4 and Prince George鈥檚 County as a whole.鈥

Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan and聽, an advocate who runs a tech company, also ran for the vacancy.

The seat Adams is filling was formerly held by District 4 Council Member Ingrid S. Watson, who resigned ., a nonprofied that brings business and jobs to Prince George’s County.

 

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Child with measles traveled through Maryland, DC, Virginia last week, health officials say /local/2026/01/person-with-measles-traveled-through-maryland-last-week-state-health-officials-say/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:05:33 +0000 /?p=28794254 A young child with measles landed in a Pennsylvania airport and traveled through Maryland, D.C. and Virginia last week. Health officials are issuing a warning about certain spots where people may have been exposed to the virus.

The patient, described by as a “preschool-age child,” had recently traveled internationally before flying into Philadelphia International Airport and making stops throughout the D.C. area.

The potential exposures happened last week from Jan. 7 to 9, according to officials with the health departments in Virginia, D.C., Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Health officials said anyone who may have been near the following public areas may have been exposed:

Pennsylvania

  • Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal A East from 7:50 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Jan. 7.
  • William H Gray III, 30th Street Station from 8:15 p.m. to 11:25 p.m. on Jan. 7.
  • Amtrak Northeast Regional Train Southbound 175 from 9:23 p.m. on Jan. 7

DC

  • Amtrak Northeast Regional train from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station to D.C.’s Union Station from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 7.

Maryland

  • Amtrak’s BWI Marshall Airport shuttle bus to and from the BWI Marshall train station and the drop-off points outside of the lower level of the airport from 10:45 p.m. on Jan. 7 to 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 8.
  • BWI Marshall Airport parking shuttle bus to and from the lower levels outside of the BWI Marshall Airport and the airport’s long-term parking lots from 11 p.m. on Jan. 7 to 2 a.m. on Jan. 8.

Virginia

  • Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Emergency Department and Executive Medicine Suite from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 9
  • Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Emergency Department and Executive Medicine Suite from 10 p.m. on Jan. 9 to midnight on Jan. 10.

The Amtrak train the child traveled on is believed to have made stops between Boston, Massachusetts, and D.C.’s Union Station on Jan. 7, according to the and .

The Maryland Department of Health聽said there were no exposures identified inside the terminals of the BWI Marshall Airport.

The Virginia Department of Health said the incident marks the state’s second measles of the year. Maryland hasn’t had any cases of measles in 2026,.

What to do if you’ve been exposed

If you think you’ve been exposed, Maryland health officials said to find out if you’ve been vaccinated for measles or have had the virus before. If you’ve had two doses of a measles vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are generally considered protected.

If you’re not sure if you’ve been immunized, check your status by calling your health care provider. In Maryland, you can through the My Immunization Record and Virginia offers a similar.

Now, if you’re not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles and you might have been exposed, contact your health care provider or your local health department to discuss the best next steps.

Health officials said exposed individuals need to monitor for any early signs of measles for 21 days after the initial potential exposure. Symptoms can range from runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and a fever exceeding 101 degrees.

If symptoms develop, the health agencies stress individuals must stay home, and to avoid public spaces. Individuals should contact a health care facility before arriving to any care centers.

WTOP’s Gaby Arancibia and Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report.

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Mathew McCollough, longtime director of DC鈥檚 Office of Disability Rights, dies /dc/2026/01/mathew-mccollough-longtime-director-of-dcs-office-of-disability-rights-dies/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:04:54 +0000 /?p=28794660 Mathew McCollough, an advocate for people with disabilities and the director of the District’s Office of Disability Rights, has passed away, according to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The mayor made the announcement on social media Sunday evening. In, she called him a dedicated and compassionate advocate whose “leadership made a lasting impact on both our government and the disability community.”

She noted that McCollough’s career reflected a deep belief in dignity and opportunity for all.

Bowser’s post did not mention a cause of death.

McCollough had a long and storied career advocating for people with disabilities. His biography on the Office of Disability Rights states that he was named ODR director in 2017, after serving as the executive director of the D.C. Developmental Disabilities Council for seven years.

McCollough was a Filipino American with a disability, as he identified himself, and he often spoke about the importance of representation, inclusion and opportunity 鈥 especially for historically marginalized communities.

He was notably appointed by President Obama twice to serve on the United States Access Board, a federal agency that creates accessibility standards and guidelines. He was reappointed for a second term in 2015, cementing his reputation as a national leader on disability rights.

McCollough was born in 1975. He received a master鈥檚 degree in public administration from American University and a bachelor鈥檚 in political science from James Madison University.

Hundreds of people commented on Bowser’s announcement of McCollough’s death on Facebook with their condolences. Many shared stories of how his advocacy and public service affected them.

“Mat was such an amazing colleague, advocate and genuinely good human,” one commenter wrote. “And had such a great sense of humor. He will be deeply missed.”

“Truly saddened by this loss. Mat was the best at what he does and truly a compassionate being. I will never forget how you helped me in my great time of need. Rest peacefully,” another Facebook user added.

“Disability is the X factor,” McCollough said in from 2024. “And it could truly bring people together if they’re willing to listen and just place themselves in other people’s shoes.”

“My legacy will be based on how well did I communicate that it’s upon us to really listen to other people’s perspectives,” McCollough added in the video. “And that people have the authority and the power within themselves to make the positive change that they seek.”

WTOP’s Sam Delgado contributed to this report.

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Luxury watch con ends with McLean man sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison /virginia/2026/01/luxury-watch-con-ends-with-mclean-man-sentenced-to-nearly-two-years-in-federal-prison/ Sun, 11 Jan 2026 23:54:48 +0000 /?p=28794094 A McLean, Virginia, resident was sentenced Thursday to a year and nine months in federal prison for mail fraud after prosecutors say he carried out a sprawling luxury watch scam.

Jaivin Raj Karnani, 45, used multiple American Express accounts 鈥 including two cards under his mother’s name, according to court documents 鈥 that bilked the credit card company and a famed London retailer out of more than $1.2 million in luxury watches.

鈥淭his case demonstrates how the abuse of consumer-protection systems inflicts widespread financial harm 鈥 driving up costs, eroding trust and burdening honest businesses,鈥 Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said .

Prosecutors said Karnani used American Express cards to buy watches from Harrods Limited, the iconic London department store known for its upscale brands.

But, once the watches were delivered to his McLean home, Karnani falsely reported to American Express that he never received them, all in order to trigger credit card disputes and erase the charges.

Karnani placed orders under his own name, as well as under aliases like 鈥淨uinn Bash鈥 and 鈥淪teve Johnson,鈥 and then tried to resell the watches to luxury dealers in Michigan and New York, prosecutors said.

How the scam unfolded

Between late 2022 and mid-2024, federal authorities said Karnani falsely charged roughly $1,280,648 worth of luxury watches 鈥 including brands like Rolex, Gucci, Omega, Chanel, Tudor and Porsche Design.

After disputing the charges with American Express, the disputes ultimately led to more than $850,000 in losses for the credit card company and more than $426,000 in losses for Harrods.

The scheme also included an abuse of the charge-back process tied to legal fees, which prosecutors said later resulted in civil judgments against Karnani.

In addition to his federal prison sentence, Karnani must forfeit the full amount of the fraudulent purchases 鈥 $1,280,647.99 鈥 and 23 luxury watches seized from his McLean residence, officials said.

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‘This is about regime change’: Officials respond to Trump’s military actions against Venezuela /national/2026/01/this-is-about-regime-change-officials-respond-to-trumps-military-actions-against-venezuela/ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:03:50 +0000 /?p=28764252 U.S. military forces captured Venezuela鈥檚 president, Nicol谩s Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, Saturday in an overnight raid that capped months of threats by President Donald Trump against the Maduro government.

Trump said the couple was being taken to New York to face drug and weapons charges.

The president held an address at noon Eastern after he said early in the day on that the United States 鈥渃arried out a large scale strike against Venezuela.鈥

Overnight, explosions erupted at multiple locations across Caracas, including at key military facilities, and aircraft were seen flying over the Venezuelan capital.

Some Democratic U.S. lawmakers criticized the president for taking military action without congressional approval. But Republicans hailed the move as a positive step to enforce a 2020 U.S. narcotrafficking indictment against Maduro.

鈥淥ur Constitution places the gravest decisions about the use of military force in the hands of Congress for a reason,” U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement Saturday. “Using military force to enact regime change demands the closest scrutiny, precisely because the consequences do not end with the initial strike.”

‘A corrupt authoritarian’

While recognizing that Maduro is “a corrupt authoritarian who has repressed his people” for years, Warner said that “recognizing Maduro鈥檚 crimes does not give any president the authority to ignore the Constitution.”

鈥淭he hypocrisy underlying this decision is especially glaring,” the Virginia senator added. He pointed out that Trump recently pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hern谩ndez, who was convicted in the U.S. on serious drug trafficking charges, “including conspiring with narcotics traffickers while in office.”

“Yet now, the administration claims that similar allegations justify the use of military force against another sovereign nation. You cannot credibly argue that drug trafficking charges demand invasion in one case, while issuing a pardon in another.”

U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam from Virginia, who is the ranking member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, echoed Warner’s critique that the action should have had congressional approval.

鈥淭he Administration’s actions in Venezuela prove that this has never been about a war on drugs or protecting Americans. This is about regime change and a personal feud with President Maduro,” Subramanyam said in a statement Saturday.

“President Maduro was a violent ruler who oppressed democracy in his country,” the congressman added. “But his capture in this manner will not stop the flow of drugs or promise anything other than more instability in Venezuela, and potentially another forever war started under false pretenses.鈥

However, Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised the president : “Extraordinary leadership from our President. Many presidents have talked about holding Maduro accountable, but President Donald Trump is the only one who actually did it. Congratulations to the President and his team.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, also celebrated Trump .

“Congress isn’t notified when the FBI is going to arrest a drug trafficker or cybercriminal here in the U.S., nor should Congress be notified when the executive branch is executing arrests on indicted persons. And that’s really what you can make the analogy to here.”

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, : 鈥淢aduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government. Maduro is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization that has taken control of the country. And he is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States.鈥

Abuse of power?

In a statement, Maryland’s U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen commented that “President Donald Trump has put our troops in harm鈥檚 way, and he has not provided a clear, fact-based rationale for these actions, nor the long-term strategy following these strikes.”

He noted that the act of war “is a grave abuse of power by the President. The Trump Administration is repeating the worst mistakes of our past and endangering American lives 鈥 and their motive for doing so is a farce.”

In the District, the that said “at this time, there are no known threats to D.C.” It noted that the department is “closely monitoring the events that occurred overnight in Venezuela” and “actively coordinating with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to safeguard residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia.”

Outside of D.C.-affiliated lawmakers, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California,聽聽“starting a war to remove Maduro 鈥 further erodes America鈥檚 standing on the world stage and risks our adversaries mirroring this brazen illegal escalation.”

Schiff said Congress should make a new War Powers Resolution “and reassert its power to authorize force or to refuse to do so. We must speak for the American people who profoundly reject being dragged into new wars.”

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Teen charged in connection to murder inside Northeast DC apartment /dc/2026/01/teen-charged-in-connection-to-murder-inside-northeast-dc-apartment/ Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:46:46 +0000 /?p=28755996 A 16-year-old was arrested Tuesday for the murder of a man inside a Northeast D.C. apartment.

Keyonte Johnson, of D.C., was charged as an adult with premeditated first-degree murder in the shooting death of Roy Bennett, Jr., 20, of D.C., according to a from the U.S. Attorney’s office.

鈥淭his is yet another example of the out-of-control underage crime plaguing the District,鈥 U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in the statement. 鈥淧resident Trump is right 鈥 it is time to put an end to this predictable violence and time to lower the age of accountability so that I can start prosecuting these young criminals before they commit murder.鈥

The teen鈥檚 arrest came several weeks after D.C. police announced that 鈥渇our to five鈥 suspects had fled the scene of the murder in the 300 block of Morse Street in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood.

On Dec. 5, 20-year-old D.C. resident Roy Bennett, Jr., and several other people were in a Northeast D.C. apartment that was being used as a recording studio. As Bennett stood at a microphone, Johnson began shooting him, hitting him seven times, including two times in the back of his head, according to court documents.

As Johnson ran from the apartment, he allegedly threatened to kill a potential witness if they said anything about the killing.

D.C. police were called to investigate the shooting and found Bennett unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

During a search where Johnson was arrested, investigators recovered five magazines, one fully loaded, ammunition, an empty red dot sight box and clothing items that matched what Johnson was wearing.

He is being held without bond pending trial. Johnson will appear in court on Jan. 14.

Crime in the nation鈥檚 capital has been a sore spot between the White House and the District.

Over the summer, the Trump administration launched a federal law enforcement takeover of the city, inflaming tension between the administration and the majority-Democratic city where the president is unpopular.

National Guard units from the District and several Republican states remain deployed in the city.

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In historic shift, more Americans are distancing themselves from religion /lifestyle/2025/12/in-historic-shift-more-americans-are-distancing-themselves-from-religion/ Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:34:52 +0000 /?p=28740391 Americans have become more and more detached from religious affiliations over the past decade, the fastest religious shift in modern history, polls show.

In an interview with WTOP, Axios reporter Russell Contreras cited data from a poll by the that says in 2024, 28% of Americans viewed themselves as “religiously unaffiliated.” That represents an increase from 16% in 2013, he said.

The PRRI poll sampled 40,000 adults living in the U.S. who gave their religious affiliation.

That drop in affiliation goes hand in hand with a historic number of churches closing in the United States, Contreras said.

“We expect 15,000 churches to close by the end of the year, and only four in 10 Americans under the ages of 18 to 29 identify as religiously unaffiliated. So this is a 38% increase 鈥 young people are just not going to church,” Contreras told WTOP.

The drop in churchgoing is particularly high among the Gen Z demographic in the United States, he said, pointing out that attendance among Gen Z men is flat, despite some saying it’s growing.

“But here’s the deal, Gen Z women are the ones who are not going to church. They’re more likely to identify as religiously unaffiliated, and that is alarming,” Contreras said. “Some church officials say if we lose women, especially young women, we will have a lot of trouble in the future.”

Russell Contreras, senior race and justice reporter for Axios, discusses the step decrease in churchgoing in the U.S.

Churches were important places to meet voters

The decline stems from numerous factors, such as political polarization and a lack of faith in institutions. As a result, the religious shift has made it harder for political parties and candidates to reach voters, according to Contreras.

He said that for many years, political parties knew where to go to rally votes, such as a local Catholic or Protestant church, and these places also served as voting precincts.

“It’s getting increasingly harder to outreach to voters when you had this particular community that was a mine for voters,” Contreras said. “Right now, political candidates are going to have to work very hard. Because the religiously unaffiliated don’t go to church, it’s hard to get them. You have to spend more money to outreach to them.”

So, who goes to church more, Republicans or Democrats?

Within the Republican Party, the largest group are white Christians, making up about 68% of the Party, Contreras said. Only 12% identify as religiously unaffiliated, he said, citing the PRRI poll.

On the Democratic side, 34% of Democrats are religiously unaffiliated, while Christians of color make up 35% of the party.

“The Democrats are very more religiously pluralistic, whereas the Republicans are mainly white Christians,” he said. “If that is true, Republicans will face a difficult challenge in the future with a declining base.”

Despite more Americans losing their love of religion, Bible sales have gone up 11% this year over 2024, according to data from Circana, which tracks book sales.

However, only 49% of Americans believe that religion is important in their lives, according to a .

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J. Edgar Hoover Building to close for good as FBI relocates its HQ, Patel says /dc/2025/12/j-edgar-hoover-building-to-close-for-good-as-fbi-relocates-its-hq-patel-says/ Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:47:37 +0000 /?p=28738674 After 50 years as the FBI’s main headquarters, the J. Edgar Hoover Building in D.C. is closing permanently, Director Kash Patel announced Friday.

“We finalized a plan to permanently close the FBI鈥檚 Hoover headquarters and move the workforce into a safe, modern facility,”

He didn’t state the exact date the building will close and when FBI employees will move into its new offices.

The agency had announced in July that it would abandon the Hoover building and move to the Ronald Reagan Building, just a few blocks away at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Patel noted in his post that when President Donald Trump’s administration came into office in January, “taxpayers were about to be on the hook for nearly $5 billion for a new headquarters that wouldn鈥檛 open until 2035. We scrapped that plan. Instead, we selected the already-existing Reagan Building, saving billions and allowing the transition to begin immediately with required safety and infrastructure upgrades already underway.”

He said that most of the FBI headquarters’ employees will be in the Reagan Building and “the rest are continuing in our ongoing push to put more manpower in the field, where they will remain.”

In November, Maryland leaders sued the Trump administration after it scrapped plans to move the bureau鈥檚 headquarters to Greenbelt and opted instead to keep it in Downtown D.C.

Maryland leaders criticized White House officials for ignoring the site selection process of Congress and the General Services Administration when it chose to remain in D.C. The lawsuit also pointed out that Congress had already appropriated funds for the Greenbelt relocation.

When the move to the Reagan Building was announced over the summer, critics maintained that it would not meet the security demands needed for the FBI. Patel said the agency is working on the building to ensure it has the required safety and infrastructure upgrades.

The Reagan Building is connected to the International Trade Center, and already houses some federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as several non-government businesses.

The J. Edgar Hoover Building was designed in the brutalist style popular in the 1960s when it was conceived and constructed. It was criticized for not conforming to the style of other federal buildings, and Hoover himself called it 鈥the greatest monstrosity ever constructed in the history of Washington.鈥 It was completed in 1975, and President Richard Nixon named it after the longtime FBI director after Hoover’s death in 1972.

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Meet Ichabod, a floofy white pup with inquisitive eyes /pet-of-the-week/2025/12/meet-ichabod-a-floofy-white-pup-with-inquisitive-eyes/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:31:01 +0000 /?p=28730874 Ichabod is a sweet, floofy white pup with the most inquisitive eyes 鈥 you can鈥檛 help but fall in love!

At 10 pounds, this 1-year-old loves searching for toys and tennis balls, and his playful curiosity is absolutely adorable.

Ichabod has heartworm, which means he needs a calm, quiet home while he receives treatment. The great news? The Humane Rescue Alliance covers all of his treatments free of charge for adopters! With a little patience and care, Ichabod will thrive and be your devoted companion.

HRA staff can guide you on his care 鈥 it鈥檚 simple and completely manageable!

Could you be the soft-landing spot Ichabod needs? Come meet this sweet boy today and see his heart-melting personality for yourself!

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Jury convicts Waldorf man in deadly forklift rampage /charles-county/2025/12/jury-convicts-waldorf-man-in-deadly-forklift-rampage/ Sun, 21 Dec 2025 21:02:45 +0000 /?p=28725243 A Charles County jury has found a 22-year-old Waldorf man guilty of second-degree murder in the death of a woman he ran over with a forklift outside a Maryland Home Depot two years ago.

Bryce Caleb Timothy Brown was convicted of killing Gloristine Pinkney, of Waldorf, on Dec. 16 after a seven-day trial in Charles County Circuit Court, prosecutors said in a news release. In addition to second-degree murder, the jury found Brown guilty of theft, burglary, malicious destruction of property and related charges.

The charges stem from a July 2, 2023, incident that began overnight at a Lowe鈥檚 hardware store in Waldorf. According to investigators, officers with the Charles County Sheriff鈥檚 Office responded to reports of a burglary in progress after employees heard loud banging sounds. Police found damage to the store鈥檚 roll-up doors and security gates.

Then, officers were called to a nearby Home Depot after workers reported hearing a scream. There, police found the body of 73-year-old Pinkney partially pinned beneath a forklift. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found that Brown, who worked at Lowe鈥檚 at the time, stole a forklift from the store鈥檚 fenced rear lot and rammed it through the store鈥檚 security gates and a roll-up door. He then drove the forklift across the parking lot to the Home Depot, where he hit a parked car.

Pinkney, who prosecutors said did not know Brown, had been asleep inside the car. When the vehicle was hit, she got out and tried to run away. But Brown followed her with the forklift and ran her over, officials said.

After the attack, Brown took off in Pinkney’s car, using her credit card to buy gas, then drove to the District and Virginia, before he returned to his Waldorf home. Police arrested Brown shortly afterward.

As the investigation unfolded, witness accounts and surveillance footage narrowed the focus onto Brown. DNA recovered from the rear gate used to enter the Lowe鈥檚 matched Brown鈥檚 profile. His fingerprints were lifted from the victim鈥檚 vehicle. Inside Brown鈥檚 home, investigators found the victim鈥檚 car keys 鈥 and a pair of shorts stained with Pinkney鈥檚 blood.

Brown will be sentenced Feb 13, 2026. He could get as much as 58 years in prison.

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