The group Free D.C. has been pushing back on what it calls an occupation by the National Guard and advocates for home rule and the District’s right to self-determination.

Free D.C. held a rally and march Monday night starting at Franklin Park to protest the National Guard’s presence in D.C., with a focus on protecting vulnerable residents.

鈥淥ur unhoused neighbors are, in this occupation, are some of the most visible and vulnerable. They’re on the streets and can鈥檛 always avoid the National Guard,” Erin Schmieder, who represents Ward 2 for Free D.C., said.

Source

It鈥檚 not easy for 88-year-old Sue HartDegen to leave her senior living apartment at Thomas Circle in Northwest D.C., but with her oxygen, a “Free DC” sign and two stainless steel pot lids in tow, she steadies herself with her walker and makes her way to a nearby street corner to make some noise.

HartDegen and a few of her neighbors are out there almost every night from 7 p.m. to 7:05 p.m., banging pots and pans.聽

They have staged this nightly protest since last August, when the National Guard first arrived on the streets of D.C.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 go out to rallies,” HartDegen said. “I can鈥檛 do those things anymore, but this five minutes of pot banging a block from where I live, I can do that.鈥�

HartDegen said she could not stay silent and that she wants people who see the images of the National Guard on the streets to know D.C. is not a crime-ridden or terrible place to live.

Over the past year, she’s become more accustomed to seeing the Guard members on patrol, but at certain times it still bothers her.

鈥淲hy are they here Sunday morning when I go to church?” she asked. “I mean why? This is a completely safe area, especially in the daytime.鈥�

Nancy Groth, another member of the Thursday night protest, said some of the neighbors who can鈥檛 take part have hung D.C. flags on their balconies.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a corporate decision; it wasn鈥檛 the residents’ association. Every one of those flags is an individual who said ‘Yes, I鈥檓 going to do this,'” Groth said.

The number of flags has grown over the past year to about two dozen, she said.

The protesters said they will keep this up until the Guard is gone. To mark the official one-year anniversary of the deployment in D.C., they are planning a larger demonstration Monday, with a march starting at Franklin Park and ending at Thomas Circle.

鈥淲e love it when cars will honk for us, that makes us feel that we are being seen and heard,” HartDegen said.

Source

Gossip blogger Perez Hilton appeared to be harming himself during a livestream Tuesday.

The livestream set off criticism of TikTok and renewed the issue of mental health, young people and handling it the right way.

Dr. Heather Davis, assistant professor of psychology at Virginia Tech, said it’s unfortunately becoming more common for mental health breakdowns to appear online.

鈥淧eople are becoming more comfortable doing things online than they ever have been before because it鈥檚 just so much more normalized that everyone鈥檚 online all the time,” Davis said.

Davis urged people to seek help in other ways.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e in a mental health crisis, you know, reaching out to a trusted loved one, if you鈥檙e a child or an adolescent, a teen, reaching out to a trusted adult is a good first step,” Davis said.

From there, Davis said, getting professional help is the best response to having suicidal thoughts or going through nonsuicidal self-injury.

鈥淭here are also,” Davis said. 鈥淭hose are the kinds of things we want to see people doing.鈥�

If you witness someone having a mental crisis online, Davis said you should not fall victim to the bystander effect: 鈥淭he tendency to think that if you鈥檙e seeing something happening you don鈥檛 have to report it because you just assume somebody else will.鈥�

Davis said if you see something, take it seriously and report it right away.

Parents also play a big role in managing kids’ mental health.

Davis said parents can help by making sure their children know they can talk about mental health without any judgment.

“Parents should also talk with kids, you know, when they see this kind of stuff, what do they think, what are they feeling, what kind of things are coming up for them,” she said.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 988 or for free and confidential support.

Source

Hundreds marched through the streets of D.C. Monday night, led by organizers calling for 1,000 marches in cities across the U.S. in the days leading up to the Nov. 3 election.

The march took place after a meeting at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church that was part political rally and worship service.

“Now until November, organize everybody you know, email everybody you know, tell them to show up because if we ever needed to vote, we sure do need to vote right now,鈥� Protestant minister and activist William J. Barber II told the crowd.

Earlier on Monday, members of , including Barber, were arrested following a demonstration inside the Hart Senate office building. They were attempting to meet with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to voice their opposition to the SAVE Act.

The group made up of clergy, civic groups and others want to take back civil rights they say have been lost, healthcare that鈥檚 been peeled back and education opportunities that have been stripped under President Donald Trump’s administration.

鈥淲e鈥檙e no longer begging, we鈥檙e demanding. We’re not going to walk around with our tail between our legs and ask anybody to give us anything, we’re going to change it at the ballot,” Bishop Brian Thompson of the AME Zion Church said at the church meeting.

The Reverend Moya Harris, senior director of Programs at Sojourners, called a person鈥檚 vote the person’s moral testimony.

鈥淭here are senators who are hell-bent on pushing through the so-called SAVE Act, legislation that would strip millions of people of their ballots, cast doubts on their citizenship and weaponize fear to take away votes that have already been earned and protected,鈥� she said.

Source

Ward 6 council member Charles Allen, who introduced the legislation, said it does a few things.

鈥淚t prohibits, first off, bots from coming in and being able to scoop up these tickets, and so that鈥檚 a big part of it. It kind of levels the playing field.鈥�

Allen introduced the Restricting Egregious Scalping Against Live Entertainment Act, or the RESALE Act.

Allen said the measure also caps most live entertainment resales at 10% above face value, but he said that doesn’t include tickets for sporting events.

鈥淏ecause we see sports tickets that really are a season ticket package type of scenario, versus, there鈥檚 an artist coming to town that you really want to go see at the 9:30 Club,” Allen said. “They鈥檙e just very different things and so this legislation was not trying to tackle sports but really your concerts, your artists and those venues.鈥�

He said it’s possible the council will revisit the issue of sports tickets.

鈥淐ould we at some point in the future look at sporting events? I guess we could, but that just wasn鈥檛 really where we were hearing the major problem. I think more people are familiar with what happens at a Taylor Swift concert or Beyonc茅 or something like that, it really just gouges the fans.鈥�

The bill鈥檚 supporters included I.M.P., which operates the 9:30 Club, The Anthem, Lincoln Theatre and The Atlantis.

Allen said because ticket price gouging is not just an issue in D.C., this legislation could become a national model.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also something that you see similar legislation that鈥檚 been introduced by Democrats, by Republicans in purple states, red states, blue states 鈥� this is an issue that resonates with a lot of people.鈥�

Mayor Muriel Bowser voiced some concerns about the act, but it does not appear she will veto it. The act takes effect in 2027.

Source

Many attending the vigil outside the Manassas Park Police Department wore red, Bhatt鈥檚 favorite color. Supporters shared memories of the nurse and mother while expressing their grief and hope for justice.

鈥淢amta may not physically be here with us, but I can tell you her light is shining bright,鈥� her friend and former co-worker Holly Wirth told the crowd.

Bhatt was last heard from on July 29, 2024. She is presumed dead, but her body has never been found.

Prosecutors have said surveillance video showed her husband, Naresh Bhatt, visiting several stores in the days after her disappearance, where he bought garbage bags, carpet cleaner, two pairs of rubber gloves and a three-pack of knives. Police later recovered one of those knives, the other two were never found, according to court records.

Court documents also allege surveillance cameras captured Naresh Bhatt disposing of bags of trash at multiple dumpsters and trash compactor sites across Northern Virginia, including one in Falls Church at 1:30 a.m.

Investigators said internet searches linked to Naresh Bhatt included a diagram of the human brain and “chicken farm near me.” Authorities also said he searched what happens to financial debt if someone disappears and how divorce proceedings are affected when a spouse goes missing, in the months before Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s disappearance.

Naresh Bhatt has been charged with murder and other offenses. His trial is scheduled to begin in October.

Speaking through a translator at Friday’s vigil, Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s mother Gita Kafle, said she continues to wait for accountability.

鈥淲hoever did this to my daughter, he has to get punished. I have been waiting for that day,鈥� Kafle said.

Family supporter Prabha Bhattari said loved ones remain focused on seeking justice. 鈥淭he grieving continues going on for all of us until the justice is done,鈥� she said.

Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo also spoke at the vigil.

鈥淲e stand with Mamta鈥檚 family and loved ones as they remember her life, not how it ended but the kindness, love, strength she brought to those around her,鈥� Lugo said.

Court records indicate blood was found on a reciprocating saw in the couple’s home. Prosecutors have said evidence expected to be presented at trial will show Naresh Bhatt killed his wife and dismembered her body.

Those who attended Friday’s vigil held signs that read, “Two years gone, but your love stays,” and “Gone too soon, but never forgotten.”

WTOP’s Diane Morris contributed to this report.

Source

The Federal Aviation Administration has completed the environmental assessment of the proposed expansion at the airport. The FAA returned a “Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision (ROD),” which is a determination that the project will “not result in significant environmental impacts,” according to a news release from Avports, the incoming airport operator.

鈥淭his milestone reflects years of work between our partners at Washington Manassas Airport, the Avports team, the dedication of the FAA, and the planning, technical analysis, and public engagement that shaped this project from the start,鈥� Avports CEO Marc Ricks said.

The FAA approval leaves just one more approval 鈥� Part 139 certification 鈥� before commercial flights can begin, likely in spring 2027.

鈥淲e are thrilled by the FAA鈥檚 decision, which marks an important step forward for Washington Manassas Airport and the City of Manassas,鈥� Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger said.

The decision follows a review process that included detailed technical analysis and opportunities for public input, marking one of the final federal milestones in the launch of commercial service at Washington Manassas Airport.

Before any construction can begin, the project remains subject to additional permitting and public review, the news release said.

Washington Manassas recently changed its name as part of the plan and hopes to have up to 30 commercial flights per day within 10 years.

The expansion of the terminal to allow commercial flights will cost between $75 million to $125 million.

Source

Virginia ranks slightly higher than Maryland in the publication’s , but neither state is in the top 10. Virginia is in 19th place and Maryland is 21st.

Evan Comen, senior data editor at U.S. 太子探花 and World report, said Maryland鈥檚 weakest point is its economy, with the state’s GDP and population growth in the bottom 20%.

Infrastructure – 鈥渨e鈥檙e looking at energy, transportation and internet access鈥� – is what鈥檚 hurting Virginia, he said.

鈥淰irginia has a relatively high number of power outages per capita; commute times are also relatively long in Virginia,鈥� Comen said.

Both states have some good qualities, too. Comen said Maryland鈥檚 crown jewel is its natural environment score, placing fifth in the country with good air and water quality and good marks on pollution.

Virginia ranks ninth in healthcare and also has high marks in education and crime and corrections.

This is U.S. 太子探花’ 10th annual “Best States” ranking, judging states on their performance in eight categories.

Comen said it鈥檚 designed to be a tool for citizens to hold their leaders accountable, show government leaders where to improve, identify people and programs driving change, and give people and businesses insight on where they might want to move to or from.

Utah ranked No. 1 overall for the fourth year in a row. Louisiana is in last place at No. 50.

Source

“Overtime has been and continues to be a costly and chronic phenomenon among the District’s public safety agencies,” the report said.

The auditor found some agencies are operating well below authorized staffing levels, while others continue to post significant overtime costs despite having most positions filled.

In the D.C. police department, some sworn officers took between eight and 10 weeks of leave in 2025, . At the Office of Unified Communications, dispatchers were absent without leave for an average of one full week.

The Department of Corrections spent roughly $30 million on overtime last year, largely because of staffing shortages. The agency has 704 employees, far below its authorized staffing level of 1,762.

D.C. Fire and EMS faces a different challenge. The department is about 95% staffed but still spent roughly $50 million on overtime in 2025. According to the auditor, firefighters took an average of eight to 11 weeks of leave, increasing the need for overtime coverage.

Source

Free D.C. is urging D.C. residents to delete the DoorDash app and take other actions.

鈥淒.C. community members have already made it clear we鈥檙e very willing to start deleting our accounts, deleting the apps and talking to the restaurants that we like to stop using their services,鈥� Free D.C. co-founder Alex Dodds told WTOP.

DoorDash said in a statement that it supports home rule, but “will continue to do everything we can to defend D.C.’s small businesses, local economy, and underserved residents.”

The D.C. Council recently approved a 20-cent fee on food delivery services.

DoorDash, which fought the fee, said it will hit underserved communities the hardest. The company also said the D.C. Council passed the fee without holding a single public hearing.

, D.C. Council member Christina Henderson objected to both DoorDash assertions.

“This company never talks about what the fee was used to fund: Produce Plus expansion, Joyful Food markets, Grocery Access Pilot program, FQHCs, etc. The money is going right back to the very communities DoorDash claims will be harmed & in need of ‘protection,'” Henderson wrote.

The at-large council member also said “it’s funny” that DoorDash opposed the fee over a lack of hearings.

“Guess what also had no hearing? Comer鈥檚 bill,” Henderson said.

Rep. James Comer, the bill’s sponsor, revealed DoorDash’s support for the on Wednesday, when he asked to have a letter from the company entered into the record.

“Every District resident should know that @DoorDash doesn’t support DC Home Rule and is actively working to undermine it by lobbying for the GOP鈥檚 efforts to control DC tax policies,鈥� Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker said on X.

Dodds said the legislation would undermine home rule and is unacceptable.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty shocking and disappointing to see a company that serves D.C. communities, that depends on D.C. communities, take what we really consider an absolutely indefensible position on attacking D.C.鈥檚 right to govern,鈥� she said.

Source

The coalition of consumer groups is targeting PJM, the regional electric grid operator serving 13 states, including Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Its service area includes the world’s biggest concentration of data centers.

Advocates and lawmakers have argued PJM’s current governance structure gives disproportionate voting power to market participants with financial interests in the outcomes of its decisions.

“We’re seeing mismanagement at PJM because states and ratepayer advocates do not have an adequate voice at the table,” said Rebecca Rehr, director of climate policy and justice at the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. “Instead, 鈥淭he majority of the seats at the decision-making table are energy generators, transmission owners, utilities and other suppliers.”

Quentin Scott, federal policy director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network, said PJM is increasingly off mission.

鈥淧JM was created to ensure affordable, reliable electricity for all consumers. Today, however, many people feel that PJM has become slow, secretive and disconnected from public interests,鈥� he said.

According to the advocacy groups, PJM customers would if it allowed more clean energy to connect to the grid.

They held a news conference as a meeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was getting underway Thursday.

Laura Swett, who chairs the commission, called PJM an innovator in energy market designs, but suggested it faces tough issues today.

“PJM is facing a grave legitimacy crisis. Frustrations are mounting,” she said.

Source

The hottest T-shirts in D.C. have nothing to do with U.S. soccer or even America’s 250th birthday. People are waiting in long lines for Metro gear.

Those lines have spilled out the door of the transit agency’s pop-up shop in the 300 block of 7th Street in Southwest D.C. and onto the hot sidewalk.

Metro is marking its 50th anniversary with designs that apparently people, such as Matthew Peterson, just have to have.

鈥淚 use Metro like every day and I鈥檝e used all the lines,鈥� Peterson, who has lived in D.C. for eight years, said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even have a car. and it鈥檚 been essential to getting around so I just wanted to be able to commemorate it, and they鈥檝e got cool marketing and cool merch.鈥�

The shop features original Metro concept art on shirts, hats, postcards and other items. Katrina Gross picked up a shirt for her friend.

鈥淭hey are pretty hot. I was surprised by how many people are here,鈥� Gross said.

Tanner Holcomb also grabbed a shirt.

鈥淚 think these are really cool. There are some really nice vintage designs and I鈥檓 excited to wear it around,鈥� Holcomb said.

The pop-up shop is open through July 10.

Source

鈥淚f the U.S. beats Australia by one goal it鈥檚 25% off, if they beat Australia by 2 goals its 50% off, and if they win by three goals again it鈥檚 free tabs on the house for everyone there,” said Peter Bayne,

It’s same promotion the bar offered on patron’s tabs in the match against Paraguay last week. The U.S. won that match 4-1.

Bayne said he got the idea from a bar in New York that did a similar promotion for New York Knicks fans during the NBA playoffs.

Baynes said he鈥檚 not completely crazy, he hedged his bet by placing a personal wager on the upcoming soccer match through the predictive marketing website Kalshi.

Baynes bet the U.S. would win by 2 goals or 3 goals.

鈥淭hat way I felt comfortable doing it and it ended up being a win all around,鈥� he said.

Asked if he was afraid his luck might run out this time, Bayne said, 鈥淚鈥檓 totally nervous, I鈥檓 a nervous wreck about this, you know. I don鈥檛 know if this is a good idea or not.鈥�

At the end of the day, he said it鈥檚 a lot of fun to do a promotion like this, and he鈥檚 again placing that side bet the U.S. will win.

鈥淭he actual worse outcome could be if the U.S. loses because I don鈥檛 want them to lose, I want them to continue on and get into the knockout round,鈥� Bayne said.

Bayne is not just a casual soccer fan either, he coached a local high school varsity team and has a deep love for the game.

Source

There鈥檚 a new twist in the ongoing saga to clean up the Reflecting Pool. Some of the new “American Flag Blue” paint used to coat the bottom appears to be peeling away.

The bottom of the pool was painted at the direction of President Donald Trump and refilled with water about two weeks ago. Since then, algae that blooms in the Reflecting Pool every summer returned, making the pool green.

Crews have been scrubbing the algae out and using nanobubble ozone technology to try and clean the pool. Workers were recently seen dumping hydrogen peroxide in the water.

Thursday, some of the blue paint started lifting from the bottom. About half-way down the south side of the Reflecting Pool, a 2- to 3-foot section appeared to be peeling away near the pool’s edge. As the wind blew, the chunk rose above the water, ripping away from the bottom just a little bit more.

Derek Amspaugh visiting D.C. from Columbus, Ohio, stopped to take a look.

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely concerning, yeah; you鈥檙e spending $11 million, you鈥檇 like to see quality work being done.鈥�

The Trump administration has said the cost of the renovation is around $14 million.

John Ritter, who lives in Northern Virginia, suggested the issue could be emblematic of the Trump administration.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit of a metaphor, I think, for some of the other projects they are trying to do.鈥�

It鈥檚 unclear whether the hydrogen peroxide, the scrubbing of the algae or the nanobubble technology being used has anything to do with the peeling.

As of Thursday afternoon, about a third of the pool looked clean and blue 鈥� the rest was the algae green color usually seen in the summer.

Source

A new slice of Chicago has arrived in the D.C. area.

, an iconic pizzeria that’s been serving the Windy City’s famous deep-dish pizzas for a half century, opens Tuesday at 14th and F streets NW.

General manager Chieyen Meachem said the location near the White House was selected with purpose.

鈥淲hy not bring a part of Chicago to the nation鈥檚 capital? It鈥檚 only the next logical step, and then steps away from the White House, being able to have that taste of Chicago right here,鈥� Meachem said.

骋颈辞谤诲补苍辞鈥檚 pies are a mouthful. The deep-dish pizzas can take 35 to 40 minutes to bake.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a layer of dough then we have all the cheese, ingredients then another layer of dough on top finish it off with our famous tomato sauce on top,鈥� said Nihav Cehic, the senior director of new restaurant openings for 骋颈辞谤诲补苍辞鈥檚.

According to the company, the two-story, 7,400-square-foot restaurant can seat more than 180 guests in its dining room, bar, seasonal patio and private dining area named The Lincoln Room.

It鈥檚 also expected to create 100 jobs.

As part of the opening celebration and in honor of 250 years of America, 骋颈辞谤诲补苍辞鈥檚 is offering a limited-time 鈥�250 Pizza鈥� only in D.C., with proceeds benefiting HonorFlight.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to U.S. war veterans.

Source