Founded in 1967, Columbia is still praised for its quality of life, safety, schools and job market.

鈥淎lthough there are other planned communities in America, this is probably the best example of one,鈥� said Erin Berry, archivist at the Columbia Maryland Archives.

Columbia was the vision of developer James Rouse, who assembled designers, architects and experts from a range of fields to help shape the community. Raised in Easton, Rouse sought to combine the benefits of small-town life with the advantages of living in a city.

鈥淗e gathers these groups of experts in transportation, religion, family life, education,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淭hey are the ones who showed James and his companies and his planners what they needed in order to make a community thrive.鈥�

Rouse chose to build Columbia in Howard County, between Washington and Baltimore. In 1963, he announced he had acquired 14,000 acres of land for the project.

Berry said Rouse, a deeply religious man, was committed to creating a desegregated community before federal law required it.

鈥淗e wanted all people of all backgrounds, all means, all races, all religions to have a place here in this community,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淎nd he started doing that before he legally had to.鈥�

According to Berry, Rouse acted when concerns surfaced that a builder and its real estate agents were steering Black and White families into separate neighborhoods. She said he sent employees and their families to investigate. After confirming the allegations, Rouse removed the builder from Columbia and issued a memo stating such practices would not be tolerated.

鈥淗e was just a human being who wanted better for the people of America,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淚 think that’s kind of rare to find somebody who talks the talk, but also walks the walk.鈥�

Berry said historical records show Rouse also made efforts to work with minority-owned businesses because he wanted the local economy to serve all residents.

She recalled the story of a researcher who moved to Columbia as a child and lived near Rouse. The researcher remembered visiting his home for tea and growing up in a community she felt welcomed everyone.

鈥淲hen she was growing up, she experienced this community that was welcoming to everybody,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淭hat’s what she experienced as a young Black woman in America during the 70s, while a lot of other people, unfortunately, did not have that experience.鈥�

Nearly six decades after its founding, Columbia continues to be cited as a model of urban planning. In 2026, WalletHub ranked the community the 13th happiest city in the United States based on factors including income, environment and well-being. The city also ranked among the top 10 for three consecutive years from 2022 through 2024.

鈥淭his community is still here. It’s still thriving. It鈥檚 still trying. The people are passionate,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淛ust the simple fact that people still want to live here is a success.鈥�

Source

鈥淣o such thing as a safe tan,鈥� said Dr. Tola Oyesanya, a dermatologist with the Kaiser Permanente Lutherville-Timonium Medical Center in聽Maryland. 鈥淎ny tan caused by sun exposure is a dangerous tan.鈥�

The trend primarily targets Gen Z, with videos of 鈥渢anfluencers鈥� encouraging people to skip the sunscreen and spend more time in the sun, especially on high UV index days when there鈥檚 a bigger risk of sun damage.

Tanning booths are even worse, Oyesanya said, producing radiation exposure 10 to 15 times stronger than the midday sun.

鈥淭anning is basically a sign of our skin being damaged by these UV radiation rays,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he more tan you are, the more cumulative sun exposure you get over time, the higher the risk of skin cancer.鈥�

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. It鈥檚 estimated one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really scary, because it really shows how powerful social media misinformation is,鈥� Oyesanya said. 鈥淪o many young people are getting their medical information from influencers who have no medical training and no background to make the claims that they are making.鈥�

Tanning also increases the risk of premature aging. Oyesanya warned young people that a tanned complexion now will likely bring regrets in the future.

鈥淚t causes wrinkles, it causes brown spots on the skin, it causes the loss of elasticity of the skin,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of this is going to contribute to early aging of skin that makes people look leathery and orange.鈥�

To protect your skin, Oyesanya advises using sunscreen every day, at least SPF 30 to 50. Reapply every two hours normally but every 45 minutes if you鈥檙e sweating or swimming.

Try to avoid the peak hours of sun, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you still want that summertime glow, over-the-counter sunless tanners or spray tans are safe.

Source

鈥淭hey’re very relieved,鈥� Jason Zellman, their attorney, said. 鈥淚 think they feel like there was justice.鈥�

Latin teacher Robert Rigby and stay-at-home mom Vanessa Hall are both active with the Fairfax County Public Schools Pride organization and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In January and February of 2025, they became the subject of posts from conservative X feed 鈥淭he Virginia Project,鈥� run by David Gordon.

鈥淭hey were referred to by a nickname, Rigby Halling, which was a combination of their last names,鈥� Zellman said. 鈥淎nd then the defendant defined Rigby Halling as a pair of notorious child sex perverts who, for some reason, have free run of FCPS.鈥�

Zellman called the allegations malicious and heinous. The pair was also accused of being part of a child abduction scheme.

鈥淗e was also accused of being part of a grooming gang,鈥� Zellman said. 鈥淪he was accused of having access to children to ask and talk to them about sex.鈥�

During trial, the defense argued the case was about politics, and liberal versus conservative viewpoints. But the juries ruled the social media posts were defamatory, awarding Rigby $350,000 and awarding Hall $700,000.

鈥淚 know neither Mr. Rigby nor Ms. Hall did this for the money. (They) did this to send a message that, first of all, these statements were untrue. And that there has to be a consequence for making such blatantly untrue statements.鈥�

Zellman called the case a cautionary tale.

鈥淓veryone’s entitled to their own opinion, but you’re not entitled to make false factual statements accusing others of crimes,鈥� he said. 鈥淵our words matter, they have an impact, and just because you’re anonymously posting behind a computer doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want.鈥�

Source

“A brilliant woman who thought that we ought to treat housing as a public good, the way we treat the fire department or the police department,” said Elizabeth Deakin, professor emerita at the University of California, Berkeley. “That doesn’t mean there’s not a big role for the private sector, but it also means that the public sector has responsibilities to make sure we’re okay.”

Published in 1934, laid out her vision for addressing the nation’s housing crisis and is considered one of the most influential housing books of the 20th century.

“It’s a seminal book that drew upon her experience living and working in Europe about how to provide housing,” Deakin said. “Especially housing that’s dignified and affordable and safe for people of all incomes, but, in particular, for people of lower income.”

Bauer served under three U.S. presidents. She advised Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman and continued shaping federal housing policy into the Eisenhower administration.

She was the primary author of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, a landmark New Deal law enacted during the Great Depression. The legislation created the United States Housing Authority to fund low-cost public housing and support the clearance of unsafe slum areas. Local housing authorities operated the projects, and the construction program created jobs during a period of widespread economic hardship.

“Real estate interests were sharply opposed to many of her ideas, especially the idea of government funding and subsidies for housing or government-provided housing,” Deakin said. “But she prevailed in Franklin Roosevelt’s administration.”

Over time, Bauer became critical of some of the outcomes of the law. She concluded that it gave local governments too much control over where public housing was built and who could live there, contributing to segregation by income and race.

According to Deakin, those outcomes were not Bauer’s intent and did not reflect her vision for public housing. Bauer later advocated for higher-quality, mixed-income housing developments.

“It’s really important. The idea that you don’t just do something, pass the law, set it and forget it, walk away, you’re done,” Deakin said. “You make changes. You advocate for doing it better. You correct mistakes that you made.”

At UC Berkeley, Bauer Wurster Hall was renamed to honor both Bauer and her husband, architect and former dean William Wurster. The building houses the College of Environmental Design.

Bauer taught at the university for decades and became the first woman to join its Department of City Planning. Some of Deakin’s colleagues knew her personally.

“They all described her as a woman who is passionate, full of energy, always interested in ideas, always interested in trying to make things better,” Deakin said. “Those are impressive things for academics to say about another academic.”

Bauer was a pioneering housing advocate whose work continues to influence discussions about housing policy. “Modern Housing” was republished in 2020. The back cover of the new edition notes that, amid today’s affordable housing challenges, Bauer’s ideas for creating humane and dignified housing remain relevant and urgent.

Source

The dishwasher

Josephine Garis Cochran often said her servants chipped her heirloom dishes while washing them, but she also did not want to wash the fine china herself.

鈥淚f nobody else is going to invent the dishwashing machine, I鈥檒l do it myself,鈥� she said, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Born in Ohio, Cochran came from a family of inventors and was drawn to engineering. When her husband died in 1883, she felt an urgency to turn her idea into reality.

Her design was the first to use water pressure instead of scrubbers, with custom-built racks to hold dishes securely in place.

With the help of a mechanic, she built a prototype and received a patent for her 鈥淒ish Washing Machine鈥� in 1886. She later founded the Garis-Cochran Dish-Washing Co., which eventually became part of what is now KitchenAid.

Her practical, convenient design became the foundation for the dishwashers we rely on today.

The air conditioner

One of the world鈥檚 first modern electrical air conditioning systems was installed at the Sackett & Wilhelms printing plant in Brooklyn in 1902.

New York engineer Willis Carrier was tasked with solving a summer humidity problem affecting the printing press and causing quality issues.

Carrier鈥檚 invention used coils that could humidify or dehumidify the air, allowing the plant to maintain consistent conditions and operate reliably year鈥憆ound. This is the fundamental science behind the more advanced air conditioning systems we use today.

Carrier received a patent for his 鈥淎pparatus for Treating Air鈥� in 1906, and his spray-type air-conditioning technology quickly spread to factories, offices and laboratories, eventually moving into homes by 1914.

Carrier鈥檚 work reshaped the world, and he was named one of Time Magazine鈥檚 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century in 1998.

The home security system

The next time you check your doorbell camera or set the alarm for your house, think about Marie Van Brittan Brown. She invented one of the first home security systems with her husband, Albert Brown, an electronics technician.

They lived in Queens, New York, with their two children. Brown worked long shifts and odd hours as a nurse, and the family was concerned about the high crime rate in their neighborhood. So she designed a security system that included several elements.

Peepholes were put in the front door at different heights, and a camera could slide up and down on the opposite side. Monitors placed anywhere in the house showed the camera images.

There was two鈥憌ay communication to speak to the person outside, and pushing an alarm button would alert the police immediately. Many of these features can be found in security systems used today.

A patent for their 鈥淗ome Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance鈥� was obtained in 1969.

Brown is also credited as a pioneer of closed鈥慶ircuit television technology for home security. Her idea kept her own family safe, and transformed how millions of people protect their homes.

The vacuum cleaner

An Ohio janitor named James Murray Spangler invented the first portable electric vacuum cleaner. He worked as a sweeper at a department store but also suffered from asthma, and the dust would irritate his lungs.

Spangler added an electric motor and fan blades to a wooden soap box attached to a broom handle, and came up with the idea to use a pillowcase to collect dust, the first cloth filter bag.

He received a patent for his 鈥淐arpet Sweeper and Cleaner鈥� in 1908, and his creative solution revolutionized how people clean their homes.

Spangler founded the Electric Suction Sweeping Company and got the attention of his cousin鈥檚 husband, William Hoover, who was a leather merchant at the time. Hoover bought Spangler鈥檚 patent and took over the company, renaming it the Hoover Company.

He utilized door鈥憈o鈥慸oor salespersons to increase the vacuum cleaner鈥檚 popularity and turned Hoover into a common household name. Spangler stayed with the company, working as superintendent.

Source

When colonists arrived in the area more than 250 years ago, Georgian architecture was the most common house style. Named for Great Britain鈥檚 King George, Georgian homes are symmetrical, with flat-fronted, relatively non-ornamental facades and gable roofs.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what most people think of when they think of a house. They draw a box [with] the triangle on top. That鈥檚 a gable roof,鈥� said Joe Himali, a licensed real estate broker and architecture influencer who leads walking tours in the District. 鈥淚t is very popular in our area, and you鈥檒l see that specifically in Georgetown. You鈥檒l see it also on Capitol Hill.鈥�

After the American Revolution, however, Georgian became an undesirable name. With the Federal Party in control of the U.S. government, the style became known as Federal. Similar to Georgian architecture, Federal homes were lighter and slightly more decorative.

鈥淭he most important difference between Federal and Georgian is generally the front door,鈥� Himali said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l have what鈥檚 called a fanlight, or a window above the door that鈥檚 sort of a half arch.鈥�

Federal homes also typically featured sidelights, narrow windows on either side of the front door.

Today, both Georgian and Federal homes are often referred to as Colonial.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking in Northwest D.C., and you see these houses in American University Park, they call them Center Hall Colonials,鈥� Himali said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 actually generally a Georgian or Federal style house, but we just don鈥檛 call it that anymore.鈥�

After the Federal style came the Greek Revival movement, which tied back to the earliest democracy. The goal was to connect the history of the new nation to ancient cultures as a way to legitimize the U.S. governmental structure. Greek Revival homes are symmetrical and often white, with large front columns.

One hallmark characteristic of Greek Revival architecture can be seen at the Supreme Court and National Archives buildings.

鈥淎bove the columns, there will be a big triangle,鈥� Himali said. 鈥淭hat is called a pediment, and that pediment is a major style choice with the Greek Revival.鈥�

Another detail is dentil molding, small blocks resembling teeth beneath the roofline.

The Industrial Revolution helped usher in Victorian architecture, known for elaborate and decorative elements. Unique curves and shapes could now be machine-made rather than crafted by hand.

鈥淚t sort of took a mishmash of different things and mixed it all together in a big pot, and came up with these crazy architectural styles,鈥� Himali said. 鈥淭urrets sticking out, conical roofs, and asymmetrical shapes. The front doors on the left, a big tower on the right, and these weird windows all over the place.鈥�

Victorian homes were generally larger houses for the upper middle class. Several styles fall under the Victorian umbrella, including Queen Anne, Italianate and Second Empire.

Himali said his favorite is Romanesque Revival, which features a Roman arch surrounded by short columns. One example is the Heurich House Museum in Dupont Circle.

鈥淸It鈥檚] very dark and brooding, but it鈥檚 just exuberant on the inside,鈥� Himali said.

The pendulum later swung back toward the Arts and Crafts movement, which emphasized humanity and imperfection in construction. Homes featured exposed natural wood, color, increased light and stronger connections to nature. A popular Craftsman home type was the bungalow, found in Northeast and Southeast Washington.

After World War I, Americans were feeling optimistic, fueling the Art Deco movement. New materials such as stainless steel and chrome symbolized modernity during the machine age. Two well-known Art Deco buildings in Washington are the Kennedy-Warren Apartment Building and the Greyhound bus terminal.

鈥淵ou鈥檒l see a lot of this machine-look stainless steel,鈥� Himali said. 鈥淪leek lines and then very angular.鈥�

Modernism arrived after World War II and is now commonly referred to as Mid-Century Modern. The movement aimed to strip away decoration in favor of a more egalitarian approach. International Style buildings often featured rows of concrete and glass windows.

鈥淭his is also where you get the term 鈥榝orm follows function鈥� or 鈥榣ess is more,鈥欌�� Himali said. 鈥淸It鈥檚] almost a socialist point of view, that we don鈥檛 need ornamentation.鈥�

But criticism of Mid-Century Modern鈥檚 strict, machine-like appearance led to Postmodernism, which reintroduced bold shapes and colors and encouraged homeowners to express personality through design.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 need to have square walls with 90-degree angles,鈥� Himali said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 do 30-degree angles, and we鈥檒l drop the ceilings to eight feet, and we鈥檒l popcorn ceilings up.鈥�

Today, architecture in Washington often blends historic character with modern design elements, including high ceilings, open floor plans and large windows. The city stands out for its range of home styles, reflecting centuries of changing tastes and technologies.

To book a walking tour with Himali, visit .

Source

In May 2025, water from a broken pipe caused significant damage at the Cambridge, Maryland, museum, destroying parts of the exhibits. Linda Harris, director of events and programming at the museum, said they were processing the insurance claim when an anonymous donor stepped in to help.

鈥淪omething miraculous happened. I had a foundation that followed me on Facebook and said, 鈥榃e want to help you,鈥欌�� Harris said. 鈥淚 thought this is a time to just do this thing completely differently.鈥�

After visiting other museums to get ideas, she realized they needed more movement, lights and sound, especially to engage younger visitors. Eventually, you鈥檒l be greeted by a life-sized hologram of Tubman standing near the entrance to welcome you inside. The museum walls are now covered in eight murals representing Tubman鈥檚 life, with plans to add narration and music.

鈥淭he music is important because it鈥檚 the music that started at the belly of slave ships. It’s the sound that evolved into the modern music we know now,鈥� Harris said.

Tubman was born in Dorchester County in 1822 and was one of nine children who developed a deep knowledge of the outdoors. She made about 13 rescue missions and helped approximately 70 enslaved people escape.

鈥淚t’s [a] rich, powerful history,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淎nd it needs to be told the right way.鈥�

Not only did Tubman fight in the Civil War, serving as a scout and spy for the Union Army, she also helped lead a military raid that freed hundreds of enslaved people. She later worked with Susan B. Anthony and other suffragists, speaking publicly about freedom and women鈥檚 rights.

鈥淲hat made this part of the Eastern Shore, even the state of Maryland, insanely wealthy was slavery and that story has to be told,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淲e have to understand what happened, why it happened and how my ancestors built this country.鈥�

The museum will reopen on June 13, although work will continue throughout the summer.

鈥淐ome and visit us here. You will find who you are. And my mantra in life is [to] find the Harriet in you,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淭hink about her courage, resilience, community, self love. If you espouse those virtues, it makes you a pretty incredible human being.鈥�

Learn more about the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center on .

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

(1/5)

Share This Gallery:

• Share This:
• share on email
• print

Source

Once again, children in Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, can get free meals all summer. The goal is to bridge the food insecurity gap that occurs when school is out.

Third grader Shan Pomero understands the importance of eating a nutritious meal.

鈥淚t helps your bones have more durability [and] muscles getting stronger. It helps you increase your life, you get more energy,鈥� Pomero said. 鈥淎nd your mind opens up into a whole new level.鈥�

On Wednesday, the school district teamed up with the Washington Mystics and the American Dairy Association to host a 鈥淐ountdown to Summer Meals鈥� celebration at Bladensburg Elementary School. Mary Kirkland, director of food and nutrition services for Prince George鈥檚 County Public Schools, said they want to make sure students stay nourished, full and healthy after the school year ends.

鈥淒uring the school year, the meal that they get is sometimes the meal that they get for the day,鈥� Kirkland said. 鈥淲e’re trying to make sure that we bridge that gap between the school year and the summer until students come back, ensuring that our students stay healthy and they stay nourished to have all the fun they want to have in the summer.鈥�

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

WTOP/Linh Bui

(1/5)

Share This Gallery:

• Share This:
• share on email
• print

Breakfast and lunch will be served at schools, churches and libraries. They鈥檙e also partnering with Parks and Recreation to serve students in those summer programs. According to Feeding America, 1 in 6 children in Maryland faces hunger.

Christy Winters Scott, color analyst for the Washington Mystics, reminded the kids that it鈥檚 OK to need help. The mother of three said kids need to be safe, fed and warm.

鈥淵ou don’t have to be embarrassed or shy about wanting or needing the basics,鈥� Winters Scott said. 鈥淚t’s hard times out here financially for a lot of families. So I want them to know that they can be themselves. We have open, loving arms over here and we’re ready to embrace you and we’re ready to feed you.鈥�

The meals program is open to anyone 18 years old and younger or anyone 21 and under with a disability. You don鈥檛 need to register or fill out paperwork. Text the word 鈥淔OOD鈥� to 877877 to find a meal site near you. You can also call 211 or visit the Maryland Department of Education .

Source

鈥淲e bring together people to build homes, communities, and hope,鈥� said Adrienne Goolsby, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada at Habitat for Humanity International.

Decades ago, on a community farm in Georgia, Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of 鈥減artnership housing,鈥� which eventually grew into Habitat for Humanity. It was founded as a Christian-based organization seeking to put God鈥檚 love into action and help those in need of adequate shelter.

鈥淲e are building on the legacy of what home ownership really means to our families,鈥� Goolsby said.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, the former U.S. president and first lady, worked with Habitat alongside the Fullers and shared similar values. They continued their partnership for more than three decades. Through the Carter Work Project, they helped build or repair more than 4,000 homes in 14 countries and raised awareness about housing affordability.

鈥淭hey are our most famous volunteers and also very beloved,鈥� Goolsby said. 鈥淸They] rallied hundreds of volunteers, supporters, entertainers, celebrities to the mission and actually made Habitat for Humanity known internationally.鈥�

Habitat for Humanity is best known for its work in home construction, where volunteers and homebuyers build homes side-by-side. Homebuyers also receive financial education to learn how to budget and manage their mortgages. A common myth is that Habitat gives away houses. Actually, homebuyers obtain an affordable mortgage, often with no interest and payments based on their income. Goolsby said it鈥檚 a magical moment when you hand over the house keys to a homeowner or family.

鈥淭hey are truly proud, elated, and in love,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey’re in love with all of the support that they receive when opening up the door to that home.鈥�

Another core mission is revitalizing neighborhoods by working with local organizations and residents to understand what each community wants and needs.

鈥淗ow they want to see their community grow and how they want their neighborhood to address unique challenges and opportunities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is the community coming together and we are facilitators.鈥�

Through advocacy, Habitat has influenced hundreds of policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels for housing affordability. That includes increasing the supply of homes for people of all backgrounds and making sure they can live there long term.

鈥淲hat does that mean to preserve, permanently, housing that’s going to be for all people?鈥� Goolsby said. 鈥淲hat does that look like when we truly do have a mixed-income community where families can thrive and live together and work in harmony? We advocate for that.鈥�

After natural disasters, civil unrest, or war, Habitat helps communities recover through shelter assistance, training, and education.

鈥淎fter the disaster is long gone, we’re there for the next five to 10 years, helping to rebuild that community,鈥� Goolsby said.

Habitat has launched a major campaign for its 50th anniversary called 鈥淟et鈥檚 Open the Door.鈥� Across 60 countries, it is installing symbolic doors that are also original works of art by local artists. These pop-up events are meant to spark conversations about why homes matter and how opening doors creates possibilities. One event was held on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

鈥淟et鈥檚 open the door to hope,鈥� Goolsby said. 鈥淲e believe that Habitat for Humanity has opened the doors to all types of opportunities around the world.鈥�

You can also make a donation to design your own digital door. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, .

Source

The podcast’s focus, Alvaro Bedoya said, is “not left versus right or Democrat versus Republican. It’s about the money at the top versus all of us underneath. And we want that to be a fair fight.”

Bedoya and traveled the country meeting business owners, union leaders and working people.

“This is what really brought to life the actual ‘why’ of the job, the actual conflicts in the job and the morality of the job,” he said.

When Trump returned to office, Bedoya was one of two remaining Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission, which is an independent agency. And his term was not over.

“He ignored the rules and he went ahead and ,” Bedoya said. “I formally resigned in June of last year, although our Supreme Court case is still pending.”

With a desire to share his knowledge and expertise, the Montgomery County lawyer has started a podcast called “.” His co-host, Max M. Miller, was Bedoya’s right-hand man as attorney adviser for competition at the FTC.

Guests on the show come from completely different backgrounds and quickly learn how much they have in common. In one episode, an American corn and soybean farmer met an immigrant New York City ride-share driver.

“They were both basically on the brink of bankruptcy because of higher gas or fertilizer prices caused by the Iran war,” Bedoya said.

Another episode brought together a long-haul trucker and a Subway franchise owner.

“The companies above them, whether it’s a franchise or the trucking company, tell them what to do,” Bedoya said. “They were also talking about how they were fighting back, how they were organizing, how they were working with other truckers or other franchisees to push back. So above all else, I think it’s important that people hear that, and people see the heart of this work.”

Listeners also get practical advice. For example, one episode featured a pediatrician giving recommendations about social media and children.

Bedoya said he’s enjoying connecting with people in a different way, while still fighting against corporate power and what he sees as an unfair economy.

“Getting illegally removed from my office was not something I would wish on anyone,” he said. “But there is a silver lining.”

Source

For decades, Americans could browse a catalog, choose a home and order it by mail.

Sears, Roebuck and Company was a prominent manufacturer of mail-order homes. The company sold about 70,000 to 75,000 homes from 1908 to 1940, according to the Sears Archives. Its catalogs offered more than 400 different house styles and the listed prices could range from around $200 to $6,000. Customers even had the option of designing their own home and submitting the blueprint to Sears.

鈥淭here are quite a few [Sears houses] in the D.C. area,鈥� said Judith Chabot, who runs the blog

Judith Chabot is part of a team of researchers documenting Sears houses, mostly on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Her interest was sparked after learning her mother grew up in one in Massachusetts, and she鈥檚 spent roughly the past decade finding others.

鈥淲e don’t know why exactly we love this search so much, but one of our researchers called it a big map treasure hunt,鈥� Chabot said. 鈥淚t’s kind of like birding also, like, 鈥極h my gosh, I found an Avalon!鈥� or 鈥極h, I found a Wesley!鈥� and then you check that one off your list.鈥�

The Aladdin Company and Montgomery Ward were other major kit home producers. Pre-cut materials, supplies and instructions would arrive via train, then friends or contractors could help assemble the house. The process was supposed to save time and money, plus cut down on waste.

Sears houses came in an array of styles, from simple cottages to big Antebellums. They also featured modern conveniences, including indoor plumbing, central heating, and electricity.

A 1928 Sears catalog included 鈥淭he Fullerton,鈥� a two-story home with six rooms and a big porch for about $2,000, 鈥淭he Selby,鈥� a one-story home with two bedrooms and one bathroom for about $600 and dozens of options in between. Chabot said the catalogs also published testimonials from homeowners.

鈥淭hey’d send in a photo of their house and then they’d write a letter about [how] this was a fine home and it was a joy to build and it’s the best house in the neighborhood,鈥� she said.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation published a book called 鈥淗ouses by Mail: A Guide to Houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company,鈥� sharing the history of these ready-to-assemble homes and providing a guide to identifying them, with hundreds of illustrations of house models and floor plans.

The book described 鈥渆xceptionally sturdy and well-designed鈥� houses that were 鈥渂uilt to last,鈥� and included a quote from the Smithsonian that 鈥渋t was the American Dream by Mail Order.鈥�

鈥淭hey were made, as all the homes were back then, with really solid, big strength wood and old growth wood,鈥� Chabot said, 鈥淭hey weren’t cutting corners at all. These are not flimsy homes.鈥�

Mortgages were rare during that time period. So Sears would help finance these mail-order homes. Chabot and her colleagues research mortgages and deeds to identify Sears houses or when a wall is torn down, specific ink stamps and shipping labels might provide clues.

鈥淚f you’re lucky, you will find markings on the framing lumber. So it’d be a letter in a number combo like B326 or A121,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is how Sears labeled the dimension of the lumber.鈥�

Many mail-order homes still exist today, sometimes without the current homeowner鈥檚 knowledge.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development鈥檚 Office of Policy Development and Research, 鈥渢he largest concentrations of documented Sears kit homes may be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its suburbs with approximately 1,000 homes.鈥�

The Holbrook House in College Park, Maryland, was built in 1927 and is an example of the Sears Alhambra model. In 2016, a Sears Colonial house sold in D.C. for $1.06 million.

鈥淧eople think that all the houses with that kind of look from the 1920s must be Sears houses, but really only about 1% of houses built during that era are Sears houses,鈥� Chabot said. 鈥淭hey’re pretty rare.鈥�

Chabot and her colleagues maintain a national database of Sears Houses, regularly adding new discoveries. You can see the ones they鈥檝e researched, including numerous in the D.C. area, on .

Source

Christine Hong, chair of the council’s Homeless Services Committee and chief of services to End and Prevent Homelessness with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, presented the findings at the council’s Wednesday meeting.

The report centers on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mandated point-in-time count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.

鈥淭his year, the count was conducted on Feb. 4. We had to postpone it one week due to the extreme cold and winter weather event that we experienced the week prior,鈥� Hong said. 鈥淎lthough it’s an imperfect measure, it provides an important regional snapshot of homelessness on a single night.鈥�

The D.C. region reported 9,790 total people experiencing homelessness, an increase of 131 people or about 1% from 2025. The year-over-year regional change was modest. This count is closer in line to the 2019 number, before the pandemic.

鈥淭he regional story is that homelessness fell during the pandemic era, a period when expanded federal resources and emergency protections were in place, and then increased after those temporary supports ended,鈥� Hong said. “The main takeaway is that regional homelessness is no longer increasing at the pace seen in 2023 and 2024, and is in line with the years immediately preceding the pandemic.鈥�

Results varied by jurisdiction.

D.C. had the largest numerical increase, with 225 additional people counted. Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, had 175 additional people counted, a 29% increase. Montgomery County saw the largest decrease, down by 390 people or 26%. Hong pointed to the county鈥檚 investment in short-term housing.

鈥淢ontgomery County also spent a great deal to expand emergency shelter for families, because we are committed to ensuring no family with children would sleep outside even one night,鈥� she said.

The count also included detailed information on race, veterans and household types.

鈥淭he broader evidence is clear, and is referenced in the report, that housing costs and the cost of living are major drivers of homelessness risk, especially for families with low income,鈥� Hong said. 鈥淚n practical terms, this means family homelessness is closely tied to whether low-income families can find and maintain housing.鈥�

.

Source

It鈥檚 mosquito season in the D.C. area. But this year, some residents are biting back.

鈥淢osquitoes are terrible here,鈥� Capitol Hill resident Michelle Mingrone said. 鈥淔or the past few years, in particular, I haven’t been able to be outside for more than three minutes without being bit by probably five to 10 mosquitoes.鈥�

Mingrone is the founder of the Itty Bitty Mosquito Population Committee. It鈥檚 inspired by a community-based mosquito control she found in University Park, Maryland, that was effective in areas with a high participation rate.

鈥淢osquitoes don’t respect property lines,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 well-placed trap between two houses is actually going to impact the mosquito population from both houses, versus trying to do it individually.鈥�

The idea is to raise awareness and encourage people to be vigilant. They educate neighbors on how to toss standing water, treat water they can鈥檛 toss and trap mosquitoes. The company Biogents is offering them a community discount on traps. The BG-Mosquitaire is the most expensive model and targets host-seeking females, which are the ones actively trying to bite you.

鈥淭his trap attracts mosquitoes who are seeking a blood meal,鈥� Mingrone said. 鈥淚t has a little scent pack in there that smells kind of like BO. It’s pretty gross, but the mosquitoes love it. They fly towards it, and there’s a fan that sucks them into this net.鈥�

She said the traps have made a big difference in her yard, showing WTOP about 100 mosquitoes caught in the net.

鈥淢osquitoes picked the wrong hill to die on,” she said.

So far, she said the response in her neighborhood has been incredible. More than 1,000 households have joined the mission, and she has more than 100 block captains helping to coordinate.

鈥淚t鈥檚 growing really fast. People are really excited,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f we get enough coverage and enough participation, we should see a real, meaningful impact on our mosquito situation.”

Mingrone said she hopes to expand the Itty Bitty Mosquito Population Committee beyond Capitol Hill. For more information, .

Source

A unique financial instrument remains the cornerstone of the U.S. housing market, chosen by about 90% of homebuyers 鈥� the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

鈥淚t’s really born out of [a] crisis,鈥� said Justin Kraeger, a D.C.-based mortgage adviser with Neo Home Loans. 鈥淲e’re a very unique country in the sense that we have this great financial tool for consumers.鈥�

Before the Great Depression, less than half of American households owned their homes. Mortgages were expensive and difficult to obtain. Down payments were high, sometimes up to 50% of the cost of the home. Balloon mortgages were common, meaning borrowers had to repay the full balance within a decade through a large lump鈥憇um payment. These challenging terms, including short maturities of just 5 to 10 years, kept homeownership out of reach for many Americans.

Everything changed in the 1930s, when the federal government stepped into mortgage lending in response to the economic crisis. New legislation aimed to stabilize collapsing housing finance institutions, create jobs through homebuilding and help homeowners avoid foreclosure.

The National Housing Act of 1934 dramatically expanded homeownership by creating the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA, now the largest mortgage insurer in the world, encouraged lending and popularized the fixed-rate long-term mortgages. The U.S. also launched Fannie Mae to foster a secondary market for FHA-insured loans. Down payments as low as 10%, as well as longer mortgage terms, made it possible for first-time buyers and families with limited incomes to own a home. During this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage emerged, gained popularity, and became the national standard.

鈥淚t landed on the 30-year as the standard because it is this lovely balance between a repayment period where you can pay back that mortgage in your lifetime,鈥� Kraeger said. 鈥淭he shorter the duration, the higher risk you’re taking. The longer the duration, the lower risk you’re taking.鈥�

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is widely supported by the U.S. government and provides liquidity to the financial markets. It is considered one of the safest, most predictable mortgage products because its lower monthly payments offer protection against rising interest rates and support long鈥憈erm budgeting stability.

鈥淚t is probably the best hedge against inflation,鈥� Kraeger said.

Throughout history, mortgage rates have shifted dramatically during major financial crises. In the early 1980s, mortgage rates rose to historic highs, peaking at 18% as inflation surged into double digits and an oil crisis created turmoil. Rates fell sharply in response to the 2008 financial crisis, dropping into the 4-5% range as the housing bubble burst. And during the COVID鈥�19 pandemic, they plunged to historic lows, below 3%, as the Federal Reserve slashed rates and intervened heavily in financial markets.

For potential homebuyers, Kraeger recommends not waiting around for lower mortgage rates, noting that rates move every day and are just one piece of the puzzle.

鈥淛ust get into the house,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on’t try to time the market. Spend time in the market.鈥�

Kraeger advises homebuyers to speak with a professional who can help build a plan aligned with their financial goals. Renting might be a better option for someone who doesn鈥檛 want the responsibilities of home maintenance or anticipates moving every few years. For those with a higher risk tolerance, an adjustable-rate mortgage could be a better fit.

鈥淔ind the financial instrument that’s going to work for you,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t just happens that most people buy a home and they stay in it long term [so] the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage becomes a really valuable tool to use.鈥�

Source

鈥淚t wasn’t just a damaged sign,鈥� Holmes said. 鈥淚t was a level of violence and vandalism that I hadn’t seen in the county.鈥�

Holmes is running for Prince George鈥檚 County Executive. He was notified by Bowie City Police that the large sign located at Maryland Route 450 near Superior Lane was vandalized the morning of May 1.

鈥淚 don’t want anybody to have to feel the way my family and I have felt over the last couple days, because you feel like something’s being taken away from you, and that’s your freedom,鈥� he said.

Investigators said the vandal used blue painter’s tape to place a swastika over Holmes鈥� face and wrote the words 鈥淔REEMAN鈥� and 鈥淭ND,鈥� which are coded white supremacist terms.

Holmes said he believes the vandalism took time, suggesting whoever did it was deliberate.

鈥淣o other signs were damaged with that on it,鈥� he said. 鈥淒id I just get singled out? Am I being targeted?鈥�

In a , Bowie Mayor Michael Est猫ve said the city will not tolerate prejudice directed toward anyone.

鈥淪omeone tried to deface this sign. They put some painters tape on it with a message that was racist and antisemitic,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou commit vandalism, we’re going to make sure we do everything we can to find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.鈥�

Holmes said one positive outcome has been how many people have reached out, offering to replace the sign or asking to put a sign up in their yard.

鈥淧eople have been incredible,鈥� Holmes said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not so much support for me; it鈥檚 really talking about (how) we don’t want this in our county, and we don’t want people to feel like it’s OK to do this in our county.鈥�

鈥淭he message is not to be desensitized by what goes on. Be really outraged. Be pissed off,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t’s unacceptable. Somebody saw something, someone should say something.鈥�

No arrests have been made.

The Prince George’s County Homeland Security Department is leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Source