The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, named after NASA鈥檚 first chief astronomer, is now complete after more than a decade of development.

鈥淚t is a lot of work, millions of hours is no exaggeration. That’s actual, actual math,鈥� Jamie Dunn, project manager for the telescope, said.

Standing just over 40 feet tall, the telescope is designed to take an unusually wide view of the universe. Scientists said that approach will help them better understand dark energy and dark matter while also discovering tens of thousands of planets beyond the solar system.

鈥淥ne month of Roman observations would correspond to a century with Hubble,鈥� said Julie McEnery, senior project scientist for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched back in 1990 and remains fully operational.

McEnery said Roman鈥檚 sweeping surveys could also help scientists identify flaws in long-standing theories about how the universe works.

鈥淐urrent observations hint that our standard model of the universe is incorrect,鈥� she said. 鈥淩oman will be able to confirm these and set us on the path to understanding what鈥檚 right.鈥�

Unlike earlier space telescopes that focus on individual targets, Roman is designed to scan vast areas of the sky at once.

鈥淲e, in the past, have concentrated on studying individual objects, Roman is going to do it differently. We’re going to be observing huge portions of the sky in order to fundamentally address something very human, which is trying to understand where do we come from and what about this universe we live in, how’s it evolving,鈥� said Lucas Paganini, the mission鈥檚 program executive.

Roman also carries a coronagraph, a specialized instrument designed to block out light from stars so scientists can try to directly see planets orbiting them.

鈥淚t will be stable, more stable than all of these other observatories that we’ve built before, and that’s what allows us to do starlight suppression at these unprecedented levels,鈥� said Vanessa Bailey, coronagraph instrument scientist at NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the telescope鈥檚 sweeping view could fundamentally reshape how scientists understand space.

鈥淩oman will give the Earth the new atlas of the universe,鈥� Isaacman said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 worth pausing for a moment and just think about how really incredible that is.鈥�

Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA鈥檚 Science Mission Directorate, said Roman also helps lay the groundwork for future exploration by advancing key technologies and scientific understanding.

鈥淓verything we do at NASA builds off the successes of what we鈥檝e done before,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淚t will definitely, definitely open doors to new cosmic pursuits.鈥�

Before science operations begin, the telescope will undergo months of commissioning after launch.

鈥淥ne of the things that we do over and over and over again is we practice our launch day, and we practice our first six days, and we practice beyond into day 40 of commissioning,鈥� said Jeremy Perkins, the mission鈥檚 science commissioning lead.

Paganini said everything scientists can currently observe represents only about 5% of the universe, with the rest made up of dark energy and dark matter.

Quoting Carl Sagan, Paganini said, 鈥淪omewhere, something incredible is about to be discovered.鈥�

With final testing complete, Roman is expected to ship soon to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it could launch as early as September.

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The doctor鈥檚 office on wheels brings care directly to schools and communities, helping families overcome barriers to treatment.

Dr. Hope Rhodes leads the which delivers pediatric care at schools and other sites in D.C. and Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland.

鈥淭he mission of the program is to really provide place-based care where children and families live, learn, work and play,鈥� Rhodes told WTOP.

Until now, the program operated with just one unit.

鈥淭he mobile unit can really provide most of the primary care services, including comprehensive well visits, immunizations, addressing chronic medical needs like asthma, allergies, eczema, weight management,鈥� she said.

Rhodes said the expanded fleet will also increase access to pediatric mental health services, an area where the demand continues to grow.

鈥淭here is definitely a great need, and (there) has been a great need for pediatric mental health services throughout the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith this additional unit, we’ll be able to provide more mental health services to the community.鈥�

The mobile medical unit has helped thousands of children with everything from immunizations to asthma treatment, close to home. Rhodes said having a second unit will allow teams to reach even more families who face challenges accessing traditional health care facilities.

Despite the availability of medical care in D.C. and Prince George鈥檚 County, Rhodes said 鈥渟ometimes families cannot find their way into the fixed facility, usually because of social determinants of health, like transportation challenges.鈥�

She said the additional unit, made possible through an investment from the United Health Foundation, allows the program to expand both its geographic reach and its services.

The demand is growing, Rhodes added, noting that the mobile teams will be able to help with seasonal health needs.

鈥淒uring this time of year, we usually see a lot of seasonal allergies and asthma,鈥� she said.

The program has been in place for more than 25 years and Rhodes said the expanded fleet will help Children鈥檚 National continue serving families across the region.

Children鈥檚 National said the mobile unit accepts insurance, but provides care for free to families .

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鈥淚 want people to know it’s not intended to be punitive. I know us not picking up your recycling seems like a punishment, but it’s really just an opportunity for teaching more than anything,” Deborah Moran, the sustainability manager for the Virginia town, said.

Moran said the goal is education through a targeted (and temporary) effort focused on cleaner recycling.

With it, crews will open lids and look in bins, looking for incorrect items in them.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e not going to be diving through or picking anything out of the bins,鈥� Moran said.

She said crews often find food, batteries and plastic bags in recycling bins, which are items that don鈥檛 belong there.

鈥淭hey (plastic bags) go through a sorting machine and they get all caught up and gunky in the sorting machine,鈥� she said. “So they can’t be accepted. Anything that’s combined inside of each other is also kind of a no go.”

As part of the effort, during one , crews will check recycling bins for contamination. The effort applies to residents who receive trash and recycling service through the town. If nonrecyclable items are found, the bin will be left behind and tagged with a notice explaining what needs to be corrected.

鈥淚f they see something that shouldn’t be in there, they’re going to put this giant red ‘oops’ tag on it that has little boxes on it where they’ll write what the issue is, so you know how to correct it,” Moran said.

Crews will return two business days later to collect the bin once the problem is fixed. Town officials stress the tagging effort is a limited campaign, not a permanent change to weekly collections.

鈥淭he biggest issue with that, primarily, is we’re paying for it to be recycled. And the rate that we pay for recycling versus trash is a little higher because it goes through all the sorting mechanics,鈥� Moran said.

She said cleaner recycling means lower costs for taxpayers, safer working conditions and materials that can actually be reused.

鈥淚f we send them something cleaner, they get a cleaner material on the back end,” she said.

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Fairfax County added 6,005 more unemployed residents in January compared with the same month last year, pushing the county鈥檚 unemployment rate from 2.7% to 3.8%. Loudoun County鈥檚 rate rose from 2.7% to 3.7%, while Prince William County’s increased from 2.9% to 3.8%. Each county added more than 2,000 unemployed residents over the year.

Those Northern Virginia rates remain slightly below the national average. The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.3% in January, up from 4% a year earlier, according to the

Keith Waters, the assistant director of the Center for Regional Analysis and Stephen S. Fuller Institute at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, said the local increases reflect continued changes tied to the federal workforce.

鈥淭he big takeaway is that this is a continuation of the contraction in the federal workforce following the federal workers who took the deferred retirement package in October,鈥� Waters said.

He said the effects of those decisions don鈥檛 show up all at once, which can make unemployment increases look sudden.

鈥淚t certainly takes some time for these things to come through the system,” he said, adding that federal contractors are also feeling the effects when contracts aren鈥檛 renewed.

Looking ahead, Waters said some government jobs could be added back later this year as agencies adjust staffing levels.

鈥淲e do kind of anticipate, through the end of the year, that direct federal employment might actually come back up just a little bit as maybe they hire some folks back for positions that they realized were a little bit more crucial than they needed,鈥� he said.

He also pointed to housing as a relative bright spot.

鈥淪ome of the numbers coming out of Northern Virginia, as far as demand for sale homes, have been surprisingly strong,鈥� he said.

Still, Waters cautioned that continued weakness in commercial real estate could eventually show up in local budgets.

鈥淚t puts more downward pressure on the commercial real estate industry, which might start to bleed into county budgets further down the line,鈥� Waters said.

Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill acknowledged unemployment is rising, but said there鈥檚 still plenty of job activity in the region despite federal workforce shake-ups.

In an interview with WTOP,聽Hill pointed to what he described as a significant number of open positions across Northern Virginia, saying, 鈥淚 still have 66,000 job openings as we speak in Northern Virginia.鈥�

He said while some workers have been laid off or displaced, the challenge is less about a lack of jobs and more about matching skills to available positions.

Hill noted that the county is focused on helping workers 鈥渞ecalibrate and reskill鈥� as federal contracting and employment shift.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Northern Virginia鈥檚 unemployment was rising faster than the national trend. Using comparable not seasonally adjusted data, unemployment rates in Northern Virginia remained below the national rate in January.

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The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority says impaired driving remains a concern, especially after a recent survey found that nearly three out of 10 drivers in the state believe they are safer drivers after using marijuana.

鈥淭hat is such a scary statistic, because it’s simply not true,鈥� said Jamie Patton, acting head of the Cannabis Control Authority.

鈥淵ou just should never drive while under the influence of marijuana,鈥� Patton said.

Patton said cannabis affects people differently, depending on factors like tolerance and how it鈥檚 consumed, making it difficult to know when it鈥檚 safe to drive. Unlike alcohol, there is no clear timeline for when you are no longer impaired.

鈥淢arijuana impacts people differently, and you know, the method of consumption has an impact on that as well, and so it’s really hard, and there’s no tried-and-true rule about how long to wait or anything like that,鈥� she said.

Driving while under the influence of cannabis is illegal in Virginia and Patton said impaired drivers put themselves and others at risk on the road.

That鈥檚 why officials are urging anyone who plans to use cannabis on 4/20 to make transportation plans in advance.

鈥淵ou’ll make better decisions if you make those plans in advance than if you’re waiting till you’re under the influence and trying to throw together a plan,鈥� Patton said. 鈥淭he simplest plan is to plan in advance for an alternate ride.鈥�

Virginia officials say the reminder is not meant to single out the day, but to reinforce a broader message about drugged driving and being safe on the roads.

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Emancipation Day commemorates the day in 1862 that marks the abolition of slavery and freed 3,100 enslaved people in the District.

The centerpiece of the celebration will be Sunday鈥檚 Emancipation Day parade, festival and concert at Franklin Park in Downtown D.C., headlined by rapper T.I.

鈥淟adies and gentlemen, the king of the south, Tip, T.I. Harris, three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper and actor, will be lighting up the Emancipation stage on Sunday,鈥� said Latoya Foster, director of the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment.

The free concert will also feature D.C.-native, Grammy Award-winning singer M媒a, gospel artist Tye Tribbett, Backyard Band featuring Sugar Bear, Black Alley, Souls of Kingsmen and a performance from 鈥�44: The Musical.鈥� An is required.

Steve Walker, deputy chief of staff to Mayor Muriel Bowser, said Saturday marks 160 years to the day, “the first emancipated people celebrated their emancipation here at Franklin Park. So, we’re bringing it all home.”

Earlier on Sunday, Franklin Park will also host the Emancipation Day parade and festival.

Additional D.C. 250 events include on Thursday, where NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth is scheduled to appear, and a Full Democracy Luncheon will happen at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Friday.

On Saturday the D.C. 250 Kids Ball will be held at Planet Word.

鈥淭his is an event where our young people can get all dolled up in their attire. Don鈥檛 overthink it. Just be cute and free and royal,鈥� said Thennie Freeman, director of the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, describing the Kids Ball.

City reassures public on safety following recent teen takeovers

As thousands of people are expected downtown for Emancipation Day events, some questions about safety follow so-called “teen takeovers” elsewhere in the city. Some of those recent incidents have resulted in arrests and temporary curfew zones, one of which involved Metro Transit Police making four arrests this past Saturday.

City officials said planning for Sunday鈥檚 events is routine and note that Emancipation Day celebrations have not seen public safety problems in the past.

鈥淲hat could be more secure than a place where the mayor of the nation鈥檚 capital is going to be herself?鈥� Latoya Foster said.

She also pointed to the concert鈥檚 track record.

鈥淣ot one Emancipation Day concert have we ever hosted where we鈥檝e had anything that would make you anxious 鈥� give you anxiety,鈥� Foster said. “With the level of entertainment we have, the security will be up a notch.”

Organizers also emphasized that security is coordinated across its agencies. City leaders said multiple departments are involved through the mayor鈥檚 special events task force, working alongside public safety agencies to prepare for large crowds.

At the same time, Freeman cautioned against broadly judging young people based on a handful of incidents.

鈥淓xtend grace. We were all once teenagers,鈥� Freeman said.

Officials said the focus for Sunday remains on celebrating D.C.鈥檚 history in a safe and welcoming environment.

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For Jenny Nieto, a D.C. resident, her diagnosis followed a sudden and frightening change in how she felt after finishing a 5K run more than two years ago.

She said she initially felt unusually wobbly and dehydrated. Instead of easing, those symptoms lingered. In the days that followed, new and more serious symptoms appeared.

鈥淚 was having trouble with my vision. I started getting very severe vertigo symptoms, nausea, vomiting 鈥� kind of uncontrollable. And I realized something is very seriously wrong,鈥� Nieto told WTOP.

Concerned she might be having a stroke, Nieto went to the emergency room.

鈥淚 went eventually to the ER for a suspected stroke, and they said, ‘No, it鈥檚 not a stroke, but you have MS,’鈥� she said.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, disrupting how the brain communicates with the rest of the body. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person, according to Dr. Brian Barry, who leads the MS clinic at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

鈥淭hey can be something as subtle as fatigue or brain fog, but they could be something as striking as vision loss in one eye, causing you to go blind for a few weeks,鈥� Barry told WTOP.

Barry said numbness, weakness and trouble walking are also common warning signs.

In Nieto鈥檚 case, imaging later revealed she may have been living with MS for years without realizing it. She said her doctor told her MRI scans suggested signs of the disease dating back decades, though she had never experienced a major medical episode until after the race.

鈥淢S affects one in 300 people, and if you think about that number, you know people who have MS, who might not even know that they have MS,鈥� Barry said.

He said that is why events like Walk MS D.C. are important for raising awareness about the illness.

Barry said early diagnosis and treatment are key, especially now that patients have far more options than in the past.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have any treatment for MS until 1993, and I would argue that we didn鈥檛 get our first very effective treatments until more than a decade after that,鈥� he said.

Barry said there are now dozens of FDA鈥慳pproved therapies, including oral medications, injections and infusions, and outcomes improve when treatment starts sooner.

鈥淚f we can get somebody started on highly effective treatment in 2026 at a time when they have little to no disability from this condition, my expectation is that they鈥檙e going to meet all of their goals, personal goals, professional goals, family goals,鈥� he said.

After her diagnosis, Nieto began treatment and said she is doing well. She has also found community and connection in unexpected ways.

On her very first date with the man who would later become her fiance, she learned they shared the same diagnosis.

鈥淗e said, what? And we realized we both had MS in common,鈥� Nieto said.

Their connection did not end there. On their fourth date, they went to the doctor’s office together.

鈥淚 took Mike (her fiance) to meet Dr. Barry,鈥� she said.

Now, the couple not only share their lives together, but also their neurologist, and that is something Nieto calls an important part of the couple鈥檚 鈥渓ove story.鈥�

As she walked at National Park surrounded by others living with MS, Nieto said she refuses to let the disease define her.

鈥淚 may have MS, but MS does not have me,鈥� she said.

WTOP鈥檚 Mike Murillo, who lives with MS, served as the host for Walk MS DC on Sunday. More information about MS is available through the .

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In an area of Southwest D.C. near L’Enfant Plaza that stretches between the National Mall and the waterfront lies a zone dominated by federally owned buildings.

The landscape is defined by monolithic, often Brutalist鈥憇tyle federal buildings, with wide streets and few ground鈥憀evel amenities. But the recent sale of one building to private developers, along with the listing of others, is sparking conversation about whether a new D.C. neighborhood could take shape.

Urban geographer Lisa Benton鈥慡hort, a professor emerita at the George Washington University, believes moments like this have helped shape D.C. neighborhoods before.

She points to the transformation of the Navy Yard, where shrinking federal operations in the late 1990s and early 2000s freed up land that was later redeveloped.

鈥淚 used to live in Navy Yard, which was a huge release of federal property in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the Navy Yard significantly shrunk what it needed, and a lot of buildings and space became available and were purchased by private developers,鈥� Benton鈥慡hort said.

Now, the Navy Yard is home to businesses, retail, restaurants and entertainment venues, and anchored by Nationals Park, where the Washington Nationals play.

Recently, the General Services Administration announced the sale of the former Department of Homeland Security headquarters at 301 7th St. SW, its former regional office building that also once housed DHS operations. The building is now in the hands of a private developer and is expected to be converted into a mixed鈥憉se development with housing.

Listed on a GSA website for 鈥渁ccelerated disposition鈥� are both the nearby Robert C. Weaver and Wilbur J. Cohen buildings.

The Liberty Loan Building on the western edge of so-called “Fedlandia” is listed as 鈥渦nder contract.鈥�

With those potential sales, Benton鈥慡hort said redevelopment in the area could help a city struggling with a housing crisis.

鈥淒.C. is in desperate need of more housing, that鈥檚 for sure, particularly redevelopment that would bring housing, especially if it鈥檚 affordable housing. That would be really what D.C. needs more of,鈥� Benton鈥慡hort said.

But what remains unknown is whether any housing would include affordable options, especially in an area with close Metro access and walking-distance proximity to iconic landmarks and the waterfront.

She said history shows that whether this moment adds up to a new neighborhood depends on how redevelopment unfolds.

鈥淲hat we really need to see is some large, comprehensive plan for federal spaces, particularly in and around the core,鈥� she said.

But she said it does not appear that a clear plan has been presented, pointing out that D.C. has not seen a comprehensive master plan update since the early 20th century.

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She believes that for a new neighborhood to emerge in an area currently without residential buildings, grocery stores and other everyday amenities, all stakeholders need to be part of a transparent planning process.

鈥淧iecemeal planning is not going to get you the connectivity, nor the kind of thoughtful redesign that an area like this really needs,鈥� Benton鈥慡hort said.

She said redevelopment efforts can move forward with little public awareness, leaving communities reacting to plans instead of helping shape them.

鈥淲e could end up with Fedlandia being converted into upscale, very expensive, luxury residential areas, but do very little to help the housing crisis that鈥檚 in D.C.,” Benton鈥慡hort said.

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If you鈥檝e been down to the Tidal Basin lately, you may have noticed a lot has changed along the water.

The National Park Service said the Tidal Basin portion of the sea wall restoration project will be completed by the end of April, reopening the newly rebuilt area to visitors. The work addresses decades of problems with a failing sea wall that allowed tidal water to regularly spill onto walkways and soak the roots of cherry trees.

Mike Litterst, spokesman for the National Park Service, said the project was designed to protect the basin for the long term while also improving access for visitors. He said walkways around the basin have been widened, giving people more room to move around not just during cherry blossom season, but throughout the year.

While much of the sea wall is new, Litterst said visitors will still see pieces of history built into it.

鈥淚f you look closely, you鈥檒l see that there are different colors of stone that are used in the sea wall,鈥� Litterst said.

Some of those stones date back to the original early 20th century sea wall and were incorporated into the new structure, preserving elements of the basin鈥檚 historic design.

Along with the sea wall work, hundreds of new cherry trees are already in the ground as part of a rebuilt landscape around the basin. Many of those trees are Okame cherry trees, which are similar to the more familiar Yoshino trees but bloom about two weeks earlier, bringing color to the Tidal Basin sooner in the spring.

National Park Service urban forester Matthew Morrison, who helps oversee the trees, said many were carefully hand selected from nurseries outside the DC region.

鈥淲e were down in North Carolina hand selecting trees, and Tennessee,鈥� Morrison said. 鈥淎fter walking thousands of acres and looking at thousands of trees, we selected about 400 that we brought home.鈥�

Once planted, Morrison said care for the young trees begins almost immediately. Crews are 鈥渟tructurally pruning鈥� them to help the trees better withstand storms and other harsh conditions as they mature.

鈥淲e鈥檝e learned, the science of arbor culture has advanced itself far enough, that we know the structure of the trees that survive in adverse weather conditions,鈥� Morrison said.

Over time, Morrison said the cherry trees planted close together around the basin will begin to function as a connected system underground.

鈥淭heir roots are going to graft together, their canopies are going to overlap,” he said.

When that happens, he said the trees will work together at times, helping to provide nutrients to the least healthy trees.

“That grove of individual trees is going to become one superorganism, and it’s going to work as one,鈥� he said.

Even a cherry tree that was removed for the project remains part of the restoration. The tree known as 鈥淪tumpy,鈥� which became a favorite among visitors, still plays a role in caring for the new plantings.

鈥淲hen Stumpy met its demise, we ground it up and made wood chips,鈥� Morrison said. 鈥淭he wood chips are integral to conditioning the soil and adding nutrients, macro and micronutrients, into the soil.”

Those wood chips are now part of the mulch around the new cherry trees, helping nourish the next generation growing along the Tidal Basin.

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鈥淚 am cautiously optimistic,鈥� said Francha Davis, executive director of .

The organization is a nonprofit that advocates for children in foster care and supports court鈥慳ppointed volunteers who serve as consistent voices for kids as their cases move through the system.

, Moore鈥檚 office said the reforms aim to improve oversight and capacity statewide, particularly for children with complex needs. They include statewide standards for one鈥憃n鈥憃ne caregivers and 37 additional licensed group home beds, which officials said could reduce disruptions and keep children out of temporary or inappropriate placements.

Davis said placement shortages have long contributed to instability, especially for children already dealing with trauma.

鈥淏ecause of the placement crisis, we have kids who are placed or mismatched with placements because there aren鈥檛 enough placements that match the kid,鈥� Davis said.

When kids are placed in settings that are either too restrictive or not supportive enough, Davis said it often leads to worsening behavioral problems.

Rob Scheer, founder of , a group that supports foster kids, said placement shortages have had real consequences for families navigating the system. Scheer grew up in foster care and later adopted five children from the system.

鈥淎s a dad of five kids adopted out of foster care, I have two sons who have been in and out of facilities, and the hardest thing was we couldn鈥檛 find placement,鈥� Scheer said.

Scheer said the state鈥檚 plan to expand licensed group home capacity will help, but he stressed that beds alone are not the answer.

鈥淵es, it鈥檚 going to help for us to have beds. But again, it鈥檚 not just the beds. These kids deserve to have homes,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to stop thinking about whole beds. It’s having homes, it’s having stability.鈥�

Scheer said he credited Moore for drawing renewed attention to long鈥憇tanding problems in the system.

鈥淚 have to give Governor Moore kudos, because at least he鈥檚 doing something, at least he鈥檚 talking about it,鈥� Scheer said.

Both advocates said the success of the changes will come down to what happens after the announcements.

鈥淚 will tell you, it鈥檚 huge. If there鈥檚 accountability,鈥� Scheer said.

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The District鈥檚 cherry blossom trees reached peak bloom Thursday, drawing crowds to the Tidal Basin on a mild afternoon as puffy white blossoms wrapped the shoreline.

With more than 70% of the blooms open, people poured into the area, many stopping for selfies, lingering beneath the trees or wandering slowly along the water.

Some admitted they were playing hooky from work to take in the annual show. Others traveled specifically for the experience or made it part of an annual tradition.

鈥淭his is my first time seeing the cherry blossoms,鈥� said Nikki Taylor, of Detroit. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e absolutely gorgeous.鈥�

For some, what makes the experience special is that it offers something rare without leaving the country.

鈥淚 think how pretty they are, and it鈥檚 very unique to D.C., other than Japan,鈥� said Sara Hummel, of Clarksburg, Maryland. 鈥淪o if we don鈥檛 have to fly 鈥� 17-20 hours to see them, then we鈥檙e lucky that we have them close by.”

The timing also made the day feel especially memorable.

鈥淵ou couldn鈥檛 pick a better time,鈥� said Stephen Sanday, who was visiting from North Carolina. 鈥淲ith decent weather, they鈥檙e going to pop out. And we got really lucky.鈥�

Live music added to the atmosphere, with a string duet playing along the path as people moved through the crowd.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a therapeutic experience,鈥� said Stacie Clemmons, of Baltimore. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful, the weather鈥檚 lovely.鈥�

Memories of ‘Stumpy’

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Among the rows of cherry trees, one stood out in particular.

Its hollowed trunk and single long branch bursting with blooms drew a steady stream of onlookers, many slowing down to take a closer look. Some said it reminded them of 鈥淪tumpy,鈥� the iconic cherry blossom tree that became a symbol of resilience before it was removed during construction work at the Tidal Basin.

鈥淚 love their courage,鈥� said Roger Harte. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 give up. They keep coming back.鈥�

Others noticed something more unsettling: From a certain angle, the hollowed trunk appeared to form a face, prompting some visitors to say it looked like the tree was laughing.

鈥淚t does look like it could have a little scary character going on in there, kind of just laughing at all of these people coming by and saying, 鈥楬a, ha, ha, I鈥檓 going to be here forever!鈥欌�� said Russel Horner.

Perspective seemed to matter.

鈥淵eah, it is聽kind of ominous,鈥� said Abby from D.C. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 starting to see a face.鈥�

Could it be a Sinister Stumpy? Not everyone agreed.

鈥淚 see a tree just trying and hanging on for dear life,鈥� said John, who was visiting with friends.

Some focused less on appearances and more on what the tree represented.

鈥淚t鈥檚 struggling. It鈥檚 fighting. But it鈥檚 looking beautiful,鈥� Robin Bell said. 鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 not the tree we want, but it鈥檚 the tree we need.鈥�

Some of those who stopped to admire the tree also came up with possible names. Some suggested it was a successor to Stumpy, offering names like 鈥淪tumpy Jr.鈥� or even 鈥淎ngry Stumpy.鈥�

鈥�’Holy Moly,’鈥� one visitor suggested, before adding that the tree 鈥渓ooks deserving of its crown.鈥�

Whether viewed as eerie, inspiring, or simply unusual, the tree has become an unexpected focal point during peak bloom, drawing nearly as much attention as the blossoms surrounding it.

What should this "ominous" cherry blossom tree at the Tidal Basin be called?

— WTOP (@WTOP)

And while all eyes were on this latest tree with personality, Stumpy itself is already staging a quiet comeback. The U.S. National Arboretum says cuttings from the original tree are thriving, and this spring, the young clones

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Fairfax County police say a major drug investigation targeted multiple vape shops, including a dozen Tobacco King vape shops, that are accused of selling illegal items, ranging from drugs to synthetic urine, and laundering money.

Detectives say a father and his two sons are now charged in a case police believe could stretch up and down the East Coast.

鈥淚 would describe tobacco vape shops as dens of ill repute and hives of corruption,鈥� Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a news conference Wednesday.

Police said simultaneous search warrants at 13 vape shops and storage sites turned up large amounts of marijuana, mushrooms and other items the shops are not legally allowed to sell. Detectives say they also seized more than half a million dollars in cash.

to three men from Woodbridge, Virginia: Omar Salim, Saleh Salim and Saed Salim, who are charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. All three men are out of jail on bond.

Davis said a follow-up search at Saleh Salim鈥檚 home in Prince William County led detectives to recover firearms, including rifles and handguns, along with additional evidence connected to the investigation.

In addition to drugs, Deputy Chief Frederick Chambers said investigators found items meant to help people beat drug tests.

鈥淭hey’re advertising that you can buy this, what we’ve found to be, synthetic urine to defeat these tests,鈥� Chambers said.

Police said federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Food and Drug Administration were involved in the operation. Investigators said additional federal charges could be considered as the case continues.

The investigation began after rising calls for service, burglaries involving teens and undercover drug buys inside vape shops. Detectives believe the organization operated beyond Northern Virginia and could connect to similar activity along the East Coast.

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Courtesy Fairfax County Police Department

Courtesy Fairfax County Police Department

Courtesy Fairfax County Police Department

Courtesy Fairfax County Police Department

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Chief Davis said vape shops have become a growing concern for police and the community.

鈥淭obacco vape shops have snuck up on us and we didn’t even realize it. And it’s a regional challenge. It’s regional, it’s not just Fairfax County,鈥� Davis said.

Despite the arrests and seizures, police say the vape shops are still allowed to operate while licensing, zoning and other regulatory actions play out.

Davis warned other shop owners not to mistake that for inaction.

鈥淲e’re watching, we’re paying attention, and we will conduct a criminal investigation in a heartbeat the moment we think you’re committing crimes that harm our children,鈥� he said.

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Families at in Hyattsville told WTOP they鈥檙e stunned by the revelations and unsure of what comes next for the community.

鈥淭here’s a wide spectrum of feelings about this. What I had sent out in a message to our staff and families, acknowledging the situation, was that anything that you feel right now is valid,” Ian Fay, the president of the Parent Teacher Organization at the school, said.

Fay said families are worn out as they try to absorb about Chavez. The investigation reported that Chavez, who died in 1993, is now the subject of allegations that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior involving women and minors during his time leading the United Farm Workers.

Fay said “shock” is the word he keeps hearing from parents and staff.

鈥淭hey come to school under the banner of Cesar Chavez and the positive things that organization has brought in the name of support of the Latino community, and to hear this situation come down the pike, in addition to all the other things that we are dealing with and that we are facing, has just been very heavy. Very sad,” he said.

He said some parents asked about a name change right away, but he worries about what that would mean for a school that already has limited resources.

鈥淭he expenses that are involved with making a name change like this is substantial,” he said.

For many families, the stress doesn鈥檛 stop there. Fay said parents are trying to figure out how, or even whether, to talk to their kids about the allegations.

鈥淥n top of all that, we have to tell our kids, ‘Oh, the name of the school that you鈥檙e going to has been tarnished by this individual who鈥檚 not even around anymore,'” he said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a person that is the namesake of where you go every day, and he abused children possibly your age.鈥�

He said the news lands at a time when the Latino community is already stretched thin.

鈥淭his is a difficult 鈥� thing to come in the midst of multiple other difficult things that are happening in our community,” Fay said.

Some parents, he said, want the name gone immediately.

鈥淪ome people are very, very, very emotionally charged to change it as quickly as possible,鈥� he said.

Prince George鈥檚 County Public Schools said it considers the allegations deeply troubling and is evaluating next steps for the school鈥檚 name through its formal community鈥慸riven renaming process.

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A closed鈥慸oor roundtable discussion in Hagerstown, Maryland, drew out strong concerns Monday over the federal government鈥檚 plan to convert a warehouse near Williamsport into a large immigration processing facility.

The invite鈥憃nly meeting, which was open to media for 15 minutes, brought together Gov. Wes Moore, Rep. April McClain Delaney and other community leaders who said they鈥檝e been left without clear answers about the project.

Moore said what鈥檚 being proposed would take away economic opportunities and called out what he described as a lack of transparency from President Donald Trump’s administration.

鈥淭here are very real concerns that I have about what is being proposed,鈥� he said.

The Trump administration plans to convert a warehouse in Williamsport into a 1,500鈥慴ed mass immigration detention facility. The state’s top prosecutor has already to stop the plans.

Moore told the group the state never received a clear explanation of the project and pointed to a judge鈥檚 order that while Maryland鈥檚 lawsuit moves forward.

McClain Delaney told attendees that residents have been left without answers.

鈥淧eople are frustrated about this administration, and that it has not even done the bare minimum to communicate with the residents here,鈥� she said.

McClain Delaney that would prohibit the use of congressionally approved funds for the construction of the facility and provide a legal pathway for county residents to challenge the project’s development in court. She is also demanding access to the building for oversight.

Local leaders echo worries

Taj Smith, president of the Washington County NAACP, warned the facility would strain local resources.

“The plans for this processing center include moving through a population that is equal to our entire county’s population annually. Our water plant is already fragile and operating at maximum pressure, yet this facility could demand 100 times its current water allocation, threatening our water supply,” Smith said.

Officials also heard concerns about the potential impact on families.

Michael Lukens with the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights believes enforcement would rise if the center opens.

鈥淭hey are not going to build this warehouse and leave it empty,鈥� Lukens said. “They are going to find people to arrest and fill it.”

Washington County commissioners, meanwhile, have voted in support of bringing the facility to the area.

When speaking with the media after the roundtable, Gov. Moore was asked why some leaders who back the project were not invited to the meeting.

He said he has been in regular contact with county commissioners and said, “We know that there might be a disagreement on this issue. We understand that. And frankly, I think disagreement is natural and good when it comes to the democratic process.”

A federal judge has paused work at the site while the state鈥檚 legal challenge continues.

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The Washington Nationals’ president of business operations, Jason Sinnarajah, said the team has focused on making it easier for fans to get into the ballpark. They’ve been improving the park’s Go-Ahead Entry system, which allows fans who enroll on the app to enter without stopping.

鈥淵ou鈥檒l be able to literally just walk right through,鈥� he told WTOP.

Sinnarajah also said the field is ready for the season, despite weeks of unpredictable weather in D.C. He credited the crews responsible for getting the park into shape.

鈥淎 lot of work. Again, credit to the entire groundskeeping staff. They did a phenomenal job,鈥� he said.

Along the concourse, fans will see an expanded food lineup designed to better represent the city鈥檚 diversity. Josh Satterthwaite, vice president of hospitality for Levy Restaurants, said the team worked to make the menu reflect the area.

“We know it’s D.C. 鈥� there’s such a variety of cultures, of people 鈥� and we want to be representative of all that here at Nationals Park,鈥� he said.

Through the team鈥檚 Pitch Your Product competition, several small businesses are setting up inside the stadium this year. Among them is where owner Chekesha Rashad is serving internationally inspired dishes.

Their menu includes a fruit cup with an agave lime dressing and nachos, which Rashad described as “three countries on a plate.”

Another newcomer is , a D.C.-based flavored ice cream cone maker.

Fans will also find new pizza, foot-long hot dogs and ice cream options from South Mountain Creamery.

From Baltimore, brings its crab mac and cheese hot dog. Matthew Chavis with said they let fans guide what ends up on the menu.

鈥淧retty much we just throw a bunch of stuff together, hoping it works. We let people try it, and when the fans love it, we make it for them,鈥� he said.

And for those looking for value, $9 beers will be available at every game and the team will continue to offer free food for kids. The park has also expanded its Kids Zone.

One of the season鈥檚 most popular giveaways is expected to be the Alex Ovechkin first pitch bobblehead, available May 16. It depicts the Washington Capitals star making the first pitch in flip-flops after the team鈥檚 2018 Stanley Cup win.

Other bobbleheads this season include a Grogu (Baby Yoda) figure for Star Wars Day on May 2, a CJ Abrams bobblehead on May 30, a Daylen Lile bobblehead on June 13, a Captain America themed bobblehead on July 10 and a James Wood bobblehead on Aug. 29.

The schedule also features themed nights such as Margaritaville Night, Caribbean Heritage Day, Pride Night OUT, Naruto Night for anime fans and Hello Kitty Night for fans of all things cute and pink. Fans can also look forward to events, and even when you can’t bring your own pup, the team鈥檚 official Canine Companions team dog will be at many of the games greeting fans.

This season brings a leaguewide change with Major League Baseball鈥檚 automated ball strike challenge system. Under the setup, players can challenge a ball or strike call and the result is shown instantly in the stadium.

Once a challenge is made, 鈥淭he location of the pitch will be displayed on the scoreboard using new and improved graphics,鈥� according to MLB鈥檚 description of the system.

The team showed off what the system would look like on the stadium’s big screen.

With new food, cheaper drinks, expanded promotions and improvements on the field and at the gates, the team says the goal is to make every visit to Nationals Park feel fresh.

Fans will get their first look at all the changes when the Nationals host Baltimore for an exhibition game on Monday ahead of the April 3 home opener against the Dodgers.

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