As voters head to the polls in D.C., one major decision before them is who should get the Democratic nod in the race to replace the District’s longtime congressional delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton.

WTOP has heard from the candidates on the issues.

Experience and priorities

D.C. Council member Robert White touts his time on the council and as a member of Norton鈥檚 staff in preparing him for the role.

As for his priorities: 鈥淥ne and two are protecting D.C.’s home rule and moving us toward statehood, the other stabilizing our economy to add more jobs and more revenue and housing to our city,鈥� he said.

White said he would push those goals by building political pressure on lawmakers and strengthening relationships in Congress.

WTOP sent a questionnaire to all the candidates in each contested race, asking them to introduce themselves to voters.听Read their responses here.

Council member Brooke Pinto said her focus is protecting the District.

鈥淚鈥檓 running to be our next congressional delegate to make sure that we can protect our local government and our democracy,鈥� she said.

Pinto said she would rely on proactive outreach to lawmakers and coalition building, before legislation threatens the city.

Candidate Kinney Zalesne, a former Democratic National Committee finance chair and co-chair of Women for Kamala Harris, said she would focus on leveraging national relationships and building alliances across Capitol Hill to advance D.C.鈥檚 priorities.

鈥淭he D.C. delegate job is two things, and conveniently for us, they rhyme. It’s autonomy and economy,鈥� Zalesne said.

Like White, candidate Trent Holbrook pointed to his experience working for Norton in Congress.

鈥淢y top priorities will be D.C. statehood and D.C. home rule, defending federal employees and affordability,鈥� he said.

The fifth D.C. delegate candidate, Greg Jaczko, did not respond to emails from WTOP about contributing to our voter guide.

Statehood

All four of the candidates who responded said they support D.C. statehood, but they differ in how to get there.

鈥淚 am 100% for statehood,” Zalesne said. “It’s outrageous that 700,000 of us don’t have the same rights as every other American.”

She said the path forward starts with building support both inside D.C. and across the country, then eventually working to bring in Republicans.

White also believes D.C. needs to make its case for statehood to Democrats across the country.

鈥淭wo Democratic senators from D.C. will do more to shift the balance of power in Congress than any of these redistricting battles,鈥� White said.

Pinto said she鈥檚 optimistic and wants to elevate the issue nationwide.

鈥淚t will give us two Democratic senators, and that’s exactly why it should be and must be the number one piece of the Democratic Party platform nationwide,鈥� Pinto said.

Holbrook emphasized his role in advancing the effort in Congress while working for the outgoing delegate.

鈥淚 helped guide the D.C. statehood bill to passing in the House twice, garnering a record number of cosponsors and 100-plus national organizations endorsing the bill along the way,” he said. “I fought the record number of anti-home rule attacks we faced during this time.鈥�

Holbrook said he would continue building national support and working with lawmakers to advance the bill.

Economy and jobs

The economy and jobs are also a key issue in the race, especially in the wake of federal workforce cuts.

Pinto said the focus should be on growing new industries.

鈥淲e have to diversify our economy and invest and bring in new industries that are in high growth sectors like health and tech and defense manufacturing,鈥� she said.

White said the approach must balance protecting federal jobs with expanding the private sector.

鈥淲e want to create federal tax incentives to get private sector jobs downtown D.C. and other parts of D.C., so that we can get people back to work,鈥� White said.

Zalesne said the city needs to rethink its reliance on federal employment.

鈥淲e learned the hard way this year, we’re a company town, and the company hates us, and we can’t just sit by and hope we can ride it out, or hope it’s going to get better naturally,” she said. “We have to rebuild our economy to be less dependent on the federal government.”

Holbrook focused on protecting federal workers as part of the economy.

鈥淚 was a federal employee, and I fought their illegal firings to have them hired back, with back pay, to give them pay raises, and to improve retirement benefits,鈥� Holbrook said.

He said he would push to restore jobs and keep agencies in the District.

Public safety and federal role

Public safety remains another major concern, along with questions about the federal government鈥檚 role in the city.

Pinto said local control and resources are critical.

鈥淏ecause of my expertise in our public safety ecosystem that is so unique in the District, it is especially important to make sure that I am leveraging resources that we can secure from the federal government,鈥� she said.

White said he would work with federal leaders when it helps, but push back when it doesn鈥檛.

鈥淚’m going to work with federal administrations when they want to do what’s in the best interest of D.C., and when they want to come down and over incarcerate, so they can take over our city. I’m going to work to protect our city,鈥� White said.

Zalesne said the federal government should stay out of local law enforcement decisions.

鈥淭he delegate needs to be on TV 24/7, needs to be on social media, needs to be pounding the table with all those allies and partners to have the nation know what is happening to us,鈥� she said.

Holbrook focused more broadly on protecting D.C.鈥檚 autonomy and decision-making authority.

鈥淚 fought every anti-home rule attack in Congress and from the Trump administration, and, on nearly all of them, we won,鈥� Holbrook said.

He said his experience defending local authority would guide how he handles federal involvement.

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Ireland鈥檚 Four Courts in Arlington is gearing up for a World Cup surge with preparations underway to handle packed crowds and an around-the-clock soccer atmosphere.

Bars across the D.C. region are expecting a busy stretch as fans gather to support their home countries, but at Four Courts, the energy is already building after national recognition. The pub was recently voted America鈥檚 number one soccer bar by the Men in Blazers podcast.

Managing partner David Cahill said the honor has already translated into more attention and business ahead of the tournament.

“We鈥檙e super excited. We won the title for 2026. We won it about a month ago, and since then we’ve seen a big uptake in the business. We were already excited for the World Cup, but now we’re delirious,” he said.

Once the matches begin, Cahill said the bar expects the kind of crowds usually reserved for weekends.

“Once the World Cup starts, it’s going to be like a Saturday every single day,” he said.

To prepare, staff are making physical changes inside and outside the bar to accommodate more fans.

“We’ll remove some furniture so we can get more people in here, create a better atmosphere. And then we’re also going to be showing the games out to back at the restaurant,” he said.

The bar is also expecting to serve large quantities of food and drink throughout the tournament. It’s been stocking up on chicken wings and kegs of Guinness.

The buildup to the World Cup follows the Four Courts efforts to recover and rebuild after a 2022 crash that injured several people, forced it to close for extensive repairs and shook the pub’s tight-knit community.

Cahill said it took time, especially with regular customers among those affected, but support from the neighborhood helped the business regain momentum.

As part of the World Cup experience, flags representing all competing countries hang throughout the bar, though that display will slowly change as teams are eliminated, and a pair of big scissors comes out.

“So, as your country gets eliminated, unfortunately, so does your flag,” he said.

Cahill said that element adds a layer of drama to the viewing experience, but the bigger takeaway from the World Cup atmosphere is the sense of connection it creates.

“It just brings people together,” he said.

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Among the biggest changes: some additional funding for early childhood educators, legal services and paid family leave, all of which saw significant reductions in the budget the mayor submitted to the council in April.

When D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson revealed his version of the budget Monday, he said the council focused on support for services residents depend on. That included restoring funding to the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.

“The pay equity fund is about improving the quality of childcare, recognizing that childcare workers are actually early childhood educators,” he said.

The proposal also increases funding for childcare subsidies, with the goal of reducing or eliminating waitlists for families in the coming fiscal years.

At the same time, it restores funding for legal aid programs and victim services, which provide support for low-income residents and those navigating the court system.

“Access to Justice (Initiative) has gotten a lot of attention. The budget will restore for FY27 the same level of funding as in FY26,” Mendelson said.

The council鈥檚 proposal also includes a $15 million increase for public charter schools, as well as funding for hundreds of housing vouchers aimed at keeping current assistance in place and helping families transition out of temporary housing.

The budget also sets aside $300 million for upgrades at the Stadium-Armory Metro station, a key infrastructure project tied to the planned redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site with a new Commanders stadium.

Much of the money for these funding restorations comes from revenue tied to the District’s efforts to opt out of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, known as “decoupling.” Another source not included in the mayor鈥檚 original budget estimates was roughly $150 million from D.C.’s reserve funds.

Even with those additions, not all programs cut in the mayor鈥檚 proposal are being fully restored.

A second vote on the budget is set for June 23. Final approval could come by the end of June or in July.

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“This is the biggest overhaul of federal student loan lending in decades,” said Barry Glassman, president of Glassman Wealth Services, a financial management firm with offices in Vienna, Virginia, and North Bethesda, Maryland.

Starting July 1, new federal rules cap how much students and parents can borrow, while also streamlining repayment into two main options. New borrowers will be required to choose between them.

鈥淭he big change is the federal government’s moving from ‘borrow what the school costs’ to ‘borrow what the government allows,’鈥� Glassman said.

Under the new limits, parent borrowers are capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total. Graduate school loans are capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000 total, while professional programs like law and medical school can go up to $50,000 a year and $200,000 total, which could leave a gap between tuition costs and available loans.

At the same time, repayment options like Saving on a Valuable Education, also known as SAVE, are going away.

“The SAVE plan, which really had many different payment plans, are all being wrapped into one new repayment plan,鈥� he said.

That new option, known as the Repayment Assistance Plan, ties payments to income.

“The various payment schedules, such as save and pay and repay, and all of the income-driven repayment programs, those are disappearing for this new thing called RAP, the Repayment Assistance Plan,鈥� he said.

Another new option is a Tiered Standard repayment plan, which, according to the Department of Education, will offer fixed monthly payments based on the borrower鈥檚 outstanding principal balance.

Glassman said after years of confusion during the pandemic, the changes at least bring more clarity.

“I didn’t say it’s better, but at least we now have clarity on what the new repayment rules and forgiveness rules might look like,鈥� he said.

He says there are also expanded Pell Grant options tied to short-term job training programs, known as Workforce Pell Grants, which could help students pursuing jobs in the trades or certifications.

He says the key is to know what you have now before the rules change.

“If you have been borrowing and you want to be subject to the old rules, you may not want to tap new programs and things, because you’ll automatically be put into the new program if you borrow new money,鈥� he said.

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After three terms, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is exiting the Wilson Building, and her decision not to run for reelection opened the door to a crowded mayoral race.

There will be seven candidates on the ballot and all are outlining their approaches when it comes to dealing with the federal government, pushing for statehood and tackling some of the biggest issues facing the city.

Federal relations, law enforcement and statehood

How the next mayor works with the White House and Congress is a key issue, especially with ongoing fights over local control and the presence of federal law enforcement in the city.

Gary Goodweather said he鈥檚 open to working with federal partners, but only when it benefits residents.

鈥淲e have a lot of federal workers here that are mission-driven and care about our city, and I will work with them to be able to get more for our city,鈥� Goodweather said.

He said he would end cooperation between D.C. police and ICE, while working with federal partners when it benefits the city.

Goodweather said maintaining a balanced budget is key to avoiding federal oversight and preserving autonomy, while also trying to unify residents around a push for statehood.

WTOP sent a questionnaire to all the candidates in each contested race, asking them to introduce themselves to voters. Read their responses here.

Kenyan McDuffie said he鈥檒l take a both-sides approach, working together when possible and pushing back when needed.

鈥淟isten, I’m going to fight back where necessary and work with the federal government where possible,鈥� McDuffie said.

He said he would also end D.C. police’s cooperation with ICE and work with federal agencies on projects that benefit the city.

McDuffie said his plan includes building national coalitions and strengthening D.C.鈥檚 case for statehood.

鈥淲e have a strong case to be the 51st state,鈥� he said.

Council member Janeese Lewis George said the city needs a harder line with the federal government.

鈥淚 believe that, you know, we can, that complying in advance is not an adequate strategy, and that we can do more through our leadership to be able to protect D.C. residents,鈥� Lewis George said.

She said she has introduced legislation to end cooperation between D.C. police and ICE and would use legal tools to push back against federal overreach.

Lewis George said she would expand advocacy efforts and organize a broader movement to push for statehood and bring attention to the issue on a national level.

Rini Sampath said she would directly oppose federal overreach in local policing.

鈥淚 will not cooperate with any federal takeover of MPD or deployment of federal law enforcement against D.C. communities,鈥� Sampath said.

Former D.C. Council member Vincent Orange said he would defend home rule while maintaining relationships in Washington.

鈥淚 will defend D.C.鈥檚 Home Rule every day through legal, legislative and strategic action,鈥� Orange said.

Ernest Johnson said the approach should balance collaboration with protecting local authority.

鈥淚 will work collaboratively where it benefits residents, but firmly push back against any overreach that undermines local control,鈥� Johnson said.

Affordability and housing

The candidates said affordability and housing will be a key part of their plans if elected.

As housing costs continue to rise, each candidate is laying out a different plan to create more affordable housing.

McDuffie, a former council member, said families are already feeling the pressure.

鈥淚’ve laid out a plan that is bold to build 12,000 new units of housing in the District of Columbia, but importantly to preserve 20,000 existing units of affordable housing by 2030,鈥� McDuffie said.

He said cutting red tape and expanding support programs would help more people stay.

Goodweather said he鈥檚 committed to building 50,000 multi-generational homes in the city, and he said bringing vacant homes online will help with that goal. Another part of his plan is involves the permitting process.

鈥淚’m going to completely revamp the Department of Buildings’ permitting and licensing,鈥� he said.

Lewis George said her plan focuses on increasing supply across the city.

鈥淎s mayor, I will increase D.C. housing supply and build 72,000 homes in five years by reforming zoning laws, streamlining the permitting process and breaking down other barriers to building more housing all across the city,鈥� Lewis George said.

She said that plan also includes stronger tenant protections and expanding homeownership programs.

Sampath said the issue is driven largely by supply shortages.

鈥淢y approach has two parts: build more and protect who is already here. Building more: I will pursue zoning reform to allow more density near transit, fix permitting timelines that are among the worst of any major city,鈥� Sampath said.

Orange said the focus should be on both building and protecting residents.

鈥淚 will accelerate affordable housing production through the Housing Production Trust Fund and partnerships. I will prioritize workforce housing and targeted support for vulnerable residents,鈥� Orange said.

Johnson said the system needs to change who benefits from development.

鈥淚 will prioritize producing housing without relying on the same developer-driven model that has driven up costs,鈥� Johnson said.

Government accountability

Holding agencies accountable is something voters continue to bring up on the campaign trail according to the candidates, but their plans take different approaches.

Lewis George said accountability starts with transparency and leadership.

鈥淲e need a government which you know that takes our problems seriously and that puts people first and operates based on public trust and not loyalty,鈥� she said.

Lewis George said she鈥檇 appoint expert leaders, open up the contracting process so residents can see how decisions are made and improve communication so people know how agencies are performing.

McDuffie added that includes improving 911 response times, hiring more staff and setting clear benchmarks for agencies, with leadership changes if those goals aren鈥檛 met.

Goodweather said he wants a data-driven dashboard approach across all agencies.

鈥淲e’re going to be able to track every dollar that the District of Columbia spends, because these are taxpayer dollars,鈥� he said.

Goodweather said residents should be able to track spending and performance in real time and hold leaders accountable for results.

Orange said leadership and measurable performance standards are key.

鈥淚 will implement performance-based management across agencies, with clear metrics and public reporting,鈥� Orange said.

Sampath said she would tie accountability to data and measurable outcomes.

鈥淚 will launch a public budget and performance dashboard on day one: every major agency’s spending, service delivery timelines, and key outcomes published in real time by ward,鈥� Sampath said.

Johnson said accountability should be tied to clear benchmarks.

鈥淚 will implement agency scorecards with measurable benchmarks tied to service delivery, budgets, and outcomes, published regularly for public review,鈥� Johnson said.

Public safety and curfews

From curfews to police department staffing, the candidates are also laying out different approaches to crime and whether curfews should be used to address it.

Public safety is a major issue in the race, and there are clear differences on youth curfews.

Goodweather said curfews point to deeper problems that aren鈥檛 being addressed.

鈥淵outh curfews are an extreme tool, they’re an extreme measure and they are the result of failure of other systems,鈥� he said.

Goodweather said his plan includes expanding mental health services and tackling poverty, along with adding social workers and support systems in schools.

McDuffie supports using them in the short term as part of a broader strategy.

鈥淚 support a temporary curfew, because what we’re seeing in places like Navy Yard and U Street is unacceptable,鈥� he said.

McDuffie said he would hire more officers, improve pay and recruitment and rebuild trust in the department while also investing in community-based programs.

Lewis George said while safety is critical, expanding curfews right now comes with risks.

鈥淚t is about using this tool in the time that we’re in right now, and I believe it’s dangerous, because we have Donald Trump’s federal troops on our streets, we have ICE agents, we have federal agencies, these are people who are not trained in de-escalation,鈥� she said.

Lewis George said her plan leans heavily on prevention and intervention, including addressing mental health, expanding youth programs, and creating community safety hubs.

Sampath said curfews should only be used carefully and alongside investment.

鈥淚 support targeted, temporary youth curfew zones as one limited tool in a broader strategy but only when paired with real investment in youth programming and safe spaces,鈥� Sampath said.

Orange said he supports targeted time-limited youth curfews but said they need to be part of a broader effort.

鈥淐urfews alone are not a solution 鈥� they must be paired with engagement, family support and clear alternatives,鈥� Orange said.

Johnson said curfews should not be a long-term solution.

鈥淚 do not support broad, permanent 8 p.m. youth curfew zones as a long-term solution,鈥� Johnson said.

Candidate Hope Solomon did not respond to a questionnaire sent out to all of the candidates.

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The project brought years of lane closures and traffic shifts between the Capital Beltway and Spout Run, along one of the region鈥檚 busiest commuter routes.

“Today, we celebrate the renewal of one of the most historic and heavily traveled gateways into our nation’s capital,鈥� Jen Madello, the parkway’s National Park Service superintendent, said.

Officials celebrated the reopening with a ribbon cutting along the roadway Monday.

Among those marking the milestone was Rep. Don Beyer, of Virginia, who joked about the construction that kept drivers on their toes with constantly shifting traffic patterns.

鈥淚 do confess, I’m going to miss shifting lanes every quarter mile or so on lanes that seem like they’re 5 feet wide,鈥� Beyer said.

Work began in 2022 and included paving, improving drainage, restoring stone walls and upgrading other infrastructure. It was the first major rehabilitation of the northern section of the parkway since it opened in 1962, the Interior Department said.

鈥淭his project is a reminder of what can happen when we work together,鈥� Beyer said.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner agreed, noting the work was made possible through bipartisan support, including the Great American Outdoors Act signed during President Donald Trump鈥檚 first term. He also warned more cooperation will be needed as plans move forward to improve the parkway’s southern section.

鈥淵es, as we start the construction on the southern tier, there may be some inconvenience coming as well, but we will get through it at the end of the day. We’ve got a safer, more preserved parkway, preserving our history, and all of us who use this as a critical artery in the DMV,鈥� Warner said.

Also at the ribbon cutting was Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who said the improvements are part of a broader push to invest in infrastructure.

鈥淲e’re choosing beauty over blight, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway then, is more than a road, it’s a gateway, and as such, it tells the story of America,鈥� Burgum said.

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Patrick Kern, owner of , said Pride is a perfect time to pick up a book that reflects more of everyday life in the LGBTQ+ community.

“I think Pride Month is a really good time to read queer stories, because so much of Pride Month either focuses on the really high highs or the really low lows of the queer experience,” Kern said.

He said books can help fill in everything in between.

“The books give you a chance to see kind of the full spectrum, some you can be a slice of life novel, or it can be, you know, an epic fantasy, but like really delving into nuances of things you don’t understand,” Kern said.

Among his recommendations is Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander, a romance that follows a trans man heading home for the holidays and facing his past.

“About trans man who’s going home for the holidays and kind of reconciling with all of the big things that have gone wrong in his life and reconnecting with the lost love,” Kern said.

He recommends The Lesbian Bar Chronicles by Rachel Karp, which highlights stories from lesbian bars across the country.

“It’s a topic that’s not really delved into very much. A lot of the emphasis on queer spaces is on bars that are very focused on men, so this is getting people who are not very much the spectacle of queer stories,” Kern said.

Another pick, Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis, follows a group of women building community during difficult political times in Uruguay.

“It is about a whole bunch of women coming together and finding community in kind of inhospitable times and all kinds of horrible things that are happening, but kind of creating joy in a terrible moment,” Kern said.

For something centered on culture and connection, Kern suggests Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi.

“It’s a really interesting exploration of Taiwanese culture and Taiwanese food at the same time that she’s developing this really beautiful relationship with her tour guide and kind of shows you how rich and deep different cultures coming together can be,” Kern said.

And if you want something a little more offbeat, there鈥檚 Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, which blends science fiction and fantasy.

“It’s two different stories in one. One is the story of a young girl finding herself, and the other is a woman who is reconciling with the consequences of what she did to become famous and coming together,” Kern said.

Kern said with thousands of titles on the shelves, there鈥檚 something for just about anyone looking to explore LGBTQ+ stories this month or any time of year.

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Charter school advocates believe the issue is not how much money is to be spent, but how it is being allocated. They argue some funds are being directed outside the city鈥檚 per鈥憇tudent funding formula.

According to D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson the mayor’s proposed budget moved $85 million out of the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula, or UPSFF, used to allocate money to traditional public schools and charter schools.

That proposed $85 million reallocation would now fund only D.C. public schools.

Ariel Johnson, executive director of the D.C. Charter School Alliance, said if charter schools were given the same funds, it would amount to another $2,000 per pupil.

“Which is a huge number when you think about for some of our smaller schools, our schools that might only serve, you know, 300 or 400 kids.听That could be $2 million of funding for those students that they’re not going to see this year,” Johnson said.

She said this difference could force tough decisions at charter schools.

鈥淲e are going to see 鈥� teachers maybe being laid off or specialty programs being curtailed or cut,鈥� she said. “That’s not hyperbole, that’s going to happen.”

Mendelson said the mayor鈥檚 proposed budget created the issue.

鈥淲hat the mayor did with this budget is she funded two important initiatives for DCPS outside the formula, and that’s what has the charter sector upset 鈥� rightfully upset,鈥� Mendelson said.

Mendelson said moving that money back into the formula would be difficult due to overall budget constraints.

鈥淚 don’t like the policy choice the mayor made, but to be able to fully correct it is very costly,鈥� he said.

At a council hearing on Tuesday, students and families also made their voices heard.

Andres Itogutierez Meajia, a Cesar Chavez Public Charter School student, said funding should be equal.

鈥淓ducation is education, it shouldn’t matter what charter school or public DCPS school you go to,鈥� he said.

Kendall Ramsey, a sixth grade student at Center City Public Charter School, said more funding would improve school resources.

鈥淚 believe charter schools deserve to have, like, more funding, would help school provide with better desks, like rebuild the school a little bit, food, and better bathrooms,鈥� she said.

Some parents said the impact could go beyond the classroom.

鈥淚 believe that fair funding is equal rights, and all the schools deserve fair funding, no matter what school it is,鈥� said Joi Burriss, whose children attend The Sojourner Truth Public Charter School.

District officials argue the budget still increases funding for charter schools.

In a statement, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education said the proposal adds more than $50 million for public charter schools and increases funding for all public schools. The office said the budget also keeps more than $187 million in facilities funding for charter schools in place.

鈥淟ast year, the Council-approved financial plan shifted multiple items outside of the UPSFF in order to respond to declining revenues and balance the budget. In the Mayor’s FY27 proposal, she was able to put teacher pay back into the formula, plus grow the UPSFF by 2.55%, resulting in more money for D.C. schools, including charters,鈥� the statement read.

The deputy mayor’s office also said putting additional costs back into the funding formula cannot be done.

“Putting the DCPS fixed costs back through the formula would have required an increase of $100 million into the budget which the District simply doesn’t have available at a time of declining revenues,” the statement said.

The D.C. Council is expected to take its first vote on the budget next week.

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In a letter to Council Chair Phil Mendelson on Tuesday, Bowser described the lack of action as disappointing, blaming five members, whom she said, prevented the legislation from moving forward.

鈥淚 am greatly disappointed that five members of Council are essentially obstructing the Council from moving forward on this important public safety legislation. Council members Janeese Lewis George, Trayon White, Robert White, Brianne Nadeau and Zachary Parker have refused to let the emergency declaration pass despite the majority of members supporting the permanent and emergency versions of this bill,鈥� the letter reads.

For the legislation to get a vote, it needed nine votes, which Mendelson said the council doesn鈥檛 have.

鈥淥rdinarily, it’s been the tradition of this council that when the majority decides, (the) minority doesn’t impede that decision, which is what has happened,鈥� Mendelson said.

The proposal would have allowed police to impose temporary early curfews in specific areas to respond to so-called teen takeovers.

Those named in the mayor鈥檚 letter pushed back on the criticism.

At-Large Council member Robert White called the mayor鈥檚 letter 鈥渋rresponsible politics.鈥�

鈥淚 was one of maybe all members who supported a temporary curfew a year ago and we said to the mayor, ‘You’ve got to put together a full plan.’ She didn’t do it, and now she wants to blame the council. It’s ridiculous. It’s irresponsible,鈥� White said.

Ward 1 Council member Nadeau said she has been consistent in her position on the issue, voting against the permanent law and the emergency legislation.

鈥淚 stand by my belief that the curfew policy is a failed policy. It’s kind of smoke and mirrors and what we really need is investments in our young people,鈥� Nadeau said. 鈥淚’m pretty firm on that.鈥�

Council member Lewis George said the disagreement is about how to address the issue.

鈥淲e disagree that expanding the curfew in this very precarious time in our city, when we know federal troops and federal agencies are enforcing the law, puts young people at risk,鈥� Lewis George said.

Ward 5 Council member Parker also criticized the mayor鈥檚 letter.

鈥淚t’s unfortunate. It strikes me as political gamesmanship,鈥� Parker said.

The mayor said her administration will still use the authority it has to keep people safe as that gap approaches.

Council member Brooke Pinto, who supported the legislation, said she had hoped the council would approve the emergency measure to avoid a gap in enforcement.

鈥淎s you know, the council did pass the permanent version of the juvenile curfew emergency. But because we’re not a state yet, Congress is still reviewing our legislation,鈥� Pinto said. 鈥淏y the time they review it and approve it, it will be July. So my hope was to move the emergency, so we don’t have a gap. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the votes.鈥�

Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen said who said he was also ready to vote for the emergency,听 the issue has already been debated and suggested politics may be driving the renewed attention.

鈥淲e have had this debate maybe a month or so ago. 鈥� There’s an election coming up, so maybe that’s why we just keep seeing this kind of brought back up over and over again,鈥� Allen said.

The mayor鈥檚 executive order allowing the use of temporary curfew zones by police ends Saturday.

She said her administration will continue to take necessary steps under existing law to keep residents safe.

Under the permanent law, curfew hours beginning in July will run from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 6 a.m. on weekends from September through June and from midnight to 6 a.m. daily in July and August.

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D.C. police said the fight happened Saturday night at around 8:41 p.m. inside the restaurant on First Street Southeast, where a group of teens was caught on camera throwing chairs as customers tried to get out of the way.

Investigators said one group was already inside when another arrived, and the situation quickly escalated into a full-blown fight.

Officers were already nearby and arrived within a minute of the call, but everyone involved had fled the scene before they got inside.

The search, which now includes assistance from the FBI, has led D.C. police to release images of four people investigators believe were involved. Those images appear to have been captured on surveillance cameras inside a Metro station.

Police and the FBI are offering a combined $6,000 in reward money for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The melee came a day after a warning from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro that her office plans to pursue charges against parents of children involved in such behavior. Pirro renewed that message after the fight.

The brawl also comes as city leaders allowed an emergency order that gave police the ability to set earlier youth curfews in certain areas to expire, while approving a permanent youth curfew law that has not yet taken effect.

The District currently has a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

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Nearly 70% of Metrobus riders are not paying, transit officials say. Starting next week, the agency plans to crack down on fare evaders.

Metro leaders at said the transit system will ramp up enforcement and outreach following the Memorial Day holiday weekend, including adding more Metro Transit Police across the system to get more riders to pay their fare. The plan also includes having bus operators remind riders of the fare as they board, a shift from a long-standing policy where drivers were not expected to engage over payment.

鈥淔are nonpayment is completely unacceptable. It is costing us tens of millions of dollars,鈥� Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said.

Clarke said fare evasion is costing the transit agency about $50 million a year and that Metro will increase both enforcement and education efforts aimed at changing rider behavior.

One part of that effort is having bus operators say the fare out loud to riders.

鈥淭hey are in a secure compartment that we’ve spent millions of dollars on, and they’re quoting the fare. They are not supposed to engage someone after that. The safety of our staff is paramount,鈥� Clarke said.

He said operators will not enforce fares and that responsibility will remain with Metro Transit Police, who will have a larger presence as part of the crackdown.

鈥淭here’s nobody that is a bus operator doing fare enforcement. They’re doing fare awareness.鈥� Clarke said.

He said the issue goes beyond enforcement, pointing to inconsistent fare policies across the region, where some transit systems offer free rides while Metro does not.

But Metro鈥檚 largest union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, is pushing back on involving operators at all.

鈥淪imply by saying, ‘sir, ma’am, whomever, the fare is $2.25 to get on,’ that puts that bus operator at risk,鈥� union spokesman Benjamin Lynn said.

Lynn said operators are already reacting strongly to the change.

鈥淏us operators and our members are pretty irate, pretty upset,鈥� Lynn said.

He said the policy reverses years of safety measures designed to reduce operator assaults by keeping them out of arguments related to fares.

鈥淲e’ve had things where they’ve been attacked or just punched in the face for simply letting people know that the fare is $1.50, $2.00,鈥� Lynn said.

operators have been hurt over fare disputes even with protective barriers in place and is calling on Metro to leave fare enforcement solely to transit police and focus on other solutions instead.

For riders, the change means seeing more officers on buses and hearing operators remind passengers about the fare again.

Metro said the goal is to recover millions in lost revenue and get riders back to paying, while the union argues the approach could increase risks for workers.

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Data from the vehicle that crashed shows it was traveling at 116 mph five seconds before the crash on Chain Bridge Road over Interstate 66, just after midnight Sunday. Police said three of the people in the car did not have seat belts on.

A 2-year-old remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to Fairfax County police. The child’s parents were both killed in the crash: Xiomara Herrera, 30, of Falls Church; and Alejandro Rodriguez Castillo, 27, of Sterling.

“We have now two fatalities. We’re probably going to have three, and we are maintaining close contact with the family,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a news conference Monday.

An 8-year-old child who was in the backseat was also taken to the hospital after the crash. The child is a family friend and the injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.

What happened

Davis said Herrera was driving a Mercedes GLA 250 eastbound in the I-66 express lanes when she took an exit to Chain Bridge Road, struck a median on Route 123 and came to a stop when the car “collided very violently with the bridge wall.”

“We know speed was an absolute factor in this fatal crash,” Davis said. “We suspect there may be more than one factor.”

Herrera died at the scene and Castillo, who was in the passenger seat, later died at the hospital.

The 8-year-old was the only person in the car properly buckled in, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information about Sunday’s crash to contact the department at 866-411-TIP.

Safety reminders

The crash comes before more drivers are expected to hit the roads for the Memorial Day weekend. And it’s highlighting a troubling trend officers say they鈥檙e seeing more of this year.

“Here we are in 2026, and we’re talking about unrestrained children and unrestrained drivers and selfishly, I thought we were past that. We’re not past that,” Chief Davis said.

While Davis said most drivers and passengers are buckling up, he said the county has seen an uptick in deaths where the person wasn’t properly restrained during a crash. Since 2023, 12 people have died in crashes without seat belts on 鈥� four of those people were killed in the first half of 2026.

“A great deal of these collisions are actually survivable, but they’re not survivable if you’re not restrained,” Davis said. “We’re seeing a disproportionate amount of our fatal motor vehicle collisions this year alone, and we’re not even halfway through 2026, involving unrestrained drivers and unrestrained passengers.”

Children ages 2 or under should be in a rear-facing car seat with a harness. Kids over the age of 2 should be placed in the appropriate car seat or booster seat for their height and weight, according to the. Officers say children are safest when they鈥檙e properly buckled in the back seat.

“We didn’t want this tragedy, this preventable moment, to go unnoticed, and that’s why we think it’s important to share with the community responsibilities associated with better driving habits,” Davis said.

The Fairfax County Sheriff鈥檚 Office is also offering Saturday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse.

With more people traveling this Memorial Day weekend, police say making sure everyone is properly bucked up before you drive off could save a life.

WTOP’s Matt Small contributed to this report.听

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At a public safety event Wednesday, D.C. leaders explained the impact the events will have on residents.

鈥淪o whether it’s these events, which we’ve been planning for a year, or any of the number of large-scale events, we have ongoing and regular communication, but also real coordination and planning with our federal, state and local actors at every level,鈥� said D.C. Deputy Mayor for Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah.

Interim D.C. Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said some of these events will impact how people get around the city, especially in the Downtown area.

鈥淚n order to keep these events safe and secure, expect a wide security perimeter and traffic closures,鈥� Carroll said.

With events such as the White House correspondents’ dinner incident fresh in the minds of people in D.C., he said the police department, along with federal law enforcement agencies, is constantly monitoring for possible threats.

鈥淩ight now, there is no specific credible threat toward any of the events that are out there. But even with that being said, MPD of course has taken a heightened posture with our partners,鈥� Carroll said.

D.C. Homeland Security Director Clint Osborn said pulling this off takes coordination on a federal, regional and community level.

鈥淭his level of partnership is what makes D.C. safe, not just during major events, but every single day,鈥� Osborn said.

Several events will be all hands on deck for D.C. police, U.S. Park Police and other agencies, and Appiah said the city also has a request out to the D.C. National Guard to help support those efforts.

鈥淭hey are our regular partners in large events, and that is the case certainly with these events as well,鈥� Appiah said.

Managing the day-to-day

Carroll said that on top of the events, the department remains focused on serving those who live here.

鈥淲e still have to respond to 911 calls. We still have to make sure that we can keep the community safe outside the Downtown area,鈥� Carroll said.

If you plan to attend the events, Chief Scott Brecht with the U.S. Park Police said you should develop a game plan.

鈥淜now where you’re going, know how you’re getting there,鈥� he said.

Brecht also said that includes a plan for what you鈥檒l do if summer storms move through.

During hot days, bring water and stay hydrated, take breaks and locate first aid and cooling stations near you.

With many big events taking up streets in the city, attendees are also encouraged to use Metro when they can.

鈥淚f you see something, say something. If something does not seem right, notify law enforcement or event staff immediately,鈥� Brecht said.

Metro plans for ‘a longer stretch than normal’ of moving large crowds

鈥淭his is what we were built for, right?鈥� said Metro鈥檚 Deputy General Manager Andy Off when asked about moving the hundreds of thousands of people who will attend the upcoming events.

鈥淭hese big events, we’re well rehearsed in and are comfortable,鈥� Off added.

But he admitted the difference this year is how long the crowds will stick around: 鈥淭his will be a longer stretch than normal.”

He said the regionwide coordination is there and his teams are ready.

鈥淭here鈥檚 days all hands on deck, and then other days where we鈥檒l be able to lay off a little,” Off said.

And with road closures expected, especially around events such as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, he said planning is underway to keep buses moving through it all.

Officials said the goal is to keep people moving, informed and safe during what will be an extremely busy year for events in D.C.

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The controversy dates back to a multiyear plan Pepco filed in 2023 to raise distribution rates. Regulators approved a scaled-down version in late 2024 that allowed roughly $123 million in increases over two years, with higher bills taking effect in January 2025.

In March, the D.C. Court of Appeals threw that approval out, agreeing with consumer advocates that regulators failed to hold a required trial-type hearing before signing off on the rate hikes.

Consumer advocates had hoped that the ruling would quickly lead to lower rates and refunds for customers. Instead, regulators said that won鈥檛 happen right away.

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia on Friday decided to but is allowing current rates to remain in place. It has declined, for now, to order refunds for what customers have paid since January 2025.

The Office of the People鈥檚 Counsel, which challenged the rate increases in court, tied to a decision that was thrown out.

“When you vacate a decision by the agency, and that decision is the only basis for why you can have a rate increase, then you have no legal basis for charging the rates that you’re currently allowing Pepco to charge. It’s pretty simple,” Senior Assistant People鈥檚 Counsel Ankush Nayar told WTOP.

Nayar, the lead attorney on the case, said the court found regulators failed to follow required procedures, and because of that, the increases should be undone and refunds issued.

“There’s money that’s rightfully the ratepayers’ and rightfully belongs to the District of Columbia, and that money should be returned to the people, particularly at a time when energy prices are going up and costs are going up,” he said.

The commission, however, rejected requests to immediately roll back rates or issue refunds, saying rates could ultimately be adjusted once a new order is issued after a full evidentiary hearing.

saying it provides stability for customers while the case is revisited.

In a statement, the utility said keeping rates consistent ensures continuity and predictability for customers and avoids multiple or sudden changes to monthly bills as the review moves forward. Pepco also said maintaining the current rates allows for a more orderly and transparent process while regulators reconsider the plan.

The company said the rates help fund infrastructure upgrades, harden the grid against extreme weather and meet growing energy demand as the District moves toward cleaner energy sources.

“We remain committed to working constructively with the Commission and stakeholders to ensure a complete and transparent review of our filing over the coming months,鈥� the statement said.

Still, Nayar believes customers are paying the price in the meantime, estimating the impact of the increases could add up to a couple of hundred dollars or more, depending on usage.

Regulators are expected to revisit the case later this year, with hearings potentially scheduled for the fall.

“We feel pretty confident that the law is on our side,” Nayar said.

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The new Washington Commanders stadium is expected to bring tens of thousands of people into the redeveloped RFK Stadium campus. However, Metro is warning that it鈥檚 not quite ready for that.

听on what will be needed for the new Commanders stadium project and it pointed to some big changes, while also taking some early ideas off the table.

How people get in and out of the stadium is quickly becoming one of the biggest hurdles in determining if the entire redevelopment actually works.

Metro is planning for a major shift, with more than half of the 65,000 fans expected to take Metro trains or buses to games. But the agency said the current system just can鈥檛 handle that kind of volume.

Right now, the Stadium-Armory Metro Station can move about 14,000 people an hour. That means without changes, it could take more than two hours to clear crowds after an event.

So instead of building something entirely new, the plan focuses on upgrading what鈥檚 already there. Metro is calling for bigger station entrances, more escalators and elevators and expanded space inside the station to move riders more quickly and safely.

The proposal also leans heavily on buses. Metro is recommending a new bus rapid transit line, called the Gold Line, with dedicated lanes along H Street NW and Benning Road NE to connect the stadium to Union Station. That would include setting aside and even painting red bus lanes to keep buses moving and out of traffic. A new transit center near the stadium would serve as a hub to handle large crowds and connect riders.

On top of that, Metro said it would use crowd-control measures which include metering customers into the station after games and adding more staff to keep people moving to prevent bottlenecks.

There are concerns about what happens if those upgrades don鈥檛 move forward.

Officials have warned of overcrowding, delays and potential safety issues not just at Stadium-Armory, but across the whole transit system.

One idea that鈥檚 not recommended is one talked about during the D.C. Council debate on whether to approve the stadium deal and the building of a new Metro station.

Metro said with a more than $1 billion price tag, it would be too expensive, too complex and wouldn鈥檛 be ready in time for opening day. Building a new station would lead to additional maintenance costs and the benefit from it would be marginal, as it would also connect to the same tracks as Stadium-Armory 鈥� the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.

The study is set to be presented to Metro鈥檚 board Thursday.

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