Virginia State Police have identified the women who were stabbed as well as knife-wielding man who was fatally shot by a trooper in Fairfax County, according to police.

The stabbings and the shooting happened after a crash in the southbound lanes of I-495 just before 1:30 p.m. at exit 52, near the Little River Turnpike.

Police said Michelle Adams, 39, of Fairfax, died from her wounds. A dog was also killed.

Three of the women who were attacked were taken to the hospital with serious injuries: a 36-year-old, 37-year-old and 40-year-old.

A man later identified as Jared Llamado, 32, of McLean, was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Police said the trooper shot in self-defense after Llamado聽confronted him with a knife.

The trooper did not suffer any injuries during the altercation. He’s currently on administrative leave as the shooting is investigated.

Early findings suggest the stabbings took place after a crash on the Capital Beltway. Police said they’re still investigating the crash.

The main lanes of the Capital Beltway Outer Loop, before Little River Turnpike, were closed to traffic for several hours Sunday.

Police said the incident is not believed to be related to terrorism.

Source

Authorities with the Maryland State Police and the Prince George’s County Fire Department told WTOP that two of the individuals involved in the crash were teenagers, and that a third was an adult.

Authorities said the incident involved a tanker truck and took place around 2:15 p.m. on Crain Highway at Old Central Avenue.

Officials said the teenager ejected from the vehicle was taken to the hospital in critical condition as the second teen was hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The adult was taken in for evaluation.

Southbound Crain Highway was closed after the crash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

A hazmat team was directed to the scene to handle the contents of the tanker. It’s unclear what contents were being transported.

This is a developing story. Stay with WTOP for the latest.

Source

A release issued Saturday by the Prince George’s County Police identified three of the suspects 鈥� all D.C. natives 鈥� as Jose Merlos-Majano, 18, Alan Josai Garcia-Padilla, 21, and William Cuellar Gutierrez, 19.

The fourth suspect was only identified as a 17-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland.

The teenager at the center of the homicide case is Jefferson Amaya-Ayala, 14, who was last seen in the District on Aug. 2, 2025, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

It wasn’t until Nov. 3 that investigators with the D.C. police and the FBI Cross Border Task Force found Amaya-Ayala’s remains in College Park, Maryland, during a search of the Indian Creek Stream Valley Park, police said.

Preliminary findings, according to police, suggest Amaya-Ayala was “lured to the park and murdered” the same day he was last seen in D.C. It’s believed he knew at least one of the suspects.

While the killing is also thought to be gang-related, investigators have not yet pinpointed a motive, police said.

Two of the suspects, Merlos-Majano and Garcia-Padilla, are awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County from D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia, respectively. Both Cuellar Gutierrez and the Hyattsville teen are already in custody at the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.

Anyone with information regarding the homicide case is urged to call 301-516-2512. You can also contact the or reach out to investigators by calling 1-866-411-8477.

Source

Officer Terry Bennett died Wednesday, over two weeks after he was seriously injured while assisting a driver who ran out of gas in the eastbound lanes of I-695 near South Capitol Street, according to officials.

The crash took place on Dec. 23, 2025, at about 10:10 p.m. Police said the 32-year-old officer was standing just outside his police cruiser when he was hit by a secondary motorist driving at a “high rate of speed.”

The driver who struck Bennett remained on the scene and was later treated for non-life-threatening injuries, WTOP previously reported. The driver of the broken-down vehicle was not injured during the crash.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, hundreds of law enforcement officials lined 3rd Street NW near the U.S. Capitol.

D.C. police called the event a dignified escort, and many officers had their hands over their hearts and saluted as the cars drove by. A law enforcement helicopter circled overhead, WTOP’s Scott Gelman reported from the scene.

The route started at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and ended at the D.C. Medical Examiner鈥檚 Office.

Mentor, father figure, hero

Bennett, an eight-year veteran on the force, was born and raised in the District and graduated from Ballou Senior High School in 2011. He officially joined the D.C. police ranks in February 2018, having been assigned to the first district division.

“He was a loving and courageous father, husband, officer and coach,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a news conference Thursday. “We鈥檙e devastated by his loss.”

Bennett is survived by his wife and son.

“I just ask that everyone keep his family and the officers and members of the Metropolitan Police Department in their thoughts,” said Interim D.C. Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll. “Everyone really does appreciate that, and it does mean a lot to them.”

Bennett was very active in the Ballou community before joining the force.

After graduating from college, he returned to the high school and went on to serve as an associate dean. Later on, he became a member of the coaching staff for the football team.

“Through his coaching, mentorship and public service, he impacted the lives of countless students and Washingtonians and he leaves behind a legacy of love and courage,” Bowser said.

Ballou head football coach Kenny Brown called Bennett his “brother,” adding that he loved the school so much, he came back to help coach.

“We started off as co-coaches, then developed a friendship. But then when I became the head coach, and that bond got tighter, we really became brothers,” he said. “His consistency 鈥� he showed up every day, through marriage, through kids, through family, through on his own issues 鈥� he showed up every day.”

Brown described Bennett as affectionate and selfless, and said the students and members of the football team saw him as a mentor, a father figure and a hero.

“Terry Bennett is a hero, and that’s what he was to this community. That’s what he was to the guys,” Brown said.

Even after joining D.C. police, Principal William Haith said Bennett maintained strong ties in the community.

“His passion for helping people ensures that he will be remembered for going above and beyond for students and colleagues 鈥� always ready to step in with a gentle hand, kind word, or powerful encouragement,” Haith wrote in a letter to the school community. “He embodied the spirit of Ballou through his ever-present enthusiasm and dedication, and I know our students and staff will cherish our memories of Mr. Bennett.”

Deaths in the line of duty聽

The incident marks the 127th line of duty death in the D.C. police force’s history, according to the department’s news release.

鈥淲hen you go through these times, it鈥檚 hard,” Carroll said. “The officers still have to go to work, people who work with him day in and day out.鈥�

In a news release, the D.C. Police Union described Bennett as selfless and said he will continue to save lives through his status as an organ donor.

“Officer Terry Bennett represented the very best of our department and our union,” said Gregg
Pemberton, president of the union, in a statement. “He died doing what he always did: serving and
protecting the people of Washington, D.C., with compassion and courage.”

The December crash remains under investigation, with police yet to release an update on the matter.

“My prayers are with Officer Bennett鈥檚 wife and son, all of his loved ones and fellow officers, the Ballou community, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss,” Bowser said.

Courtesy DC Police Union

WTOP/Scott Gelman

WTOP/Scott Gelman

WTOP/Scott Gelman

WTOP/Scott Gelman

(1/5)

Share This Gallery:

• Share This:
• share on email
• print

WTOP’s Alan Etter and Scott Gelman contributed to this report.

Source

Through their combined interest in STEM and passion for conservation, sisters Sufyana and Aydina Johnson launched the app聽as a means to support community green teams.

The app was built with a simple objective in mind: help attract Maryland’s native species and pollinators in order to benefit the environment.

Included in the app is a list of plants native to the Old Line State, all of which are categorized based on light, soil and overall habitat needs.

But, also spotlighted in the app are plants that can be used to either attract certain wildlife or repel unwanted insects and animals (here’s looking at you mosquitoes).

As Sufyana built the app through HTML, CSS and JavaScript programming, Aydina developed the plant database and research to match plant to animals in the Maryland and Piedmont region, according to a from the Maryland Department of the Environment.

“Most recently, they completed a major update to the app that adds information about Maryland trees, including how to register newly planted trees and maintain them over time,” the release said.

The sisters’ efforts initially began through their green space work with the Islamic Community Center of Potomac and its partnership with the National Wildlife Federation’s , which works to strengthen the community projects of various houses of worship.

The app has been recognized by the NWF, Chesapeake Bay Trust, and Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection.

WTOP’s Grace Newton contributed to this report.

Source

Temperatures for Saturday are forecast to be in the middle to high 30s, with wind gusts up to 10 mph.

7太子探花 First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said the frigid temperatures are colder than the average highs that the D.C. region typically sees at this time of year.

While the day will be mostly cloudy, the big focus Saturday will be whether part of the region sees flurries move into the area. Johnson said the latest forecast suggests there’s a “slight chance” that parts of northwestern Maryland, near Frederick County, could see a few snowflakes.

Come Sunday, get ready for some sunshine. The day’s temperatures are forecast to be just slightly higher than Saturday’s, maxing out at about 45 degrees.

“This is not going to be a bad weekend at all for your first weekend of 2026,” Johnson said, describing Sunday as “hands down the best of the two weekend days.”

Sunday, however, will be breezy with winds up to 25 mph, so it will feel colder than actual air temperatures. By late afternoon Sunday, it will become cloudier with temperatures dropping into the 20s.

• Listen to WTOP online聽and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.
• Current traffic conditions
• Weather forecast
• Closings and Delays
• Sign up for WTOP email alerts
• Get custom alerts with the WTOP app for and phones

FORECAST

TONIGHT:
Mostly cloudy
Lows: 23-28
Winds: Calm
Mostly cloudy and cold tonight.

SUNDAY:
Mostly sunny, breezy
Highs: 38-45
Winds: Northwest 5-15 mph, Gusts 25 mph
More sunshine is in store Sunday with high temperatures, a few degrees higher than Saturday, in the low 40s. It will be a bit breezy, so it will feel colder than actual air temperatures.

MONDAY:
Mostly cloudy
Highs: 39-45
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Clouds roll in for the start of the first full work and school week of the new year. Plan for highs in the lower 40s under partly cloudy skies.

TUESDAY:
Partly cloudy
Highs: 46-53
Winds: South 5-10 mph
This will be day 1 of a mild stretch that may last through next weekend. Afternoon temperatures will be well over 50 degrees. A few days next week may hover near 60.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Source

Residents were officially given notice of a call to caucus in a Wednesday announcement by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.

Candidate filing opens to the public Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a list of candidates in ballot order expected to be released shortly thereafter.

A is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters will be required to sign a pledge beforehand and provide state-issued identification.

In-person voting locations for the primary will be held at three locations:

• Franconia Governmental Center
  6121 Franconia Rd, Alexandria
• Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Alexandria
  6421 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria
• Hotel Belvoir Springfield
  6550 Loisdale Rd, Springfield

Both provisional and curbside voting will be available at all caucus locations, according to officials. Anyone seeking to cast their ballots online is required to preregister first. Preregistration runs until Dec. 27 at 5 p.m.

The for Fairfax residents is set for Jan. 20, 2026.

The late December primary was triggered in Northern Virginia after Sickles announced he was resigning from his posting earlier this week in order to serve under Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s cabinet. Sickles will serve as the Commonwealth’s next secretary of finance.

Sickles served in the House of Delegates since 2004 and ranks as the second-highest Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

In announcing his resignation, the longtime Democrat said he was looking forward to working in Spanberger’s “historic” cabinet, adding that he is “very enthusiastic” about the change.

“I will miss the House of Delegates and its work, but the friendships I have made over the years will last a lifetime,” he said.

Sickles’ cabinet appointment follows the similar nominations of Dels. David Bulova and Candi Mundon, who served Virginia’s District 11 and 23, respectively. Special elections for Bulova and Mundon’s delegate postings will be held Jan. 13.

Source

That’s according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited in its findings recent data from the Employee Benefits Research Institute. Officials determined that as some 10 million Americans abandon FSA funds, the dollar amount of unused monies tallies up to more than $4 billion each year.

But, remember, there are always options for making the most of the pretax funds when navigating the FSA world.

For starters, some companies allow employees to roll over a specific dollar amount at the end of the year. The maximum rollover amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Service is $660 this year.

The Journal also reported about two-thirds of U.S. employers offer a grace period that runs into the spring to use the funds.

Do refer back to your contribution plan to see where you fall in line, though.

So where can you make the most of the funds?

Well, items can be purchased either online or in an actual, physical store.

Generally, FSA users can apply their account’s earnings at most major retailers, including Costco, Walmart, Target and Walgreens.

Some of the best marketplaces that take the frustration out of figuring out what you can apply the funds to include the , and , all online stores that specialize in FSA-eligible items.

Everything from skincare bundles to a red-light therapy face mask, foot massagers, Oura rings and even a Peloton bike or row machine are up for grabs on the mentioned sites.

With only a handful of days left in the year, make sure to get those ducks in a row.

Source

The 3,000-plus page bill includes legislation that offers a pay hike to service members, increasing congressional oversight over the U.S. Department of Defense and language in favor of reopening up the District’s airspace to the military.

Restrictions for military flyovers were put in place in January following the midair collision between an American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter near D.C.’s Reagan National Airport. The fatal collision killed 67 people.

Ahead of the NDAA’s passage in the lower congressional house, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said she “vehemently” opposed the Section 373 provision, explaining it rolls back essential safety measures.

“This section to the lay reader is drafted to seemingly enhance safety,” she said. “I want to be very clear that it does not, in any way, enhance safety.”

Adam Tuss, the transportation reporter with NBC4, told WTOP that a key question surrounding the legislation is how it wound up in the defense bill in the first place.

“Nobody has the answers. So, in the days and weeks coming up here, we’re going to have to start digging and see who really wants that provision in there for military training operations around our airports, and why?” Tuss said.

Reaction from families of Flight 5342

In a , the families of Flight 5342 said Section 373 “does not resolve the visibility and coordination failures that contributed” to the January midair collision.

“Section 373 applies only to training missions 鈥� even though military helicopters in the National Capital Region fly a wide range of missions that routinely place them near commercial aircraft. It focuses narrowly on TCAS-compatible alerts rather than true visibility and broadcast requirements, and it preserves broad national-security exceptions similar to those in place at the time of the Flight 5342 collision,” the statement reads.

“These gaps mean the provision does not meaningfully mitigate the risks that proved fatal for our loved ones,” the families wrote in the statement.

“We urge Congress to strengthen Section 373 by requiring real, enforceable visibility standards for all military aircraft operating near civilian traffic,” it continues.

In separate remarks, Tim and Sheri Lilley, whose son, Sam, was the first officer of the jetliner, said the current version of the provision that was cleared by the U.S. House “has several unsatisfactory provisions related to aviation safety.”

“Safety that depends on exemptions cannot be the foundation of a secure airspace system,” their statement reads. “The flying public and all those that utilize our airspace deserve better than what this bill provides.”

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser blasted the inclusion of , saying the measure “disregards” airspace restrictions and safety factors that were implemented in the wake of the midair collision.

“It is now clear that this provision was included without consultation from the NTSB, the agency leading the investigation into the crash, and without regard for the safety of D.C. residents, visitors, and our military personnel,” she said in a statement.

“I urge Congress to strike Section 373 from the NDAA and to follow the recommendations of safety experts. I will continue working alongside our federal partners to ensure compliance with safety protocols and to protect the integrity of our airspace,” her statement added.

Virgina Senators

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) shared similar sentiments and concerns about the NDAA’s impact on D.C.’s airspace safety.

“The language in this provision could allow rolling back crucial new safety practices I fought to implement after the Jan. 29 tragedy and give the Department of Defense more discretion over safety procedures in the region,” Warner said in a

He added that the Department of Defense needs more supervision and regulation, not less.

“It鈥檚 clear that we cannot rely on the DoD alone to be the safety authority over its flights in this area,” he stressed in the statement.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Subcommittee on Seapower, weighed in on the NDAA’s failure to include language on restoring the names of military bases, an action that was backed by a bipartisan commission.

“I鈥檓 glad that the House voted to pass this year鈥檚 defense bill, which includes important provisions that will support service members, military families, Virginia鈥檚 defense community, and our allies,” he said in a .

“However, I鈥檓 extremely disappointed that a provision I fought for to restore a bipartisan commission鈥檚 names of our military bases was taken out at the last minute because President Trump threatened to veto the entire defense bill 鈥� just like he did in 2020, even though it included a pay raise for service members 鈥� to prevent changes to bases named for Confederates.”

“Virginians were proud to honor Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot, Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, Lt. Col. Charity Adams, and Dr. Mary Walker. It鈥檚 shameful that the Virginia bases won鈥檛 continue to be named after these four amazing individuals,” Kaine’s statement added.

Kaine’s statement notes that both a bipartisan committee and the House Armed Services Committee cleared the language in efforts to restore the names of the Virginia bases.

Source

Montgomery County police identified the man as 27-year-old Mauricio Martinez-Garcia, of Madera, California, in a . He is facing two counts of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree sexual offense, two counts of kidnapping and five counts of second-degree assault.

According to police, the charges date back to Dec. 18, 2024, when a woman ordered a meal at a restaurant on the 16100 block of Shady Grove Road.聽While waiting for her order at the restaurant bar, an “unknown male” approached her and paid for her meal after insisting on covering the tab.

After returning to her table, the woman ate some of her meal but stopped and left the restaurant before finishing her plate because she felt sick, according to Montgomery County police.

On the drive home, the woman was involved in a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of Sam Eig and Great Seneca Highways. She was approached by Martinez-Garcia, police said, who offered her help but then forced her into his car against her will.

Martinez-Garcia drove away from the crash to his apartment in Montgomery County, where authorities said the woman was raped. She was raped a second time after he drove the woman to her home in Prince George’s County.

Martinez-Garcia was officially arrested Tuesday, nearly a year after the woman reported the assault and underwent a forensic examination. Police said investigators were able to confirm Martinez-Garcia as the suspect after being alerted to a secondary analysis of a DNA sample that had been collected through a separate investigation carried out by the Department of the Army.

Police were not able to confirm to WTOP whether the “unknown male” the woman encountered at the bar was Martinez-Garcia. The case remains under investigation.

While Martinez-Garcia is awaiting extradition from California to Maryland, police are urging anyone with information about the suspect or incident to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400.

Source

Much of the D.C. region was coated in about 1 to 3 inches of snowfall Friday morning, marking the first time the area has seen measurable snowfall in December since 2017.

Outside the potential for freezing rain, drizzle and fog after dark, wet spots on the roadway from earlier snowfall could refreeze, according to the National Weather Service.

“Newly-issued winter weather advisories are not for additional snowfall tonight, but for the threat of freezing fog and mist overnight, coating the area in a thin layer of ice, leading to some reduced visibilities as well as some slick roadways,” said 7太子探花 First Alert Meteorologist Mark Pe帽a.

He warned that driving conditions could be “really treacherous” overnight.

“Thankfully the fog mixes out by the mid-morning hours,” Pe帽a said of Saturday’s forecast.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the D.C. area beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing overnight until 1 a.m. Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to stay in the 20s, so whatever snow is on the ground should stick around 鈥� and possibly refreeze 鈥� Saturday.

“Be safe, drive slow and careful,” said Warnique West, a snow coordinator with the D.C. Department of Public Works.

• Listen to WTOP online聽and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.
• Current traffic conditions
• Weather forecast
• Closings and Delays
• Sign up for WTOP email alerts
• Get custom alerts with the WTOP app for and phones

How much snow actually fell?

A surge of cold air overnight Thursday ushered in the first snow of the season early Friday morning 鈥� though winter doesn’t technically start for two more weeks.

Parts of the D.C. region saw as much as 3 inches of snow, while other areas had lower snowfall totals.

Some unofficial snow totals from around the D.C. region, according to the National Weather Service:

• La Plata, Maryland, 3 inches, as of 2:30 p.m.
• Fair Oaks, Virginia, 2 inches, as of 12:49 p.m.
• Culpeper County, Virginia, 2 inches, as of 3 p.m.
• Catholic University in D.C., 1.8 inches, as of 2:14 p.m.
• Rosslyn, Virginia, 1.7 inches, as of 11 a.m.
• Gaithersburg, Maryland, 1.5 inches, as of 11:28 a.m.
• Aspen Hill, Maryland, 1.5 inches, as of 12:45 p.m.
• Upper Marlboro, Maryland, 1.4 inches, as of 2:30 p.m.
• American University in D.C., 1.1 inches, as of 11 a.m.
• Stafford, Virginia, 3 inches, as of 11:55 a.m.
• Reagan National Airport in Virginia, 1.1 inches, as of 10 a.m.
• Dulles International Airport in Virginia, 1.1 inches, as of 10:12 a.m.
• Laurel, Maryland, 1 inch, as of noon

It was enough wintry weather to impact road conditions Friday and prompted many school systems to delay or cancel classes.

The last measurable snowfall in D.C. in the month of December was back in 2017, with 2 inches at Reagan National Airport, according to 7太子探花.

Courtesy WTOP listener

Courtesy WTOP listener

Courtesy WTOP listener

WTOP/Gaby Arancibia

WTOP/Mike Stinneford

WTOP/ Tadi Abedje

Courtesy Matt Mills

WTOP/Jessica Kronzer

WTOP/Jessica Kronzer

(1/9)

Share This Gallery:

• Share This:
• share on email
• print

‘Be safe, drive slow and careful’

Ahead of the storm, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser activated the District Snow Team, which began salting streets on major roadways Thursday night and continued Friday.

“When you see us, give us space, right? Stay back at least 6 feet,” said West with the D.C. Department of Public Works. “Give the trucks room and time to spread the salt.”

Otherwise, that salt just bounces off your car instead of fully coating the roadway, she said.

West, a snow coordinator with the D.C. Department of Public Works, spoke with WTOP while snow was still falling.

In Maryland, delays were reported Friday morning in both directions of Interstate 270, between Urbana and Rockville, in addition to several crashes, two of which were reported on local roads of the interstate.

“With the snow in the area, you got to keep those speeds down,” WTOP Traffic Reporter Reada Kessler said, adding the conditions of the morning commute were “all over the place.”

In Virginia, where crashes were reported in Fairfax and Prince William counties, officials urged drivers to be cautious as they hit the roads.

Alex Liggitt, communications manager with Virginia’s Department of Transportation, told WTOP Friday morning that despite pretreatment efforts to major roadways ahead of the snowfall, “there are a fair number of roads out there that have become snow covered.”

“We’re still asking folks, if you don’t need to be out there, just limit your time on the roads, if you can at all. Also drive for the conditions,” he said Friday morning. “We notice a lot of people going just way too fast, even over the speed limit. We do not need that.”

In Virginia, drivers who spot icy roads are asked to report the condition through .

D.C. residents can call 311 to report icy spots that could use salt, West said.

Looking ahead

According to the National Weather Service, the high pressure moving in will keep the weekend dry and seasonably cool.

Liggitt said officials believe roads should resume normal conditions by Saturday.

The sun makes a slight return come Saturday, although the day will be cold as temperatures start in the 20s and hit a high in the low 40s. Light winds are expected across the region.

Another weather maker is expected to arrive Sunday night, bringing with it colder air.

FORECAST

FRIDAY EVENING: WINTER ALERT CONTINUES
Cloudy. Risk freezing drizzle & freezing fog
Temps: 29-35
Winds: Northeast 5 mph

FRIDAY NIGHT: WINTER ALERT
Cloudy & cold. Risk freezing drizzle & freezing fog
Lows: 25-30
Winds: Light

SATURDAY:
Intervals of clouds & sun
Highs: 43-46
Winds: West 5 mph

SUNDAY:
Mostly cloudy
Highs: 42-46
Winds: Southwest 5 mph

CURRENT CONDITIONS

WTOP’s Ciara Wells contributed to this report.聽

Source

In her first remarks after announcing she would not be running for a fourth term, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she would consider serving the District again once statehood is made.

“If we become a state, maybe I’ll come back and run for governor,” she told reporters before underscoring, “When we become a state.”

From the growing nationwide support to the 2016 referendum that showed 86% of D.C. voters were in support, Bowser said statehood was in the cards for the District in the future.

“We have more support in Congress than we’ve ever had,” Bowser said.

“The nuanced difference that I have witnessed in my tenure is that we’ve always talked about statehood, about how it hurts us in D.C. We don’t have representation. We don’t have autonomy. What the nation sees is we don’t have the two senators that would make our policy objectives nationally more palatable,” she added.

Bowser said she believes “it will take a specific carve out from the filibuster” of what she called “democracy votes, the types of things that will make democracy stronger. Making D.C. a state is one of them.”

The push for D.C. statehood last saw major movement in 2021, when the U.S. House of Representatives with a 216-208 vote. The bill was in January, and has since been issued for consideration to several committees.

But, as the push for D.C. statehood holds, don’t anticipate Bowser running for any other elected seat, especially that of Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.

“Let me be clear, I will not be running for that seat,” Bowser told a laughing crowd. “I don’t want to be in the Congress.”

Bowser’s decision to not seek reelection also came in the wake of her efforts to safeguard D.C.’s home rule after the White House’s deployment of the National Guard in the District.

She reiterated Wednesday that the law enforcement surge did not play a role in her decision to make way for a new mayor.

“We faced unprecedented action by a president,” Bowser said. “We laid out a way to get out of it, and we got out of it.”

Focus for remaining term time

In its 10-plus years, the Bowser administration worked to encourage rapid development for the District, bringing in investments that allowed for the opening of a new hospital in Ward 8 and training opportunities for in-demand trade jobs.

For her remaining time in office, Bowser said her team intends to focus on making sure the District is able to further “close the gaps between the haves and the have-nots.”

“We have more to do in the city,” she said. “But I think we moved the dial when we make sure that our systems are set up to help people get a good job, a life-sustaining job, and take care of themselves and their families in the District.”

“We have built a foundation. Others will build upon it, but I’m proud of the work we’ve done,” she said.

When it comes to advice for her successor, Bowser said that individual will have to understand “the mayor of the District is going to have a unique relationship with the president and the Congress until we become a state.”

Stepping away from mayor’s office ‘makes sense’

Michael K. Fauntroy, a policy and government professor at George Mason University who wrote a book about D.C.鈥檚 home rule, told WTOP that Bowser’s decision to not run for a fourth term “makes sense.”

“Twelve years is a long time,” Fauntroy said. “And to commit to another four years would be a really difficult step to take, I think, particularly when you consider she has a young daughter who鈥檚 certainly entering an age that needs significant time and attention from a parent.”

“I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a big surprise in that regard, and it鈥檚 a difficult job. I don鈥檛 think people really understand the complexity it comes with being the mayor of the nation鈥檚 capital. So, you add it all up, and, it makes sense to me,” he said.

Bowser’s current term will come to an end January 2027.

At present, some mayoral contenders include Council members Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie.

Source

The incident, , happened after a woman drove her Mercedes C300 into a parking lot in the 7700 block of Eastern Avenue in a residential area of Takoma Park on Thursday afternoon. The woman was approached by two individuals, who then followed her in a Toyota Highlander.

Within moments, one of the suspects demanded her car keys while displaying a gun, according to Montgomery County police. The second suspect, police said, later exited the Highlander SUV and got into the woman’s Mercedes.

Both individuals then drove away from the scene. The woman was not injured.

Police released they are looking for. One of the men is thought to be in his late teens to early 20s, whereas police said the second suspect is in his mid- to late-20s.

Anyone with information of the incident or knowledge of either suspect is urged to contact the , or call 1-866-411-8477. All tips are anonymous.

Source

For one Virginia resident hosting his very first Friendsgiving, a big no-go for the dinner table are dishes with dried grapes.

“Anything with raisins, especially potato salads,” J.J., a native of South Africa, told WTOP’s Jimmy Alexander. “Don’t bring that to my house. Please, don’t.”

For others, like St. Louis’ own Lauren O’Connor, any creations of the sweet potato variety are a bust.

“Anything that has to do with the sweet potato,” she said. “The sweet potato casserole with the marshmallows on it, disgusting. I want it gone.”

And then there’s the cranberry of it all.

Regardless of whether it’s homemade or out of a can, Logan Takac, who was visiting the National Mall with her friends, said the sauce is “disgusting.”

“Personally, please don’t bring any cranberry sauce. I think it’s disgusting,” she said. “Out of the can and it still has the, like, impression of the can on it. It’s a no. It’s a no. Get it away from me.”

But, what about the turkey-ham divide? Is one meant for Thanksgiving and the other just for Christmas dinner?

Ray Wallace, visiting D.C. from Fort Meyers, Florida, said his guests shouldn’t anticipate seeing a ham 鈥� boneless or otherwise 鈥� making an appearance for his family’s Thanksgiving spread.

“I’m a turkey guy on Thanksgiving,” Wallace said. “Ham is on Christmas.”

If feast preparations ultimately prove overwhelming and a desire for a stress-free event emerges, check out this list聽of takeout and holiday packages available in the D.C. area.

WTOP’S Jimmy Alexander contributed to this report.

Source

From school boards to mayors and sheriffs, here is a break down of the unofficial results of local races across Virginia and in parts of Maryland.

Leading candidates and referendums will be in bold.

Live results for Virginia’s races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates races can be found here.

To follow election results for Maryland, click .

Virginia

Arlington County

School Board (Vote for 1)

• • • • Maj. Mike Webb – 12.82%
      • James “Vell” Rives IV – 19.32
      • Monique A. “Moe” Bryant – 66.79%

County Board (Voters rank up to three candidates in the order of their choice. One candidate will be elected.)

• • • • Takis P. Karantonis – 64.57%
      • Bob Cambridge – 11.79%
      • Audrey R. Clement – 15.13%
      • Jeramy L. Olmack – 2.83%
      • Carlos “DC” De Castro Pretelt – 4.65%

Culpeper County

Mayor, Town of Culpeper (Vote for 1)

• • • • Jon D. Russell – 45.22%
      • Frank Reaves, Jr. – 54.28%

Member, Culpeper Town Council (Vote for no more than four)

• • • • Max B. Sternberg – 14.98%
      • N. Janie Schmidt – 17.62%
      • William M. “Bill” Yowell – 17.62%
      • Brian H. Brumfield-Horner – 8.12%
      • Whitney R. Grespin – 11.84%
      • Brent M. Amos – 12.51%
      • Joseph M. “Joe” Short – 16.17%

Fairfax County

Mayor, Town of Clifton (Vote for 1)

• • • • Lynn M. Screen – 94.62%

Mayor, Town of Vienna (Vote for 1)

• • • • Linda Jane Colbert – 95.33%

Member Town Council, Town of Vienna (Vote no more than six)

• • • • Daniel R. “Dann” Nash – 13.60%
      • Howard J. Springsteen – 15.27%
      • Charles L. “Chuck” Anderson – 15.16%
      • Douglas K. “Doug” Francis – 14.25%
      • Roy J. Baldwin – 13.60%
      • Sandra D. Allen – 10.92%
      • Jessica H. Ramakis – 15.76%

Referendum

Fauquier County

Member Town Council, Remington Special Election

• • • • Devada R. Allison Jr. – 44.39%
      • Lisa M. Schulz – 53.48%

City of Alexandria

Commonwealth’s Attorney (Vote for 1)

• • • • Bryan L. Porter – 96.43%

Sheriff (Vote for 1)

• • • • Sean Casey – 96.26%

City of Fairfax

Commissioner of Revenue (Vote for 1)

• • • • William Page Johnson, II – 96.73%

Treasurer

• • • • W. Thomas “Tom” Scibilia – 97.04%

City of Falls Church

Sheriff (Vote for 1)

• • • • Metin A. “Matt” Cay – 98.52%

Commissioner of Revenue (Vote for 1)

• • • • Thomas D. Clinton – 99.14%

Treasurer (Vote for 1)

• • • • Jody P. Acosta – 99.10%

City Council (Vote for no more than four)

• • • • Laura T. Downs – 24.63%
      • David F. Snyder – 19.91%
      • Marybeth D. Connelly – 21.07%
      • Arthur H. Agin – 15.81%
      • Brian W. Pendleton – 7.80%
      • James C. Thompson, Jr. – 9.86%

School Board (Vote for no more than four)

• • • • Lori K. Silverman – 19.76%
      • Sharon M.Z. Mergler – 17.69%
      • Anne H. Sherwood – 20.31%
      • MaryKate H. “MK” Hughes – 23.27%
      • Kathleen E.C. Tysse – 17.98%

City of Manassas

Commissioner of Revenue (Vote for 1)

• • • • Tim Demeria – 62.46%
      • Deon A. Shamberger – 37%

Treasurer (Vote for 1)

• • • • Patricia E. Richie-Folks – 65.25%
      • Nathaniel “Nate” Fritzen – 34.19%

Loudoun County

Dulles District, School Board (Vote for 1)

• • • • Santos O. Munoz Melendez – 43.33%
      • Jonathon A. Pepper – 55.89%

Member School Board, Algonkian District (Vote for 1)

• • • • April Moore Chandler – 63.75%
      • Matt D. Malone – 35.45%

Member School Board, Leesburg District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Lauren E. Shernoff – 93.89%

Member School Board, Broad Run District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Chuntao Samuel Yan – 45.20%
      • Ross C. Svenson – 54.10%

Member School Board, Sterling District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Amy M. Riccardi – 51.54%
      • Arben Istrefi – 47.62%

Mayor, Town of Middleburg (Vote for 1)

• • • • Trowbridge M. “Bridge” Littleton – 97.26%

Member Town Council, Town of Middleburg (Vote for no more than four)

• • • • Cindy Craun Pearson – 25.77%
      • C. Darlene Kirk – 24.02%
      • Deborah Scott Gallagher – 23.72%
      • Chris K. Hersh – 24.74%

Mayor, Town of Round Hill (Vote for 1)

• • • • Scott T. Ramsey – 92.55%

Member Town Council, Town of Round Hill (Vote for no more than three)

• • • • Paula G. James – 31.51%
      • T. Sean Lloyd – 32.14%
      • Beth A. Caseman – 32.53%

Referendums

Prince William County

Board of County Supervisors, Gainesville District (Vote for 1)

• • • • George T. Stewart – 50.47%
      • Patrick Richard Harders – 48.77%

Member Town Council, Occoquan (Vote for 1)

• • • • Robert E. “Bob” Love – 93.59%

Stafford County

Board of Supervisors, Hartwood District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Darrell E. English – 51.37%
      • Marcus T. Oats – 32.83%
      • Kelly M. Robertson – 15.27%

School Board Member, Hartwood District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Shannon M. Fingerholz – 50.66%
      • Steven D. Epple – 48.56%

Board of Supervisors, Aquia District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Maya P. Guy – 57.96%
      • Henry S. “Hank” Scharpenberg – 41.58%

School Board Member, Aquia District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Josh G. Regan – 51.47%
      • Annette E. Scharpenberg – 47.87%

Board of Supervisors, Falmouth District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Kecia S. Evans – 53.18%
      • Michael A. Catell – 46.31%

School Board Member, Falmouth District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Sarah D. Breedin Chase – 67.07%
      • Fawn M. Chergosky – 31.99%

Board of Supervisors, Garrisonville District (Vote for 1)

• • • • R. Pamela Yeung – 57.50%
      • Barton M. “Bart” Randall – 42.01%

School Board Member, Garrisonville District (Vote for 1)

• • • • Wanda D. Blackwell – 48%
      • Maureen L. Siegmund – 28.07%
      • Stephanie J. Mojica – 23.30%

Maryland

In neighboring Maryland, residents in Annapolis, the City of Gaithersburg and Prince George’s County will also be heading to the voting booths to vote on city mayors and referendums, among other issues.

Prince George’s County

City of Greenbelt, Council member (Vote no more than 7)

• • • • Frankie Santos Fritz – 61.3%
      • Bill Orleans – 13.8%
      • Kristen L. K. Weaver – 66.8%
      • Silke I. Pope – 54.6%
      • Emmett V. Jordan – 72.1%
      • Rodney M. Roberts – 43.3%
      • Kevin “Coach K” Lockhart – 43%
      • Danielle P. McKinney – 63.8%
      • Jenni Pompi – 64.4%
      • Amy Knesel – 58%

City of Greenbelt, Referendums

Montgomery County

City of Gaithersburg, Mayoral Candidates (Vote for 1)

• • • • Jud Ashman – 73.77%聽
      • Tiffany Kelly – 26.23%

Gaithersburg City Council Candidates (Vote for 2)

• • • • Lisa Henderson – 37.04%
      • Jim McNulty – 30.99%
      • Chris Thoms – 18.24%
      • Omodamola Williams – 13.73%

City of Annapolis

Mayoral Candidates (Vote for 1)

• • • • Jared Littmann – 73.01%
      • Robert “Bobby” Alan O’Shea – 26.66%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 1 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Harry M. Huntley – 52.30%
      • Thomas “Tom” Krieck – 46.99%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 2 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Karma O’Neill – 64.93%
      • Kenneth “Ken” G. Vincent – 34.91%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 3 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Keanu煤 Smith-Brown – 77.5%
      • Michael L. Dye – 22.37%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 4 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson – 91.05%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 5 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Brooks Schandelmeier – 64.47%
      • Jack P. Papaleonti – 35.20%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 6 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Diesha Contee – 71.58%
      • George M. Gallagher – 28.06%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 7 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Robert “Rob” Savidge – 94.98%

Aldermanic Candidates, Ward 8 (Vote for 1)

• • • • Frank Thorp – 62.75%
      • William R. Cunha – 36.82%

Source