The change of plans comes after musicians that had originally been scheduled dropped out.

Those artists include Morris Day of Morris Day and The Time, Young MC, The Commodores, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels.

Organizers with said the 鈥淕reat American State Fair,鈥� a 16-day event set to run from June 25 through July 10, will stretch from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument.

The event announced Tuesday aims to bring together all U.S. states and territories in what鈥檚 being described as a “World鈥檚 Fair”-scale experience. It’s to have food, exhibits and interactive displays highlighting regional culture and traditions.

鈥淏ound together by a shared promise, our nation is a union of diverse states and territories 鈥� distinct in character, united in purpose,鈥� Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach said in the release.

According to the release, visitors can expect a mix of classic fair attractions and large-scale installations, including a towering 110-foot Ferris wheel and a refurbished Smithsonian carousel.

Organizers said the fair will feature rotating daily themes, including Military Appreciation Day on June 28 and 鈥淭he Next 250鈥� on July 10, tied to the nation鈥檚 upcoming semiquincentennial.

“As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of freedom and opportunity, the National Mall will once again serve as the stage for telling our nation鈥檚 story,” Krach said.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the National Mall will serve as a fitting backdrop as the country prepares to mark 250 years since its founding.

The Great American State Fair will be free and open to the public, though advance registration is encouraged.

It’s slated to run from June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall between 4th Street and 14th Street. See the operating hours below:

• 10 a.m. 鈥� 9 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday
• 10 a.m. 鈥� 11 p.m. Thursday to Saturday
• 10 a.m. until midnight on July 4

More details, including programming, can .

Source

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool began refilling Thursday with water bubbling up through pipes at the center of the pool, slowly unveiling the full effect of a recent dark-blue paint job.

Work to resurface the reflecting pool was completed Wednesday and the pool is expected to be refilled no later than Sunday, according to a court filing from U.S. Department of the Interior attorneys.

During an event Thursday, President Donald Trump showed a video of the refilling basin.

“That’s clean, beautiful water,” the president said.

ICYMI

— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum)

Trump had said a social media post Wednesday that water would begin to flow “shortly.”

“The walking paths outside of the Pool will, likewise, be cleaned, sandblasted, and finished soon,” he wrote. “This will be the first time since the day it was built, 1922, that it has worked, and worked wonderfully, indeed!”

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images

Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images

Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

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Interior Department pushes back on lawsuit

A lawsuit over work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has turned into a fight over historic preservation, public process and the color blue.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation and other plaintiffs sought emergency relief in federal court last month, arguing that federal officials are painting over a historic landmark without proper review or public notice.

In a joint status report filed in U.S. District Court for D.C. in mid-May, the plaintiffs said 鈥渨ith every additional day, further irreparable harm is accruing鈥� as work continues on the Reflecting Pool.

They noted they were willing to agree to a longer briefing schedule if the U.S. Department of the Interior, listed as defendants in the filing, agreed to temporarily halt the painting while the court considered their motion. But the federal government would not agree to that pause.

On May 21, the court directed the Interior Department to share updates on the challenged project, according to Wednesday’s filing.

The Interior Department has previously pushed back on lawsuit, saying it appeared to be based on 鈥渁 fundamental misunderstanding鈥� of the project. The defendants said the bright blue color cited by the plaintiffs was only a primer layer 鈥� not the finished coat.

According to the federal government, the final coat will be 鈥渁 very dark blue,鈥� low in chroma, consistent with the Reflecting Pool鈥檚 historic character and intended to improve its reflectivity.

Defendants also said the color could be changed later by applying a new coat of primer and tinted epoxy.

Both sides disagree over whether required reviews were completed under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Plaintiffs said federal officials did not conduct the required reviews before moving forward.
Defendants said they completed a streamlined Section 106 review under an existing programmatic agreement and used a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act.

WTOP’s Jessica Kronzer and Mike Murillo contributed to this report.

Source

Fredericksburg police said officers responded around 5:30 p.m. to reports of shots fired.

According to the initial investigation, a male driver was pursuing a female driver along Olde William Street and Emancipation Highway when the man began firing rounds at the woman’s vehicle.

Police said the woman, while trying to evade the suspect, crashed in the area of College Avenue and Emancipation Highway. She was shot multiple times before the crash.

Officers arrived, provided emergency aid and the woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died.

Two children, 7 and 3, were in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries from the crash, not from gunfire, police said.

As officers arrived at the scene of the crash, police said they saw the suspect vehicle attempting to flee. Officers tried to pull the vehicle over for a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield, and a pursuit began.

As the pursuit approached Wilderness Lane, police said the driver suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said he was the only person in the car, and no rounds were fired by police.

Fredericksburg police said the people who died were the parents of both children, who are being reunited with family.

Source

The crash happened on Pine Forest Drive near Riding Center Drive Wednesday evening, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.

Authorities said the 17-year-old was riding on an e-bike at the time of the crash.

The teen suffered critical injuries and was flown to a hospital.

The driver, who was also 17, remained at the scene, authorities said.

Their identities have not been revealed at this time.

The sheriff鈥檚 office after the crash, saying Pine Forest Drive was closed near Homefront Terrace because of the accident. The roadway later reopened.

The crash remains under investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.

WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that one 17-year-old was injured in the crash.聽

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The National Archives Foundation is marking America鈥檚 upcoming 250th anniversary with a three-day Spirit of Independence Festival in D.C., featuring music, food, family activities, military tributes 鈥� and even a patriotic celebration for dogs.

They’re all very good boys.

The festival runs Thursday through Saturday at the National Archives, where the original Declaration of Independence is on display.

The celebration begins Thursday with 鈥淎n Evening with Garth Brooks,鈥� an intimate reception and performance by the country music star.

On Friday, the festival opens to the public with the free 鈥淪tars & Stories Fest鈥� from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include historical reenactors, Disney music, ancestry activities, digital experiences and face painting. NBC Washington host Tommy McFly will emcee.

Friday evening brings 鈥淭aste of America,鈥� a ticketed benefit experience celebrating culinary traditions from across the country.

The event will feature tastings led by award-winning chefs, specialty drinks with and without alcohol, and DJ music. LP O鈥橞rien, a D.C.-based beverage entrepreneur and winner of Netflix鈥檚 鈥淒rink Masters,鈥� will emcee.

Saturday鈥檚 events include two free daytime programs.

And this is something to howl about.

From 9 a.m. to noon, the National Archives lawn will host 鈥淵appy Hour,鈥� a dog-friendly celebration with music, pet caricatures, face painting, selfie stations, giveaways and a Patriotic Pooch Contest. Dogs must have proof of a current rabies vaccination.

Also Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 鈥淪alute to Service鈥� will honor the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army and Navy, along with the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. Visitors can hear military bands, step inside a Vietnam War-era Army helicopter and take part in hands-on activities tied to military history preserved in the National Archives.

The festival ends Saturday night with the 鈥淥ne Nation, Many Stories Gala,鈥� a black-tie optional event with documentary filmmaker Dawn Porter and history teacher and social media influencer Lauren Cella.

Guests will also have the chance to see the original Declaration of Independence and eat dinner outside the National Archives.

Road closures

You probably saw this coming. Yes, there will be road closures.

According to , these streets will be posted as emergency no parking from Thursday, May 28, at 9:30 a.m. through Monday, June 8, at 11:59 p.m.:

• Constitution Avenue from 6th Street to 10th Street NW
• 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Madison Drive NW
• 9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW

This road will be closed to vehicles from Sunday, May 31, at 12:01 a.m. through Monday, June 8, at 11:59 p.m.:

• Constitution Avenue from 7th Street to 9th Street NW

Police said there could be intermittent closures for public safety from Thursday, June 4, through Saturday, June 6:

• Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 7th Street NW
• 6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
• 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
• Constitution Avenue from 9th Street to 12th Street NW

More information on the .

Source

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger took office by pitching herself as a pragmatic, middle-of-the-road Democrat. Now, she’s clashing with members of her own party.

Those disagreements are spilling out into public fights over policy and priorities.

“Democrats control the legislature in Virginia 鈥� So when they passed a bunch of bills earlier this year during the legislative session, and their fellow Democrat (Spanberger) is in the Executive Mansion, they expected that most of them would be enacted,” Gregory Schneider, who covers Virginia for The Washington Post, told WTOP.

“Instead, Spanberger issued 40-some vetoes of their legislation, and that rubbed some of the Democrats the wrong way.”

Among the bills Spanberger rejected were Democratic priorities involving collective bargaining rights for public employees and the creation of a retail cannabis market. Schneider said she urged lawmakers to try again on some of those issues, while approving other Democratic-backed measures.

But the vetoes have highlighted a broader divide between Spanberger, who ran as a moderate, and a legislature where some newer Democrats are pushing more progressive priorities.

鈥淪he served three terms in Congress and was regularly cited as the most bipartisan member of Congress, and pledged to keep up that behavior once she became governor,鈥� Schneider said.

At the same time, Democrats have expanded their majority in the House of Delegates.

鈥淎 lot of the new ones who have come in are to the left of Gov. Spanberger,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淭heir priorities are a little more aggressively what you鈥檇 call progressive than what the governor鈥檚 are. So you鈥檙e seeing a little bit of a split.鈥�

That split is now playing into a high-stakes budget fight.

Schneider said Senate Democrats want to end a tax exemption for data centers and use the money for other priorities. Spanberger and some House leaders oppose that move, arguing it would break promises made to businesses and hurt economic development.

If lawmakers and the governor do not agree on a two-year budget by the end of June, Virginia could face a partial government shutdown.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 never happened in Virginia and you wouldn鈥檛 expect it to happen when you have unified government,鈥� Schneider said.

鈥淚f they don鈥檛 resolve it by the end of the month, you鈥檒l see a shutdown like we haven鈥檛 seen in modern memory in Virginia.鈥�

Spanberger has defended her approach as consistent with her campaign pledge to focus on practical issues. Schneider said her team also describes her as a detail-oriented policy wonk who wants legislation fixed before it becomes law.

鈥淲hen she looks at these pieces of legislation, if she sees flaws in them, she wants to fix them,鈥� Schneider said.

That approach differs from the way Richmond often operates, where lawmakers may pass bills and clean up technical problems in a later session.

鈥淪panberger has a bit more of a perfectionist approach,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淪he wants to get it right the first time.鈥�

Source

The one-day festival will be played at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

“We want to keep raising our voices for hope and justice together,” Springsteen said. “Tom Morello and I will be back again here in D.C. on Oct. 3 for another night of music and resistance.”

They won’t be the only ones, either.

“Tom will be there. Dave Matthews, the Foo Fighters, my friends at Dropkick Murphys will be there,” Springsteen said.

Others on the roster include Jack Black, Cypress Hill, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike, Joan Baez, Brittany Howard and The Linda Lindas.

“We encourage you to come out and make a gn ruckus along with us,” Springsteen said.

The event is bring curated by Rage Against the Machine legend Tom Morello.

鈥淭he Power To The People Festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock and roll,鈥� Morello said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community, and action. We鈥檙e honored to bring this incredible lineup to the D.C. area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity and hope.鈥�

goes live Friday at 10 a.m. General sales start Saturday at 10 a.m.

More information is .

Source

The bad news: It could be a bit brutal.

A cold front will move through the D.C. region, sweeping away the “unsettled weather pattern,” bringing in showers and thunderstorms, 7太子探花 First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan said.

“It’s going to be very humid, highs will get to either side of 80 degrees. Now, keep the umbrella on hand all day,” Whelan said.

Showers and storms could bring in damaging wind gusts Wednesday afternoon and evening. 7太子探花 First Alert Meteorologist Steve Rudin said any storms that develop could bring wind gusts up to 60 mph.

Whelan said that while there is a slight risk of severe weather, the unstable tropical moisture and stronger winds aloft may bring storms capable of producing heavy rain and isolated flooding, particularly in urban areas.

“The National Weather Service will likely issue some severe thunderstorm warnings for some damaging wind gusts, also for some of those downpours. So, we could see some localized flooding,” Whelan said.

The National Weather Service scaled back a severe thunderstorm watch it issued earlier in the day for areas south of the District.

The storms should start to die down around dinner time. Temperatures will drop to the 60s, with lingering showers or drizzle possible overnight.

Sunshine and lower humidity levels will return on Thursday, with highs in the mid-70s.

• 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: DC-area schools make decisions for Monday instruction
• Sign up for WTOP email alerts
• Get custom alerts with the WTOP app for聽听补苍诲听听辫丑辞苍别蝉

FORECAST

WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Any showers and storms end
Temperatures: 70s to 60s
Winds: West 5-10 mph
Wet weather chances will ease this evening with a few lingering showers for the metro, and storms well to the south. The main threat for any stronger storms that remain will be damaging wind gusts to 60 mph, with isolated pockets of very heavy rain. A severe thunderstorm watch remains active for the Northern Neck and southern Maryland until 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Lingering showers. Drizzle. Fog
Lows: 63-68
Winds: Light
It will remain cloudy and damp overnight with mild temperatures in the 60s. Areas of patchy fog may develop, so be mindful of reduced visibilities on area roads. Lingering showers and/or drizzle is possible during the overnight hours keeping the pavement damp, so drive with extra caution.

THURSDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: 77-82
Winds: North 10-15 mph
A big improvement is on the way. The cold front clears the air and ushers in noticeably lower humidity and brighter skies. A reinforcing front could spark an isolated afternoon shower, however, the risk is mainly south of D.C. Highs reach the upper 70s and lower 80 with a refreshing northwest breeze picking up in the afternoon. By evening, skies are clearing nicely across the beltway.

FRIDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: 73-78
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
Excellent conditions are in store across the DMV. Sunshine, low humidity and highs in the middle 70s mark a complete turnaround from the week’s rough stretch. Mornings start in the 50s with nothing to worry about weather-wise from sunrise to sunset.

SATURDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: 72-77
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
Another great day is on tap. A weak disturbance could bring a few extra clouds, mainly north and west of the Beltway, but the day stays mostly dry and pleasant. Highs in the mid 70s with comfortable humidity make this an ideal setup for graduation parties, yard work or any outdoor plans across the region.

SUNDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: around 75
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
Quiet weather continues through the end of the weekend with a blend of sun and clouds and seasonable temperatures. High pressure remains in control, keeping conditions dry and comfortable across the DMV. Plan for highs in the middle 70s with morning lows in the 50s. A very nice finish to the weekend and final day of the month.

CURRENT CONDITONS

Source

Anthony Del Cid-Morales is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed and related counts, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

The indictment also includes multiple enhancements for crimes of violence against Metro Transit passengers. A detention hearing is scheduled for July 10 before Superior Court Judge Jason Park.

Prosecutors said the shooting happened on Jan. 22 around 5:40 p.m., after Del Cid-Morales allegedly sexually assaulted a girl on a bus.

When the bus stopped near 16th Street NW and Missouri Avenue NW, the juvenile victim and a group of friends got off through the rear doors, while Del Cid-Morales got off through the front, according to prosecutors.

As he exited, Del Cid-Morales allegedly pulled out a handgun, racked the slide and fired into a crowd of more than 15 people at the bus stop.

Five people were hit by gunfire. All survived with minor injuries. Prosecutors said three of the victims had been with the girl on the bus, while another was waiting at the stop to go home and the fifth was out for an evening walk.

Source

Emmetson Zeah was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 70 years, for the February 2025 shooting deaths of 16-year-old Michael Robertson and 15-year-old Blake McCray.

According to , Zeah was found guilty after a trial on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, retaliation against a witness, reckless endangerment and firearms-related offenses.

He was acquitted of one obstruction of justice count.

Howard County police said the shooting happened before 6 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2025, in the parking lot and bus stop area near Lidl in the 10300 block of Little Patuxent Parkway.

Robertson died at the scene. McCray was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he later died.

Prosecutors said surveillance footage, witness accounts, GPS monitoring and Zeah鈥檚 own statements placed him at the scene. A search of his home turned up a gun.

Howard County State鈥檚 Attorney Rich Gibson said the sentence 鈥渞eflects the devastating consequences of a calculated act of violence鈥� and ensures Zeah 鈥渨ill never again have the opportunity to inflict harm on our community.鈥�

Source

As telescopes grow more powerful, the volume of data they collect has exploded. According to WTOP space reporter Greg Redfern, that surge has reached a point where human analysis alone simply can鈥檛 keep up.

At the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile, astronomers are capturing roughly 1.7 terabytes of data every night. Over just a few days, the observatory can scan its entire visible sky, generating tens of thousands of potential 鈥渢ransient events鈥� 鈥� brief, often unexplained signals that could represent anything from asteroids and comets to distant cosmic explosions.

“They want a wide field of view … so they can take in as much of the sky as they can, to pull down as much of these pixels they can to analyze, because the big view is where you end up finding interesting little nuggets to have the big boys like James Webb (space telescope) zero in on and say, ‘Whoa. Look at that. We’ve never seen that before,'” Redfern said.

That鈥檚 where artificial intelligence comes in.

Scientists are increasingly training AI systems using trusted, established data sets like those produced by the which mapped the Milky Way in extraordinary detail.

By feeding AI those verified observations, researchers can teach systems to recognize patterns, flag anomalies and prioritize what deserves closer attention.

In effect, AI is becoming a first-pass filter 鈥� separating meaningful signals from background noise in a way that would take humans far longer.

That approach is already being built into the next generation of space telescopes. The upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland is designed not just to capture vast amounts of data, but to process and organize it efficiently from day one.

Engineers and scientists are working in parallel, developing both the hardware that gathers information and the systems that interpret it.

The goal is to avoid a scenario where groundbreaking data sits unused because it can鈥檛 be processed fast enough.

“If you can’t make sense of how to process and get stuff out of that data, it’s junk,” Redfern said.

Eyeing AI with caution

Researchers are aware of the risks of AI overreliance 鈥� particularly, the possibility of false positives or missed discoveries if systems are not properly trained or monitored. That鈥檚 why human oversight remains a central part of the process.

That balance between machine efficiency and human judgment is becoming the defining challenge of modern astronomy. And it鈥檚 not limited to large institutions.

“Amateurs are even using AI to some extent. Pretty cool,” Redfern said.

Amateur astronomers are beginning to use AI software to enhance images, identify objects and even analyze data from their own telescopes. And they stand to benefit as NASA publicly shares more observations of transient events, which allows citizen scientists to participate in real-time discovery and turn their equipment toward newly identified phenomena.

In the coming years, as new missions launch and observatories come online, that partnership between human curiosity and artificial intelligence is likely to define the next era of discovery 鈥� one where the challenge is no longer just seeing deeper into space, but understanding what鈥檚 already in view.

And somewhere in that flood of data, scientists believe, are discoveries waiting to be found 鈥� signals that could reshape how we understand the universe itself.

Making smarter decisions far from Earth

鈥淲e have been using AI for quite some time, actually, as an agency,鈥� said Bethany Theiling, a NASA Goddard researcher working on future AI applications for space exploration.

She pointed to the Perseverance rover鈥檚 landing on Mars, when the spacecraft autonomously helped pick out the best landing area. 鈥淭hat was a huge moment.鈥�

The next frontier is giving spacecraft more ability to analyze data, prioritize discoveries and respond to unexpected findings on their own.

Theiling’s group at Goddard is called ASTRA 鈥� Adaptive Sensing Technology for Responsive Autonomy.

“We’re actually trying to figure out ways to do science when we can’t communicate to the ground,” Theiling said.

鈥淗ow do you make decisions? How do you analyze data on board? How do we do the most amazing science when we can鈥檛 actually be there?鈥� she said.

That could be especially important for missions to distant worlds such as Europa, one of Jupiter鈥檚 moons, or Enceladus, one of Saturn鈥檚 moons 鈥� both considered promising places to search for life.

鈥淲hat if we miss seeing life?鈥� Theiling said. 鈥淲hat if it鈥檚 there and we don鈥檛 see it because we were just limited in what we can do?鈥�

She said NASA鈥檚 approach is not about handing decisions to an inscrutable 鈥渂lack box.鈥� Her team is focused on explainable AI, so scientists can understand why a system reached a conclusion.

鈥淭his is no black box,鈥� Theiling said. 鈥淭his is not, 鈥極h, just trust me, we found life.鈥欌��

She also said AI could also help spacecraft and telescopes work together. If one instrument spots something unusual, such as a gamma ray burst, AI could help determine which other telescopes or researchers are best positioned to follow up quickly.

Theiling said large language models are not currently being used onboard spacecraft because they require too much computing power. Instead, NASA is working on smaller models that can operate within the strict limits of deep space missions.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e trying to do in response is create really, really lightweight models,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e out there in space, you have a limited amount of power.鈥�

Before sending humans deeper into space, ask why

As NASA and other space agencies look deeper into the solar system, one retired Maryland astrophysicist says the first question should not be whether humans can go farther, but why they should.

Beth Hufnagel, a retired astronomy and astrophysics professor from Anne Arundel Community College, said robotic probes and artificial intelligence may be better suited than humans for deep space exploration.

鈥淧eople are expensive, dirty and fragile,鈥� Hufnagel said, arguing that scientists should start with the question they are trying to answer before deciding whether humans need to be involved.

Hufnagel said missions to the moon have helped answer real scientific questions, including clues about the age of Earth. But she questioned whether current efforts to send astronauts back to the moon or eventually to Mars are driven more by competition than science.

She pointed to China, India, Japan and the European Union as examples of space powers leaning heavily on robotic exploration.

For Hufnagel, the issue is not whether space exploration matters. It is whether the mission matches the question.

鈥淲hat is the purpose? What is the goal?鈥� Hufnagel said.

Science fact, not science fiction

Despite the , Theiling said NASA鈥檚 risk-averse culture makes a runaway deep-space AI scenario unlikely.

鈥淲e do really big, what looks like really risky things, but we鈥檙e actually super risk averse,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want anything to go wrong.鈥�

Or, put another way: NASA wants smarter spacecraft 鈥� not sci-fi villains.

Source

You don’t have to play the ponies to in Prince George’s County.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy has teamed up with two-time Pro-Bowl player for the Eagles and 49ers and Prince George’s County native Brian Westbrook to bring a bit of joy to all.

“We kicked it off last Sunday with a toasted Preakness brunch. This week we have a lot of events all across the county, including tomorrow evening at Clyopatra Wine and Vineyards,” Braveboy told WTOP.

“We will be having a Preakness celebration, and of course, we’ll be at Brian’s farm on Saturday morning.”

Braveboy said there are several locations around the county that will be showing the Preakness, such as Hennessy Creek and Arthur Wheeler distillery Saturday.

“So come out, buy local, share in the enjoyment with local businesses,” Braveboy said.

She added that a lot of people don’t realize that Prince George’s County is “the cradle of thoroughbred racing in the U.S.”

“Prince George’s County, in the late 1700s, was the place where racing really began,” she said. And the county “is really excited about being able to show our history and show our future working with folks like Brian Westbrook.”

Westbrook said “is built on being able to empower and educate young people.”

“We want to give them access to opportunity across the board,” he said. “It’s going to operate in a situation where it’s educational opportunities. We have agricultural data analytics classes and programs. We have athletic data analytics programs and classes. We have financial literacy, we have entrepreneurship, we have leadership classes.”

Westbrook made specific mention of the foundation’s “36 Ways” lesson program and its Junior Horse Master program.

The goal of which is to “try to teach community, to try to teach horsemanship and career development for our young people.”

More information is available at the Prince George’s County .

Source

Current weather warnings:

• Ground stop due to thunderstorms at Reagan National and Baltimore-Washington International Airports until 10:45 p.m.

The breezy, cloudy afternoon turned rainy and stormy during the afternoon commute.

“But a better chance for widespread meaningful rainfall along with some gustier winds and rumbles of thunder this evening,” 7太子探花 First Alert Meteorologist Steve Rudin said. “We need every drop we can get.”

Temperatures will inch into the mid-70s, with a southerly wind sticking around through the day ahead of an approaching cold front Wednesday evening.

The main line of rain arrives Wednesday night, bringing the potential for heavier downpours, thunder and gusty winds between 20 and 30 mph.

“As activity moves east, storms should gradually weaken, with mostly showers reaching the I-95 corridor by mid to late evening. Rain totals will generally stay under half an inch,” Rudin said.

While severe weather is not a widespread threat, any storms that do develop in the evening could bring brief heavy downpours and gusty winds.

Overnight temperatures fall back into the 50s as lingering showers come to a close.

Thursday starts damp and cooler. Highs Thursday will only reach the lower 60s under partly to mostly cloudy skies.

Friday will be windy and partly sunny with temperatures peaking in the mid-70s.

The warmup comes fast after that: mid-80s on Saturday and around 90 degrees Sunday.

By Monday and Tuesday, humidity builds and highs could reach the low to mid-90s.

So keep the umbrella handy Wednesday night 鈥� and make sure the AC is ready for the weekend.

• 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: DC-area schools make decisions for Monday instruction
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Full forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Lingering Showers End
Patchy Fog Possible
Lows: 48-55
Winds: South to Northwest 3-8 mph
Scattered showers may linger for a while overnight as the cold front moves through. Winds will shift to the northwest behind the front, with upslope showers developing along the Alleghenies. Most areas will not see much additional rain, and a few spots may stay mainly dry. Patchy fog could develop where skies briefly clear before the northwest breeze picks up. Temperatures will settle into the 50s to near 60 degrees by daybreak.

THURSDAY:
Partly Cloudy
Highs: 60-65
Winds: Northwest 5-15, Gusts 25 mph
Cooler air settles in Thursday behind Wednesday鈥檚 cold front, bringing a northwest breeze and a noticeably different feel compared to the warmer, more humid setup the day before. High temperatures will only reach the lower 60s, which is nearly 15 degrees below normal for mid-May. A few scattered showers may linger across the mountains, but most neighborhoods around the beltway should stay dry.

FRIDAY:
Mostly Sunny, Breezy
Highs: around 75
Winds: Northwest 10-20 mph
Friday brings a solid rebound as high pressure builds back into the area. Sunshine returns, humidity stays low and temperatures climb into the lower and middle 70s. It will be a comfortable finish to the workweek with pleasant weather for the morning commute, lunchtime plans and the evening ride home. It may become breezy a times.

SATURDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Highs: 83-88
Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph
The weekend starts with a big warmup as southwest flow pushes temperatures into the lower and middle 80s across much of the beltway and surrounding suburbs. Sunshine should dominate much of the day, and while humidity inches up slightly, it still looks fairly manageable for mid May. It will feel warm, but not overly sticky. Records do not appear to be in serious jeopardy Saturday, with the DCA record of 93 likely staying safely out of reach, although the Dulles record of 90 may end up a bit closer.

SUNDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Highs: 85-90
Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph
Sunday brings an even warmer, early summer feel with highs climbing into the middle and upper 80s, with a few locations near 90 degrees possible. Humidity gradually increases, although much of the day still looks dry with a mix of sunshine and passing clouds. A stray late day shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out, but this does not appear to be a washout setup. Records currently look safe, with DCA needing 92 degrees and Dulles needing 93, although the warmth will likely serve as a preview of even hotter weather possible early next week.

Current conditions

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The crash happened in front of the Shake Shack at the Cabin John Shopping Center in the 7900 block of Tuckerman Lane, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer.

It happened shortly after 1 p.m.

He said the vehicle lost control for “unknown” reasons.

The driver was trapped inside and had to be extricated by first responders.

Three adults were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

An aerial view of the area is below.

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Health officials say the highly contagious virus can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and can linger for up to two hours after they leave an area.

Investigators are working to identify anyone who may have been exposed.

Potential exposure sites include:

• BWI Marshall Airport鈥檚 international arrivals and lower level baggage claim areas on April 12 between 7:50 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
• FastMed Urgent Care at 2827 Smith Avenue on April 14 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on April 17 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Sinai Hospital鈥檚 emergency departments on April 17 between 3:30 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.

Anyone who was at those locations during the listed times should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and check their vaccination status.

Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash.

As always, vaccination remains a key component in fighting the spread of the disease.

鈥淰accination remains essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities against measles and other infectious diseases,鈥� Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan said in a release.

鈥淭alk with your health care provider to ensure you and your family are up to date with all recommended vaccines, including the MMR vaccine.鈥�

Officials say people who develop symptoms should avoid public places and call a health care provider before seeking treatment.

State health leaders are urging residents to make sure they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella vaccination.

Information on Maryland’s is online. More MMR information is available from the .

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