INSIDER
George defeats two challengers in Ward 4 Democratic primary in race centered on public safety
Read full article: George defeats two challengers in Ward 4 Democratic primary in race centered on public safetyJaneese Lewis George defeated a pair of challengers in Tuesdayโs Democratic primary and will head into Novemberโs general election as a heavy favorite to retain her Ward 4 seat on the D.
Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor's hearing is canceled
Read full article: Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor's hearing is canceledRepublicans are welcoming a police crackdown that cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University and led to the arrests of 33 protesters.
Collapse of NBA, NHL arena deal prompts recriminations, allegations of impropriety in Virginia
Read full article: Collapse of NBA, NHL arena deal prompts recriminations, allegations of impropriety in VirginiaThe collapse of a proposal to relocate the Washington NBA and NHL teams to northern Virginia has set off an extraordinary round of bitter recriminations among some of the officials and companies that were parties to the deal.
NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards are staying in Washington after Virginia arena deal collapses
Read full article: NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards are staying in Washington after Virginia arena deal collapsesThe NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals are staying in the District of Columbia.
DC attorney general argues NHL's Capitals, NBA's Wizards must play in Washington through 2047
Read full article: DC attorney general argues NHL's Capitals, NBA's Wizards must play in Washington through 2047The attorney general for the District of Columbia contends that the NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals are obligated to play their games in the downtown arena through 2047.
Two fragile DC neighborhoods hang in the balance as the Wizards and Capitals consider leaving town
Read full article: Two fragile DC neighborhoods hang in the balance as the Wizards and Capitals consider leaving townThe proposed move of the Capitals and Wizards sports teams to nearby Virginia has stoked concern in a pair of fragile Washington neighborhoods.
The District of Columbia is combating car thefts and carjackings with dashcams and AirTags
Read full article: The District of Columbia is combating car thefts and carjackings with dashcams and AirTagsThe government and police in the nation's capital are handing out tracking devices and dashboard cameras to local drivers to help stem rising crime rates.
The Pentagon plans to shake up DCโs National Guard, criticized for its response to protests, Jan. 6
Read full article: The Pentagon plans to shake up DCโs National Guard, criticized for its response to protests, Jan. 6U.S. officials say the Pentagon is developing plans to restructure the National Guard in Washington, D.
Violent crime is rising in the nation's capital. DC seeks solutions as Congress keeps close watch
Read full article: Violent crime is rising in the nation's capital. DC seeks solutions as Congress keeps close watchVeteran law enforcer Pamela Smith is taking over as police chief in the nation's capital at a precarious time.
9 people, including 2 kids, are shot and wounded in the nation's capital as violence mars July 4
Read full article: 9 people, including 2 kids, are shot and wounded in the nation's capital as violence mars July 4Nine people outside enjoying the Independence Day festivities in the nationโs capital have been shot and wounded in a spate of violence marring the holiday.
DC promises a 'very, very robust' police presence to maintain public safety over July 4 holiday
Read full article: DC promises a 'very, very robust' police presence to maintain public safety over July 4 holidayWith a flood of visitors and tourists expected, officials in the nationโs capital are mobilizing additional police officers and dozens of teams of civilian peacekeepers in an attempt to keep rising violent crime rates from marring the holiday weekend.
A third day of smoky air gives millions in US East Coast, Canada a new view of wildfire threat
Read full article: A third day of smoky air gives millions in US East Coast, Canada a new view of wildfire threatA thick, hazardous haze of wildfire smoke is looming over daily life for millions of people across the U.S. and Canada for a third day, and itโs expected to persist as long as the weekend.
Senate votes to block 2nd DC crime law; Biden veto expected
Read full article: Senate votes to block 2nd DC crime law; Biden veto expectedThe Senate has voted to overturn a District of Columbia law enacted last year to improve police accountability, the second time this year that Democrats have joined with Republicans to try and block the districtโs crime regulations.
Cities reviving downtowns by converting offices to housing
Read full article: Cities reviving downtowns by converting offices to housingA growing number of developers are considering converting empty office towers into housing as part of an effort to revive struggling downtown business districts that emptied out during the pandemic.
Senate votes to block DC crime laws, Biden supportive
Read full article: Senate votes to block DC crime laws, Biden supportiveThe Senate has voted to block new District of Columbia crime laws and overrule the city government as lawmakers in both parties have expressed concern about rising violent crime rates in cities nationwide.
Biden upends politics, precedent in pivot on DC crime law
Read full article: Biden upends politics, precedent in pivot on DC crime lawPresident Joe Bidenโs support of a resolution to block new District of Columbia crime laws has split members of his own party amid rising concerns about crime in the nationโs capital and other cities.
DC conflict reflects wider efforts undermining local control
Read full article: DC conflict reflects wider efforts undermining local controlThe expected move next week in Congress to overturn District of Columbia laws dealing with criminal justice and voting has created a political tempest in the nationโs capital, with local activists decrying it as the latest effort to undermine the cityโs ability to determine its own future.
Biden willing to sign effort to block new DC crime laws
Read full article: Biden willing to sign effort to block new DC crime lawsPresident Joe Biden says he's willing to sign a Republican-sponsored resolution blocking new District of Columbia laws that would overhaul how the nationโs capital prosecutes and punishes crime.
DC's cherry blossoms coming early due to confusing weather
Read full article: DC's cherry blossoms coming early due to confusing weatherThe cherry trees in the nationโs capital are confused by Earthโs changing climate, with the iconic blossoms appearing earlier than expected because of the unusually warm winter.
House votes to overturn DC criminal code and voting laws
Read full article: House votes to overturn DC criminal code and voting lawsThe Republican-held House has launched the first salvo in what could be a long-running feud with the District of Columbia over self-government in the nationโs capital.
DC residents demand police action after 13-year-old killed
Read full article: DC residents demand police action after 13-year-old killedThe fatal shooting of a middle-school student has sparked public uproar in Washington as the nationโs capital struggles with rising tensions about violent crime and racial justice.
Controversial DC tipping proposal approved by voters โ again
Read full article: Controversial DC tipping proposal approved by voters โ againA controversial proposal to change the pay structure for servers and other workers at Washingtonโs bars and restaurants was approved by voters Tuesday, four years after an identical measure was overturned by the D.
Pentagon rejects DC request for National Guard migrant help
Read full article: Pentagon rejects DC request for National Guard migrant helpThe Pentagon has once again denied a request from the District of Columbia seeking National Guard assistance in dealing with thousands of migrants being bused to the city from Texas and Arizona.
Asylum seekers caught in political battle in NYC, Washington
Read full article: Asylum seekers caught in political battle in NYC, WashingtonThousands of asylum seekers from across Latin America and the Caribbean are getting caught in the political battle over U.S. immigration policy after two Republican governors started sending busloads of migrants to New York City and Washington.
Pentagon denies DC request for National Guard migrant help
Read full article: Pentagon denies DC request for National Guard migrant helpThe Pentagon has rejected a request from the District of Columbia seeking National Guard assistance for the thousands of migrants being bused to the city from two southern states.
DC requests National Guard help with busloads of migrants
Read full article: DC requests National Guard help with busloads of migrantsThe District of Columbia has requested National Guard assistance to help stem a โgrowing humanitarian crisisโ prompted by thousands of migrants that have been sent to Washington by a pair of southern states.
Governors' immigrant-busing strategy hits home for mayors
Read full article: Governors' immigrant-busing strategy hits home for mayorsTwo Republican border-state governors who are investing billions of dollars on immigration enforcement have found indirect support from the Democratic mayors of Washington and New York.
Britt wins tumultuous Alabama Senate race scrambled by Trump
Read full article: Britt wins tumultuous Alabama Senate race scrambled by TrumpKatie Britt has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama, defeating six-term Congressman Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump endorsed and then un-endorsed him.
'Get used to it': Outbreaks give taste of living with virus
Read full article: 'Get used to it': Outbreaks give taste of living with virusThe U.S. is getting a first glimpse of what itโs like to experience COVID-19 outbreaks during this new phase of living with the virus, and the roster of the newly infected is studded with stars.
Prosecutors: Suspect played music after homeless shooting
Read full article: Prosecutors: Suspect played music after homeless shootingProsecutors say a man suspected of shooting five homeless people in Washington and New York City and killing two of them appeared to hold up a phone and play music after he shot one of the victims.
DC to require vaccinations for clubs, bars and all students
Read full article: DC to require vaccinations for clubs, bars and all studentsThe District of Columbia government is imposing a series of Covid-19 vaccine mandates in response to spiraling infection numbers and the march of the omicron variant.
Man gets over 2 years in prison for Pelosi threat after riot
Read full article: Man gets over 2 years in prison for Pelosi threat after riotA North Carolina man who came to Washington armed with guns and threatened to shoot House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the day after the Jan. 6 riot was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
Washington, DC, is back to requiring masks be worn indoors
Read full article: Washington, DC, is back to requiring masks be worn indoorsIn the face of rising regional COVID-19 infection numbers, the nationโs capital is returning to mandatory indoor mask requirements, regardless of vaccination status.
Biden balances fighting rising crime, reforming police
Read full article: Biden balances fighting rising crime, reforming policeFacing rising fears of summer violence, President Joe Biden has embarked on a precarious political high-wire act, trying to balance supporting law enforcement to curb the rise in crime while also backing the police reform movement championed by many of his supporters.
White House, GOP infrastructure talks hit crucial stage
Read full article: White House, GOP infrastructure talks hit crucial stageNegotiations between the White House and Senate Republicans over President Joe Bidenโs $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan are hitting a crucial stage ahead of talks Friday.
Reversing Trump, Buttigieg reinstates local hiring program
Read full article: Reversing Trump, Buttigieg reinstates local hiring programTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he'll reinstate an Obama-era pilot program that aims to aid minority and disadvantaged groups by ensuring local hiring for public works construction projects.
It's cherry blossom season, but DC isn't ready to open up
Read full article: It's cherry blossom season, but DC isn't ready to open upThe 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington in 1912. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON โ Officials in the nation's capital are watching the crowds as cherry blossom season begins in earnest. โWeโre starting to open slowly,โ said Cherry Blossom Festival President Diana Mayhew. โCherry blossom season is our Super Bowl. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency on March 11, 2020, nine days before the Cherry Blossom Festival's start date.
Pelosi taps DC National Guard head to lead House security
Read full article: Pelosi taps DC National Guard head to lead House securityNational Guard troops were delayed in getting to the building as the rioters beat up police officers and smashed through windows and doors to get in. On Thursday, seven House committees asked 10 federal agencies for documents and communications from the government as part of a wide-ranging investigation. The Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee have already held two hearings with security officials about what went wrong. The security officials described violent attacks on overwhelmed police officers and desperate pleas for backup. As the committees investigate, Capitol officials are improving the building's physical security, including reinforcing the House doors that the rioters attempted to breach.
DC's long-simmering statehood push begins in Congress
Read full article: DC's long-simmering statehood push begins in CongressWashington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, testifies at the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, on D.C. statehood, Monday, March 22, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. โWe dare to believe that D.C. statehood is on the horizon,โ said the District's long-serving, nonvoting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, who wrote the bill and said it has overwhelming support in the House. AdBowser spent much of Monday's four-hour hearing by the House oversight committee in a series of sometimes pointed exchanges with Republican committee members. AdBowser at the time quickly pointed out the ironies of Washington residents risking their lives to defend a Congress where they didnโt have a vote. โThere's not a single Republican in Congress, in the House or the Senate, that supports this bill.โ
Emhoff, VP Harris' husband, goes from top lawyer to teacher
Read full article: Emhoff, VP Harris' husband, goes from top lawyer to teacher(Erin Scott/Pool via AP)Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, is getting settled in a new job teaching law at Georgetown University amid a high-pressure moment in U.S. history. Emhoff said his wife tends to be interested in what happens in the class, since she is a lawyer, too. AdMarried to Harris since 2014, Emhoff left the Los Angeles office of the law firm of DLA Piper after Harris was elected with President Joe Biden. Emhoff said he's grateful to be able to support his wife in her new role. Emhoff said he's talking to administration experts to learn the issues and not just visiting museums and libraries in Washington.
The Latest: Kentucky urges Black citizens to get vaccinated
Read full article: The Latest: Kentucky urges Black citizens to get vaccinatedJim Thurman counts himself among the converts who recognize the importance of taking a COVID-19 vaccine. AdHealth authorities say first-generation COVID-19 vaccines still protect against variants of the virus that are emerging in different parts of the world. AdIn a separate announcement, Moderna also said it plans to manufacture 700 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine globally this year, up from 600 million. Bosnia, a country of 3.3 million, expects 1.2 million vaccines through COVAX. On Wednesday, Ghana has become the first country to receive COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX.
Biden marks nation's Covid grief before inauguration pomp
Read full article: Biden marks nation's Covid grief before inauguration pompPresident-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden look out at lights during a COVID-19 memorial, with lights placed around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. โTo heal we must remember," the incoming president told the nation at a sunset ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial. โBetween sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights into the darkness ... and remember all who we lost,โ Biden said. Biden at his Delaware farewell, held at the National Guard/Reserve Center named after his late son Beau Biden, paid tribute to his home state. ___This story has been corrected to show that flags on the National Mall represent people who couldn't come, not COVID deaths.
Biden, Harris take break from inaugural prep to mark MLK day
Read full article: Biden, Harris take break from inaugural prep to mark MLK dayFlags are placed on the National Mall, looking towards the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Washington. As Biden and Harris took breaks from their inaugural preparations to honor the civil rights hero Monday, outgoing President Donald Trump remained out of public view at the White House for the sixth straight day. Biden transition officials, including incoming Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and the deputy attorney general nominee, Lisa Monaco, held a videoconference with acting heads and career staff from national security agencies to discuss the security situation surrounding Inauguration Day. Even before the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, inauguration festivities were expected to be muted due to the virus. Mayor Muriel Bowser urged residents to stay away from the city on Inauguration Day.
INAUGURATION EXPLAINER: Biden's event will be very different
Read full article: INAUGURATION EXPLAINER: Biden's event will be very differentThe outgoing president traditionally attends the inauguration to symbolize the peaceful transfer of power. And there will be no inaugural balls for Biden, Harris and their spouses to dance the night away. But in the wake of the violent Jan. 6 mob attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters, all semblance of normality might be gone. Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Harris and second gentlemen Douglas Emhoff will later visit Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The inauguration comes just two weeks after the insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters as Congress was confirming Biden's victory.
Trump supporters among those seeking Jan. 20 protest permits
Read full article: Trump supporters among those seeking Jan. 20 protest permits(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON โ Supporters of President Donald Trump are among a handful of groups that have applied for permits to hold protests during Joe Biden's inauguration. But it appears unlikely their application will be approved as the National Park Service greatly curtails protests as part of a major security lockdown. Among them, was a group called "Let America Hear Us, Roar For Trump." On Friday Jeff Reinbold, NPS superintendent for the National Mall, said the two approved groups had agreed to each keep their demonstrations below 100 people. The park service on Friday closed Washingtonโs National Mall to the general public until after Wednesday's inauguration.
National Guard troops flooding in as Washington locks down
Read full article: National Guard troops flooding in as Washington locks downMembers of the National Guard walk past the Dome of the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON โ All through downtown Washington, the primary sound for several blocks was the beeping of forklifts unloading more fencing. The number of National Guard troops coming to Washington to assist with security has so far grown to about 21,000, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told Vice President Mike Pence at a briefing Thursday. National Guard members operate under strict rules of engagement on the use of force. D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee estimated Wednesday that more than 20,000 National Guard members would be active in the city on Inauguration Day.
EXPLAINER: Why National Guard's role was limited during riot
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why National Guard's role was limited during riotMember of the DC National Guard walk around the U.S. Capitol grounds, Thursday morning, Jan. 7, 2021 in Washington. The original plans called for having a small National Guard presence with a limited role. Top city, defense, Capitol and law enforcement officials had to figure out what was needed and where it was needed. They also struggled to get the required approvals and then get the Guard members instructed, equipped and on their way. About 340 members of the D.C. National Guard had been requested by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Capitol police were overrun, little defense against rioters
Read full article: Capitol police were overrun, little defense against riotersThe revelations shed new light on why Capitol Police were so quickly overrun by rioters. One disturbing video shows a bloodied Metropolitan police officer screaming for help as heโs crushed by protesters inside the Capitol building. Still, they advised lawmakers to plan to use the underground tunnels that connect House office buildings to the Capitol. Benedict was at the bomb scene when Capitol Police captains there told him their officers were being overrun. When they began entering the Capitol complex at 2:40 p.m., the hallways were packed with rioters.
DC mayor pushes for increased security around inauguration
Read full article: DC mayor pushes for increased security around inaugurationFILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, file photo, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a news conference in Washington. Bowser is seeking increased security around President-elect Joe Bidens Jan. 20, 2021, inauguration in the wake of the mob insurrection at the Capitol. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON โ District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser is seeking increased security around President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration in the wake of the mob insurrection at the Capitol. D.C. does not have jurisdiction over the Capitol and other federal property within its borders. Nearly all of the legal challenges put forth by Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges.
Police officer's death intensifies Capitol siege questions
Read full article: Police officer's death intensifies Capitol siege questionsThis undated image provided by the United States Capitol Police shows U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, of injuries sustained during the riot at the Capitol. During the struggle at the Capitol, Sicknick, 42, was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, two law enforcement officials said. Protesters were urged by Trump during a rally near the White House earlier Wednesday to head to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers were scheduled to confirm Bidenโs presidential victory. One protester, a woman from California, was shot to death by Capitol Police, and there were dozens of arrests. Black lawmakers, in particular, noted the way the mostly white Trump supporters were treated.
Capitol Police rejected offers of federal help to quell mob
Read full article: Capitol Police rejected offers of federal help to quell mobCapitol police officers stand outside of fencing that was installed around the exterior of the Capitol grounds, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Washington. A woman was fatally shot, windows were bashed and the mob forced shaken lawmakers and aides to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The rioting and loss of control has raised serious questions over security at the Capitol for future events. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that as the rioting was underway, it became clear that the Capitol Police were overrun.
Capitol Police rejected offers of federal help to quell mob
Read full article: Capitol Police rejected offers of federal help to quell mobCapitol police officers stand outside of fencing that was installed around the exterior of the Capitol grounds, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Washington. A woman was fatally shot, windows were bashed and the mob forced shaken lawmakers and aides to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The rioting and loss of control has raised serious questions over security at the Capitol for future events. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that as the rioting was underway, it became clear that the Capitol Police were overrun.
Capitol siege by pro-Trump mob forces questions, ousters
Read full article: Capitol siege by pro-Trump mob forces questions, oustersTrump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. The tragedy deepened late Thursday as a Capitol police officer injured in the melee died, the fifth death related to the riot. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick died from injuries sustained responding to the riot on Wednesday at the Capitol. The procedure allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. Black lawmakers, in particular, noted the way the mostly white Trump supporters were treated.
'A sad day': NBA reacts to Capitol protest, Blake decision
Read full article: 'A sad day': NBA reacts to Capitol protest, Blake decisionIn Phoenix, the Suns and Toronto Raptors stood in a circle and linked arms for the American and Canadian anthems. Wednesday's events came one day after the decision to not to bring charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year was announced. The NBA had a rule for decades that players and coaches must stand for the national anthem. That resulted in a turnover, as did the ensuing Detroit possession when Blake Griffin held the ball and players took a knee again. The Bucks said after the game they held the ball for 7 seconds to reflect the seven times Blake was shot.
Chaos, violence, mockery as pro-Trump mob occupies Congress
Read full article: Chaos, violence, mockery as pro-Trump mob occupies CongressOn Wednesday, hallowed spaces of American democracy, one after another, yielded to the occupation of Congress. Trump told his morning crowd at the Ellipse that he would go with them to the Capitol, but he didnโt. Yet Trump, in a video posted 90 minutes after lawmakers were evacuated, told the insurrectionists โWe love you. He said security officers urged lawmakers to put gas masks on and herded them into a corner of the massive room. Shortly after being told to put on gas masks, most members were quickly escorted out of the chamber.
Hundreds of Trump supporters flock to DC ahead of vote
Read full article: Hundreds of Trump supporters flock to DC ahead of voteAt least two local Black churches had Black Lives Matter banners torn down and set ablaze. Tarrio was accused of burning one of the Black Lives Matter banners in December and was found with two high-capacity firearm magazines, police said. A number of prominent Trump supporters were expected to attend, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and longtime Trump ally Roger Stone, the recipient of a pardon by the president. During previous pro-Trump protests, police sealed off Black Lives Matter Plaza itself, but the confrontations spilled out to the surrounding streets. Black Lives Matter Plaza was sealed off Tuesday.
DC mayor calls in National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests
Read full article: DC mayor calls in National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON โ Bracing for possible violence, the nation's capital has mobilized the National Guard ahead of planned protests by President Donald Trump's supporters in connection with the congressional vote expected Wednesday to affirm Joe Biden's election victory. Now with downtown D.C. businesses boarding up their windows, Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested a limited National Guard deployment to help bolster the Metropolitan Police Department. Because D.C. does not have a governor, the designated commander of the cityโs National Guard is Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. The D.C. Guard will provide specialized teams that will be prepared to respond to any chemical or biological incident. But the official said there will be no D.C. Guard members on the National Mall or at the U.S. Capitol.
DC mayor calls in National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests
Read full article: DC mayor calls in National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON โ Bracing for possible violence, the nation's capital has mobilized the National Guard ahead of planned protests by President Donald Trump's supporters in connection with the congressional vote expected Wednesday to affirm Joe Biden's election victory. Now with downtown D.C. businesses boarding up their windows, Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested a limited National Guard deployment to help bolster the Metropolitan Police Department. Because D.C. does not have a governor, the designated commander of the cityโs National Guard is Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. The D.C. Guard will provide specialized teams that will be prepared to respond to any chemical or biological incident. But the official said there will be no D.C. Guard members on the National Mall or at the U.S. Capitol.
As COVID-19 ravages US, shootings, killings are also up
Read full article: As COVID-19 ravages US, shootings, killings are also upThat year there were about 750 nonfatal shootings in the city of more than 672,000. But with only a few days left in 2020, homicides already have topped 300, while non-fatal shootings are up more than 50% at more than 1,124 through the middle of December. โI think the pandemic โ COVID โ has had a significant emotional impact on people across the country,โ Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. From this January to October, non-fatal shootings topped 200 in the city, which is home to about 200,000 people. Over the same period last year there were 131 non-fatal shootings.
The Latest: Tenn. governor enacts new virus restrictions
Read full article: The Latest: Tenn. governor enacts new virus restrictionsAll Australian states have imposed restrictions on travelers from Sydney and parts of New South Wales because the coronavirus risk. The state on Sunday reported 1,536 new COVID-19 cases and 46 more deaths. ___TOPEKA, Kan. โ A FedEx executive says a higher-than-normal volume of Christmas-season package deliveries wonโt interfere with the companyโs effort to ship coronavirus vaccine doses. The first wave of coronavirus infections in New York โcame from Europe and we did nothing,โ the Democratic governor said. ___WASHINGTON โ President Donald Trumpโs surgeon general is defending Trumpโs not getting a coronavirus vaccine, saying there are medical reasons for it.
Maryland, Virginia donate vaccine doses to Washington, DC
Read full article: Maryland, Virginia donate vaccine doses to Washington, DCBut when the latest shortfall hit the local allotment of new COVID-19 vaccine doses, Washington's neighboring states pitched in to help make up the difference. In a heartening demonstration of interstate collectivism, Maryland and Virginia are each sending 8,000 vaccine doses, more than tripling the amount available for health care workers in the nation's capital. The dosage allotments were based on population, but many of Washington's health care workers live in the intertwined neighboring communities of Maryland and northern Virginia. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had sent a letter to U.S. health officials claiming the โone-size-fits-all formula for distributionโ would prove โwoefully insufficient.โGovs. None of the three jurisdictions will receive anywhere close to enough doses in the first batch to cover all their health care workers.
DC schools reach deal with teachers on return to classroom
Read full article: DC schools reach deal with teachers on return to classroomThe Washington Teachers Union had fiercely opposed previous DCPS reopening proposals on safety grounds, causing the administration to repeatedly delay and scale back their plans. โDC teachers miss our students and recognize that many have struggled to adapt to distance learning,โ said WTU President Elizabeth Davis in a statement. Instead, the process will begin with all volunteers, but teachers without medical exemptions may be compelled to return if the demand exceeds the number of volunteers. But the city was forced to abandon that plan in late summer amid strong safety objections from the teacherโs union. A parallel plan to host small in-person classes taught by teachers for special education students and others who were struggling with distance learning never got off the ground.
DC police seeking church vandals after weekend clashes
Read full article: DC police seeking church vandals after weekend clashesSupporters of President Donald Trump who are wearing attire associated with the Proud Boys attend a rally at Freedom Plaza, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)WASHINGTON โ Police in the nation's capital are asking for public assistance in identifying people responsible for burning Black Lives Matter banners and damaging local churches during weekend clashes between local activists and supporters of President Donald Trump. In some cases a Black Lives Matter banner was torn down and set ablaze. The photos of the perpetrators all show different bearded white men, all wearing the distinctive black and yellow of the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group known to incite street violence. After dark, large groups of Proud Boys roamed the downtown streets and confronted a group of local activists, including antifa, who sought to protect the space around Black Lives Matter Plaza.
'Tis the pandemic season: White House parties on amid virus
Read full article: 'Tis the pandemic season: White House parties on amid virusA U.S. Marine Corps band performs in the Entrance Hall of the White House during the 2020 Christmas preview, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, in Washington. The D.C. Health Department canโt do much more than track the numbers and hope its virus guidelines are being followed. But the White House and other federal properties are not required to comply with those rules. On Wednesday night, Trump hosted about 200 guests at the White House for the annual Hanukkah celebration. Bowser's government has generally avoided direct confrontations with the Trump White House over virus protocols.
DC boosts limits on restaurants, gatherings amid virus spike
Read full article: DC boosts limits on restaurants, gatherings amid virus spikeWASHINGTON โ The nation's capital is tightening its public COVID-19 restrictions in the face of spiraling virus numbers locally and around the country. Restaurants can continue to stay open until midnight but must suspend alcohol sales at 10 p.m. Starting Monday, Dec. 14, the indoor capacity limit for restaurants will be reduced from 50% capacity to 25%, with the delay intended to give restaurants time to adjust their operations. Bowser also continued to implore D.C. residents to skip the traditional mass family gathering for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. She encouraged families to limit their gatherings to the people who live in their home.
Smithsonian closing museums and zoo again amid virus spike
Read full article: Smithsonian closing museums and zoo again amid virus spikeWASHINGTON โ In response to rising COVID-19 infection numbers, the Smithsonian Institution is indefinitely shutting down operations at all its facilities, effective Monday and affecting seven museums, plus the National Zoo. The Smithsonian said in a statement that its โtop priority is to protect the health and safety of its visitors and staff.โ No reopening date is scheduled. The decision comes at a time of rising speculation over whether the District of Columbia will tighten virus restrictions in the face of a nationwide spike. Since then, Smithsonian officials have gradually opened up other facilities, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of African-American History and Culture. "Due to the changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a reopening date at this time," the Smithsonian said in its statement.
US House to offer regular virus testing for members, staff
Read full article: US House to offer regular virus testing for members, staffScott Applewhite)After months without internal testing protocols, members of the U.S. House and their staff will now have regular access to coronavirus testing at the Capitol physicianโs office when they return to Washington from their home states. The tests, which have a six- to 12-hour turnaround, represent the first regular testing program in the Capitol since the beginning of the pandemic. While Monahanโs letter is addressed to all members of Congress and staff, it says the House of Representatives will be offering the regular daily testing hours for those who have traveled back to Washington. The office has already been providing tests to members and staff from both sides of the Capitol who were directly exposed to the virus. To keep members safe, House Democrats are holding their caucus elections this week virtually.
DC to require COVID test for visitors from hot spot states
Read full article: DC to require COVID test for visitors from hot spot statesWASHINGTON โ With virus numbers rising locally and nationally and the holiday travel season looming, the nation's capital is revamping its COVID-19 travel restrictions. Starting next week, visitors coming to Washington, D.C., from a state classified as high risk will be required to take a COVID-19 test and receive a negative result within 72 hours before traveling. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged Thursday that the quarantine system, which was entirely voluntary, was probably being violated by many visitors. Washington, Maryland and Virginia have all witnessed rising infection rates in recent weeks, with Maryland and Virginia experiencing the most dramatic spikes. The main infection metrics in Washington, D.C., have doubled in recent weeks, but are still around half of the local peak in May.
More than a dozen arrested as protesters demand vote count
Read full article: More than a dozen arrested as protesters demand vote countOne person arrested for allegedly damaging property was taken to a hospital after โexperiencing a medical episode,โ police said in a statement early Thursday. Officers seized multiple firearms, ammunition, a knife, fireworks, body armor and gas masks from people who were arrested, a sheriffโs office statement said. The protests came as smaller groups of Trump supporters gathered at vote tabulation sites in Phoenix, Detroit and Philadelphia, decrying counts that showed Democrat Joe Biden leading or gaining ground. In Phoenix, at least two dozen Trump supporters gathered outside city hall Thursday morning, chanting โProtect Our Vote.โ The group said they planned to return to the tabulation center, where a Wednesday night rally decried a declaration by Fox News that Biden was the winner in Arizona. This is evidence of democracy, not fraud.โIn Detroit, a few dozen Trump supporters gathered outside the city's convention center Thursday morning, as election workers counted absentee ballots inside.
Trump's election night party up in air due to DC virus rules
Read full article: Trump's election night party up in air due to DC virus rulesTrump told reporters that he may stay at the White House or pick another location to hold his campaignโs party as he expressed frustration with the city's coronavirus protocol. The Trump Hotel did not respond to the Bowser administrationโs notice. The hotel faced a city inspection in July and was found to be in compliance with the District's coronavirus rules at that time. Trump held his 2016 election party in his then-hometown of New York. Itโs unclear how much of a presence Trump himself will be in any election night festivities this time.