It’s a festive day in Washington as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo prepares to celebrate the fourth birthday of Qing Bao, one of its newest and most beloved giant pandas. Festivities are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday, marking her first birthday since arriving in the nation’s capital last fall. Visitors will be able to join in on the fun, and those unable to make it to the zoo can still tune in from home through the zoo’s live Giant Panda Cam. Qing Bao,

As President Donald Trump’s 30 day emergency control of Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department comes to an end, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the force will return to a pre emergency status quo. This means the department will no longer be working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a practice that had been introduced under federal control despite not being part of the agency’s usual responsibilities. Bowser reiterated that immigration enforcement is not

The National Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Labor Day with its annual free concert on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. The event takes place on Sunday evening at 8 p.m., with gates opening to the public at 3 p.m. This long-standing tradition is one of the city’s most anticipated cultural gatherings, offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy world-class music in a historic outdoor setting. The concert is free of ch

A Washington D.C. resident has admitted to defrauding the federal government of pandemic relief funds by misusing a large disaster loan meant to support struggling businesses. Jennifer May, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud after investigators found that she fraudulently obtained $1,500,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans, funds that were provided during the COVID-19 pandemic to help small businesses meet critical expenses. Her guilty plea has set

As students across Washington return to school this fall, a new shopping experience is set to make the season a little more exciting. The Metro U pop-up shop has officially opened in the city, offering a range of apparel and accessories designed to capture the energy of back-to-school life. Located conveniently across from the L’Enfant Plaza station at 300 7th Street SW, the shop is positioned to attract both high school and college students looking for a

The start of the new school year in Washington DC, less than 36 hours away, is stirring up a mix of emotions for many families. For most years, this time brings excitement about new clothes, fresh books, and reuniting with friends. But this year, parents and students in the district are entering classrooms with unease and worry after seeing federal officers and military troops patrolling neighborhoods for the past two weeks. The atmosphere, usually filled with

President Donald Trump announced that he would personally join law enforcement officers on patrol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday evening, underscoring his administration’s aggressive approach to what he has described as a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital. While he did not reveal the specific neighborhoods he planned to visit, the president said he would be accompanied by both police and members of the military as part of an ong

Childhood is often filled with moments of laughter, play, and exploration, but for one four year old in Washington, D.C., it has also been marked by a life changing health challenge. TJ, a young boy from the Shaw neighborhood, has been nominated for Toddler of the Year, a national contest that celebrates children while raising funds for Toys for Tots. What makes TJ’s story extraordinary is that he is competing while receiving treatment for leukemia, demonstrating a remarkable spirit that h

Washington’s dining and nightlife industry has found itself at the center of two simultaneous stories this August. On one hand, restaurant and bar owners have reported steep drops in attendance and reservations in the first week of the federal government’s takeover of the District’s police force. On the other, the city’s popular Summer Restaurant Week kicked off with strong numbers, bringing a nearly 30 percent boost in reservations compa

A Washington DC man has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for his role in a deadly shooting at a gender reveal party in 2021. Twenty-two-year-old Nyjell Outler was convicted earlier this year on charges of voluntary manslaughter while armed and has now received a sentence of 24.5 years behind bars for the fatal incident that claimed the life of 21-year-old Demetris Johnson and left another victim, Daloni Williams, severely injured.

Washington’s nightlife has taken an unexpected hit as local bar owners report some of their slowest nights in years, with many attributing the sudden decline to heavy police and federal agent activity outside popular establishments. At U Street and 14th Street Northwest, the co-owner of Crush Dance Bar, Mark Rutstein, said Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights saw authorities stationed directly outside the venue. He explained that while police and agents

Washington, D.C. is preparing to honor one of its most iconic cultural figures with the return of the 11th annual Chuck Brown Day, set to take place at Fort Dupont Park in Southeast Washington from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The festival celebrates the legacy of the man widely known as the Godfather of Go-Go, bringing together thousands of residents and visitors for an afternoon filled with live performances, community spirit, and the unmistakable rhythms that define the city’s music identity.

Washington’s ongoing debate over policing and immigration took another turn after DC Police Chief Pamela Smith issued a new executive order allowing limited cooperation between the Metropolitan Police Department and federal immigration enforcement agencies. The directive, which went into effect immediately, outlines how officers may interact with federal immigration personnel while still maintaining restrictions on sensitive custody information. The order makes clear that DC

A Washington man is facing a serious felony charge after allegedly throwing a sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer during a late-night incident in Northwest D.C. According to U.S. District Court documents, Sean Charles Dunn was arrested and charged with felony assault following the confrontation that occurred around 11 p.m. near the intersection of 14th Street NW and U Street. Authorities allege that Dunn not only confronted the officers bu

Homelessness advocates in Washington, D.C., are raising concerns over former President Donald Trump’s announced plan to remove homeless encampments from the city, warning that it could place an unbearable strain on already stretched shelters, soup kitchens, and hospitals. With thousands of unhoused residents in the District and limited available beds, many fear that displacing people from encampments will push them into already crowded facilities or leave

  Washington — Following reports that the mayor and police chief of Washington, D.C., were caught off guard by the president’s decision to assume federal oversight of the city’s police department, both officials have now presented a united front. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith appeared together on Tuesday to assure residents that the Metropolitan Police Department’s stru

In Washington, hundreds of District residents and natives gathered on Monday near the White House to protest President Trump’s announcement that Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over leadership of the Metropolitan Police Department. The demonstration, organized by the activist group Free DC, drew a large and passionate crowd, many of whom carried signs and chanted for the president to leave the District’s local affairs to its own elected offici

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the National Guard to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., while taking emergency control of the city’s police force. During a Monday morning announcement, he confirmed he is invoking Section 740 of the Home Rule Act, a provision allowing the president to assume authority over the Metropolitan Police Department for a period of up to 48 hours. In that time, changes to the department’s leadership are expected. Trump

On Friday, the Trump administration announced that additional federal law enforcement patrols would begin operating in Washington DC as part of a week-long crime reduction effort. The president stated that multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Park Police, would participate in the operation aimed at addressing what he described as rampant crime in the nation’s capital. He also suggested that his administration could potentially take full control

Dozens of student volunteers in Washington, D.C., received a life-changing surprise this week when the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation announced it would award them college scholarships worth up to $5,000 each. The initiative, called "Rec for All: Play It Forward," aims to recognize and reward the dedication of young people who have been actively involved in the department’s sports programs. In total, 45 local college students