Jessica Kronzer – 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视 Washington's Top 小萝莉影视 Wed, 20 May 2026 22:55:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Wtop小萝莉影视Logo_500x500-150x150.png Jessica Kronzer – 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视 32 32 17-year-old charged with 6 counts of sexual battery in Woodbridge scooter assaults /prince-william-county/2026/05/17-year-old-charged-with-6-counts-of-sexual-battery-in-woodbridge-scooter-assaults/ Wed, 20 May 2026 22:55:45 +0000 /?p=29275097 A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and charged for allegedly sexually assaulting at least four women in Woodbridge, Virginia, while riding an electric scooter.

It’s believed the same Woodbridge teen was behind the string of assaults in the Powells Creek area of Woodbridge in March and April, Prince William County police said Wednesday.

He was arrested Tuesday and charged with six counts of sexual battery. Police didn’t share his name.

Most of the reported assaults took place over the past couple of months.

One woman who spoke with police said she was assaulted on three different occasions; the first time was a year ago in May 2025.

The 26-year-old woman was jogging near the intersection of River Ridge Boulevard and Powells Creek Boulevard just before 7 p.m. on March 10 when the suspect rode up and touched her inappropriately.

After the assault, he left the scene and the woman reached out to police.

Police said the suspect did the same thing to two other women earlier that same day: a 41-year-old and a 53-year-old.

Police shared images of the suspect last month in hopes someone might recognize him and contact their department.

None of the women were physically injured.

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Isolated storms, showers hit parts of DC area amid record-breaking heat /weather-news/2026/05/dc-area-heats-up-then-cools-fast-as-storms-move-in-wednesday/ Tue, 19 May 2026 21:58:34 +0000 /?p=29269025 A few isolated storms and showers are popping up in parts of the D.C. region, some bringing along blustery winds and hail, to cap off a sweltering Tuesday.

Spotty thunderstorms are sweeping through parts of the D.C. area, with the highest chance for rainfall near and south of D.C., according to the National Weather Service.

“Be mindful of a downpour that has some gusty winds and the potential for some small hail,” 7小萝莉影视 First Alert Meteorologist Mark Pe帽a said. “Otherwise a lot of us are dry, although these spotty showers are in the forecast for the rest of the evening until sunset, after that we’re partly cloudy.”

Earlier severe thunderstorm warnings have expired in parts of Culpeper, Loudoun, Fairfax, Fauquier and Prince William counties. The National Weather Service had warned about the potential for storms, possibly bringing wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail

Tuesday afternoon gave the D.C. region a taste of summer weather ahead of Memorial Day weekend with highs in the 90s and manageable humidity. It marked the second day of a three-day heat wave that began Monday.

Tuesday’s high temperature broke a record at Reagan National Airport, reaching 97 and breaking the record of 96 degrees set in 1911, according to 小萝莉影视 Meteorologist Mike Stinneford.

Dulles International Airport reached 96 degrees, beating the record of 92 degrees set in 1997, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service.

Conditions should stay warm overnight, with lows in the upper 60s to mid-70s. Some spots may not fall below 70.



Wednesday brings more heat and late-day storms ahead of a strong cold front. A few storms could turn strong to severe, with the main threats being damaging winds and hail, National Weather Service Meteorologist Erik Taylor said.

Taylor advised people to stay hydrated if spending extended time outdoors during the heat wave.

A sharp cooldown follows the storms, with highs only reaching the 60s or barely 70 by Thursday and Friday. Some spots may even struggle to reach 60 by the end of the week, marking a significant and rapid change from the heat now blanketing the D.C. area.

With “about 97% percent of the region 鈥 in severe drought,” Taylor said some much needed rain is forecast to fall later this week.

Looking ahead at Memorial Day weekend, you may want to have a backup for any outdoor plans. Saturday is expected to be rainy and some showers could linger into Sunday. There’s a chance for stray showers Monday as well.

“We’re looking at anywhere between 1 and 3 inches, and some locations could even pick up 4 inches by the time we get toward the end of the weekend, and that will help us try to improve the drought conditions across the area,” Taylor said.

FULL FORECAST

TUESDAY EVENING: Stray storms possible
Temperatures: 90s to 80s
Winds: Southwest 5-15 mph

TUESDAY NIGHT: Scattered clouds and haze
Lows: 68-75
Winds: Southwest 5-15 mph

WEDNESDAY: WEATHER ALERT
Partly cloudy with afternoon rain and storms
Highs: 92-97
Winds: Southwest 5-15 mph

THURSDAY: Cloudy with scattered showers
Highs: 64-70
Winds: Northeast 5-10 mph

FRIDAY: Scattered showers
Highs: Near 60
Winds: Northeast 5-10 mph

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, showers
Highs: 60s
Winds: East 5-10 mph

SUNDAY: Lingering showers
Highs: 68-75
Winds: East 3-8 mph

MEMORIAL DAY: Mostly cloudy with stray showers
Highs: 70-75
Winds: Southeast 5-10 mph

CURRENT CONDITIONS

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Former Md. Gov. Larry Hogan rules out future campaigns for political office, launches leadership institute /maryland/2026/05/former-md-gov-larry-hogan-rules-out-future-campaigns-for-political-office-launches-leadership-institute/ Mon, 18 May 2026 23:00:52 +0000 /?p=29266376 Once considered a presidential hopeful, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says he won’t run for political office in the future and is instead looking to shape the nation’s future leaders.

“I’m done running for office, but I’m still very interested in continuing to stay involved and trying to make a difference,” Hogan told 小萝莉影视’s Nick Iannelli.

During the college’s commencement ceremony Sunday, the longtime Republican politician announced the launch of , a nonpartisan initiative aimed at leadership development, civil discourse and problem solving.

The initiative will be influenced by Hogan’s work across party lines and his “pragmatic, common-sense leadership,” according to the college’s website. The programming is centered around George Washington’s philosophies on democracy that have guided the nation since its founding 250 years go.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan talks with 小萝莉影视's Nick Iannelli about politics and the institute.

“I’m going to focus on the things I’ve spent a lot of my public life working on: strengthening democracy, restoring decency and I want to kind of prove that the bonds that hold us together are stronger than the forces that seek to tear us apart,” Hogan said.

Hogan’s decision to step away from running for political office comes after his loss to Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, who won the U.S. Senate seat in 2024. Meanwhile, the Republican Party continues to be led by President Donald Trump, whom Hogan has spoken out against repeatedly. At times, it’s been difficult for Republicans who oppose Trump to win political office.

When asked whether he expects the party to move back toward his political views, Hogan said “time will tell.”

“I have thought that we would have moved beyond that already at this point, but we have not,” he continued. “It depends on, I think, how bad the losses are this November, and whether or not we lose the White House in two years or not.”

The hope is that the Hogan Institute will help prepare the next generation of leaders for public service through workshops, seminars and public forums.

“I think the vast majority of Americans are frustrated. They believe our political system is broken. They believe that Washington is dysfunctional,” Hogan said. “And they can either give up on it or they can continue to try to make a difference. And that’s what we’re going to try to teach some of these young people to do.”

The institute will kick off programming in the fall, according to the college.

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2 children remain hospitalized after 116 mph Oakton crash kills 2 adults /fairfax-county/2026/05/driver-reached-116-mph-just-before-fairfax-co-crash-that-killed-2-adults-injured-2-kids-police-say/ Mon, 18 May 2026 23:00:36 +0000 /?p=29266808 Two young children are still in the hospital with injuries sustained in a high-speed crash that killed two adults early Sunday in Fairfax County, Virginia, police say.

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

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

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

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

What happened

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

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

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

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

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

Safety reminders

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

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

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

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

Children ages 2 or under should be in a rear-facing car seat with a harness. Kids between the ages of 2 and 8 should be put in a booster seat under state law, according to police. Officers say children are safest when they鈥檙e properly buckled in the back seat.

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

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

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

小萝莉影视’s Matt Small contributed to this report.聽

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Driver sentenced to 10 years in birthday party hit-and-run that killed DC woman /prince-georges-county/2026/05/driver-sentenced-to-10-years-in-birthday-party-hit-and-run-that-killed-dc-woman/ Thu, 14 May 2026 20:47:59 +0000 /?p=29253633 A driver will serve 10 years in prison after backing his car into a child’s birthday party last fall, killing one woman and striking 14 other people, in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Sunday Joseph crashed his car into a tent where a party was taking place Oct. 20, 2025, in Bladensburg, injuring 14 people and killing 31-year-old Ashley Gutierrez, of D.C.

Joseph, 66, of D.C., pleaded guilty to one count of failure to remain at the scene of an accident and 14 counts of reckless driving. He was sentenced in Prince George’s County Circuit Court Thursday.

“Joseph was operating his vehicle in reverse along the roadway when he lost control, jumped the curb and crashed into the tent where the birthday celebration was going on,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson said.

He left the scene after the crash in the front yard of a home near the intersection of 56th Avenue and Maryland Route 450/Annapolis Road.

“Mr. Joseph fled the scene on foot with the car keys, instead of remaining on scene to assist the victims who were trapped under the vehicle, as well as emergency responders,” Jackson said.

Jackson said 12 people were hospitalized, three of which required surgery. Eight of the people with injuries were children.

“What began as a joyful celebration to celebrate a 6-year-old became a scene of unimaginable tragedy. While today’s guilty plea and sentencing represent an important measure of accountability, it cannot undo the profound loss suffered by Ashley’s loved ones or erase the physical and emotional injuries endured by the surviving victims,” Jackson said.

Joseph turned himself in to law enforcement the morning after the crash.

Questions still remain about what exactly caused Joseph to back into the party. Charging documents said Joseph reversed at “full speed” and witnesses told police that Joseph smelled like alcohol after the crash 鈥 but he ran away before police could test for alcohol or other substances.

“He did not make himself available to police officers immediately after the accident, so there was no testing that could have taken place as it relates to alcohol or any other intoxicating substance, and he was gone for 10 hours,” Jackson said.

In court, Joseph testified about health issues that he said contributed to the crash.

Jackson said the reasons given by Joseph in court were not “adequate,” but it could not be proven whether he’d been under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the crash.

Joseph was indicted in January on 36 charges, including grossly negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle.

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小萝莉影视 General Manager Joel Oxley announces retirement after nearly 35 years of leadership /inside-wtop/2026/05/wtop-general-manager-joel-oxley-announces-retirement-after-nearly-35-years-of-leadership/ Thu, 14 May 2026 18:17:15 +0000 /?p=29252759
小萝莉影视 GM makes a big announcement

Joel Oxley, president and general manager of 小萝莉影视 and Federal 小萝莉影视 Network, spent roughly 30 minutes Wednesday morning praising the leadership, creativity and journalistic contributions of each of the 25 employees who are marking milestones this year 鈥 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years of work.

It’s part of his annual tradition to celebrate our colleagues’ work anniversaries at 小萝莉影视, Federal 小萝莉影视 Network or 2060 Digital.

But the final anniversary Oxley announced was his own; he shared plans to retire after nearly 35 years with the company, including 28 years as general manager.

“Because we are doing well, and because the best time to make changes is when you are doing well, and because I’m flipping 65,” Oxley said. “I’ve decided it’s time for me to hang up my cleats and retire and move on to the next thing, next chapter of my life.”

“You know what has kept me here so long? I’m looking at it. It’s the people,” Oxley told the newsroom. “I feel just incredibly blessed to have worked with all of you.”

Oxley plans to retire later in the year and transition to an advisory and consulting role with Hubbard Broadcasting, which owns 小萝莉影视, Federal 小萝莉影视 Network and 2060 Digital.

鈥淛oel鈥檚 leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to excellence have shaped this organization for decades,鈥 said Hubbard Broadcasting President and CEO Ginny Hubbard. 鈥淗is impact on our people and our brands is lasting, and we are grateful for his remarkable service. We are also incredibly grateful that he is willing to continue offering his experience and expertise to the company once he steps away from leading 小萝莉影视-WFED鈥檚 daily operations and strategy.”

His departure comes at a time when the company is doing well, the organization is set to exceed last year’s performance and outperform its 2026 budget. 小萝莉影视, Federal 小萝莉影视 Network and 2060 Digital have achieved consistent growth in revenue, profitability and audience reach under his decades-long tenure.

“He is a Media Hall of Famer,” 小萝莉影视 Afternoon Drive Anchor Shawn Anderson said. “The record of being so successful for so long in this industry, the run he’s had is just astounding.”

Anderson said that success has partially come from Oxley’s “ability to be ahead of the curve.”

Evidence of that forward-thinking includes moving 小萝莉影视’s main signal from 1500AM to 103.5FM, bringing traffic coverage in-house and investing in digital journalism, including 小萝莉影视.com and FNN.com.

“When Joel started as general manager, we as a radio station, had trouble cracking the Top 10 in the ratings,” Anderson said. “It took a couple of years to get to the point where we were No. 1, but we’ve been the dominant radio station in Washington for this century, and he has kept us there the whole time.”

For all the good, his retirement is bittersweet news for his employees, who commend his energizing curiosity and ability to thoughtfully connect with people.

“He has produced results. But it’s the way he produced results that has been his legacy,” Anderson said. “You know, he has led people. It’s not just about the bottom line.”

Oxley mentored 小萝莉影视’s Director of 小萝莉影视 and Programming Julia Ziegler, who began her career at 小萝莉影视 in 2003 and was tapped to lead the newsroom in 2019.

鈥淛oel鈥檚 mentorship and leadership has forever changed 小萝莉影视 and FNN for the better,” Ziegler said. “I feel lucky that I have been able to work for him my entire professional career. I speak for all of us when I say, he will be greatly missed.”

Beyond the title of president or GM, 小萝莉影视’s Director of Sales Matt Mills also called Oxley his mentor and friend.

鈥淚 met Joel about 30 years ago through the business. Five years later, he reached out to gauge my interest in coming on as head of advertising sales,” Mills said. “We have worked together, side by side that entire time. He has been a partner, a mentor, a friend and an excellent leader. He has helped make me a better person and a better leader. Some of the things I learned from Joel will stick with me the rest of my life.鈥

One of Oxley’s longtime employees is Karen Hicks, the company’s controller.

“Joel has been the heart of these operations for many years, and his impact will stay with us for a long time,” Hicks said. “I will remember most his fairness, steady leadership, and the quiet strength and kindness he demonstrated each day.”

‘That curiosity shaped the culture around him’

Oxley’s love of journalism and passion for marketing predates his time with 小萝莉影视.

“I’ve loved news since I was in college. I was in the news business a little bit in college, at the newspaper and the radio station,” Oxley said.

Oxley studied marketing management at Virginia Tech, while in college he had a brief stint on the air at the local radio station. A venture that, in his words, he wasn’t any good at.

“But I also sold advertising, so all of that just came together,” Oxley said.

He came to 小萝莉影视 in 1992 as a sales account executive and received promotion after promotion, gaining the title of General Manager in 1998.

That’s around the same time Anderson began working afternoon drive at 小萝莉影视.

“He’s trusted my instincts,” Anderson said. “You know, he would make suggestions when necessary, but I think he allowed me to prosper and grow.”

Another of the journalists who speaks highly of Oxley’s leadership is 小萝莉影视 National Security Correspondent J.J. Green.

“Working for Joel meant working for someone who understood the news business from the ground up. And the things he didn鈥檛 know, he was smart enough and confident enough to put the right people in place to handle,” Green said.

小萝莉影视 will be searching for Oxley’s successor internally and externally. His employees say his impact on the newsroom will remain long after his departs the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center.

“He brought energy into the building every day. Athletic, curious, always moving, always thinking beyond whatever was directly in front of him,” Green said. “He connected naturally with everyday people because he genuinely cared about the world beyond the newsroom. That curiosity shaped the culture around him and made a lot of us better journalists and better people over the last 30 years.”

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4 DC men charged in series of ‘Jaws of Life’ robberies at convenience store ATMs /dc/2026/05/4-dc-men-charged-in-series-of-jaws-of-life-robberies-at-convenience-store-atms/ Wed, 13 May 2026 21:22:10 +0000 /?p=29249646 Four men from D.C. are facing conspiracy charges in connection to more than a dozen robberies of ATMs at convenience stores in Maryland and the District.

A 27-count indictment was unsealed Tuesday that accuses the group of using the 鈥淛aws of Life鈥 鈥 a tool designed to help first responders rescue people trapped in vehicles after crashes 鈥 to carry out the robberies early last year.

Jeff Crews, 35; David Walker, 40; Maurice Roots, 35; and Kevin Bing, 31, are charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and additional charges related to stolen vehicles, according to the .

They’re charged in a string of robberies that happened over a period of about three months beginning in January 2025, according to the U.S. attorney.

Many of the early-morning robberies targeted stores in Maryland, including in Prince George’s, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties, as well as Greenbelt. They also hit a store in Northeast D.C., court documents said.

The group first targeted an ATM in the 9900 block of Greenbelt Road, Lanham, on Jan. 3, 2025, according to the indictment.

Most recently, the group allegedly robbed two ATMs on March 19, 2025: the first at a store in the 9500 block of Ruby Lockhart Boulevard, Bowie, and the latter in the 5200 block of 3rd Street NE, D.C.

During the robberies, the men would divide up tasks: at least one would subdue the store employees, another would try to destroy the surveillance video and, in some cases, someone would wait in the car to act as a getaway driver, according to the indictment.

The 鈥淛aws of Life鈥 tool was used to pry open the ATM so that the men could steal the cash inside, according to the U.S. Attorney.

The men wore masks and used stolen cars, two of which they burned afterward, court documents said.

The indictment does not say the total amount of money stolen between the robberies in Maryland and D.C.

But in March 2025, police in Prince George’s County said they estimated $200,000 was stolen by Walker, Crews and Roots during a string of robberies in the Maryland county.

The FBI is investigating the robberies alongside local police departments in areas targeted by the group.

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Commanders to play Indianapolis Colts in London in Week 4 /washington-commanders/2026/05/commanders-to-play-indianapolis-colts-in-london-in-week-4/ Wed, 13 May 2026 13:19:52 +0000 /?p=29244994 The Washington Commanders will play the Indianapolis Colts in London on Oct. 4, the NFL announced Wednesday.

The Commanders are set to play as the “home team” at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with kickoff at 9:30 a.m., according to a from the team. The game will be televised on NFL Network.

Washington last played in London during the 2016 season, a 27-27 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 30 at Wembley Stadium 鈥 the only tie in NFL International Series history 鈥 in front of a sold-out crowd of 84,488.

It’s the second year in a row the Commanders have played abroad. Last season, Washington lost to the Miami Dolphins 16-13 at Bernab茅u Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

The Commanders’ upcoming journey across the pond is part of a nine-game series, with NFL matchups in seven countries. Three of those games are happening in London.

Washington’s local neighbors are also playing an international game this fall. The Baltimore Ravens are slated to play the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27. The game against the Dallas Cowboys was announced late last month.

The full 2026 NFL schedule will be released Thursday night.聽

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Maryland reaches $2.25 billion settlement on Key Bridge collapse as Justice Dept. files charges against operator, employee /baltimore/2026/05/federal-charges-filed-against-dali-operator-employee-in-crash-that-caused-the-deadly-collapse-of-baltimores-key-bridge/ Tue, 12 May 2026 18:22:50 +0000 /?p=29244871
A $2.25 billion settlement has been reached between Maryland and the owner and operator of the Dali cargo ship Tuesday, as federal prosecutors announced criminal charges against the ship’s operator and an employee who was on board when it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The collision caused the bridge to crumble into the Patapsco River below and killed six people on March 26, 2024, in Baltimore.

The federal indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses two corporations and the ship’s technical operator of causing the death of the construction workers and the collapse of the bridge.

Hours after the criminal indictment was unsealed Tuesday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on a $2.25 billion settlement between the state of Maryland and the owner and operator of the Dali 鈥 which is accused of wrongdoing in the indictment.

According to the indictment, the collision’s fallout has caused at least a $5 billion loss.

In the aftermath of the crash, divers worked to retrieve bodies from the river and eventually to clean up large fragments of debris. Baltimore suffered economic losses as its port was closed for two months.

The process of rebuilding will cost an estimated $4-5 billion and a new bridge is slated to be open in 2030, according to Maryland officials. In the meantime, the bridge’s absence has disrupted the lives of commuters who relied on the passageway.

Indictment says operator misrepresented ship’s safety

Federal prosecutors announced the indictment along the waterfront in Baltimore, naming Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., based in Chennai, India.

The two corporations and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, the ship’s technical superintendent, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., obstruction and providing false statements.

“They forged safety inspections and certifications. They falsely claimed the ship was in good working order, and then lied to investigators about their actions when they were questioned,” said Jimmy Paul, special agent in charge for the FBI Baltimore Field Office.

The ship, named the Dali, lost power twice in the moments leading up to the collision on March 26, 2024. A loose wire in a switchboard reportedly caused the first outage.

According to prosecutors, the ship was set up to automatically regain power after a blackout. But the defendants are accused of relying on a flushing pump to power two of the four generators on board.

The flushing pump isn’t made to automatically restart, according to the indictment.

“Instead, it needed to be manually restarted when the flushing pump was not restarted in time,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly Hayes said. “After that first blackout, the ship’s two running generators became starved of fuel, causing a second blackout.”

Prosecutors allege that if the ship used its proper fuel supply pumps, it could have regained power before striking the bridge.

Paul said the ship’s operator and Nair failed to document, investigate and report significant safety risks and hazards aboard the Dali.

“Nair and others took steps to hide the use of the flushing pump on the Dali both before and after the crash,” Hayes said. “The indictment further alleges that after the crash, Nair falsely told the National Transportation Safety Board that he was unaware that the Dali was using the flushing pump.”

The charges follow a yearslong FBI investigation that involved two dozen search warrants, including those executed onboard the vessel and its sister ship, around 200 interviews with witnesses and reviewing terabytes of data.

Prosecutors allege the group failed聽to report safety risks to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Pieces of the bridge, vehicles and other debris that fell into the Patapsco River, which is used in international commerce, polluted it and obstructed its navigability,” said Jeffrey Hall, the assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Both corporations have also been charged with misdemeanors related to alleged violations of environmental policies from dumping pollutants into the Patapsco River.

“Although we are fortunate that not all of the hazardous materials escaped their containers, some materials did, including oil and other chemicals,” Hall said.

Hall said the ship was carrying 760 tons of hazardous materials.

EPA agents helped assess the threat in the immediate aftermath of the crash and worked alongside the FBI and the Coast Guard in the investigation.

Hayes said law enforcement will work to bring Nair back to the U.S. from India to face the charges.

Questions on future of civil case amid $2.25 billion settlement and criminal indictment

The charges comes as the state of Maryland has reached a final settlement with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., the ship’s owner and operator. The settlement in principle was reached back in April.

Brown’s office said it still plans to pursue claims against the shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries.

In a statement provided to 小萝莉影视, Hyundai Heavy Industries said when it “delivered the ship nearly 10 years before the allision, there was no indication that any wire was loose.”

“Even if a wire were to become loose over the course of a decade, Grace Ocean and Synergy should have detected that in a routine inspection and through normal maintenance,” Hyundai Heavy Industries wrote.

The shipbuilder pointed to findings in the indictment that the ship was built with the capability to regain power automatically after an outage, which prosecutors said could have prevented the ship from losing power a second time and crashing.

The shipbuilder argued the settlement confirms that Grace Ocean and Synergy “bear” responsibility for the collision and loss of life.

The loved ones of the victims weren’t involved in the state’s settlement.

It’s unclear how the indictment could impact their ongoing civil case that’s scheduled to go to trial on June 1 in U.S. District Court.

A group that includes families of the victims, the city government, Baltimore Gas and Electric and local business are suing the ship’s operator, , which was first to report on the federal indictment.

The men killed during the crash were construction workers repairing potholes on the bridge.

Attorney Daniel Rose, who represents four of the victims’ families as well as the survivor, told reporters the decision on what will happen with the civil case lands on Judge James Bredar.

It’s possible the judge will rule the civil trial needs to be paused until the criminal case moves through the courts.

Less than three weeks away from the scheduled trial date, another attorney representing the families called the events Tuesday a “bombshell.”

“We’re going to trial on a 175-year-old law that was last used with the Titanic, that’s what we’re battling and they instituted limitation of liability for these families, preventing justice and today we find out the truth,” attorney Christopher Stewart said.

The companies that run the Dali filed a 鈥渓imitation of liability鈥 petition about a week after the collapse. The filing initially sought to cap the corporations’ liability at $43.6 million under a maritime law from 1851.

Hayes said that civil lawsuit is considered a separate matter from the criminal charges unsealed Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Republicans revel in victory on Virginia redistricting battle /virginia-election/2026/05/republicans-revel-in-victory-on-virginia-redistricting-battle/ Fri, 08 May 2026 22:10:16 +0000 /?p=29230558 A highly anticipated ruling from the Virginia State Supreme Court handed a victory to Republicans in the state’s battle over redistricting ahead of the midterm elections.

The court shot down the results of April’s referendum authorizing a Democratic-led effort to redraw the state’s congressional maps 鈥 a fight Democrats say was started by Republicans in other states.

“Huge relief, the rest of Virginia just breathed out today and said, ‘Thank God,’ because we really felt like we were just going to get completely silenced and forfeit all kind of representation to Fairfax County,” said Republican Del. Wren Williams, who represents parts of southwestern Virginia in the state House.

Democrats responded to the ruling by asking the state’s highest court for a stay as they file an emergency petition to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The map proposed by Virginia Democrats would have likely handed their party a 10-1 advantage, a stark change from its current 6-5 delegation.

According to the ruling, Democrats didn’t follow the proper procedures when placing the measure on the ballot 鈥 voiding the results of the special election.

Politicians on either side of the aisle are arguing the issue of redistricting comes down to voter representation.

Republicans have said the proposed maps would disenfranchise members of their party in Virginia by gerrymandering the districts.

But Democrats argue that Virginians made their voices heard in last month’s referendum, when voters passed a congressional amendment to temporarily allow mid-decade redistricting.

After state Democrats filed their motion for a stay and said they’d filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said through a spokesperson the action “is an imperative step in the process we promised to pursue to explore every available option to restore the will of the voters. We will continue moving through that process deliberately, responsibly, and with full respect for the voters who made their voices heard.鈥

Jones had previously argued that the referendum and redistricting processes were legal and in line with the state constitution.

“The Republican-led majority of the Supreme Court of Virginia contorted the plain language of the Constitution and Code of Virginia to give it a meaning that was never intended, which allowed them to reach the wrong legal conclusion that fit their political agenda. The consequences of their error are grave,” Jones said

Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the vote signified Virginians’ desire to push back on President Donald Trump’s efforts to gain seats through redistricting.

“I am disappointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia鈥檚 ruling, but my focus as Governor will be on ensuring that all voters have the information necessary to make their voices heard this November in the midterm elections because in those elections we 鈥 the voters 鈥 will have the final say,” Spanberger .

Defining an election

Arguments before the Virginia Supreme Court came down to the way an “election” is defined.

Virginia law required lawmakers to put the issue of redistricting before voters as a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution. The legislature needed to approve the resolution during two separate sessions, with a state election in between, to put the amendment on the ballot.

“The idea would be that voters would be quite aware of the fact that the General Assembly would be considering a constitutional amendment and influence how they vote,” former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, told 小萝莉影视. “In this case, rather than pass this earlier in the year, in January or February, they waited until late October, a week before the election in which a million people had already voted.”

The General Assembly approved the amendment in late October, while early voting was taking place but before Election Day in November. Then, the second vote happened during the most recent legislative session in January.

The attorney representing the legislature said an “election” should represent Election Day alone, which would mean lawmakers had followed proper procedures on the redistricting referendum.

But the court sided with the argument that an “election” represents the entire time period people cast ballots.

Miyares said he’s “grateful for the ruling,” which he called “a win for the rule of law.”

Relief for Republicans, defeat for Democrats

The ruling comes as a relief for the Republican representatives whose seats would be at risk under the map proposed by Democrats.

Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans represents District 2, which is anchored in Hampton Roads. Under the proposed map, her district would be redrawn to give Democrats a slight advantage.

“Had Abigail Spanberger and the rest of Virginia’s democrats succeeded, they would have caused irreparable harm to our democracy and disenfranchised millions of Virginians. I thank the Supreme Court for its courage in standing up for what is right,” Kiggans wrote in a .

The ruling shakes things up for Democrats who had already expressed interest in running for congressional seats in redrawn districts, including Del. Daniel Helmer, who represents parts of Fairfax County in Virginia’s House of Delegates.

Helmer was among the lawmakers who helped put the issue on the ballot. He told 小萝莉影视’s Scott Gelman the court’s ruling on redistricting put “partisan politics ahead of the will of the people.”

“It’s part of a pattern of Republican judges all over the country kowtowing to Donald Trump. It obviously requires us to fight back and we’re going to keep fighting for America and our democracy,” Helmer said.

When asked how Democrats might push back, Helmer said “all options are on the table.”

Virginia State Sen. Scott Surovell told 小萝莉影视 he believes two seats could still be flipped by Democrats under the existing map.

“We need Congress to act like an independent branch of our government, like it was designed to by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, and we need another voice in D.C. so our state and our democracy is protected,” Surovell said. “And I’m worried that without those extra votes we might not be able to do that.”

小萝莉影视’s Scott Gelman, Nick Iannelli and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Police search for 2 suspects after Cinco de Mayo celebration leaves 5 injured in Laurel /prince-georges-county/2026/05/5-injured-in-shooting-stabbing-near-laurel-shopping-center/ Wed, 06 May 2026 20:20:54 +0000 /?p=29219249 Three people were shot and two people were stabbed during a Cinco de Mayo celebration at a shopping center in Laurel, Maryland, on Tuesday night, according to police.

Officers are searching for a 26-year-old charged in the stabbings and an unknown person whose accused of shooting three people, Laurel Police Chief Russell Hamill said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Both incidents took place in the parking lot between the Amigos Mexican Grill and a Longhorn Steakhouse restaurant, in the 13600 block of Baltimore Avenue, around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Hamill said police had been called to the shopping center about a large group gathered outside the Mexican restaurant.

“A party under two tents there had grown quite large; we became concerned with the impact the event was having on the greater area,” Hamill said.

Hamill said police, who were already monitoring the party, saw a fight break out and decided to shut it down early.

Police said two men and a woman were shot during the altercation and treated by officers at the scene. All three are recovering from their gunshot wounds, Hamill said.

“They came from around the back of the building and ran right into it, in order to help save those people,” Hamill said of police officers on the scene.

Police have identified the alleged shooter using video They’re聽asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual.

“We do not know who he is,” Hamill said. “We only have the photos.”

Man wearing black hoodie, white under shirt, and blue pants. He is talking to someone off camera
Man identified as alleged shooter by Maryland’s Laurel Police Department. (Courtesy Laurel police)

In another incident that’s believed to be separate from the shooting, two adults were stabbed during a domestic dispute in the same restaurant parking lot.

Police said Shon Juan Cook Jr., 26, from Howard County has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault in the stabbings. He has not yet been taken into custody.

“We’re asking the community to help locate this individual and identify the other individual so we can bring them to justice,” Hamill said.

He noted that the restaurant had been holding a sanctioned event, which reportedly included hired security, before the violence broke out Tuesday night.

“This is a good community. This is a safe community,” he said. “There were numerous events across the city last night that didn’t require this type of response, that didn’t require us to go into action. 鈥 However, it’s hard to account for aberrant behavior that travels sometimes into your city.”

Police have asked anyone with information on either incident to call the department at 301-498鈥0092 or send an anonymous tip to LPDtips@laurel.md.us.

Below is a map of where the shooting happened:

(Courtesy Google Maps)

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Florida man faces charges after ending multiday protest atop DC’s Frederick Douglass bridge /dc/2026/05/man-comes-down-from-dcs-frederick-douglass-bridge-wednesday-ending-6-day-protest/ Wed, 06 May 2026 16:15:21 +0000 /?p=29218793
Man comes down from DC鈥檚 Frederick Douglass bridge

The Florida man who scaled the Frederick Douglass Bridge in Southwest D.C. last week has been charged after ending his protest atop the bridge as it entered a sixth day, police tell 小萝莉影视.

With the assistance of D.C. Fire and EMS, Guido Reichstadter, 45, left his perch at the top of the bridge just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, after climbing the bridge barefoot on Friday.

He’s been charged with crowding, obstructing, or incommoding; unlawful entry and failure to obey an officer, according to D.C. police.

Reichstadter packed up his belongings, trekked down part of the bridge and then got into the basket of a fire truck, hoisted up to meet him partway.

After he stepped down into that basket, it appears first responders seemingly restrained Reichstadter by his hands.

A spokesman for the fire department told 小萝莉影视 that Reichstadter was brought to a nearby hospital to be checked out, but he isn’t believed to be injured.

Reichstadter scaled one of the bridge鈥檚 arches Friday as police and bystanders watched. He unfurled a long black banner and said in posts on social media he was protesting artificial intelligence and the wars in Iran and Palestine.

D.C. police previously confirmed to 小萝莉影视 that the Florida man had previously climbed the same bridge聽after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

In a Tuesday, Reichstadter said he had run out of water on Sunday and would be coming down from the bridge.

“I hope that this action has offered something to motivate and inspire you, and that it can serve as fuel for greater commitment and action in the cause of peace and in the fight for our future,” he wrote.

The bridge was briefly closed in both directions as first responders worked to get Reichstadter down Wednesday morning.聽小萝莉影视’s Traffic Center reported that all lanes were closed at around 9:10 a.m., and the bridge reopened around 30 minutes later.

His ascent had a significant impact on the Friday afternoon rush hour; authorities had shutdown the bridge in both directions for several hours.

D.C. Fire and EMS said a high鈥慳ngle technical rescue team has been working with police since Friday afternoon.

Reichstadter told 小萝莉影视’s Alan Etter that he had considered coming down on Monday but was able to find the “stamina to stay up here a bit longer” and a method to charge his phone.

小萝莉影视’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.

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Texas man wounded after allegedly shooting at Secret Service near Washington Monument /dc/2026/05/1-shot-by-law-enforcement-near-white-house-nearby-dc-roads-closed/ Tue, 05 May 2026 13:30:27 +0000 /?p=29213678 A man from Texas was wounded in a shooting involving U.S. Secret Service officers, after he allegedly shot at them near the Washington Monument on Monday afternoon, according to the agency’s deputy director.

The suspect was later identified as Michael Marx, 45, of Texas, D.C. police told 小萝莉影视 Tuesday.

According to the, the shooting happened at 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW in D.C., near the Sidney R. Yates building where the Forest Service is headquartered.

A child, described only as a juvenile,聽was also struck by a bullet during the exchange of gunfire, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said during a news conference.

Quinn said plainclothes Secret Service officers noticed a person who appeared to have a firearm while patrolling around the outer perimeter of the White House complex around 3:30 p.m.

They alerted uniformed Secret Service officers who attempted to approach the man, later identified as Marx.

“Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers. They returned fire and engaged,” Quinn said.

Marx was hospitalized after being shot multiple times; his condition has not been released.

Police said the child was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries that are not considered life-threatening. Quinn couldn’t say whether he was struck when the suspect fired or by return fire from officers.

The Secret Service said its officers were not injured.

The shooting happened just blocks from the White House, which was briefly put under lockdown as law enforcement investigated.

“Not long before this shooting occurred, the vice president’s motorcade did transit through this area,” Quinn said.

He said there is no indication Marx was targeting the motorcade.

“President Trump was not in any danger, and there currently is no known nexus between the incident and the White House,” Quinn said in a written statement.

About 45 minutes after the shooting, D.C. police said the scene was “secure” in a . Their department will investigate the Secret Service officers’ use of force, as is standard procedure in such cases.

小萝莉影视’s Alan Etter, who reported from the scene, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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17-year-old faces assault charge after being shot outside Montgomery Co. high school /montgomery-county/2026/05/17-year-old-faces-assault-charge-after-being-shot-outside-montgomery-co-high-school/ Fri, 01 May 2026 21:36:49 +0000 /?p=29204818 A student who was shot outside of Blake High School on Wednesday now faces charges connected to the fight and shooting, according to Montgomery County police.

Police said Friday the 17-year-old boy from Silver Spring, Maryland, has been charged with first-degree assault as well as charges related to allegedly carrying a loaded handgun on school grounds.

He’s the second person to be arrested in connection to the incident; 19-year-old Djibia Gombo, of Silver Spring, was taken into custody on a first-degree assault charge outside the school Wednesday.

Police said the 17-year-old student was seen arguing with other teens before a physical fight broke out during the school’s lunch period around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday,.

He was reportedly seen holding a handgun, which another teen tried to take. As the teens struggled over the gun, it discharged and some of the people involved in the fight ran away.

The student was shot in his foot and knee in the school’s parking lot. He鈥檚 in 鈥渟table condition,鈥 according to a letter sent聽from the school system to families Wednesday.

School security saw what was unfolding in the parking lot and told the 17-year-old to drop the gun; he placed it on the ground as the fighting continued.

That’s when Gombo, who is not a student, allegedly picked up the gun and started to walk away. Another officer told him to drop the gun and Gombo reportedly pointed the weapon at the officer before complying.

Gombo was then arrested and charged by Montgomery County police.

Some of the other boys involved in the fight drove the 17-year-old to the hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries.

The high schooler is being held in D.C. and awaits extradition to Maryland.

Gombo is scheduled to appear in Montgomery County District Court on Monday. He is also now facing weapons-related charges.

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Police identify 19-year-old charged after fight, shooting in Montgomery Co. high school parking lot /montgomery-county/2026/04/police-identify-19-year-old-charged-after-fight-shooting-in-montgomery-co-high-school-parking-lot/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:02:11 +0000 /?p=29201025 Montgomery County police have identified the 19-year-old man who was arrested in the parking lot of Blake High School after a fight apparently led to a shooting that wounded a student.

Djibia Gombo of Silver Spring, has been charged with first-degree assault after a fight broke out during the school’s lunch period Wednesday, leaving a 17-year-old student injured during the shooting, according to updates from police and school leaders.

The school system said it will be making some policy adjustments 鈥 mostly around lunchtime procedures 鈥 in hopes of improving safety on campus.

The student who was injured was dropped off at a local hospital after the shooting and later connected to the fight. He’s in “stable condition,” according to a letter sent聽from the school system to families Wednesday.

A community engagement officer with Montgomery County police was flagged down around 11:30 a.m. about the fighting, which the school system said involved multiple students.

School security and the officer responded to the fight, during which a handgun was reportedly thrown to the ground, police said in a Thursday news release. At some point during the altercation, the gun discharged and the teenage student was shot.

School security was able to recover the gun and apprehend Gombo, who was arrested by police at the school.

Gombo, who is not a student at the school, is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit ahead of a bond hearing.

Families are invited to a community meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Blake High, which opted to start classes late on the morning after the shooting. The school system also brought in counselors and extra security in the aftermath.

With the stated goal of strengthening safety, the school system said students won’t be allowed to eat lunch outside for the rest of the school year and food deliveries won’t be allowed. Staff are also being tasked with responsibilities around maintaining safety in the school, according to the letter.

Police said they expect to file additional charges related to the fight and shooting. They’ve asked anyone with information to contact the department at 240-773-5500.

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