The song has had many lives over the years, first as a hit for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Denver in 1971. Several years ago, 鈥淐ountry Roads鈥� became West Virginia鈥檚 official state song. And now the song has been adopted as the U.S. Men鈥檚 National Team鈥檚 new anthem for the World Cup.

After the U.S. team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara on Monday night, U.S. players and coaches belted out lyrics for 鈥淐ountry Roads鈥� arm-in arm on the field as the stadium speakers blared the song.

Little did most of the members of the team probably know, the song originated during a car ride down Clopper Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland, over a half century ago.

Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, two local singer-songwriters, were on their way to a cousin’s reunion at the Izaak Walton League in Gaithersburg in the summer of 1970. Cruising down Clopper Road, Danoff strummed his guitar while Nivert drove.

“On the way, we鈥檙e passing farms, cattle, sheep and horses and chicks and ducks and geese,鈥� Nivert told me in 2020 for the MoCo鈥檚 Most Famous podcast.

Danoff started singing the words 鈥渃ountry roads鈥� over and over.

鈥淭he seed of the song started on Clopper Road,” Nivert said.

Many believe the song was called “Take Me Home, Clopper Road” at one point, but that鈥檚 not true, according to Nivert. Regardless, the duo knew they were on to something.

They originally wanted to give the not-yet-complete song to Johnny Cash, but they instead approached John Denver, who loved it.

On Dec. 30, 1970, Danoff and Nivert were with Denver at their basement apartment in Georgetown. They played two verses and a chorus for him.

“John said, ‘Oh my gosh, let鈥檚 stay up and just finish it. It鈥檚 really good,'” so they stayed up all night.

They rewrote the second verse and the chorus. The three rearranged the lyrics and title and 鈥淭ake Me Home, Country Roads鈥� was born.

The next day, New Year鈥檚 Eve, Danoff and Nivert were the warmup act for Denver at The Cellar Door in D.C. During Denver鈥檚 set, he brought them up and introduced a song they had just written. 鈥淲e hope you like it,鈥� Denver said, according to Nivert.

The song was so new, they were all reading from a lyric sheet they had taped to the microphone. The crowd went wild. The song became Denver鈥檚 first big hit, peaking at No. 2 on the charts in August, 1971.

Danoff and Nivert later married and formed Starland Vocal Band, best known for their 1976 No. 1 hit, 鈥淎fternoon Delight.鈥�

We were 鈥渢wo hippies in a basement,鈥� Nivert said. “Someday we鈥檙e going to write a hit song,鈥� they would say. And then 鈥淭ake Me Home, Country Roads鈥� came into their lives.

鈥淭he song is just it鈥檚 own wonderful gift from the universe,鈥� Nivert said.

A gift that keeps giving.

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One of our favorite moments has included the discovery that this pretty lady enjoys a game of fetch. While she may not be the fiercest runner or most eager retriever, the delight with which she gallops after the ball makes more than up for this!

And before we could get out the basic manners rule book, Gamora was already sitting like a star and practicing hand targeting. And when fun and learning are done, she is ready to enjoy a good chew toy and snooze.

A volunteer recently shared this about the 3-year-old: “Gamora really loves toys. She was a little nervous when we first met but quickly warmed up with treats and a stuffy. Oh, my goodness, what a sweetheart!!”

And another said, “What a gem! I love her, so easygoing and sweet.”

Who needs more fun and more love? Gamora is here for it!

To learn more, visit the Humane Rescue Alliance鈥檚 webpage at聽.

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Faheem is full of fun, curiosity, and that irresistible kitten sparkle. This domestic shorthair is 6 months old and weighs 7 pounds.

He’s super playful, even playing independently with his toys while racing around his den! Faheem would love a family who can spoil him with great toys, tall cat towers, fab meals and plenty of love. Make your dreams come true 鈥� come meet Faheem and let this little gentleman win your heart.

To learn more, visit the Humane Rescue Alliance鈥檚 webpage at聽or stop by 71 Oglethorpe St NW between noon and 7 p.m. daily.

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As we know from our history books, Jefferson was the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

These truths are self-evident.

Also true: Jefferson owned over 600 enslaved people, including Sally Hemings, with whom he had a decades-long relationship, fathering at least six children with her. The relationship started when Jefferson was 41 and Hemmings was 14. Jefferson never freed Hemmings.

鈥淚 did hateful things,鈥� the character Tom/Mike says in a Shakespearean aside near the end of act one.

The term founding father takes on quite a different meaning.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, many celebrations are planned. Sally & Tom is not one of those celebrations. It鈥檚 a serious, and sometimes funny, exploration into how history will, and should, remember Jefferson.

It鈥檚 a play-within-a-play written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Suzan Lori-Parks who has made a career debunking myths.

A theater group called The Good Company puts on a show called “The Pursuit of Happiness” in the present day about Hemmings and Jefferson. The playwright Luce plays Sally and the director Mike plays Tom. They flash back to Monticello in 1790.

Things get complicated. Art imitates life, and vice versa.

Mike and Luce are romantically involved. Arguments, some intense, ensue as to how to portray the relationship. Should the angry speech by Hemmings鈥檚 brother stay in the show or be cut? Should one of the characters slap another? Was it love? Was it rape? Do we really know?

The play’s clever set design works perfectly for the play-within-a-play concept and features excellent individual performances 鈥� especially by Renea S. Brown, who shines as Sally and Luce. Brown, known for her extensive Shakespearian work, will surely win awards for her performance.

The show, perhaps a tad long at almost three hours, is told through Hemmings鈥檚 perspective. It’s is called “Sally & Tom,” not “Tom & Sally,” for a reason.

“Sally & Tom” is about race, power, myths and how we view history through the lens of the present. You leave thinking and asking more questions than you had before the show. And that鈥檚 the point.

“Sally & Tom” is currently playing at Round House Theatre through Sunday. The show includes one intermission. Limited tickets are still available .

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Now in its 13th year, the Washington, D.C. Top Workplaces rankings spotlight organizations across the D.C. area that foster strong workplace cultures and put their employees first. Through its partnership with , 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视 highlighted employers that stand out for creating positive, engaging and supportive work environments. Employers were encouraged to have their employees submit surveys detailing how their organizations prioritize culture, engagement and people by Jan. 30, 2026. Participation was free and open to all who qualified.

鈥淎 big heartfelt congratulations to all of our winners. Together you truly represent the best of the best here in the D.C. region,鈥� said Joel Oxley, president of 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视, Federal 小萝莉影视 Network and 2060 Digital. 鈥溞÷芾蛴笆� 小萝莉影视 is extremely proud to carry forward the Top Workplaces program recognizing exceptional local employers and their significant accomplishments.鈥�

Check out all of the聽小萝莉影视 Top Workplaces coverage听苍辞飞!

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It鈥檚 a sweeping change that would give GOP聽political appointees major new veto power over money from a range of federal agencies. And that鈥檚 sending new shock waves through Maryland鈥檚 large biomedical research community.

Late Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County, whose district includes the National Institutes of Health, launched the Democrats鈥� opposition.

The Trump administration defends its approach as fiscally responsible. But Raskin wrote in a letter to Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget and a Trump appointee, that the proposed rule is 鈥渄isastrous and likely unlawful鈥� and it is destined to stifle healthcare innovation for generations.

This story continues. Read the rest at The Banner Montgomery:

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River is a smart, well-mannered boy who settled into his weekend foster home with ease.

The 5-year-old is fully housetrained, sleeps soundly through the night, and loves spending time close to his people 鈥� whether that’s following you around the house, napping by your side, or heading out for an adventure.

If you’re looking for an active partner, River is ready to play! He loves playing fetch and is a natural at frisbee, happily bringing his toys back and dropping them on cue. River also walks beautifully on a leash and responds well to gentle guidance.

River already knows several commands, including “sit”, “down”, “shake”, “come”, “no,” and “get your toy”, and he’s eager to listen when spoken to with a calm, confident voice.

River enjoys meeting new people and has been polite with neighbors, happily accepting pets. River loves having his chin and neck scratched and his belly rubbed.

He has shown interest in other dogs on walks, but has been easily redirected. At the shelter, River has had many great playdates with other pups and is dog-friendly.

To learn more, visit the Humane Rescue Alliance鈥檚 webpage at聽.

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This dear senior ginger gentleman is doing his very best to cope with shelter life, but he knows in his heart he belongs somewhere softer, quieter, and filled with kindness.

He dreams of soft beds, yummy meals, and a peaceful place where he can enjoy the mellow retirement he so deeply deserves.

James is sweet, tender, and wonderfully appreciative of every bit of affection offered to him.

If you鈥檙e looking for a calm, grateful companion who will fill your home with warmth, please meet James today. He鈥檚 ready to be your precious golden-aged kitty and your new best friend.

To learn more, visit the Humane Rescue Alliance鈥檚 webpage at聽.

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For the eighth consecutive year, has been recognized as one of the top workplaces in the Washington, D.C., area, earning the distinction this year through the Top Workplaces program conducted by Energage in partnership with 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视.

The award recognizes organizations that prioritize workplace culture and employee engagement, with winners selected based on employee feedback gathered through the Energage Workplace Survey.

The research-backed survey measures factors tied to organizational success, including whether employees feel valued, supported and empowered in their work.

For JC Campagna, president of Chenega Corporation鈥檚 Military, Intelligence and Operations Support Strategic Business Unit, the recognition carries added significance because it comes directly from employees themselves.

鈥淥n a personal level, I find it extremely rewarding,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淓mployees participate in determining who wins and what attributes are being recognized and that鈥檚 an incredible source of pride.鈥�

Maintaining healthy work relationships

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lorton, Virginia, Chenega MIOS is a shared services division of Chenega Corporation.

The organization provides business services to Chenega Corporation鈥檚 wholly owned companies and assists in the management of contracts with a net value of more than $2 billion.

Campagna has been with Chenega for 27 years.

鈥淢aintaining relentless focus on the people and the culture of Chenega really brings it together,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淒iscipline of execution, discipline in leadership, long-term thinking and resilience are all important.鈥�

The company鈥檚 latest recognition comes as many employers continue navigating the challenges of hybrid and remote work environments that emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sustaining company culture in a more distributed workforce has been a priority for the organization over the past several years.

鈥淢y biggest fear was forgetting the culture,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淲e developed a culture of family closeness because we were together every day.鈥�

The organization has worked intentionally to preserve those relationships by bringing employees together regularly, even when remote work remains common and, in many cases, more convenient.

鈥淲e get together, whether we need it or not, at least once a quarter,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淲e also plan social events where we can all hang out together and appreciate each other as colleagues and as friends.鈥�

According to Energage, the Top Workplaces methodology is informed by feedback from millions of employees across more than 70,000 organizations over two decades of research.

The survey evaluates workplace culture drivers that have been shown to predict employee engagement and organizational performance.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛, by accident, start an organization and then eight years in a row win something like this,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淚t really tells you what the DNA of the organization is truly made of.鈥�

A formula for sustained success

Employee feedback remains one of the company鈥檚 most important management tools.

鈥淚 thrive on feedback,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淥ver many years of trial and error, we found that employees will give you honest feedback and tell you how they really feel if you just ask them, because they feel like they鈥檙e going to be part of the solution.鈥�

Beyond its internal workplace culture, Chenega MIOS also places a strong emphasis on community involvement and social responsibility.

The company supports charities, food banks and organizations that assist military veterans, ranchers and farmers.

鈥淲e want to make sure that if we arrive into a community, we don鈥檛 just arrive and take,鈥� Campagna said. 鈥淲e want to arrive and give equally.鈥�

Campagna said the company鈥檚 growth and operational success stem from a willingness to constantly reevaluate business practices and improve processes over time.

鈥淚鈥檝e always looked at failure as an education,鈥� he said. 鈥淕ood enough isn鈥檛 good enough, so we need to revalidate the things that we do and the steps that we take to do business day in and day out, because they would become stale otherwise.鈥�

As Chenega MIOS marks its eighth consecutive Top Workplaces recognition in the highly-competitive D.C. region, Campagna said the achievement reflects the long-term effort employees across the organization have put in over the years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to say that we鈥檙e a top workplace, but you only get there if you鈥檙e good at what you do,鈥� said Campagna. 鈥淭he fact that we have continued to grow year in and year out is a tribute not just to the people doing the job, but also to the business practices that we employ to get there.鈥�

Check out all of the 小萝莉影视 Top Workplaces coverage now!

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What began as a single suburban Ford dealership 60 years ago has grown into one of the largest automotive retail groups in the country.

At , its success is rooted in maintaining a family atmosphere.

鈥淚t really is a family-owned company, and it feels like family,鈥� said Lisa Vigneault, vice president of talent and guest experience at Sheehy Auto Stores.

That culture recently earned Sheehy recognition as a top workplace in the Washington, D.C., area through the Top Workplaces program conducted by Energage in partnership with 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视.

The award is based entirely on employee feedback gathered through the Energage Workplace Survey, which measures workplace culture, employee engagement and organizational health.

According to Vigneault, it reflects years of emphasis on employee engagement and customer service.

鈥淭he customer is truly the North Star for us,鈥� said Vigneault. 鈥淲e will do anything to please a customer and we won鈥檛 give up, because that鈥檚 part of our DNA.鈥�

Family culture leads to growth

Sheehy Ford first opened in 1966 just off the newly constructed Washington Beltway as a small, family-owned dealership.

Today, Sheehy Auto Stores has grown into the 28th largest dealer group in the nation, operating 28 聽dealerships stretching from Hagerstown and Baltimore to Richmond, Virginia.

The company has worked to maintain close relationships between leadership and employees through the years.

An annual 鈥淪tate of theCompany鈥� tour is led by company executives, including CEO Vince Sheehy.

Leadership teams visit every dealership for town hall-style meetings with employees.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e communicating key priorities for the year, but they鈥檙e also there shaking hands and making sure they know all the employees by name,” said Vigneault. 鈥淎nytime we get feedback from employees, if there鈥檚 an issue or something we want to improve, the reaction is immediately, 鈥楬ow do we solve that? How do we fix it?鈥欌��

Sheehy Auto Stores hosts numerous events for team members and their families in appreciation of their commitment to the company. Each year, more than 6,000 Sheehy employees and family members attend 鈥淔amily Day and Sheehy鈥檚 Got Talent鈥� at Kings Dominion. The company also hosts an all-expenses-paid trip each year for top-performing employees.

The company鈥檚 emphasis on growth and internal advancement has become a significant part of its workplace culture.

Two of the most recently promoted general managers began their careers as sales consultants on the ground floor before working their way up through the organization.

鈥淲e always try to promote from within,鈥� Vigneault explained. 鈥淲e really want to grow, train and develop our team members and make sure they are ready for the next opportunity.鈥�

Developing leaders from within

Sheehy offers a range of internal and external training opportunities, including instruction through Sheehy University.

Training programs are designed for employees across multiple departments, including sales consultants, service advisors, receptionists, technicians and finance managers.

The company operates an Emerging Leaders Program, a two-year leadership development initiative focused on preparing employees for management positions.

Sheehy created the Sheehy Women Leaders Program to help strengthen opportunities for women in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated.

鈥淭he automotive industry is in most cases 80% men and 20% women, yet 55% of the transactions are women buying the cars,鈥� Vigneault said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a disconnect in the industry.鈥�

The company hired an outside executive coach specializing in women鈥檚 leadership development to help build the program with the goal of attracting, retaining and developing women for higher level positions.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to give women a new opportunity to feel valued and feel like they鈥檙e part of the culture,鈥� said Vigneault. 鈥淚’m really proud of that program.鈥�

A commitment to customers and community

The customer experience remains central to the identity at Sheehy Auto Stores, and the company reinforces that through what it calls its 鈥�10 Customer Commandments,鈥� including a 鈥�10-foot rule,鈥� which encourages employees to acknowledge customers whenever they are nearby.

鈥淏uying a vehicle can be an intimidating experience, but at Sheehy we really try to have an atmosphere that鈥檚 welcoming, open and low-pressure,鈥� said Vigneault. 鈥淲e want it to feel like home instead of what people may think of as a traditional dealership experience.鈥�

Sheehy employees and dealerships are also involved in charitable efforts throughout the communities they serve.

The company鈥檚 largest long-term partnership is with the American Heart Association, but individual dealerships organize food drives, school supply collections and holiday toy drives while supporting local nonprofits.

鈥淲e give vehicles away to nonprofits that need cars, while we also provide volunteer support鈥� Vigneault said. 鈥淕iving back to the community is a big foundational element for the company.鈥�

Check out all of the 小萝莉影视 Top Workplace coverage now!

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For the 13th year, Washington D.C. Top Workplaces is honoring the best places to work in the region, and for the first time, the awards are in partnership with 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视.

The award is verified and earned through an employee survey process. Workplaces where employees offer positive feedback about their experience make the winners list. The survey is strictly confidential, allowing employees to share honest feedback anonymously.

, based in suburban Philadelphia, administers the survey and analyzes feedback based on responses to 26 questions. The survey asks employees about such factors as pay and benefits, direction, leadership, meaningfulness, and appreciation. Energage scores companies based on the responses. Energage has established benchmarks based on feedback from about 30 million employees over 20 years.

The award cannot be bought; it is earned. There is no cost to employers to survey their employees. If they choose, organizations can purchase the survey data from Energage. There is no obligation for winners to purchase any product or service.

For the 2026 winners list, 9,933 organizations were asked to survey their employees, and 390 agreed to do so. Based on the survey feedback, 342 have earned recognition as Top Workplaces in Washington D.C.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a celebration of excellence,” Energage CEO Eric Rubino said. “It serves as a reminder of the vital role a people-first workplace experience plays in achieving success.”

To qualify for Top Workplaces recognition, employers must have at least 50 workers in the region. 聽Beginning this year, employers are grouped by the overall size of their organization, and the number of employees invited to survey, which might include employees outside of the D.C. area.聽 Employers are grouped into similar sizes to best compare similar employee experiences. They are ranked within those groups based on the strength of the survey feedback.

Survey results are valid only if 35% or more employees respond; employers with fewer than 85 employees have a higher response threshold, requiring responses from at least 30 employees.

Why might a particular employer not be on the list? Perhaps it chose not to participate, or perhaps it did and employee feedback scores were not strong enough. Energage also runs tests on survey feedback and in some cases may disqualify an organization if, for example, a high number of employees said they felt pressured to answer positively.

To participate in the 2027 Top Workplaces awards, or for more information, go to the nominations page at /nominate.

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Klinger is a handsome young pup bursting with joy and enthusiasm for life.

He鈥檚 currently learning how to channel all that happy energy in the best ways and the team here thinks he鈥檚 very trainable 鈥� he鈥檒l just need a little guidance to stay on track as he continues to grow.

This playful guy loves his toys, and a good game of fetch is one of his favorite ways to burn off that joyful energy. He鈥檚 already starting to build his basic manners and is eager to keep learning with his future family by his side.

When the playtime winds down, Klinger shines as a top tier snuggler. He鈥檚 already an expert in cuddles and would be more than happy to keep perfecting that skill every day.

If you鈥檙e looking for a fun-loving companion who will bring joy, laughter and plenty of snuggles into your life, Klinger is ready to go home with you.

Come to the Humane Rescue Alliance at 71 Oglethorpe Street in Northwest D.C. to meet me between noon to 7 p.m. daily.

To learn more, visit the Humane Rescue Alliance鈥檚 webpage at聽.

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