Tadiwos Abedje – 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视 Washington's Top 小萝莉影视 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:48:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Wtop小萝莉影视Logo_500x500-150x150.png Tadiwos Abedje – 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视 32 32 Woman killed in Annapolis home explosion identified /anne-arundel-county/2026/08/1-dead-1-hurt-in-possible-house-explosion-in-annapolis/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:22:42 +0000 /?p=29547971
One person was killed and another hurt after what investigators are calling a possible house explosion in Annapolis, Maryland, Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews arrived in the 1100 block of Green Holly Drive shortly after 12:20 p.m. after 911 calls poured in from neighbors, fire officials said.

They found what they believed had been a two-story structure, with the second floor collapsed onto the first floor.

“There was no fire present, just significant damage, including a debris field that extends about a half a block up the street,” Assistant Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Larry Schultz said at a news conference.

Fire crews found two people in their initial search. Linda Synowczynski, 76, was found outside in cardiac arrest and died at the scene. The homeowner, a man, was found inside suffering from “some significant burns” and was airlifted to a burn center, Schultz said.

An Anne Arundel County police officer also sustained minor injuries at the scene and was taken to the hospital.

The source of the explosion is under investigation. Schultz told reporters a propane vendor “purportedly” had been to the home about an hour before the explosion.

We don’t know that the two are related. That vendor came, supplied the house with its propane, and then left,” Schultz said.

“Neighbors say that the occupant was out back working, doing homeowner-type stuff, and then they heard an explosion,” Schultz added. “They don’t know what exactly he was doing, and there’s no reason to connect the fact that he was working in the explosion.”

Because the house’s structural integrity was “significantly challenged,” Schultz said a search and rescue dog from D.C. Fire and EMS assisted with a surface search.

Two homes on either side and two more across the street were evacuated, Anne Arundel County police Capt. Jon Mahaffee said. Families have since been allowed back into their homes.

As a result of the explosion, parts of Green Holly Drive remain closed.

Below is a map of the location where the explosion took place:

Map of Annapolis house explosion
(Courtesy Google Maps)

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Vehicle crash causes gas line to leak in Fairfax County /fairfax-county/2026/08/vehicle-strikes-gas-line-causing-leak-in-fairfax-county/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:27:10 +0000 /?p=29547809 A vehicle crash caused a high-pressure gas line to leak in Fairfax County, Virginia, prompting authorities to close Ox Road and to evacuate nearby areas Wednesday.

The single-vehicle crash happened in the area of Ox Road and Burke Center Parkway in Fairview just before 11 a.m.

Fire department officials said the driver of the vehicle struck a regulator station that services a 12-inch gas line, causing a leak. Crews secured the line just before 1:30 p.m.

“We were able to locate the valve to reduce the pressure and subsequently stop the leak,” said David Barlow, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue’s deputy chief of special operations.

The driver was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

小萝莉影视 Traffic reported that Ox Road has reopened in both directions after an hourslong closure Wednesday.

Following the crash, a strong smell of gas permeated the area and fire officials said they evacuated a nearby elementary school, shopping center, daycare facility, church and an animal hospital.

Initially crews evacuated 300 feet around the crash site, but that zone was extended to 500 feet “out of an abundance of caution,” Barlow said.

During an afternoon news conference, Barlow said fire officials were beginning to release people back into the evacuated areas.

Barlow added situations dealing with natural gas are concerning but Wednesday’s weather conditions worked in favor of crews.

“It is concern, but given the weather conditions are in our favor today, the plume was able to exit and go pretty much straight up,” Barlow said.

小萝莉影视 reached out to Washington Gas for more information.

It’s not clear what caused the vehicle to crash.

Barlow said that witnesses saw the vehicle driving in the southbound lanes before the crash. Officials said the investigation into the collision is ongoing.

Below is a map of the area where the gas leak took place:

Map of Faifax County gas leak crash
(Courtesy Google Maps)

This is a developing story. Stay with 小萝莉影视 for the latest.

小萝莉影视’s Abigail Constantino contributed to this report.聽

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10-year-old girl attacked by beaver at Montgomery County park, leading to closure of park /montgomery-county/2026/08/10-year-old-girl-attacked-by-beaver-at-montgomery-county-park-leading-to-closure-of-park/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:20:04 +0000 /?p=29538926 A 10-year-old girl was attacked by a beaver Thursday at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, Maryland, leading to the temporary shutdown of part of the park.

Park officials said they got a report around 3:30 p.m. Thursday of the while she was canoeing at a bend in the creek on the park’s property while attending a summer camp in the area.

Camp counselors helped the girl and removed the beaver from her canoe. It then escaped into the water, officials said.

The 10-year-old, who was at summer camp at the time of the incident, had three cut wounds on her upper leg and was taken to Bethesda’s Suburban Hospital to treat her injuries. Park officials said there weren’t any other injuries.

Officials are looking for the beaver.

As a result of the incident, Seneca Creek near Berryville Road, where the beaver attack took place, will be closed until further notice, along with the one mile of trail. The parking lot next to the location is also restricted.

Separately, another聽 group that was canoeing reported a beaver “attempting to charge one of their boats,” officials said. No one was injured in that incident.

This beaver attack at Seneca Creek State Park comes after there were beaver attacks at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, Maryland, on two people 鈥 a 13-year-old swimmer on July 26 and a 19-year-old fisherman on Aug. 5. Those beavers were captured, euthanized and tested positive for rabies.

Park officials said what happened at Seneca Creek State Park is unrelated to what happened at Cunningham Falls State Park. They added that there are no signs of a rabies outbreak in Frederick and Montgomery counties.

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Prince William County police to tow vehicles with multiple parking violations /prince-william-county/2026/08/prince-william-county-police-to-tow-vehicles-with-multiple-parking-violations/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:17:47 +0000 /?p=29543492 Drivers in Virginia’s second-most populous county will have their vehicles towed if they have at least three unpaid parking tickets as part of a new initiative launching this fall.

Prince William County’s police department said the towing will begin Oct. 1, in accordance with state law.

The initiative comes in response to complaints from community members. There were more than 3,500 parking and abandoned vehicle complaints and more than 18,700 parking citations in Prince William County in 2025, according to the county’s police department.

The main objective of the initiative is to get drivers to take accountability for their infractions, Prince William County’s police department said in a .

“As this initial initiative is rolled out, some vehicle owners with excessive violations may be contacted directly by the police department,” the release states.

Those who have multiple citations can get in touch with the department’s to set up a payment plan. The police department said drivers will not have their vehicles towed if they follow the terms of their plan.

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WATCH: Panda Bao Li celebrates his 5th birthday, 2nd at DC’s National Zoo /animals-pets/2026/08/watch-panda-bao-li-celebrates-his-5th-birthday-2nd-at-dcs-national-zoo/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:37:56 +0000 /?p=29490993
Giant panda at DC zoo celebrates fifth birthday with shark-themed party

One of the National Zoo’s giant pandas celebrated a milestone birthday Tuesday evening.

Bao Li, who arrived from China in October 2024, celebrated his fifth birthday, with crowds gathered to watch the “bearthday” boy dig into his special fruitsicle cake, the zoo said. It was Bao Li’s second birthday in the nation’s capital.

The zoo did a shark-themed party for the 5-year-old panda, as keepers put a gray shark fin on top of the cake. Bao Li cleared away the decorative elements 鈥 blueberry “bubbles,” carved sweet potatoes, a carved carrot and crushed leafeater biscuits 鈥 and bit into the frozen cake tiers, according to the zoo.

The zoo called him an “embodiment of joy,” who loves inflatable enrichment toys.

鈥淗e is always in a lively, playful mood,鈥 giant panda keeper Mariel Lally said . 鈥淚f you aren’t sure what an overjoyed laughing giant panda looks like, keep your eye out for when Bao Li puts his forelimb in his mouth and shakes it around. When bears bite their arms in this manner, it is equivalent to people laughing.鈥

If you missed the celebration, the zoo will have another birthday celebration for its other giant panda, Qing Bao, on Sept. 12. You can get a free pass for the event on .

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‘A beautiful art form’: DC-area resident shares her love of cigars with others /dc/2026/08/a-beautiful-art-form-dc-area-resident-shares-her-love-of-cigars-with-others/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:47:44 +0000 /?p=29399324
Arlington educator teaches the 'art form' of cigars

Mechelle Merkerson is the first Black female cigar educator in the D.C. area and the first Black female owner of a cigar education company.

But it all started with a single question she asked her father on her 23rd birthday: How do you enjoy cigars?

After saying no at first, he eventually agreed to teach her and from there, the now 31-year-old developed her love of cigars. As her passion for the pastime grew, she realized that there was a lack of education around cigars and decided to do something about it.

“I started to explore in all areas of cigars and just immersing myself in the culture,” Merkerson told 小萝莉影视.

“I enjoy cigars so much is just because it’s a never-ending activity.”

In 2018, Merkerson started doing cigar mixers to have cigar smokers come to a lounge, talk about their experience, drop cigar education and life knowledge, which led to more cigar mixers that grew to big groups.

In July 2022, she聽launched her cigar education platform called in which she produces short-form content about cigars to inform curious minds. It has been used as a training tool for industry professionals, cigar lounges and consumers.

She said the cigar education experiences are an extension of the cigar education aspect of Cigars with “M,” adding that the classes are more immersive, intimate and real knowledge being given to consumers.

Mechelle Merkerson smoking a cigar
Mechelle Merkerson smoking a cigar outside Three Whistles Cafe in Arlington, Virginia, on July 2, 2026. (小萝莉影视/Tadi Abedje)
Mechelle Merkerson
Mechelle Merkerson smiling after smoking a cigar on July 2, 2026. (小萝莉影视/Tadi Abedje)
Mechelle Merkerson
Merkerson teaching a cigar and cocktail class at The Craft DC on July 2, 2026. (小萝莉影视/Tadi Abedje)
An assortment of cigars, chocolate and tobacco
An assortment of cigars, chocolate and tobacco, which was part of Merkerson’s class on July 2, 2026 at The Craft DC. (小萝莉影视/Tadi Abedje)
Mechelle Merkerson teaching a cigar class
Merkerson believes that people should get into cigars because it鈥檚 a relaxing experience and to be around community. (小萝莉影视/Tadi Abedje)
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Mechelle Merkerson smoking a cigar
Mechelle Merkerson
Mechelle Merkerson
An assortment of cigars, chocolate and tobacco
Mechelle Merkerson teaching a cigar class

Merkerson taught a class July 2 at The Craft DC in Northwest. It was an intimate, educational evening designed to make cigars approachable for everyone, regardless of experience level. During the class, attendees enjoyed a cocktail pairing with their cigar, along with a special chocolate pairing to enhance the moment.

She said that in each of her classes, the goal is to educate the consumer through a sensory and guided experience.

How the DC region helped elevate her cigar education career

The Florida native moved to the D.C. area in 2025 after spending some time in Richmond because she wanted to enhance her cigar education business in a bigger market, settling in Arlington, Virginia. She said it has been an enriching experience for her.

“As I’ve been here so far, I’ve been able to network with a lot of people, build many relationships, also continue my cigar education classes, and then expand doing international classes,” Merkerson said.

She was recently honored as the first-ever cigar education resident at Buddy’s DC, a sports bar in Northwest D.C. Merkerson was grateful for the residency, which went from February to June of this year, as it allowed her to educate people about cigars.

“(I) had the ability to create a space for me to be the first Black woman to have a cigar education residency in the industry as a whole,” she said.

Being a cigar educator transformed Merkerson’s perspective on life. Before her current role, she was chasing a career in corporate America. Now, Merkerson says her passion for cigars has put her in a position to have a fulfilling career with no limits.

“It’s motivating, it’s encouraging, it’s character-building. It is also me being able to stretch myself and just believe even more in what God can do in my life,” Merkerson said.

“He’s definitely been working so hard for me because I’ve seen so many things that I would have never imagined happening for me.”

Being a Black woman in the cigar space

Through extensive research, networking and conversations with longtime industry leaders, Merkerson hasn’t identified another Black woman who founded a company dedicated specifically to premium cigar education before Cigars with 鈥淢.鈥

Even though Merkerson is the first in the cigar space, she hopes that she’s not the last.

“I’m grateful to be in this space. I welcome so many other people to join the cigar education realm,” she said.

“It’s very encouraging to know that I am the first, but I don’t want to only be the person doing it. So I welcome folks.”

Merkerson believes that people should get into cigars because it’s a relaxing experience and helps them be around community.

“You should get into cigars if you’re wanting to be in spaces in which you probably may have not been had access to prior to and you should get into cigars if you truly want to have an activity that you continuously are always learning about,” she said. “It is such a beautiful art form.”

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3 held at gunpoint in Northwest DC in attempted robbery, police look for suspect /dc/2026/07/3-held-at-gunpoint-in-northwest-dc-in-attempted-robbery-police-look-for-suspect/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:23:00 +0000 /?p=29478308 still of suspect seen in video
D.C. police are looking for the person in this image in connection with an attempted armed robbery in Shaw Skate Park. (Courtesy D.C. police)

Three men were held at gunpoint during an attempted robbery Wednesday at a skate park in Northwest D.C. and police are looking for the suspect.

Just after 8:20 p.m., police went to the Shaw Skate Park in the 1500 block of 11th Street NW for a report of an attempted armed robbery. Police said the suspect, seen on shared by D.C. police, went toward three men, held them at gunpoint and ordered they give him money.

No one was hurt and the suspect didn’t take any property from the men. Police said the suspect fled the scene in a gray Lexus sedan before authorities arrived.

Police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone with information of the suspect and the incident. They can call them at 202-727-9099.

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3 tornadoes touched down in Anne Arundel County during Tuesday’s storms /weather-news/2026/07/1-tornado-confirmed-in-anne-arundel-county-during-tuesdays-storms/ Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:17:10 +0000 /?p=29473209 Three tornadoes touched down in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, during Tuesday’s storms in the D.C. region.

An EF-1 tornado landed in Lake Shore near Patapsco Road at 6:15 p.m. National Weather Service officials determined that the estimated peak winds of the tornado were 100 mph. The twister was on the ground for about two minutes. It was around three-quarters of mile long and 160 yards wide.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Dan Hofmann said, “there appears to have been a second tornado on Lake Drive in Arnold on the south side of the Magothy River,” according to the data.

The tornado touched down in the Arnold/Cape Saint Claire area for “about a minute,” according to the National Weather Service.

On Thursday, the weather service confirmed a third tornado touched down in the Riviera Beach area. The EF-0 tornado packed peak winds of 85 mph and traveled 1.1 miles with a 90-yard width.

The twister ripped the siding off at least one house and snapped trees in its path, the weather service said.

“We knew the atmosphere was going to be very powerful and explosive that day,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Strong said. “We had a severe thunderstorm watch for potential strong storms about two that afternoon, and then as it started evolving by 4o’clock, we saw the tornadic potential, got a tornado watch out, and then warnings out before the actual storms.”

Strong told 小萝莉影视 小萝莉影视 that it was fortunate the storm did not result in casualties.

“We heard a lot of people were able to get the shelter because they had advance notification, which is how it’s supposed to work.”

Two other tornadoes were detected in Talbot County on the Eastern Shore.

Damage assessments are ongoing.

Tuesday’s storms caused damage across the region, including a collapsed canopy at a gas station in Northwest D.C.

“It was over 100 reports of trees down and wires down and hail and even a little bit in the way of some flooding yesterday, especially through northern Montgomery County, Northwest D.C. and down around Fredericksburg and Harpers Ferry Way,” 7小萝莉影视 First Alert Meteorologist Veronica Johnson told 小萝莉影视.

小萝莉影视’s Will Vitka contributed to this report.

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Montgomery Co. acquires White’s Ferry, presses Virginia to help get service restarted /local/2026/07/with-new-owner-what-needs-to-happen-for-whites-ferry-to-resume-service-across-the-potomac-river/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:01:14 +0000 /?p=29458840
Montgomery Co. buys White鈥檚 Ferry, presses Loudoun Co. to help restart service
Montgomery County has acquired White’s Ferry and its operations on the Maryland side of Poolesville 鈥 and officials are encouraging its Virginia counterparts to help with getting the service that carried hundreds of vehicles daily across the Potomac River restarted.

In a news conference Friday, owner Chuck Kuhn said he would donate the historic vessel and its operations to Montgomery County. At the same time, the county will purchase the land where the ferry docks on the Maryland side of the Potomac.

The county will pay $1.5 million for the approximately 2.5 acres of riverfront land, a store, a ferry ramp, a boat launch and storage buildings. Once the sale is finalized and the county assumes possession of the property, the vessel will be pulled out of the river and examined for repairs, officials said. The county hopes it can finalize the transition in the next two months.

Kuhn, who purchased White’s Ferry with his wife, Stacy, six years ago, said the goal was to get the ferry open.

“We never were worried about who owned it. We just wanted to make sure the ferry got back open for the community. It was an amazing journey and today is a great step,” Kuhn said.

In December 2020, the ferry shut down after a Loudoun County judge ruled White’s Ferry had been trespassing since the end of a licensing agreement that allowed the ferry to dock at Rockland Farm on the Virginia side of the Potomac.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said the ferry’s shutdown has heavily impacted the city of Poolesville, where the ferry is located. He called the deal a “major milestone, a significant step” toward reopening the ferry. After years of assisting with negotiations with both landowners, he said owning the property itself was the most “logical and simple thing” to resume service.

“I hope that our colleagues in Loudoun County and the Commonwealth of Virginia take note of this major shift, and see their way to acquire the rights needed to restart the service, and we stand ready to work with them to achieve that goal,” Elrich said.

“I’m optimistic that the climate on the other side of the river has improved.”

Over the years, Kuhn has been unable to reach a deal with Libby Devlin and her brother Peter Brown, who own Rockland Farm, to allow the ferry to resume service. This includes the Montgomery County Council putting together a $3 million offer to resolve issues.

In 2021, Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors urged Kuhn and Devlin to negotiate a deal on their own. “Work it out,” Chair Phyllis Randall encouraged the private owners at the time.

Montgomery County officials said they last spoke to the Rockland Farm owners around February, with Elrich adding that he would like to negotiate a deal to resume service. Devlin told 小萝莉影视 Thursday she was unaware of the deal between Kuhn and Montgomery County and hadn’t been invited to participate in Friday’s news conference.

When asked if this deal might pave the way for Loudoun County to exert eminent domain over the land in Virginia where the ferry docks, Elrich said it’s possible, but it should be the final step, as it could be delayed through a lengthy court battle. However, he admitted it has been a struggle to work with the Rockland Farm owners.

“But if it came down to eminent domain, I’d hope the state would consider doing it,” Elrich said.

“They聽recognize the economic value and the purpose. This is something they should be willing to do. They certainly have the power to do it.”

In a statement to 小萝莉影视, a spokesperson for the Office of the County Administrator in Loudoun County said that Montgomery County informed them of the White’s Ferry acquisition Thursday, adding that the jurisdiction sees the deal as a positive development.

鈥淭his is an important milestone toward improving regional connectivity,” Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said in a statement. “Working together on projects like this creates stronger local economies and better opportunities on both sides of the river.鈥

Established in 1786, White’s Ferry carried between 600 and 800 vehicles daily across the Potomac River and more on weekends. Once it is open and running, Montgomery County will hire people to operate the ferry.

“The ferry is a vital service that we want to have restored,” Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin told 小萝莉影视. “With this arrangement, we have the Maryland landing and ferry operations in control and continue to seek solutions by finding answers to where the boat can land in Virginia.”

小萝莉影视’s Jos茅 Uma帽a contributed to this report.聽

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Rescheduled White House correspondents’ dinner brings road, traffic closures /dc/2026/07/rescheduled-white-house-correspondents-dinner-brings-road-traffic-closures/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:36:56 +0000 /?p=29458838
Rescheduled White House correspondents鈥 dinner brings road closures

The rescheduled White House correspondents’ dinner will be taking place Friday night at the Waldorf Astoria in the District.

The location of the event is about two miles from the Washington Hilton, where the shooting took place that disrupted the annual event in April that led to a suspect being arrested.

As a result of the rescheduled correspondents’ dinner, there will be closures around D.C. that will impact traffic.

According to , these streets will be labeled as emergency no parking from 9:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.:

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 13th Street NW
  • 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW

This street will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.:

  • 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW

D.C. police said these streets will be closed to traffic from 2 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 13th Street NW
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 13th Street to 14th Street NW (local traffic needing access to the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue will be allowed through)
  • 10th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 11th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW (local traffic needing access to 11th Street will be allowed through)
  • 12th Street Tunnel/Expressway
  • 13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW (local traffic needing access to 13th Street will be allowed through)

At the same time, this street will be cut off to through traffic:

  • 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW

Police said that those going to the hotel or the correspondents’ dinner by vehicle are allowed to go to 12th Street by going north from Constitution Avenue, NW. Those who park in the emergency no parking zones will get a ticket and have their cars towed.

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Unhealthy air in DC region with smoky skies from Canadian wildfires /weather-news/2026/07/dc-region-under-code-purple-air-quality-alert-due-to-heat-and-smoky-skies/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:45:37 +0000 /?p=29439306 Air quality in the D.C. region was very poor Friday, as plumes of smoke blew down from Canadian wildfires to make for hazy skies.

A code purple air quality alert was issued for the D.C. and the Baltimore areas, meaning the level of air pollution was unhealthy for everyone, especially those with health issues, according to the National Weather Service.

Area health agencies strongly recommended that people limit time outside, so as not to be exposed to the heat and smoke.

Beginning Friday morning, residents were met with blurry skies that reeked of smoke.

The thick smoke in the sky was similar to what happened during the summer of 2023, when the region was under code red, purple and maroon alerts, according to 7小萝莉影视 First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan.

“The darker the color means a higher concentration of smoke particles in the air, so that can make it more difficult to breathe, especially if you’re doing strenuous activity outdoors, taking deeper breaths,” Whelan said.

Other than the smoky air, the week ended hot, with temperatures in the lower to mid-90s.

An incoming cold front will start to remove the smoky air Saturday while bringing the potential of severe storms and heavy rain. It will still be hot with temperatures in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

“We’re tracking strong to severe thunderstorms, several waves of storms from late morning through the afternoon and then into the evening,” 7小萝莉影视 First Alert Meteorologist Steve Rudin said. “Any storm that does develop will have the potential to become strong to severe with gusty winds, heavy downpours, frequent lightning, even an isolated tornado.”

Conditions will continue to improve Sunday, despite starting off muggy, with partly cloudy skies and seasonable temperatures in the upper 80s to around 90 degrees and a chance for an isolated shower.

Air quality poses extra risk for people with compromised lungs

With code purple air quality,聽taking a deep breath outdoors is “very unhealthy” for everyone, especially people with certain health conditions, according to the .

“Just walking around outside, I could feel a little bit of tightness and burning in my chest,” said Dr. Bobby Mahajan, Chief of Interventional Pulmonology with Inova Health System.

Smoke from wildfires contains fine particulates that are so small they bypass the nose and throat’s natural filters, and travel into the lungs.

Once in the lungs, the smoky air can cause irritation, inflammation and narrowing of the airways.

The typical D.C. combination of heat and humidity is taken to the next level with the addition of the wildfire smoke.

“That’s not only a strain on your muscles and your body with the temperature, but you’re actually affecting your lungs themselves, because every breath you’re taking you’re taking in noxious particulate matter,” Mahajan told 小萝莉影视’s Neal Augenstein.

For someone with lung disease, their airways may already be narrowed or inflamed. Extra inflammation from smoke or pollution could constrict airways ever more, according to Mahajan.

Safety precautions

If you’re feeling unwell or dizzy, call your doctor. You’ll want to stay indoors as much as possible.

Even while inside, some people might be affected by the air.

“If you’re having symptoms of headache 鈥 itchy, watery eyes, sore throat, coughing, chest pain, chest tightness 鈥 these are all symptoms that you’re being affected by the poor air quality,” allergist and immunologist Dr. Purvi Parikh said.

Air purifiers can help filter out the dangerous particles, Parikh said

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has recommended that residents avoid arduous activities, take breaks where there’s clean air, wear an N95 mask and use a portable air cleaner in rooms.

In a post on social media, D.C. Health said residents should avoid taking pets on walks and limit their time outside.

D.C. government cancelled outdoor activities and closed outdoor pools and spray parks.

In Virginia, Fairfax County canceling all outdoor activities, such as recess, team practices and extracurricular activities.



Forecast

SATURDAY:
Partly sunny. Very humid. Strong storms possible
Highs: 86-92
Winds: Southwest 5-15+ mph

SUNDAY:
Partly cloud. Isolated shower, storm
Highs: 85-90
Winds: North 5-10 mph

MONDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: 85-90
Winds: Southeast 5-10 mph

Current Conditions

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

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Capitals to play Penguins in 2026-27 home opener /washington-capitals/2026/07/capitals-to-play-penguins-in-2026-27-home-opener/ Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:56:53 +0000 /?p=29433288 The Washington Capitals will be playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first home game of the 2026-27 campaign.

It will take place Oct. 7 at Capital One Arena at 7:30 p.m., the team announced Wednesday.

This will be the second time in four seasons Washington will play Pittsburgh in its home opening game. It will also be the 101st time that the club’s hockey stars and future Hall of Famers 鈥 Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby 鈥 will face each other.

The Capitals won the regular-season series against the Penguins last year 2-1-0.

The team’s full schedule will be announced Thursday.

The Capitals are looking forward to having their star Ovechkin back for his 22nd season as they attempt to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season.

The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer is coming off a season in which he played in all 82 games and scored 32 goals. The 2026-27 season could be Ovechkin’s final season and he believes that the team is a contender for the Stanley Cup.

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Fairfax soccer coach scammed parents out of $70,000, police say /fairfax-county/2026/07/fairfax-soccer-coach-scammed-parents-out-of-70000-police-say/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:06:21 +0000 /?p=29430639 A soccer coach in Fairfax County, Virginia, is being accused of scamming multiple parents out of an estimated $70,000, authorities said.

Ahmed Mohamed, 31, was charged with 13 counts of embezzlement and 13 counts of computer fraud. More charges could be coming, as Fairfax County police told 小萝莉影视 they identified four additional victims on Tuesday after announcing Mohamed’s arrest.

Police said they got information on June 25 regarding a scam involving a promised travel soccer camp in Italy. Their Financial Crimes Online Reporting System revealed that 13 people were victimized by the scam, in which each of them lost between $2,000 and $12,000.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time to be able to work through the legal process and being able to track down and, ultimately, what the goal is to recover the funds in their entirety for the victims,” said Lt. Michael Connor, of Fairfax County police.

Mohamed worked with the Alexandria Soccer Association, which gave him access to some of the victims of the scam, according to police.

He opened up his own business called the in December 2025 and, according to Connor, “it seemed that he had built relationships with the victims.”

“When he opened his own business, it, on paper, was a legitimate LLC and then used that LLC to defraud the victims,” Connor said.

He added that this is a unique case in that Mohamed knew the people.

“That unique element of this case kind of makes it a little bit more difficult for the victims, for them to have been able to identify this as a potential scam,” Connor said. “Because he already operated with legitimacy, under a legitimate camp. He had built that relationship with a number of victims.”

Mohamed was arrested June 30 and taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He was later released.

Police have asked anyone with information regarding the scam to call the department’s financial crimes unit at 703-246-3533 or submit an anonymous tip at 1-866-411-8477.

小萝莉影视’s Luke Lukert contributed to this report.

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DC mayor proposes housing bills aimed at affordability, tenant protections /dc/2026/07/new-legislation-to-protect-affordable-housing-and-modernize-housing-laws-could-be-coming-in-dc-mayor-says/ Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:59:03 +0000 /?p=29423191 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is backing a pair of housing bills she said would help preserve affordable housing, support tenants and encourage continued housing development.

Announced Friday, the package includes the Housing Investment Protection Act and the Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act.

would provide additional support for tenants during repairs or rehabilitation projects, expand the Local Rental Supplement Program and clarify when housing providers can enter units to make repairs.

The bill would also establish a 60-day timeline for eviction hearings, which Bowser said would make the process more predictable for tenants and landlords, while modernizing how eviction notices are delivered and received.

would update short-term rental laws to clarify that guests have no legal right to remain in a vacation rental beyond the terms of their stay. The measure would also allow D.C. police to remove guests who refuse to leave.

“By adding tens of thousands of new homes over the past decade, we’ve been able to blunt the rise in housing costs and get more Washingtonians into affordable housing,” Bowser said . “But to keep making housing more affordable, we have to make sure DC is a place where people want to keep building.”

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Washington Commanders will retire No. 44 jersey of Hall of Fame running back John Riggins /washington-commanders/2026/07/commanders-to-retire-john-riggins-no-44-jersey/ Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:37:54 +0000 /?p=29417474 Washington football legend John Riggins’ jersey will be retired this November.

The Washington Commanders said they will retire Riggins’ No. 44 jersey during the game with the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 8.

Riggins, nicknamed “Riggo” and “Diesel,” helped “define one of the most successful eras in the team’s history,” the Commanders said in a news release.

“There are certain players whose impact goes far beyond statistics, championships and accolades; they become woven into the identity of a franchise. John Riggins is one of those players,” Commanders owner Josh Harris said in a .

“He played the game with a rare combination of physicality, fearlessness and personality that captivated fans and inspired his teammates.”

Commanders Team President Mark Clouse told 小萝莉影视 that when he told Riggins the news, the former running back was skeptical at first, but turned into excitement about the reactions of fans.

“The fans were so important to him, and what a great representative for our franchise, and for the history of our team,” Clouse said, adding that this is the latest action to connect the past with the present. “We couldn’t be more excited to be celebrating John on that night. 鈥 I guarantee it’s going to be a night to remember for all of our fans.”

The running back played in Washington from 1976 to 1985 after spending his first five seasons in the league with the New York Jets. While in the nation’s capital, he led the league in rushing touchdowns twice 鈥 including a then-NFL record 24 touchdowns in 1983. Riggins also won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award and was a first-team All-Pro player.

One of his most memorable moments came in Super Bowl 17 against the Miami Dolphins. With Washington trailing 17-13 in the fourth quarter and having a fourth-and-one near midfield, Riggins took a handoff from quarterback Joe Theismann and took it 43 yards for the go-ahead touchdown that would eventually clinch the Burgundy and Gold’s first Super Bowl title.

He would be named Super Bowl MVP because of his performance, in which he had 38 carries for 166 yards.

In 1990, he was voted into Washington’s Ring of Honor along with Theismann. During the ceremony, he came out onto the field of RFK Stadium with his uniform, shoulder pads and game pads on to the delight of the crowd.

“I knew this was going to work. It was going to work and the fans just erupted,” Riggins said in a video of the . “In those moments, they have the memories. I have the memories of that great moment where the fans acknowledge you. 鈥 And I say this with all sincerity, the fans were my oxygen.”

Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He is Washington’s all-time leading rusher 鈥 7,472 of his 11,352 career yards came while wearing the Burgundy and Gold.

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