Kennedy Center Honors to be renamed as Trump-era changes continue

WTOP News 2/24 3:28A Jimmy Alexander

One of D.C. s most well-known arts traditions is moving forward with a new name. Related stories Kennedy Center president has message for vandal: Seek help Trump says he won t tear down the Kennedy Center arts venue but it needs to be closed for...

WATCH LIVE: President Trump delivers 2026 State of the Union address

WTOP News 2/23 11:54P Tadiwos Abedje

President Donald Trump speaks at Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Ga., Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

‘Unbelievably contagious’: Measles cases soar nationwide: What you need to know

WTOP News 2/23 11:32P Kate Ryan

The United States is seeing nearly 1,000 cases of measles in the first two months of 2026, a record surge that has alarmed health care providers. More than 980 have been reported across 26 states as of Monday, according to the  Centers for...

Experts warn of algal blooms in the Potomac River as temperatures rise

WTOP News 2/23 9:25P Alan Etter

Repairs to the broken Potomac Interceptor pipeline are expected to wrap up by mid-March, D.C. Water said, clearing the way for cleanup of the Potomac River and C&O Canal. Officials said the long-term restoration will address every area touched by...

Live updates: Schools closed or delayed, roads slushy after snow blankets DC area

NBC DC (Local) 2/23 1:46A Sophia Barnes, Taylor Edwards an

What to Know Several inches of snow fell overnight, leaving roads slushy, plus closing and delaying schools, on Monday morning. Snow is expected to end by lunchtime. Schools in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince George...

Is DC still ‘Chocolate City?’ Here’s what Census data tells us

WTOP News 2/22 9:49P Scott Gelman

D.C. is no longer the Chocolate City it once was. Experts say a diversifying economy, new waves of immigration and shifting housing patterns have transformed the District into one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. After the 1930s, D.C. was...

Major events to impact DC traffic starting Sunday

WTOP News 2/21 7:17A LaDawn Black

Expect road closures and rerouting on D.C. streets this week due to the Chinese New Year parade on Sunday and the President s State of the Union address on Tuesday. Sunday — Chinese New Year Parade On Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. traffic patterns...

Sunday storm could dump up to 5 inches of snow across DC region

WTOP News 2/21 4:34A Jessica Kronzer

The D.C. region may see several inches of heavy snowfall on Sunday, with forecasts suggesting totals could be as high as 5 inches in some parts of the area. Related stories With the melting snow comes a hazard to our waterways Where to report...

Virginia Sen. Kaine, top tariff foe, says SCOTUS decision is win for consumers

WTOP News 2/20 11:31P Mitchell Miller

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who has repeatedly introduced bills to lift President Donald Trump s tariffs, may be one of the happiest members of Congress after the U.S. Supreme Court s decision to strike the levies down. The Democratic lawmaker was...

How crews are patching up potholes before asphalt plants reopen

WTOP News 2/20 9:29P Thomas Robertson

Potholes are a fact of life in the D.C. area. In fact, anywhere you have snow and roads, you’re bound to find potholes, especially as temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing. As water freezes and seeps into cracks in pavement, it expands...

Virginia Democrats pass map that could flip 4 US House seats, if courts and voters approve

NBC DC (Local) 2/20 8:11A Olivia Diaz | Associated Press

Democrats passed a new congressional map through the Virginia legislature on Friday that aims to help their party win four more seats in the national redistricting battle. It s a flex of state...

New design, entrance and LED system: Capital One Arena renovation advances to new phase

WTOP News 2/19 10:00P Scott Gelman

Renovation work currently taking place at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. (WTOP/Scott Gelman) Renovation work currently taking place at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington,...

‘Wake up, Ward 8!’: DC officials break ground on new recreation center

WTOP News 2/19 8:47P Kate Ryan

D.C. s Ward 8 is getting a new recreation center, one that received both praise and criticism during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday . Director of the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation Thennie Freeman began her remarks at the event for...

Allegations of sex abuse put DC teacher on leave. Former student talks with WTOP

WTOP News 2/19 8:49A John Domen

A former D.C. student, who is now 22 years old, recently took to social media to level allegations of sex abuse against his former coach, a teacher at Banneker High School. The accusation has left parents and students upset, and the school sent a...

Interstate commission asks EPA to ensure DC Water ‘prioritizes’ protecting drinking water intakes

WTOP News 2/19 6:33A Neal Augenstein

Raw sewage flows into the Potomac River after a massive sewage pipe rupture in Glen Echo, Md., Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)(AP/Cliff Owen) Raw sewage flows into the Potomac River after...