The lawsuit accuses them of creating poor living conditions that “shocked even seasoned investigators,” while collecting housing voucher money.

One resident says he opened his oven drawer to find it full of mouse droppings and six baby mice.

“It’s a lot of stuff,” that resident, Jayshaun, Gill said. “It’s a lot more than mice. It’s a lot of flies; flies are a big problem, too.”

Gill and his daughter live at a rent-controlled apartment complex on W Street SE.

Their neighbor Mae Gupton says building management refuses to fix the issues.

“Me and my daughters are living with rats,” Gupton said. “This whole building is infected with rats. I even called the exterminator. The exterminator said, ‘Ma’am, you won’t be able to pay that bill.”

Gupton said the rats have been coming out from behind her stove, too, so she’s afraid to walk in that part of her kitchen.

“I’m terrified; my family, it’s like I’m … It got me and my daughters sick,” she said.

In addition, her dishwasher is broken, so every time she uses it, she has to use a plunger to drain the water that comes up out of the sink, she said.

On Monday, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced two lawsuits against the building’s owner, Ali “Sam” Razjooyan, and his business partners for allegedly creating poor conditions there, as well as at the Minnesota Commons Apartments in Northeast.

Residents there sent News4 a video of water pouring down inside. Video also shows black water in a sink and trash piled up outside.

“It’s bad,” said Minnesota Commons resident Christine Smith. “Nobody should be able to live in this condition.”

Schwalb said: “The properties at issue in these lawsuits are in deplorable condition, some of the worst conditions that we’ve seen in the District.”

He says the lawsuits are aimed at forcing Razjooyan to make repairs, pay damages to tenants and pay penalties for violating D.C. housing code.

“That certainly happens far too often in our city, where landlords prey upon those who are least able to have the economic flexibility to move to take care of problems,” Schwalb said.

News4 went to Razjooyan’s house for comment, but no one answered the door. We also tried calling several phone numbers associated with the building owner but didn’t hear back.

At the W Street apartments, resident Kianna Smith says there are still stains on the wall from an hours-long sewage leak.

“Feces coming down my wall,” she said.

She said management doesn’t pick up the phone when she calls.

“This is not fair to anyone,” she said. “I’m pretty sure they’re not living like this, so why should we live like this?”

The D.C. Department of Buildings says it issued seven stop work orders at Minnesota Commons this year. But the owner allegedly ignored them.

A team of dietitians at the hospital unloaded the week’s shipment of fresh food for patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes Thursday morning.

Then, they piled fresh green beans, apples, squash, carrots and other healthy foods into bags.

“Food is a huge part of the disease state,” said Sarah Roberts, a clinical dietitian for Children’s National. “It’s very important that families understand the importance of using these whole grains, these fruits and vegetables in their diet because when we’re looking at the disease state, we want to tackle it from all points.”

Pre-diabetes and diabetes patients with food insecurity at Children’s National receive three bags of food tailored to their medical needs as part of a food pharmacy program with the Capital Area Food Bank.

Roberts said they’ve seen an increase in patients reporting food insecurity in recent years. Patients’ guardians fill out screenings when they visit the hospital.

“That was another reason for starting the food pharmacy is not only the increase of food insecurity during the in the pandemic, but the increase of type 2 diabetes during the pandemic,” she said.

The proper foods can treat, prevent and, in some cases, reverse a diagnosis of diabetes, experts say.

“I’ve lost about 50-60 pounds just because I’ve been able to have good choices,” Children’s National patient Iman Bangura told News4 via a video call.

Bangura, who has type 2 diabetes, has been in the food pharmacy program for more than a year.

For her, the food pharmacy isn’t just her way out of a food desert, it’s helping change family history.

The food pharmacy served about 30 patients a month when the program began in 2021. Now, more than 200 families a month receive the fresh and healthy groceries.

Roberts said it’s been a vital tool in providing well-rounded care.

“If we’re in here doing these educations with these patients about fresh fruits and vegetables and they’re not able to purchase those things on their own and get those in the store, then it feels like we’re not fully meeting the needs of those patients,” she said.

We’re settling into a September with gorgeous weather. Here’s how to get out and enjoy it.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Dvořák Dreams: An Installation by Refik Anadol: Through Sept. 24, Reach Plaza, free

Cirque du Soleil: “OVO”: Through Sun., Capital One Arena

Chocolate & Wine Tasting: Weds., 7-8:30 p.m., The Chocolate House at 1904 18th Street NW, $55

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf: “My Old Ass”: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Wharf’s Transit Pier, free

Live! At The Library: Film Costume Ball: Thurs., Sept. 12, 6-9 p.m., Library of Congress, free but RSVP required

Walking Town free tours throughout the District: Sept. 14-21, free

Nationals 1924 Championship Centennial Weekend: Fri., Sat. and Sun.

The 1924: A Science Speakeasy: Fri., 6-9 p.m., National Academy of Sciences in Northwest D.C., $20

Things to Do DC 16 hours ago

Where to find presidential debate watch parties and specials in DC

The Scene Aug 27

Cirque du Soleil contortionist offers a preview of ‘Ovo' at Capital One Arena

Don’t Tell Comedy: Fri., various venues, $25

Celebrate Van Ness Main Street: Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Connecticut Avenue NW between Van Ness and Nebraska, free

Library of Congress Family Day: Hispanic Heritage Month: Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Building – Great Hall, free

Paramount+ & NPF Present: “Forrest Gump” at the National Mall: Sat., lawn opens at 5 p.m., movie begins at dusk, National Mall near Smithsonian Metro Station and 9th Street, free

Washington Mystics vs.Atlanta Dream: Sun., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: Sun., 1 p.m., Audi Field

What to do in Maryland

Fall Twilight Concert Series: Weds., 6-7 p.m., Brookside Gardens, free
FYI: YötRöx (70’s & 80’s Rock Hits)

The Great Frederick Fair: Sept. 13-21, Frederick, Maryland, $8 in advance or $10 at the gate for adults, free for kids under 10
FYI: Carnival rides and grandstand shows cost extra

Washington Ukrainian Festival: Sept. 13-15, St. Andrews Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (15100 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring), $20 (Saturday and Sunday) or $15 (Sunday only)

Maryland Seafood Festival: Sept. 14-15, Sat. and Sun., Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, $15+ (kids 12 and under can go for free with a paying adult)

Acoustics & Ales: Fri., 5-7:30 p.m., North Four Corners Local Park in Silver Spring, free entry

Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival: Sat., Sept. 14, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, free entry, parking is $10 in advance, $15 day of

Latinas in Aviation Global Festival: Sat., College Park Aviation Museum, free

DC Polo Society | End of Summer Social: Sat., Congressional Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland, $28.45 – $35

Hispanic Festival: Sun., Sept. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Lane Manor Splash Park in Hyattsville, free

Commanders vs. New York Giants: Sun., 1 p.m., Northwest Stadium in Landover

Maryland Restaurant Week: Sept. 13-22

Brushes and Beats: A Go-Go Themed Youth Paint & Sip: Sun., Arts’tination in Oxon Hill, free with RSVP

What to do in Virginia

Cox Farms Fall Festival: Select days from Sept. 15 to Nov. 5, Centreville, $10-$25

Solheim Cup: Through Sun., Gainesville, $65 and up for adults

22nd Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival: Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 300 John Carlyle St. in Alexandria, free

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s 50th Anniversary: Fri. to Sun., Alexandria

Virginia Native American Festival: Sat., 10 a.m., Riverbend Park in Great Falls, $12

Falls Church Festival: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Falls Church City Hall and Community Center, free

Fall Family Fest: Sat., noon to 4 p.m., Perch Putt rooftop in Tyson’s Corner, free ticket with registration

NOVA Family Fair: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, free

Moon Festival – Tết Trung Thu at Eden Center: Sat., noon to 5 p.m., Eden Center in Falls Church, free entry

Welcoming Week Family Storytime: Sun., 2-4 p.m., 418 S Washington St. in Alexandria, free

“Encanto” characters at Shipgarten: Sun., noon to 6 p.m., McLean, free entry

Coming up soon

NMWA Nights: Weds., Sept. 18, 5:30 to 8 p.m., National Museum of Women in the Arts, $22-$25

H Street Festival: Sat., Sept. 21, H Street Northeast, free entry

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms: Sept. 20 to Nov. 2, Centreville, Virginia, $30-$40

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

If you’re here, you likely know that Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off for the first time in a debate hosted by ABC News on Tuesday. NBC News will broadcast the full debate live and offer primetime coverage starting at 8 p.m.

If you want to watch with some fellow election nerds (and perhaps an on-theme drink), D.C. is the place to be.

In general, we recommend making reservations or at least showing up early to snag a seat.

Here are watch parties and specials for your debate night.

Presidential debate watch parties in the DC area

The Admiral
1 Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
Details

Tune into the debate on 15 TVs inside and on the patio. Quench your thirst with Blue Wave and Red State shots ($6.50), discounted draft refills ($5.75) or a burger, fries and beer special ($17.99).

All-Purpose takeout specials
Shaw, Riverfront and AP Pizza Shop in Bethesda
Details

Picking up pizza for a private watch party? Three All-Purpose locations will offer free focaccia breadsticks or garlic bread for any to-go order over $50. You must order online and use promo code VOTE.

Boundary Stone
116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Reservations

This Bloomingdale pub will show the debate at full volume and serve a drink called Kamala’s Coconut Daiquiri, made with local Cotton & Reed rum.

Johnny Pistolas
2333 18th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Details

Watch the debate projected on a 12.5-foot screen while sampling $10 drink specials including the Filibuster Buzz, the Bipartisan Breeze and the Swing State Sangria.

Madhatter
1319 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington D.C.
Details

The Trump vs. Harris showdown will be shown on all TVs – with the sound on – at this Dupont bar and restaurant. Specials include $8 smash burgers, $5 Jello-O shots and Taco Tuesday deals.

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metrobar
640 Rhode Island Avenue Northeast Washington, D.C.
Details

The transit-themed bar’s debate watch party coincides with specials for Industry Night and the “Beetlejuice” sequel at the Metro-themed bar. You’ll find $9 specialty cocktails from 4-11 p.m.

Royal Sands Social Club
26 N Street SE, Washington, D.C.
Details

Dip into the pool-themed bar for Brat or Mar-a-Lago Punch shots ($6.50). Other specials include $6 Kona drafts, $10 frozen drinks, $2 off sushi rolls and a $10.50 slider trio.

Large groups are welcome to watch the debate on 25 TVs.

Shaw’s Tavern
520 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Details

Enjoy taco and margarita specials while the debate is shown on TVs on two floors and the covered patio. Doors open at 7 p.m. Grab a reservation for a table or show up early for a seat at the bar.

Solaire Social
8200 Dixon Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland
Details

The new food hall in Silver Spring will offer an all-day happy hour to soothe any debate-related nerves. You’ll also find $20 beer pitchers or buckets, plus Tequila Tuesday specials.

Whitlow’s Debate Watch Bingo Party
901 U Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Details

Whitlow’s adds a twist to their debate watch party with a Bingo game built around campaign buzzwords. Winners could get prizes including Whitlow’s t-shirts and gift cards.

Head to the second floor of Whitlow’s to play and watch the debate on five TVs and a large screen.

Union Pub
201 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C.
Details

For one of D.C.’s most politically-oriented bars steps from the U.S. Capitol, debate night is basically the Super Bowl.

Sip on coconut or orange drinks, join a drinking game and grab specials including $4 shots and discounted pitches and beer buckets.

Make reservations or get there early (very early) to beat the crowd.

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White, who represents Ward 8, is accused of agreeing to accept $156,000 in exchange for using his position to pressure employees of the D.C. Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to extend several contracts, prosecutors said.

He’s chair of a D.C. Council committee that oversees several agencies, including DYRS.

White received $35,000 in four cash payments in the alleged scheme, court documents filed on Thursday say.

His lawyer declined on Friday to comment on the latest development.

White has not commented on the case or entered a plea since federal authorities arrested him in the Navy Yard area on Aug. 18. On Instagram, posted a brief video thanking people who have continued to support him.

Following White’s arrest, the D.C. government launched a wide-ranging review of violence interruption work.

Read the full indictment here:

Here’s what federal prosecutors say Trayon White did

Federal prosecutors say White agreed starting in June to accept $156,000 in bribes in exchange for using his position to pressure government employees to extend violence intervention contracts worth $5.2 million.

He’s accused of accepting envelopes full of cash as he was caught on a hidden camera. Here’s how the FBI broke down the payments:

• June 26: $15,000 cash received
• July 17: $5,000 cash received
• July 25: $10,000 cash received
• Aug. 9: $5,000 cash received

Images included in court documents show what prosecutors say is White receiving envelopes stuffed with cash.

DC Council Aug 21

How Trayon White's arrest may shake up the Ward 8 election

DC Council Aug 19

Secret cameras, $35K in cash: DC Council member Trayon White accused of bribery

An FBI informant who operated businesses that contracted with the D.C. government agreed to cooperate with authorities as part of an agreement to plead guilty to bribery and bank fraud charges. Several conversations between White and the informant were recorded in a parked car wired for video and audio, including outside White’s home, prosecutors say.

At one meeting, White and the informant discussed contracts the informant had with ONSE. The informant asked White if the contracts would be renewed and said he had $15,000 cash.

Initially, White asked, “What you need me to do, man? I don’t, I don’t wanna feel like you gotta gimme something to get something. We better than that.”

Then he tucked the envelope with the cash into his jacket pocket, prosecutors say.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

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Reggie Brown, 64, was taking a walk on Georgia Avenue in October when a group of five girls allegedly attacked him unprovoked, prosecutors said in opening statements.

One of those girls took cellphone video of the attack in which the group appeared to be in a celebratory mood afterward, according to prosecutors.

Brown faced health issues for much of his life, weighing just 110 pounds and missing six fingers due to lupus. He also was battling cancer and liked to take long walks at night, according to his family.

On Oct. 17, a still unidentified man attacked Brown, as seen on surveillance video.

Five girls, ages 12 to 15, joined the attack, prosecutors say. Surveillance video showed them stomping Brown’s head into the pavement and whipping him with his own belt.

He died shortly afterward.

In court Thursday, the defense for one of the girls argued she was not involved in the attack and wasn’t even there. Her defense said the case was based on “unreliable, untrustworthy evidence and grainy video” because police were “under serious pressure to solve this case.”

The defense for the other girl argued, “Not every death is a murder or homicide,” and said the evidence does not show an intent to kill or seriously injure.

Brown’s sister said it’s been heartbreaking to hear what her brother went through.

“We’re here because we want to ensure that justice be done and that this doesn’t happen to any other family,” Malda Brown said.

“Everybody up in D.C., upper Northwest, knew my little brother, and he was just a good soul,” she said. “And for something like this to happen to him is just hurting the whole neighborhood up in D.C.”

She wishes the two girls could have been tried as adults and feels D.C. needs tougher laws when it comes to juvenile crime.

Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD) Apr 1

Girls left in ‘celebratory' mood after deadly DC beating, detective testifies

Gun violence Mar 29

Girls, 12 and 13, accused of beating 64-year-old man to death along DC's Georgia Avenue

“These young people are committing crimes knowingly that if you commit crimes while you are a juvenile, that nothing is gonna happen,” she said. “That is the word on the street that they say, Oh, we can commit crimes because nothing is gonna happen to us.”

A third girl in the case pleaded guilty to assault last month. The other two girls are scheduled to go on trial in November.

If any of the four girls being tried are convicted, they will remain in the custody of D.C.’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services until they turn 21.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Videos of a little red and black robot rolling down a sidewalk on four wheels have circulated on social media recently, and many wondered if the robot is another way for D.C. to give drivers speeding or parking tickets.

The D.C. Department of Transportation told News4 Wednesday the robot is not for issuing tickets.

“Right now, it is helping us to update and maintain our sign inventory,” DDOT Innovation Branch Manager Stephanie Dock said.

There are more than 200,000 traffic signs across the city, Dock said, which requires a lot of maintenance.

“Stuff is constantly changing on our streets. And we need a way to keep that information updated and current,” she said.

Dock said having human beings take inventory of the traffic signs proved to be difficult in the past, “And so we’re exploring how much automation and robotics can help us in that problem.”

DDOT currently has one robot, called a Kiwibot, as part of a pilot program.

When the agency sends it out, a DDOT employee can watch the video the robot captures and decide whether or not to send a crew to the area to make any sign repairs.

Dock said if something goes wrong with the robot, there’s always DDOT employees close enough that can “come and help it.”

It feels like fall, y’all! Time to plan an apple-picking day trip in Maryland or Virginia.

The Red Line shutdown is over just in time to Metro to the Bethesda Row Arts Festival, Adams Morgan Day or the D.C. State Fair (Yes, the District has a state fair! It’s near Metro Center station).

Here are four things to know for your weekend:

• Weekend Weather: Sunday is looking like the best day of the weekend thanks to Saturday showers. Here’s the forecast.
• Football is back, baby! It’s Commanders vs. Buccaneers at home this Sunday.
• Say hi to Telemundo 44 and meet some of your favorite reporters and anchors at the Festival Salvadoreñisimo this Sunday.
• Adoption centers around the DMV are waiving fees for Clear The Shelters!

Weekend highlights

Free pick
Bethesda Row Arts Festival
Sat. and Sun., near Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue
🔗 Details

There is real competition to get a spot at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival, conveniently located in Bethesda Row. Artists from all over the East Coast and dozens of local creators were selected for the largest juried art fair in the D.C. area. Last year, Ruth Becker welcomed us into her studio to show off her creative treasures.

Jewelry, oils, watercolors, ceramics, fiber, sculpture and many more styles will be on display – you might need both days to check it all out. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Free pick
One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration
Sat., National Mall, free
🔗 Details

The inaugural One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration shows America’s oldest team sport like you’ve never seen it before.

The game is rooted in Native American tradition and dates back to the year 1100.

The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition looks to make lacrosse accessible to anyone at the National Mall’s JFK Fields. Look for representation from tribal communities and pick-up games for newbies and more experienced players. Howard University’s women’s team will be on hand, too.

Fun fact: Lacrosse will be played in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

• The Future Scene: The JFK Fields along the Tidal Basin are also the site for the upcoming National Mall of Pickleball later this month.

Free pick
DC State Fair
Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin Park in downtown D.C.
🔗 Details

County fair season isn’t over yet. The last weekend of the Maryland State Fair might top your list for agricultural adventures, but don’t sleep on D.C.

The D.C. State Fair won’t be awarding sheep ribbons, but go to celebrate the food, products, culture, performance and civic orgs that make D.C. proud.

Highlights are sure to be Jump DC’s jump rope performance and the National Hand Dance Association taking center stage.

• Coming soon: The Great Frederick Fair is set for Sept. 13-21.

Free pick
Adams Morgan Day
Sun., noon to 8 p.m., Marie Reed school and Kalorama Park
🔗 Details

For the 46th year, AdMo invites everyone into its streets for music, dance, food and some brews.

Of note, the legendary Blackbyrds will make a rare appearance, headlining the Marie Reed school field at 7 p.m. after a day of international adventure at the Dance Plaza.

Stroll 18th Street NW, check out the local shops and make some new friends. Also enjoy programming from the D.C. library, American University, photo exhibits, kids’ sports clinics and a day of melodies at Kalorama Park.

Doggy swims

Pools are embracing the dog days of summer.

D.C. dogs are invited to four city pools this Saturday for the annual Doggie Day Swim. It’s free, but show up with your dog’s original D.C. Health-issued license and tag.

In Virginia, you can sign up your pooch to swim with other dogs at Water Mine Family Swimming Hole in Reston on Saturday. It costs $10 per dog, and all proceeds help the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

• Speaking of supporting local animals, our annual Clear the Shelters campaign is wrapping up. Many local shelters are offering free adoptions through Sept. 10. Enter your zip code here to find one near you.

Concerts this weekend

Waxahatchee, 7 p.m. Friday, Wolf Trap, $49+

Katie Crutchfield’s increasingly folk/country-leaning alt-rock gets support from Snail Mail, the indie rock project of Ellicott City’s Lindsey Jordan. Details.

The Descendents/Circle Jerks/Buzzcocks, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Fillmore Silver Spring, $59

Incredible classic punk triple bill with the original pop-punks (Descendents), seminal hardcore band (Circle Jerks) and what’s left of one of the original British punk bands (Buzzcocks). Tickets.

Oceanator, 10 p.m. Friday, Comet Ping Pong, $19.78

Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Elise Okusami comes to town a week after the release of her third LP. “Everything Is Love and Death” is as powerful, driving and hooky as anything she’s released before. Details.

Clutch, 7 p.m. Saturday, The Anthem, $45-$75

Two of the heaviest hard rock bands of the past few decades — including our boys from Seneca Valley High School (Clutch) — have joined for a co-headlining fall tour. Details.

Things to do in D.C.

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf: “King Richard”: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Wharf’s Transit Pier, free

Don’t Tell Comedy “secret shows”: Fri. and Sat., various venues, $25

One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration: Sat., National Mall, free

D.C. State Fair: Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin Park in downtown D.C., free entry

DC Bike Ride: Sat., begins on Constitution Avenue, various prices (registration closes Thursday)

Doggie Day Swim DC: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free but current D.C. dog license required

• Four pools participating: Langdon Park Pool in Northeast, Ridge Road Pool in Southeast and Francis and Upshut pools in Northwest

Jazz in The Parks: Lenny Robinson & Exploration with Special Guest Marshall Keys with opener Music with Mr. Rob: Sat., The Parks at Walter Reed, free

Women in Sports ’24 with US Open Women’s Finals on the big screen and golf simulator: Sat., noon to 8 p.m., The Wharf, free

Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: Sat., 12:30 p.m., Audi Field

Boot ‘N Scoot At Hi Lawn: Sat. and Sun., Hi Lawn at Union Market, $10-$15

Adams Morgan Day: Sun., noon to 8 p.m., Marie Reed school and Kalorama Park, free

Injera Festival: Sun., 2-9 p.m., The Bullpen in Southeast, $15+

Washington Mystics vs. Minnesota Lynx: Sun., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

Things to do in Maryland

Bethesda Row Arts Festival: Sat. and Sun., near Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue, free entry

Mount Rainier Day Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mount Rainier Nature Center, free

Silver Spring Jazz Festival: Sat., 3-10 p.m., Veterans Plaza, free (no ticket required)

Festival Salvadoreñisimo: Sun., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, $50+

Takoma Park Folk Festival: Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Takoma Park Middle School, free

Commanders vs. Buccaneers: Sun., 4:25 p.m., Northwest Stadium in Landover

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and Sept. 5-8, Lutherville-Timonium, $11-$16

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Through Oct. 20, Annapolis, Maryland, $26+ for adult tickets through Sept. 8

Things to do in Virginia

Dog Daze canine swim: Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,  The Water Mine in Reston, $10 per dog

Rosslyn Jazz Fest: Sat., 1-7 p.m., Gateway Park on Langston Blvd, free

US Asian Fest: Sat., 2-9 p.m., One Loudoun, $15-$100

Fall Plant and Garden Sale: Sat., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mount Vernon overflow parking lot, free entry

The Future Scene

•  The Washington Mystics play the Indiana Fever (you know, Caitlin Clark’s team!) at Capital One Arena next Thursday, Sept. 19.
• Theater Week will bring discounts on shows in the D.C. area from Sept. 26 to Oct. 13. Tickets go on sale Monday!
• Night of the Living Zoo is coming back from the dead! Tickets cost $65 for nonmembers and are on sale now.
• Ever wanted to tour the White House while it’s decked out for Christmas? You can book tours up to 90 days in advance, so it’s a good time to think about contacting your representative for a holiday season tour!

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Tyrell Lamonte Bailey turned himself in to police at the 7th District Police Station at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, a police spokesperson said. He was charged with carrying a pistol without a license.

D.C. Investigator Wayne David died last Wednesday after the gun he was trying to retrieve from a storm drain went off. He was 52 and served as an officer for 25 years.

Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD) Aug 28

DC officer dies after gun he retrieved from storm drain goes off

Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD) Aug 29

‘That type of impact': Fallen DC officer Wayne David remembered fondly

Officers with MPD’s Robbery Suppression Unit were canvassing Quarles Street NE when they saw a man get out of a suspicious car. Officers tried to make contact with him, but he ran to I-295 and stashed the gun in a storm drain, police said. He fled onto the back of a passing motorcycle.

D.C. police have not said whether Bailey will face additional charges.

“I want to thank the members of the Metropolitan Police Department and express my appreciation for the community for their tips and information that led to identifying and the arrest of this individual,” MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith said in a statement about the arrest.

“Our focus is on honoring the memory and legacy of Investigator Wayne David and giving him an exceptional sendoff during his funeral services next week,” the police chief said. “Our department continues to heal, and we’ll continue to support the family as they grieve and heal.”

Bailey was sought by local and federal authorities and a $60,000 reward was available in the case.

‘I do think he is liable for the death’

Bailey appeared in federal court on Thursday wearing a T-shirt that said “Rule 1: F— what they think.”

Court documents reveal new details on the moments before and after David was fatally shot.

Bailey ran out of his shoes after he saw officers and bolted, the documents say. Officers said he was holding his hand like he had a gun in his waistband. Images show him jumping over a wall and onto I-295. That’s where police say he threw a handgun into a drain on the shoulder of the southbound lanes.

Bailey, who had years of experience in gun recovery, was working to remove the gun from the drain when it fired and a bullet struck him.

Court records show Bailey served a multiyear prison sentence for a 2017 crime involving a gun and is therefore prohibited from possessing one.

The charges against him include possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and unlawfully discarding a gun. They do not include murder.

Ward 2 D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto told News4 she believes Bailey should be held accountable for David’s death.

“I do think he is liable for the death that resulted in his weapon, that was thrown carelessly, and that’s exactly what happens when firearms are thrown carelessly,” she said.

Court documents show the motorcyclist who gave Bailey a ride from the crime scene immediately called police when made aware of what had happened. The motorcyclist said Bailey was a stranger and had yelled that he had been robbed and people were trying to kill him. As Bailey hopped onto the bike, the motorcyclist saw that the passenger wasn’t wearing shoes.

Police say the motorcyclist, who dropped Bailey off in Bladensburg, Maryland, had no idea he was linked to the deadly shooting of David until being told by a relative who had seen the news.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

National Gallery Nights begin Thursday, Sept. 12 with the theme A Night in Paris. The East Building will transform into a Parisian escape with can-can dancers and a DJ spinning French tunes at an outdoor bar. Visitors can explore the “Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment” exhibit with paintings by Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir and more. Join the lottery here.

Tickets will be given away through a lottery system. The lottery will open 10 days before each event, and winners will be notified via email the Friday before the event.

The lottery for A Night In Paris is set to close at noon Thursday. Limited walk-up tickets will also be available on the day of the event.

There will also be activities on the 4th Street Plaza that don’t require tickets.

National Gallery Nights is set to celebrate Día de los Muertos in October and D.C. culture in November.

National Gallery Nights dates

• Sept. 12, A Night in Paris (Ticket lottery open from Monday, Sept. 2 to Thurs., Sept. 5)
• Oct. 10: Día de los Muertos Celebration (Ticket lottery open from Monday, Sept. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 3)
• Nov. 14: To the District, with Love (Ticket lottery open from Monday, Nov. 4 to Thursday, Nov. 7)

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

They were originally supposed to close on Labor Day.

Leat Corinne Unger, Cousin of Omer Shem Tov

“The locations that will remain open were selected to be most equitable to residents with one pool on both sides of the city and all DPR spray parks,” said Department of Parks and Recreation Director Thennie Freeman. 

Hearst Pool and Oxon Run Pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week until Sept. 22. Hearst Pool is closed Thursdays and Oxon Run Pool is closed Mondays. 

These spray parks will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Sept. 22:

• 14th and Girard Street 
• Benning Stoddert Recreation Center
• Chevy Chase Recreation Center 
• Columbia Heights Community Center 
• Columbia Heights Civic Plaza
• Eastern Market Metro Park 
• Edgewood Recreation Center 
• Fort Davis Community Center
• Fort Stevens Recreation Center 
• Friendship Recreation Center 
• Guy Mason Recreation Center 
• Hardy Recreation Center
• Harrison Recreation CenterHillcrest Recreation Center
• Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center 
• Kennedy Recreation Center 
• King Greenleaf Recreation Center
• Lafayette-Pointer Recreation Center  
• Macomb Recreation Center 
• Marvin Gaye at Division Avenue
• Marvin Gaye Recreation Center 
• Palisades Community Center 
• Park at LeDroit 
• Petworth Recreation Center 
• Potomac Ave Triangle Park
• Reservoir Park Recreation Center 
• Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center 
• Stead Park Recreation Center 
• Takoma Playground 
• Watkins Recreation Center
• Westminster Playground

Information for specific outdoor pool and spray park locations can be found at the Department of Parks and Recreation website. 

At least nine of those guns have now been found at crime scene and or with people wanted on warrants for violent offenses, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said. Many of the others are still unaccounted for.

“Our city is being flooded with illegal weapons,” he said. “All three of these stores ignored the red flags.”

Washington, D.C., has struggled with gun violence in recent years. The nation’s capital saw its highest number of homicides in more than three decades last year, and more than 90% of those were carried out with firearms, the suit states.

“Many of us watch the news and we wonder where all these guns are coming from,” said Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown. “Now we have part of the answer.”

In Washington, the supply of weapons is often fueled by people who buy guns for others who can’t legally possess them, Schwalb said. About 95% of guns recovered in Washington, D.C., which has strict gun laws, originally come from nearby Maryland or Virginia, Schwalb said. While some of those are stolen weapons, more come from illegal straw sales, according to data about firearm trafficking investigations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The suit seeks unspecified damages and court action to halt any future straw purchases.

The lawsuit is the first to be filed jointly and comes as cities and states around the country file civil suits against gun shops, including in New Jersey, Minnesota, Chicago and Philadelphia. Kansas City also settled a suit last year against a gun dealer accused of ignoring evidence that guns were being sold illegally.

Licensed firearm dealers do work with ATF to identify possible straw purchases, said Larry Keane, senior vice president at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry group. Still, he said that warning signs may not always be obvious at busy stores, where a buyer might encounter different employees on different days.

“The focus should be on the actions of the criminal, not trying to scapegoat retailers who do their best every day to try to prevent straw purchasing,” he said, pointing to a 2016 Justice Department survey of people in prison that found a relatively small number had gotten firearms from a retail source.

The new suit, filed with the gun safety group Everytown Law, accuses the Maryland-based stores of failing to respond to warning signs, including bulk purchasing and repetitive purchases.

The three stores sold a total of nearly three dozen similar weapons to Demetrius Minor over a seven-month period in 2021, the suit said. Nearly all were trafficked to others, including people who aren’t legally allowed to buy firearms, the suit alleges. One gun, for example, was found in a D.C. hotel room along with an illegal large-capacity magazine and another was found at the home of a stabbing suspect, the suit says.

Minor pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license last year in a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. An attorney who represented Minor could not immediately be reached for comment.

One store, Atlantic Guns, Inc., said it has “never and will never knowingly sell to someone who we have reason to believe is committing a straw purchase.” Another, United Gun Shop, declined immediate comment, and the third, Engage Armament LLC, did not immediately respond.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and court action to halt any future straw purchases.

During former President Donald Trump ‘s administration, her office under the U.S. Department of Agriculture was told it would be moving. About 75 people were going to be relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, Dodson said, but less than 40 actually moved. A rushed process that failed to consider the need to find homes, jobs for spouses and schools for children prompted some retirements, she said, and some took other federal jobs, hurting the agency in the end.

Now, with Trump proposing the relocation of up to 100,000 federal jobs from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia under his Agenda 47 plan, concerns about being abruptly moved are again troubling federal workers. The Republican’s proposals stir anxiety in the midst of an unusually competitive U.S. Senate race in heavily Democratic Maryland that could determine control of the Senate, with even the Republican candidate calling the plans “crazy.” The proposals also could hinder Trump’s chances to win Virginia, a state he lost in 2016 and 2020, where a U.S. Senate seat widely seen as safely Democratic is also on the ballot.

“It’s causing a lot of anxiety, a lot of discomfort within the workforce, as you are faced with these strong, negative, anti-federal worker stances and this uncertainty of what might happen to your job, your home and your livelihood,” said Dodson, who is acting vice president of American Federation of Government Employees local 3403, which represents the USDA’s Economic Research Service.

And concerns don’t end there. Federal workers also are worried about “Project 2025,” a proposed overhaul of the federal government crafted by longtime Trump allies that would eliminate thousands of jobs and remove civil service protections for some federal workers. The former president has repeatedly distanced himself from the proposal this summer.

But the plan still worries Michael Knowles. He said it calls for making the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ D.C. presence “skeletal, and agency employees with operational or security roles should be rotated out to offices throughout the United States.”

Knowles, who is president of AFGE local 1924, said most of his members took an oath to uphold the Constitution and faithfully administer the laws of the United States. He said the members, who all work in the National Capital Region, are committed to the mission of government service.

“And they would do what they need to do to carry out that mission,” Knowles said. “But I think the employees would look dimly on arbitrary or capricious decisions that didn’t seem to make any business or operational sense.”

Trump’s campaign did not return requests for comment.

The District of Columbia has the largest number of federal civilian employees, with about 160,700 jobs, according to the Congressional Research Service. Maryland and Virginia are in the top four jurisdictions, with about 138,940 in Maryland and 140,400 in Virginia. California has about 142,040.

The proposals to move a large number of federal workers infuriate local leaders in the suburbs of Washington in both Maryland and Virginia. In Maryland, a heavily blue state where Trump is deeply unpopular, it’s viewed by many as retaliation by the former president, who received only 32% of the vote there in 2020.

Trump made headlines while he was in office when he denigrated Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”

Angela Alsobrooks, the chief executive of Prince George’s County who is the Democratic nominee in the Maryland U.S. Senate race, described Trump’s positions on the federal workforce “as yet another reason that we absolutely must put Donald Trump in the rearview mirror.”

“Former President Trump is a ruthless leader, retaliatory in all his ways, and what he talks about in terms of really harming federal workers is evil,” Alsobrooks said after returning from the Democratic National Convention last month.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan, her Republican opponent, condemned the relocation proposals as “crazy.” He said they “would be devastating to the region, the state of Maryland and bad for the federal government.”

“It’s like, you know, Trump trying to turn the federal government into one of his failed casinos, where he thinks he can do whatever he wants,” Hogan, who has long been one of the GOP’s fiercest Trump critics, said in an interview. “I think it would undermine our entire democracy.”

Businesses that provide services to the thousands of federal workers fear the ripple-effect threat of the proposed changes. At Census Auto Repair & Sales, for example, across the street from the U.S. Census Bureau’s headquarters in Suitland, Maryland, service manager Tay Gibson says his shop would feel the impact directly.

“I would hate to see the federal workers leave,” Gibson said. “That would be business leaving as well, and that would affect small businesses like myself.”

Libby Garvey, chair of the Arlington County Board in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, emphasized the potential hit on the local economy.

“If a large proportion of (tax payers) suddenly lose their jobs (or have to) move away, that takes a terrible, major hit to our local budget, which impacts our ability to pave the roads, make sure the water is clean, provide public safety, fire, police, emergency personnel and provide good schools,” Garvey said.

Karen Hult, a political science professor at Virginia Tech, said the move could harm Trump’s chances in Virginia.

“Federal workers around Northern Virginia, and in the D.C. metro area generally, are, in fact, a bit of a voting bloc,” Hult said “The other thing, of course, are all the contractors — the beltway bandits. They make a big difference, too.”

But Hult also said the idea of relocating federal workers could resonate with Virginians outside of the northern part of the state, who may feel a distrust of the D.C. bureaucracy.

Filipe Campante, a Bloomberg Distinguished professor at Johns Hopkins University who focuses on political economy and urban and regional issues, noted that there’s a reason why capital cities exist, with the presence of federal employees nearby. Physical presence, he said, is necessary for face-to-face interactions that are important to maintaining accountability.

While Trump and his supporters see the relocation as a positive in terms of moving the “deep state” away from the seat of government, Campante said it also has a downside.

“I think it is a positive factor for accountability that you have civil servants also operating as a check on political appointees, and this would be weakened by moving these people away from where the center of the government is, so I think from that perspective it would reduce accountability,” Campante said. “Obviously, then, it depends on whether you think this accountability is good or not.”

—-

Witte reported from Annapolis and Suitland, Maryland.

We hope your final hurrah of summer was a memorable one! September is coming in with a fall-like feeling, and we’re here for it.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf: “King Richard”: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Wharf’s Transit Pier, free

Don’t Tell Comedy: Fri. and Sat., various venues, $25

One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration: Sat., National Mall, free

D.C. State Fair: Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin Park in downtown D.C., free entry

DC Bike Ride: Sat., begins on Constitution Avenue, various prices (registration closes Thursday)

Doggie Day Swim DC: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free but current D.C. dog license required

• Four pools participating: Langdon Park Pool in Northeast, Ridge Road Pool in Southeast and Francis and Upshut pools in Northwest

Jazz in The Parks: Lenny Robinson & Exploration with Special Guest Marshall Keys with opener Music with Mr. Rob: Sat., The Parks at Walter Reed, free

Women in Sports ’24 with US Open Women’s Finals on the big screen and golf simulator: Sat., noon to 8 p.m., The Wharf, free

Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: Sat., 12:30 p.m., Audi Field

Boot ‘N Scoot At Hi Lawn: Sat. and Sun., Hi Lawn at Union Market, $10-$15

Adams Morgan Day: Sun., noon to 8 p.m., Marie Reed school and Kalorama Park, free

Injera Festival: Sun., 2-9 p.m., The Bullpen in Southeast, $15+

Washington Mystics vs. Minnesota Lynx: Sun., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

What to do in Maryland

Fall Twilight Concert Series: Weds., 6-7 p.m., Brookside Gardens, free

• FYI: Kiti Gartner & the Drifting Valentines (Rockabilly/Classic Country/Western Swing)

Bethesda Row Arts Festival: Sat. and Sun., near Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue, free entry

Mount Rainier Day Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mount Rainier Nature Center, free

Silver Spring Jazz Festival: Sat., 3-10 p.m., Veterans Plaza, free (no ticket required)

Festival Salvadoreñisimo: Sun., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, $50+

Things to Do DC Sep 4

National Gallery Nights return this fall. Here's how to get tickets

The Scene Aug 27

Cirque du Soleil contortionist offers a preview of ‘Ovo' at Capital One Arena

Takoma Park Folk Festival: Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Takoma Park Middle School, free

Commanders vs. Buccaneers: Sun., 4:25 p.m., Northwest Stadium in Landover

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and Sept. 5-8, Lutherville-Timonium, $11-$16

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Through Oct. 20, Annapolis, Maryland, $26+ for adult tickets through Sept. 8

What to do in Virginia

Dog Daze canine swim: Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,  The Water Mine in Reston, $10 per dog

Rosslyn Jazz Fest: Sat., 1-7 p.m., Gateway Park on Langston Blvd, free

US Asian Fest: Sat., 2-9 p.m., One Loudoun, $15-$100

Fall Plant and Garden Sale: Sat., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mount Vernon overflow parking lot, free entry

Coming up soon

Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday 2 World Tour: Mon., Sept. 9, 9 p.m., Capital One Arena, $40+

Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Thurs., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Capital One Arena, $45+

HFStival: Sat., Sept. 21, Nationals Park, $150-$250

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Police responded to a report of a car that crashed into the McDonald’s on Marion Barry Avenue at 5:30 a.m. There was minimal damage to the McDonald’s.

According to police, the man in the vehicle had a gun in his lap. Chief Pamela Smith said that officers instructed him to drop his weapon.

DC Jail Aug 31

Families celebrate Reunification Day at DC jail

Crime and Courts Aug 31

Dog stolen at gunpoint in Prince George's County

The officers extended their firearm and the man in the vehicle grabbed one of the officer’s firearms.

“At that time, two of our officers discharged their service weapon, striking the suspect,” Smith said.

The man was pronounced dead on the scene. His name was not immediately released.

The police officers’ body-worn cameras were activated and police have reviewed the video. The two officers who fired their weapons are now on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

Former Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Enis Jevric, 42, pleaded guilty in February to involuntary manslaughter and using unconstitutional, excessive force in the August 2021 shooting death of 27-year-old An’Twan Gilmore.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss also sentenced Jevric to five years of supervised release after his prison term, according to Justice Department prosecutors.

More than a dozen officers were on the scene when Jevric arrived at the intersection in Washington, D.C., where Gilmore was sleeping in the stopped car with a handgun in his waistband.

Jevric had a ballistics shield when he approached the driver’s side door. He told another officer to knock on the car’s windows, which jolted Gilmore awoke with a confused look on his face.

Video from police body cameras shows both of Gilmore’s hands on the steering wheel. When the car inched forward, Jevric fired four times into the car and then fired six more shots as it rolled down the closed-off street, prosecutors said. No other officer fired a shot.

The gun was still tucked into Gilmore’s waistband, underneath his buckled seat belt, when police entered the car.

Prosecutors recommended a seven-year prison sentence for Jevric. They said no other officer on the scene saw a basis to shoot Gilmore.

Crime and Courts Feb 23

MPD sergeant pleads guilty in death of An'Twan Gilmore

Washington DC Aug 26, 2021

DC Police Release Body Camera Video of Officer Shooting Man in Car

“Several described being ‘shocked’ that shots were fired,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

Jevric had been a police officer in Washington since 2007. His attorney, Christopher Macchiaroli, had requested a sentence of home confinement without prison time.

“Sgt. Jevric has spent the better part of his life helping people, not hurting people, protecting life, not taking life,” the defense lawyer wrote.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office announced Friday morning that the D.C. government is paying off the debt – buying it for pennies on the dollar and forgiving it.

“Residents will start to get notified today via letter from undue medical debt that their debt has been completely wiped off the books and their credit restored,” D.C. Budget Director Jenny Reed told News4 early Friday.

The District worked with several medical providers to buy the debt.

“It is [not all medical providers]. And those that participated wish to remain anonymous, so that’s why we will be notifying residents directly via letter starting today,” Reed said.

The letters will be marked as coming from Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that D.C. worked with buy down the debt.

The District bought the nearly $42 million of medical debt for less than $225,000, officials said.

Reed called it “a great investment” for the District to help residents move forward.

“So a lot of hospitals and providers, they have this debt on the books for decades, right? Because we know that for a lot of low income residents, they just can’t afford to pay these really big bills, and it sort of follows them throughout their life, right? On their credit report, it makes it harder for them to do other things that they need to get out of debt and get on a pathway to the middle class,” Reed said. “So we’re able to work with them to buy it in bulk for pennies on the dollar.”

Medical debt is one of the leading reasons that people go into bankruptcy in the United States, Reed said.

“So by wiping this off, we’re giving people a fresh start,” she said.

Nearly 63,000 people will benefit, according to the mayor’s office.

D.C. residents were eligible if:

• their income was less than four times the federal poverty level
• or if their medical debt was more than 5% of their annual household income

The debt relief effort is seeking to address “health inequities and racial disparities related to medical care,” the mayor’s office said.

A little more than half of the total debt relief ($26 million of that total $42 million) will apply to D.C. residents making $25,000 per year or less, the mayor’s office said. While demographics information on the recipients was not immediately available, the mayor’s office said that 80% of the recipients live in D.C. zip codes that are majority Black or Latino.

While the District has been facing some budget deficits, Reed said the money for the debt forgiveness is coming from surplus funds from last fiscal year.

The plan was part of the budget proposal submitted last year to the D.C. Council, which approved it.

“And again, $225,000 out of a $20 billion budget, we were able to just set this aside,” Reed said.

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith got emotional Thursday while talking about David’s death, calling what happened a tragedy. Outside the department’s Special Operations Division, a memorial grew around his police cruiser, which was covered in photos and flowers.

At David’s church, National Community Church in Southeast D.C., he was remembered as a man with a big heart and a big smile who loved to give back.

As a member of the congregation, he also provided security for the church.

“Very easy to talk to, very easy to engage and a non-threatening presence, in spite of the badge, in spite of having all the regalia,” Pastor Ernest Clover said.

“Officer David was the epitome of community policing,” a fellow officer wrote on Facebook. “He regularly worked overtime at the Metro stations and would challenge high school students with trivia before they could pass, just to make sure they were keeping up with their studies.”

Metro recently honored David for helping disarm a woman who was threatening officers with a knife at the Fort Totten station.

Since 2007, David worked as a crime scene search officer, recovering illegal guns across the city.

“For him this wasn’t just a job,” Carroll said. “Every day he went out, he engaged the kids that were out there, trying to put them on the right path. Talking to people, making sure they were doing the right things.”

One officer said you could never tell when David had a bad day because he always had a smile on his face.

“Praying his family would know, OK, I know my dad did all this other stuff and I know he was at that church, but I didn’t know he had that type of impact,” Clover said.

It began with a police stop of a suspicious car

It began near DC-295 in the 4500 block of Quarles Street NE at about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday. Police were conducting a routine stop for what they described as a suspicious car when a suspect ran from the car and onto 295. Officers saw the suspect throw a gun into a storm drain, Executive Assistant Chief of Police Jeffrey Carroll said.

David, a 25-year veteran, was retrieving the gun when it went off.

Police are still looking for the suspect who threw the gun into the drain. He fled the scene after jumping on the back of a motorcycle.

The person who drove the motorcycle came forward and was cooperating with investigators, police said Friday. He said he was driving in the area when the suspect jumped on his motorcycle and he thought the person was in trouble and needed help, police said.

On Thursday, Smith urged the suspect to turn himself in. MPD, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are offering a $50,000 reward in the case.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Smith told reporters ATF is examining the gun. The serial number was scratched off.

MPD’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating to see if department protocols were followed in the recovery of the weapon.

Smith indicated that David had a body-worn camera.

CORRECTION (10:12 p.m., Aug. 30, 2024): Wayne David was an “investigator.” This article previous referred to him as an “inspector.”

An affidavit released after White’s arrest alleges the D.C. Council member took bribes to influence violence interruption contracts within D.C.’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. White has not been indicted, nor commented on the allegations, though he did post a video on Instagram thanking those who’ve continued to support him.

Government leaders who briefed News4 about the review Thursday acknowledged violence interruption work has an effect in lowering gun violence in D.C. communities. But all contract renewals in that space are halted pending the results of the internal review. They are grants and contracts that hire people and neighborhood organizations to do therapy, mediation and peace brokering in spots prone to gun violence.

D.C.’s chief risk officer is looking at contracts in the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and more closely in the Credible Messenger program. Credible Messenger is mentioned throughout court documents detailing bribery allegations against White.

Government officials said the review will look at how those contracts were awarded, overseen and invoiced. Many of them renew Oct. 1, and all of them are on hold, so decisions have to be made quickly.

In an off-camera briefing with two D.C. government leaders, they said they weren’t aware of any subpoenas issued to D.C. employees or agencies by federal prosecutors but said the city has ways of giving them documents without a subpoena.

They also said no D.C. employee has been suspended, put on leave or otherwise sidelined in connection with the review or allegations — not even the employee believed to be mentioned in the court affidavit who may have been pressured by White.

DC Council Aug 23

DC Council committee to consider Trayon White's future after his federal arrest

DC Council Aug 21

How Trayon White's arrest may shake up the Ward 8 election

DC Council Aug 21

DC mayor's office to review Trayon White's violence interruption work

The most serious and pressing concern expressed by the government officials is three contracts believed to be held by the company that allegedly paid the bribes to White.

Those contracts are with Child and Family Services, violence prevention and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services — helping some of D.C.’s most vulnerable kids.

The city acknowledges those contracts can’t be stopped, but the work will most likely have to be shifted quickly to someone else.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Whether your song of the summer was brought to you by Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey or Chappell Roan, it’s time to crank up the volume one more time (or a hundred, we’re here for it!). It’s Labor Day weekend, summer’s grand finale.

The hot weather isn’t going anywhere for a while, though. So while your local pool may be having its last hurrah this weekend, you can squeeze in an encore with a beach trip and other water adventures.

Speaking of the forecast: Monday will have the best weather of the weekend, after rain chances on Saturday and Sunday.

We’re still wagging and sniffing for your gold medal-worthy pet posts. Next Friday, we crown the Pat’s Prized Pet for 2024. Honestly… stop everything and treat yourself to these talented pets:

Don’t forget to share your pictures and videos on social before Thursday, Sept. 5 at noon – here are the details!

Weekend highlights

DC JazzFest
Through Sun., various venues and The Wharf, tickets start at $25
🔗 Details

DC JazzFest is coming back for its 20th year with music around the DMV, including some free shows. Think of it as a choose-your-own musical adventure.

The Wharf is going full festival mode this weekend, with two outdoor stages hosting shows from noon to 10 p.m. General admission standing tickets for those performances cost $25 per day. Kids and dogs are allowed!

By night, follow the music indoors to venues including The Anthem, Union Stage and Arena Stage. Seated or VIP tier tickets ($150-$500) grant you access to these shows. BUT, you can buy single tickets to some indoor shows, including most things at Union Stage.

Here’s the full schedule, including details on weeknight concerts.

Pro tip: Don’t miss the free performances!

• Free concerts will happen along The Wharf’s promenade
• Ebban & Ephraim Dorsey: Thu., 6 p.m., Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage 
• Shannon Gunn’s Saffron Ensemble: Fri., 6 p.m., Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage

Free pick
Greenbelt Labor Day Festival
Fri. to Mon.
🔗 Details

Greenbelt is working overtime to bring you a four-day Labor Day Festival with great food, music, a carnival and rides.

It’s free to go, but ride wristbands cost extra. You can pick up a voucher for a $20 ride wristband at the Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket through Thursday. Otherwise, all-you-can-ride wristbands will cost $35.

The Historic Roosevelt Center is the place to be for a party that’s been happening for 70 years!

Check out the full schedule here.

Don’t Tell Comedy
Fri., plus later dates, various venues
🔗 Details

Don’t Tell Comedy, which specializes in pop-up shows, is coming to venues in D.C. this weekend and later in the fall.

Free pick
Patsy Cline Block Party
Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester, Virginia
🔗 Details

If you’re feeling a little crazy, head to Winchester, Virginia for the Patsy Cline Block Party. Cline’s hometown festival features a lot of music.

To celebrate what would have been her 92nd birthday, there will also be food trucks, old-school soft drinks at Gaunt’s Drugstore (where the singer spent her teenage years as a soda jerk!) and tours of the historic house for just $5.

Winchester is also hosting Hungry for History Week with food demos, tastings and more, so you won’t go hungry during a full day out.

Free ice cream at SMiZE & DREAM
Sun., noon, Woodley Park

Tyra Bank’s Woodley Park ice cream shop SMiZE & DREAM is giving out 200 free scoops on Sunday to celebrate a good review from a popular TikTok food critic Keith Lee. The giveaway begins at noon.

Lee didn’t like everything he ate in D.C. but had good things to say about SMiZE & DREAM and their local flavor, That Woodley Park Thang.

Concerts this weekend

Roots/Digable Planets, 8 p.m. Saturday, Wolf Trap, $65+

Classic hip-hop lineups don’t get better than this. The Roots are the greatest live hip-hop band ever. Digable Planets delivers pure poetry and some of the smoothest, jazziest tracks of the genre. And starting it off is Grammy-winning Arrested Development. Details.

Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilsen-Love Duo, 7 p.m. Monday, Rhizome, $15-$25

Holiday weekend means a Monday concert pick. MacArthur Prize-winning reedist Vandermark pairs with drummer PNL for broad and challenging improvised jazz. Details.

Labor Day brunch

It’s not a long weekend in D.C. without brunch! Plenty of restaurants will extend their brunch offerings to Labor Day. Here are a few we’ve heard about:

• The District: All-Purpose Riverfront, Boundary Stone, dLeña, Founding Farmers, El Presidente, Hen Quarter Prime, Le Diplomat, Maker’s Union (The Wharf only), Matchbox, Palette 22, Pastis, Pisco y Nazca, The Saga, Seven Reasons, St. Anselm, Throw Social
• Maryland: ala, Founding Farmers, Matchbox, Pinstripes (Brunch & Grill Feast)
• Virginia: Founding Farmers, Hen Quarter Alexandria, The Majestic, Maker’s Union (Arlington and Reston), Matchbox, The Ridley, Royal Restaurant, Surreal

Things to do in D.C.

Last chance – Pixar Putt: Through Mon., The Wharf, $30 for adult tickets

DC JazzFest: Through Sun., various venues and The Wharf, tickets start at $25

Stand-up comedy at Room 808: Weds. to Sun., Petworth, prices vary  but several shows are free

Underground Comedy at Hotbed: Weds. to Sun., Adams Morgan, prices vary but several shows are free

Childish Gambino: Thurs., Capital One Arena, $125+

Sunset Cinema: “Soul”: Thurs., The Wharf, free

Nationals vs. Cubs: Fri., Sat., Sun., Nationals Park, $18+

• Two Friends performs for the Nationals Summer Concert Series on Friday after the game beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Extraordinary Cinema: “Chocolat”: Fri., movie set to begin at dusk (about 8:15 p.m.), The Kennedy Center REACH Lawn, free

DC Festival of Magic: Fri. to Sun., Capital Hilton (Northwest D.C.), $99 for a weekend pass, individual shows start at $15

Joy of African Movement: Sat., 9-10 a.m., Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, free

DC Afro Latino Fest: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Franklin Park, free

Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun: Sat., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena, $31+

Late Skate: Sat., until 10 p.m., Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, free

NSO Labor Day Concert: Sun., 8 p.m., West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, free

Labor Day: Yoga + Sound Experience: Mon., 9-10 a.m., National Building Museum, $30

SPILL FEST: Afro-Caribbean Music and Food Festival: Mon., The Bullpen in Southeast, $15+

Things to do in Maryland

Greenbelt Labor Day Festival: Fri. to Mon., free entry, ride wristbands $20

A Night With The Legendary Comedian Earthquake: Fri. and Sat., MGM National Harbor, $98+

Capital House Music Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 a.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Silver Spring, free

Paint the Town Labor Day Show: Sat. to Mon., Kensington, free

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and Sept. 5-8, Lutherville-Timonium, $11-$16

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, Maryland, $26+ for adult tickets through Sept. 8

• Seniors age 62 and up can go for free on Monday, Sept. 2

Labor Day Art Show: Sat. to Mon., Glen Echo Park, free entry

Frederick Arts & Crafts End of Summer Celebration: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Frederick, free

Summers Farm Sunflower Festival: Sat. to Mon., plus Sept. 7-8, Middletown, $16.50 online, $20.50 at the gate

Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival: Mon., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free

Things to do in Virginia

Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s “Clear the Shelters”: Adoption fees waived Fri. to Sun.

Jason Aldean: Highway Desperado Tour: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, $68+

Comedy: Guy Branum: Fri., Sat. and Sun., Arlington Cinema Drafthouse, $20-$25

Patsy Cline Block Party: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester, free

Yoga in the Galleries at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington: Sat., 11 a.m., 3550 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, $10-$20 suggested donation

Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits: Sat., 7 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, $118+

Virginia Scottish Games: Sat. and Sun., The Plains, $20 (one-day pass)

Dog-friendly tour of Mount Vernon: Sat. and Sun., Mount Vernon, $10 in addition to general admission

LoCo Kid’s Fest: Mon., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Segra Field Parking Lots in Leesburg, free

Fairfax City Restaurant Week: Sept. 2-8

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She was scheduled to tour the newly renovated Garfield Elementary School with other education leaders to celebrate the first day of school for pre-K at 10 a.m.

In the X post, she said that she was disappointed that she won’t be able to celebrate with the “little learners” and that she will continue to follow public health guidelines.

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Title insurance is familiar to anyone who owns a home or is currently buying one. It’s an important part of the process that ensures the home bought actually belongs to the buyer.

The four title companies – Allied Title & Escrow, KVS Title, Modern Settlements and Union Settlements – face $3.29 million total in penalties.

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb told News4 the title companies broke the law and cost District homebuyers money.

“It is illegal, reprehensible to be squeezing more profits out of people by virtue of violating the law,” Schwalb said.

The scheme DC officials described

The title companies offered real estate agents “exclusive, lucrative, and discounted investment opportunities in either the companies themselves or in shell entities” in exchange for client referrals, the attorney general’s office said in a statement.

The D.C. attorney general says it is common for a real estate agent to suggest a title insurance company, but it is illegal for the agent to receive any compensation for doing so.

“Whether it’s cash, whether it’s a fancy yacht trip, whether it’s in distribution or a dividend in a joint venture that’s established to funnel fees,” Schwalb said, “all of that is illegal.”

In addition to profits from referrals, Allied Title & Escrow threw multiple parties on yachts in the Chesapeake Bay for real estate agents, the office said. The parties were “rewards for referrals and intended to incentivize the agents’ continued loyalty and future referrals,” authorities said.

The most clearly illegal version of a kickback scheme is one where a title company directly pays a real estate agent money for referring a client to a title company. Instead of that “front door” version of illegal activity, Schwalb said, the four title companies tried to take “the back door.”

“They tried to go through the back door with this surreptitious scheme of creating a joint venture or an entity, and giving the agents discounted interests in those entities, and then passing the money through the entities as if they were distributions or dividends,” Schwalb said.

The schemes had negative effects for homebuyers in a city where closing on a home is already expensive, Schwalb said. Since real estate agents involved were pointing their clients to certain title companies, it limited those clients’ ability to shop around for the best price.

“We want home buyers to be able to trust that the referrals that they’re getting from their agents are not contaminated with an undisclosed conflict of interest,” Schwalb said.

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The penalties

The $3.29 million in penalties is the total the title company will pay. Here’s the breakdown, under the terms of the agreement:

• Allied will pay $1.9 million to D.C.
• KVS will pay $1 million to D.C.
• Union will pay $325,000 to D.C.
• Modern will pay $65,000 to D.C.

The attorney general’s office said at least $2 million of the settlement will go to homeowners who may have lost money because of the schemes.

A claims process will be made publicly available on the attorney general’s website for anyone who used one of the four title companies to close on a home.

All four companies agreed to stop giving real estate agents rewards for referring clients, and to either “divest real estate agents from their ownership interests in the companies or cease the companies’ title insurance operations in the District,” the office of the attorney general said in a statement.

The office is “keeping an eye” on the real estate agents involved in the scheme, Schwalb said, but the settlement announced Thursday is only with the title companies.

The title companies’ responses

News4 reached out to each of the title companies involved in the settlement for comment.

A spokesperson for KSV Title said: “KVS Title strongly disagrees that its joint ventures operated improperly or harmed consumers, and denied any wrongdoing in its agreement with the Office of the Attorney General,” the statement reads. “KVS Title is proud of the work its joint ventures performed for consumers, but ultimately decided it was in the best interests of the company to settle these claims and avoid costly and protracted litigation.”

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A spokesperson for Modern Settlements said: “We do not agree with the allegations made by the Attorney General,” the statement reads. “Modern Settlements has always been and continues to be committed to playing by the rules and providing consumers with an exceptional experience at competitive prices.  We made a business decision to pay DC $65,000 rather than go through the drawn out process of a more extensive legal battle.”

The other two title companies, Allied Title & Escrow and Union Settlements, have not responded to a request for comment as of this writing. News4 will update you here if they do.

The lawsuit accuses them of creating poor living conditions that “shocked even seasoned investigators,” while collecting housing voucher money.

One resident says he opened his oven drawer to find it full of mouse droppings and six baby mice.

“It’s a lot of stuff,” that resident, Jayshaun, Gill said. “It’s a lot more than mice. It’s a lot of flies; flies are a big problem, too.”

Gill and his daughter live at a rent-controlled apartment complex on W Street SE.

Their neighbor Mae Gupton says building management refuses to fix the issues.

“Me and my daughters are living with rats,” Gupton said. “This whole building is infected with rats. I even called the exterminator. The exterminator said, ‘Ma’am, you won’t be able to pay that bill.”

Gupton said the rats have been coming out from behind her stove, too, so she’s afraid to walk in that part of her kitchen.

“I’m terrified; my family, it’s like I’m … It got me and my daughters sick,” she said.

In addition, her dishwasher is broken, so every time she uses it, she has to use a plunger to drain the water that comes up out of the sink, she said.

On Monday, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced two lawsuits against the building’s owner, Ali “Sam” Razjooyan, and his business partners for allegedly creating poor conditions there, as well as at the Minnesota Commons Apartments in Northeast.

Residents there sent News4 a video of water pouring down inside. Video also shows black water in a sink and trash piled up outside.

“It’s bad,” said Minnesota Commons resident Christine Smith. “Nobody should be able to live in this condition.”

Schwalb said: “The properties at issue in these lawsuits are in deplorable condition, some of the worst conditions that we’ve seen in the District.”

He says the lawsuits are aimed at forcing Razjooyan to make repairs, pay damages to tenants and pay penalties for violating D.C. housing code.

“That certainly happens far too often in our city, where landlords prey upon those who are least able to have the economic flexibility to move to take care of problems,” Schwalb said.

News4 went to Razjooyan’s house for comment, but no one answered the door. We also tried calling several phone numbers associated with the building owner but didn’t hear back.

At the W Street apartments, resident Kianna Smith says there are still stains on the wall from an hours-long sewage leak.

“Feces coming down my wall,” she said.

She said management doesn’t pick up the phone when she calls.

“This is not fair to anyone,” she said. “I’m pretty sure they’re not living like this, so why should we live like this?”

The D.C. Department of Buildings says it issued seven stop work orders at Minnesota Commons this year. But the owner allegedly ignored them.

Adriano Demorais, 33, was arrested Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said.

Demorais was feeding dogs at the day care’s Navy Yard location on the morning of Feb. 16, when he forcefully kicked a puppy named Bronny, who was a mountain-cur/German shepherd mix, according to the attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said Bronny collapsed seconds after Demorais kicked the puppy in the left side of the stomach. The puppy was transported to a nearby veterinary facility but could not be revived, District Dogs previously said.

Demorais admitted to kicking Bronny out of frustration over the puppy being too energetic while he was trying to feed the dogs, the attorney’s office said. District Dogs fired Demorais after the incident.

A necropsy, similar to an autopsy for humans, confirmed Bronny’s cause of death was blunt abdominal trauma with subsequent hemorrhagic shock.

If convicted, Demorais faces up to five years in prison.

It wasn’t immediately clear if he has an attormey.

Those most vulnerable to air pollution include people with chronic health issues, children and the elderly, but bad pollution can affect healthy people, too. When the air quality is poor, experts advise staying inside, especially during strenuous activity like exercise.

Here’s how to check the air quality today in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, plus tips on staying safe.

What’s the air quality where I live today?

You can check the air quality in your part of the D.C. area using the interactive map below.

The data in the map refreshes itself daily.

For hourly updates based on zip code or city, you can also go to AirNow.gov.

What do the different air quality codes mean?

The Environmental Protection Agency monitors how polluted or clear the air is with the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The scale runs from 0 to 500, and the higher the AQI, the more pollution there is in the air.

Each range on the AQI is given a color. Green is the zero to 50 part of the range, and qualifies as “Good” air quality; yellow is 51 to 100, and qualifies as “Moderate” air.

Code orange ranges from 101 to 150, and means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, like children and elderly adults, or people with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions.

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A code red, which ranges from 151 to 200, is unhealthy for everyone.

Code purple means everyone is at greater risk of health impacts. Once you get to maroon, which is 301 and higher, the effects on everyone’s health reach emergency levels, and people are more likely to be sickened.

See the chart below for the full range of the AQI.

How could bad air quality affect my health?

The effects of air pollution on the human body vary based on factors including the type of pollution, the length of exposure, health care access and individual health, according to the American Lung Association.

Short-term exposure to air pollution is linked to reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

Over the long term, pollution is linked to serious diseases including cancer, lung disease and heart disease, the NIEHS said.

How can I stay safe during air quality alerts?

The best way to protect yourself from the negative health effects of wildfire smoke is to avoid breathing it in – which means staying inside as much as possible.

When air quality is poor, for example, it’s a good idea to hit the gym instead if you typically work out outside. Air quality alert days are also not the best times to bring your kids to the park or the pool, especially if they have allergies, asthma, or chronic health issues.

Pets should also stay inside when the air is unhealthy.

“Other mammals, they suffer from many of the same lung conditions that humans do,” Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at the Allergy & Asthma Network, told NBC News.

If the air quality reaches code red or code purple levels, it’s a good idea to use the “recirculate” air button in your car, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.

“This keeps the outside air OUT and keeps sending the inside air through the filters,” he said.

If you need extra protection from smoky conditions, the Centers for Disease Control recommends finding a room you can seal off from outside air. Consider a portable air cleaner or a filter to keep that room clean.

There are ways to create an air filter yourself using a box fan and furnace filters you can purchase at most grocery stores.

Respirators, like N95s, can help reduce your smoke exposure if you have to be outside in poor air quality conditions, according to the CDC.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) suggests trying to cut your own contribution to pollutants during poor air quality days. Its suggestions are:

• Avoid lawn mowing or use an electric mower.
• Use gas or electric grills instead of charcoal.
• Fill your vehicles’ gas tank after sunset.
• Take transit, carpool, or work from home.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home.

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The Department of Public Works noticed a lot of the cars responsible for dangerous and risky driving in the city come from outside of the District, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

DPW has been targeting entertainment districts like Adam’s Morgan on the weekends to find and tow drivers that, in some cases, have racked up thousands of dollars in D.C. traffic violations but never paid them.

“They are skirting the law and they are speeding through the streets — our streets,” D.C. Parking Enforcement Administrator Johnny Gaither said. “They are running red lights and they are running stop signs.”

Towed drivers can’t get their cars back unless they pay their fines in full. DPW said it opened a third impound lot because so many vehicles are being towed. 

Officials say signs that tell drivers how fast they’re driving allows them to collect information and the put resources where they are going to have the greatest impact. 

There are also electronic signs that recognize when drivers are using their phones while driving. 

“This is instantaneous, and then we’re actually seeing it change behavior, not weeks on end, but in that moment,” D.C. Highway Safety Office Director Rick Birt said.

No fines are attached to the signs yet. 

The goal of D.C.’s Vision Zero was to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by this year, but there have been 34 deaths on District streets so far in 2024.

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Traffic camera video shows the pack flooding the streets of Arlington, including Wilson Boulevard and North Oak Street. Some of them are seen running a red light in Rosslyn as pedestrians crossed the street.

At one point, Arlington County police arrived to redirect the group. Police said they monitored the motorbikes and ATVs for the safety of pedestrians and motorists. No injuries or property damage was reported. 

Riding the ATVs on public streets is illegal. Police said their investigation is ongoing.

Arlington County police say anyone who sees ATVs on the street should report them.

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In the order, IAD Commander John Knutsen told all members of the IAD: “The IAD member shall not contact nor attempt to interview the media representative in order to identify the individual (Source) that provided the unauthorized information to the news media.”

The directive was issued Aug. 19. That morning, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith told News4 a junior investigator made the decision on his own to call a reporter and ask for sources.

“That is something we should not do,” Smith said. “They should never do that … You should not see that happen again.”

In an Aug. 15 call to the News4 I-Team, an Internal Affairs agent asked reporter Ted Oberg what internal police documents he received and from whom. The documents in question revealed unanswered 911 calls from a family of an unresponsive 5-month-old child during one of D.C.’s 911 outages. That child later died. It is unclear if a faster 911 response would have changed that outcome.

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At the time, the official D.C. timeline did not include the unanswered calls. D.C. leadership has since acknowledged the family placed calls to 911 that were not answered by call takers.

The directive does leave room to call journalists in a criminal case after getting written permission from police leadership.

“Investigations of a criminal matter and/or in instances in which an interview of a media representative is necessary in order to dispose of a case, the IAD member shall request in writing and through the chain of command, permission from the Assistant Chief, Internal Affairs Bureau, to interview the media representative. The IAD member shall only contact and interview the media representative with written approval from the Assistant Chief, Internal Affairs Bureau. If contact with a media representative is approved, the media representative shall not be compelled to provide an interview or disclose a source.”

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Monday is Labor Day, which means a long weekend for many. It might also be your last chance to hit up pools and water parks!

FYI: The Smithsonian museums are open on Labor Day, and many will offer free tours.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Last chance – Pixar Putt: Through Mon., The Wharf, $30 for adult tickets

Nationals vs. Yankees: Mon., Tues., Weds., Nationals Park

Buju Banton: The Overcomer Tour: Tues., 8 p.m., Capital One Arena, $55+

Live Music Thursdays at Hi-Lawn: Thurs., 7-9 p.m., Union Market, free

DC JazzFest: Weds. through Sun., various venues and The Wharf, tickets start at $25

Free shows happening with DC JazzFest include:

• The Jo-Go Project: Weds., noon to 2 p.m., Franklin Square Park 
• Ebban & Ephraim Dorsey: Thu., 6 p.m., Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage 
• Shannon Gunn’s Saffron Ensemble: Fri., 6 p.m., Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
• Shows along The Wharf’s main promenade (Here’s the Brunch & Beats lineup for Sunday)

Stand-up comedy at Room 808: Weds. to Sun., Petworth, prices vary  but several shows are free

Underground Comedy at Hotbed: Weds. to Sun., Adams Morgan, prices vary but several shows are free

Childish Gambino: Thurs., Capital One Arena, $125+

Sunset Cinema: “Soul”: Thurs., The Wharf, free

Nationals vs. Cubs: Fri., Sat., Sun., Nationals Park, $18+

• Two Friends performs for the Nationals Summer Concert Series on Friday after the game beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Extraordinary Cinema: “Chocolat”: Fri., movie set to begin at dusk (about 8:15 p.m.), The Kennedy Center REACH Lawn, free

DC Festival of Magic: Fri. to Sun., Capital Hilton (Northwest D.C.), $99 for a weekend pass, individual shows start at $15

Joy of African Movement: Sat., 9-10 a.m., Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, free

DC Afro Latino Fest: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Franklin Park, free

Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun: Sat., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena, $31+

Late Skate: Sat., until 10 p.m., Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, free

NSO Labor Day Concert: Sun., 8 p.m., West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, free

Labor Day: Yoga + Sound Experience: Mon., 9-10 a.m., National Building Museum, $30

What to do in Maryland

Greenbelt Labor Day Festival: Fri. to Mon., free entry, ride wristbands $20

A Night With The Legendary Comedian Earthquake: Fri. and Sat., MGM National Harbor, $98+

Capital House Music Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 a.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Silver Spring, free

Paint the Town Labor Day Show: Sat. to Mon., Kensington, free

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and Sept. 5-8, Lutherville-Timonium, $11-$16

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Maryland Renaissance Festival: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, Maryland, $26+ for adult tickets through Sept. 8

• Seniors age 62 and up can go for free on Monday, Sept. 2

Labor Day Art Show: Sat. to Mon., Glen Echo Park, free entry

Frederick Arts & Crafts End of Summer Celebration: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Frederick, free

Summers Farm Sunflower Festival: Sat. to Mon., plus Sept. 7-8, Middletown, $16.50 online, $20.50 at the gate

Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival: Mon., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free

What to do in Virginia

Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s “Clear the Shelters”: Adoption fees waived Fri. to Sun.

Jason Aldean: Highway Desperado Tour: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, $68+

Comedy: Guy Branum: Fri., Sat. and Sun., Arlington Cinema Drafthouse, $20-$25

Patsy Cline Block Party: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester, free

Yoga in the Galleries at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington: Sat., 11 a.m., 3550 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, $10-$20 suggested donation

Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits: Sat., 7 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, $118+

Virginia Scottish Games: Sat. and Sun., The Plains, $20 (one-day pass)

Dog-friendly tour of Mount Vernon: Sat. and Sun., Mount Vernon, $10 in addition to general admission

LoCo Kid’s Fest: Mon., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Segra Field Parking Lots in Leesburg, free

Fairfax City Restaurant Week: Sept. 2-8

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

The child had suffered multiple blunt force injuries, D.C. police said in a release Monday.

Officers went to the 1800 block of 18^th Street SE about 11:30 p.m. Thursday after someone reported an unconscious child.

D.C. Fire and EMS took the boy to a nearby hospital. He was unresponsive and in critical condition, according to police.

Medical personnel tried to save the boy’s life, but he was pronounced dead shortly before 1 a.m. The District’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide on Friday.

The boy’s name was Jordan Ballard, and he lived in Southeast D.C., police said.

Police haven’t shared details about how the child may have been so seriously injured. No information about potential suspects was immediately released.

A $25,000 reward is available in the case. Reach out to police if you have information.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Cielo resident Alessandra Torres said the leak started in her bathroom about 1 a.m. Thursday. She said she and her boyfriend bailed with buckets, but after a couple of hours, they faced a torrent. Beyond their door, it sounded like a babbling brook.

“We walked outside and saw a lot of the water flowing from, like, the elevators, which is across from the unit where I’m at,” Torres said. “Then it went into the staircase, flooding.”

“Even the ceiling from the hallway started to crash into, like, the floor,” she added

Maintenance and eventually the fire department responded.

A Cielo spokesperson said it was caused by a valve on the 12^th floor and onsite maintenance and a contractor handled the repair. They’re working with residents whose homes were impacted and apologize for any inconvenience.

But that wasn’t the first issue residents have had.

“We have these common area utility fees,” Nic Rogers said. “They started out about, you know, really small.”

But residents say the fees didn’t stay small and they now must budget for them.

“For the month of March, my utility fee for the common area of the building — $40,” another resident said. “This month — $180.”

Common area fees are in leases, but residents say those who were told outright about them didn’t expect the spike.

“Now, they’re about 9% of my rent,” Rogers said. 

“We’ve already reached out to our council member, Council member Charles Allen, and he’s actually proposing a bill to make this type of billing illegal in the District,” a fourth resident said.

The residents say their experiences aren’t uncommon among renters in D.C.

“There’s such a lack of explanation and communication,” yet another resident said.

Residents say there’s an issue bigger than their building.

“These type of quality of life, quality of financial life issues are important to the District, because we want people to be long-time District residents,” one said.

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The lawsuit accuses them of creating poor living conditions that “shocked even seasoned investigators,” while collecting housing voucher money.

One resident says he opened his oven drawer to find it full of mouse droppings and six baby mice.

“It’s a lot of stuff,” that resident, Jayshaun, Gill said. “It’s a lot more than mice. It’s a lot of flies; flies are a big problem, too.”

Gill and his daughter live at a rent-controlled apartment complex on W Street SE.

Their neighbor Mae Gupton says building management refuses to fix the issues.

“Me and my daughters are living with rats,” Gupton said. “This whole building is infected with rats. I even called the exterminator. The exterminator said, ‘Ma’am, you won’t be able to pay that bill.”

Gupton said the rats have been coming out from behind her stove, too, so she’s afraid to walk in that part of her kitchen.

“I’m terrified; my family, it’s like I’m … It got me and my daughters sick,” she said.

In addition, her dishwasher is broken, so every time she uses it, she has to use a plunger to drain the water that comes up out of the sink, she said.

On Monday, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced two lawsuits against the building’s owner, Ali “Sam” Razjooyan, and his business partners for allegedly creating poor conditions there, as well as at the Minnesota Commons Apartments in Northeast.

Residents there sent News4 a video of water pouring down inside. Video also shows black water in a sink and trash piled up outside.

“It’s bad,” said Minnesota Commons resident Christine Smith. “Nobody should be able to live in this condition.”

Schwalb said: “The properties at issue in these lawsuits are in deplorable condition, some of the worst conditions that we’ve seen in the District.”

He says the lawsuits are aimed at forcing Razjooyan to make repairs, pay damages to tenants and pay penalties for violating D.C. housing code.

“That certainly happens far too often in our city, where landlords prey upon those who are least able to have the economic flexibility to move to take care of problems,” Schwalb said.

News4 went to Razjooyan’s house for comment, but no one answered the door. We also tried calling several phone numbers associated with the building owner but didn’t hear back.

At the W Street apartments, resident Kianna Smith says there are still stains on the wall from an hours-long sewage leak.

“Feces coming down my wall,” she said.

She said management doesn’t pick up the phone when she calls.

“This is not fair to anyone,” she said. “I’m pretty sure they’re not living like this, so why should we live like this?”

The D.C. Department of Buildings says it issued seven stop work orders at Minnesota Commons this year. But the owner allegedly ignored them.

The Miniature Golf Course at East Potomac Golf Links was built in 1931 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We don’t have the clown’s mouth and no volcanoes and no dinosaurs around, but again, we maintain the historical elements of the miniature-golf course with the wishing well. We have the, you know, the Capitol and the White House and Mount Vernon right behind me here,” National Links Trust Executive Director Damian Cosby said as he showed some of the holes on the course. “Those were all here when this miniature-golf course originally opened, and so we wanted to keep those elements and maintain them and restore them.”

The course was in bad shape when the National Links Trust took it over in 2020. But over the past several months, it’s been restored to its original design.

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“And the great thing about it is you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy this space,” Cosby said. “You don’t have to know anything about golf. You know, again, it’s fun, it’s engaging, it’s really accessible, it’s affordable, it’s a great place to take your kids, take your family, take a date if you’d like. It’s just really fun and it’s just a really easy way to get into the game.”

The course is open year-round, seven days a week from 8 a.m. until dark. Starting in September, it will stay open until 9 p.m.

NBC4 Washington News, our 24/7 streaming channel, is now available on Roku TV, Peacock, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Local Now, Pluto, Google TV, TCL, Xfinity, and FreeVee.

You can also stream our channel on the NBC Washington app or by tapping the “Watch News 24/7” button on NBCWashington.com.

What can you expect to see on our channel? You can watch 24/7 local news, weather, encore presentations, live events, special reports and original content.

Below are instructions on how to find our streaming channel on your favorite platform. Scroll through the list, or select a streaming platform to navigate to those instructions.

NOTE: We will update this page when our streaming channel is available to watch on additional platforms.

FireTV Freevee Google TV LocalNow Pluto Roku SamsungTV TCL Xfinity Xumo Play

Amazon FireTV

You can now find “NBC Washington News” on the Fire TV Channels, available on Amazon Fire TV devices! No app download needed!

1. To find the channel, open Fire TV Channels on your Fire TV device, then click Local News in the News tab

2. Scroll to find “NBC Washington News“

Freevee

Amazon Freevee is available as an app on Fire TV, Fire Tablets, and within the Prime Video app. It is also available as an app on third party devices including Roku, Samsung smart TVs (2017-2021 models), Apple TV, Xfinity, Chromecast with Google TV. The app is also available on iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices.

1. Open the Freevee app on your favorite device

2. Search for “NBC Washington News“

Google TV

Google TV comes with live TV channels at no charge and with no app installation, sign-up, or subscription needed.

You can browse Google TV channels in the “Live” tab, your recommendations, or the Google TV channel player.

Local Now

Open the Local Now app on your favorite mobile device or streaming platform.

Input your city in the “My City” section at the top of the channel guide or go here.

Pluto

1. Open the Pluto app on your favorite mobile device or streaming platform

2. Search “NBC Washington News“

Roku TV

Select the Live TV tile on your Roku TV home screen and then click the left arrow button

OR

1. Open The Roku Channel app, click the left arrow button to access the left-hand navigation menu and select Live TV

Type “NBC Washington News” into the search bar on your Roku device

Samsung TV

Scroll through the guide to find your “NBC Washington News” on Samsung TV Plus.

Mobile: To watch “NBC Washington News” on Samsung TV Plus on your Samsung mobile device, download the app in the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store.

TV: To watch on your Samsung TV, navigate to the app bar on the bottom of your screen and search for channel 1035 or “NBC Washington News“.

TCL

Watching live TV on a TCL Roku TV
1. Access the “Live TV Zone” from the left-hand navigation menu, right below “Home” and “Featured Free.”

2. Scroll through the guide to find “NBC Washington News“

Watching live TV on a TCL with Google
1. Click into the “Live TV” tab from the homescreen of all TCL TVs with Google TV.

2. Scroll through the guide to find “NBC Washington News“.

Xfinity

The first time you open the app on a specific device, you’ll need to register the device on your account. Enter your Xfinity ID and password, then tap Continue. You only need to register this device once. On future visits, the mobile app will recognize this device and you won’t need to sign in again.

You can find “NBC Washington News” by going to the Xfinity Stream App – and clicking “Live TV”.

Xumo Play

Open the Xumo Play app on your favorite mobile device or streaming platform.

1. In the Live Guide there is a vertical list of content sections. Scroll down to the last option, “Local News”

2. Scroll through the local options and select “NBC Washington News“.

Sometimes, it feels like you can’t leave home without spending a bunch of money. But if you’re on the hunt for free and cheap stuff to do in the D.C. area, this weekend has lots of good news for you.

The National Book Festival is hosting high-profile authors on Saturday, plus kid-friendly activities, at the Washington Convention Center on Saturday.

More free picks include Opera in the Outfield at Nats Park, the WOW Indonesia! Festival, Bowie’s Fairwood Music Festival. Plus, kids can attend get free tickets to the first weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Huzzah!

On Monday, which is National Dog Day, you can take your pup for a ride on National Harbor’s Capital Wheel. Dogs ride free with an adult ticket.

And there are some dining deals for Restaurant Week, too.

Alexandria Restaurant Week continues through Sunday. Discounted prix fixe menus are still available at many D.C. and Maryland restaurants, including Bresca, Ambar, The Daily Dish, Immigrant Food, MI VIDA, Succotash Prime, Bistro Du Jour, Gatsby, The Grill and Seven Reasons restaurants.

Weekend highlights

Washington Commanders vs. New England Patriots
Sun., 8 p.m., Commanders Field, $35+
Details

The burgundy and gold are just two weeks from kicking off their regular season. But first, they face the New England Patriots at Commanders Field. As of Friday morning, several seats were available for under $50.

Free for kids this weekend
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Weekends through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, $14-26 (before Sept. 8)
🔗 Details

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is back for its 48th season with jousting tournaments, giant turkey legs and costumed revelers aplenty near Annapolis.

During opening weekend, one kid under 15 can attend with an adult who bought a ticket (kids under 7 can always go for free). On Labor Day, seniors 62 and up can attend for free.

With more than 200 professional performers on 10 stages, the schedule has something for everyone. Look for bite-sized Shakespeare plays, daring stunt shows, story time and bards performing music and comedy.

• Pro tips: Buy tickets in advance because they will sell out. Bring plenty of cash for food and drinks. Go early to beat crowds, traffic and heat. We have more pro tips here.
• Costume curious? Dressing up is one of our favorite parts of the fair! Raid your closet for a Seinfeld-style puffy shirt and flower crown, or arrive early to rent one. Rentals start at $10 for kids and $20 for adults.

Free pick
National Book Festival
Sat., 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center
🔗 Details

The National Book Festival returns to downtown D.C. this weekend, bringing top authors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The free, daylong celebration of books has something for bookworms of all ages. 

• Sandra Cisneros marking 40 years since the release of “The House on Mango Street”
• A hundred years after James Baldwin’s birth, Ayana Mathis, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Eric Deggans will discuss the lasting influence of his work on writers (Make a day of it by stopping by the Portrait Gallery’s Baldwin exhibit!)
• James Patterson talking about “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians”
• A Literature to Life performance of Erika L. Sánchez’s novel “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”
• As popularity of the romantasy genre surges, Rebecca Yarros will talk about her books on the main stage

Go here to see the full lineup. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.

Free pick
Opera in the Outfield
Sat., gates open at 4:30 p.m., Nationals Park
🔗 Details

See a broadcast of Puccini’s “Turnadot” on the outfield grass or the stands of Nationals Park. The Washington National Opera production, which sold out in May, will be sung in Italian, but there will be English subtitles on screen.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. before the concert at 6 p.m. Outfield wristbands will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. You can pick them up at the Family Picnic Area located on the left of Center Field Plaza.

Before the show, enjoy live dance and music, including a performance by Step Afrika!, plus photo opportunities made for families and a chance to win prizes.

Remember, Nats Park’s strict bag policy will be in effect.

Concerts this weekend

Big Star’s “Radio City” 50th Anniversary, 7 p.m. Saturday, Union Stage, $25

An all-star lineup – Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Pat Sansone (Wilco) and Chris Stamey (The dB’s) – joins drummer Jody Stephens, the last surviving member of Big Star, to pay tribute to the second album by the forefathers of power pop, “Radio City.” These guys are familiar with playing Big Star’s songs together, having teamed up on several tours of the cult band’s third album as “Big Star’s Third.” And it’s always a great show. Details.

Santigold, 8 p.m. Saturday, Fillmore Silver Spring, $53

Singer-songwriter with a punk ethic blends pop, hip-hop, new wave and dub. Known for an energetic, retro live performance. Details.

Things to do in D.C.

DCBX16: “The Super Bowl of USA Latin Dance Festivals”: Thurs. to Mon., Westin DC Hotel, $40+

Embassy Row Rooftop Night in Havana Under the Stars with Latin Band: Fri., 7-10 p.m., The Ven at Embassy Row, $25-$35

Oh He Dead: Fri., The Atlantis, $25

WWE Smackdown: Fri., Capital One Arena

DC United: United Night Out: Sat., Audi Field, $27+

National Book Festival: Sat., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, free

Joy of African Movement dance class: Sat., 9-10 a.m., National Museum of African Art, free

Hi Lawn’s Caribbean Festival: Sat., Hi-Lawn at Union Market, $10

WOW Indonesia! Festival: Sun., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3rd-7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, free

Washington Spirit International Friendlies Double Header
Spirit vs. Kansas City Current at noon
Chelsea FC vs. Arsenal FC at 4 p.m.
Audi Field, $64-$125

Women’s Equality Day Power Up Concert: Sun., 6:30 p.m., The Kennedy Center, $50-$150

Things to do in Maryland

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, $14-26 (before Sept. 8)

• FYI: Kids can go for free on Aug. 24 and 25. “One child aged 7 through 15 is admitted free with each adult ticket purchased. Children 6 and under are always free,” the festival said.
• Seniors aged 62 and over can go for free on Labor Day. No ticket is needed.

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 22 to Sept. 8, 200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, admission is $8.25 (ages 6-11) or $13.25 (age 12 and older) if purchased in advance

Foodie Fridays – Taste the Land: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Josiah Henson Museum and Park in Bethesda, $15

Kensington Community Block Party: Sat., 2-4 p.m., Kensington House Lawn, free

Fairwood Music Festival: Sun., 1-6 p.m., Fairwood Community Park in Bowie, free

Hand Dance Social: Sun., 6-8:30 p.m., Roosevelt Center in Greenbelt, free
Lesson from 6 to 6:30 followed by open dance

Free dog rides on the Capital Wheel for National Dog Day: Mon., National Harbor, free

Things to do in Virginia

Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge: Sat. and Sun., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $55

Around the World Food Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oronoco Bay Park in Alexandria, free entry

Blues, Brews & BBQ feat. The Nighthawks: Sat., 6-9 p.m., Dirt Farm Brewing in Bluemont, Virginia, $20

Lake Accotink Park Celebration Day: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Springfield, free
Free boat rentals, nature activities and amusements

Starlight Drive-in Cinema double feature of “Migration” and “Elemental”: Sat., gates open at 6 p.m., Sully Historic Site, free

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

A thief stole $100,000 worth of merchandise after breaking into an Adams Morgan jewelry and liquor store through a tunnel in the wall.

The robbery happened between the store’s closing hours and 2 a.m. It took the suspect about three hours to break in through the store. During that time, neighbors said that they heard banging noises.

The suspect broke through an abandoned restaurant building that was going through renovation. They took leftover tools from the building and could have used some to tunnel through the 2-3 feet of brick between the two buildings.

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“This is something else,” the store owner said. “I opened the store at 10 in the morning and that’s when the boxes were down.”

The owner said that they hadn’t taken inventory of the store yet but estimated that the amount stolen was about $100,000 worth of gold and watches.

This isn’t the first time someone has tried to break in. According to the owner, someone tried to break in a couple of weeks ago through the rear wall.

“There’s no way to survive something like that when they’ve just taken all of your inventory out,” the owner said. “It’s just like, you’ve been here for over thirty years and something like that happens. That’s it.

VIDA Fitness in Logan Circle will have cameras at the entrance to the locker room but not in the sink area or a walkway, CEO David von Storch told members in a message Wednesday.

“We asked for your input and appreciate your quick response. Although our approach is both legal and proven to catch and deter theft, the bottom line is you are uncomfortable with it. This is your club and your input is paramount,” he said.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

The gym previously said it paused its plan for security cameras until members better understood the plan and their privacy policy.

The VIDA location on U Street NW has had cameras “for 60 days with no pushback,” von Storch wrote.

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“We recently caught a thief and his accomplice as a result of being able to review the video. But the blow back in the last 24 hours has [been] too great and not worth the effort to dissuade members who have had a strong emotional reaction and aren’t open to reconsidering their viewpoint,” he said.

Citing a rash of locker room thefts, VIDA urged members to lock up their belongings and report any suspicious activity to management.

You may be counting down the days until Labor Day, but don’t miss out on all the fun stuff happening in the D.C. area this weekend.

Don’t forget to share your pet photos for Pat’s Prized Pets challenge supporting Clear The Shelters!

If you’re ready to adopt a new pet to your family, the Humane Rescue Alliance is hosting adoption events on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Head to the New York Avenue Adoption Center in Northeast D.C. to meet dogs. Small animals are waiting for you at the Oglethorpe Adoption Center in Northwest.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Usher: Past Present Future: Tues. and Weds., Capital One Arena

DCBX16: “The Super Bowl of USA Latin Dance Festivals”: Thurs. to Mon., Westin DC Hotel, $40+

Embassy Row Rooftop Night in Havana Under the Stars with Latin Band: Fri., 7-10 p.m., The Ven at Embassy Row, $25-$35

Oh He Dead: Fri., The Atlantis, $25

WWE Smackdown: Fri., Capital One Arena

DC United: United Night Out: Sat., Audi Field, $27+

National Book Festival: Sat., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, free

Joy of African Movement dance class: Sat., 9-10 a.m., National Museum of African Art, free

Opera in the Outfield: Sat., gates open at 4:30 p.m., free
FYI: Remember Nats Park’s strict bag policy

Hi Lawn’s Caribbean Festival: Sat., Hi-Lawn at Union Market, $10

WOW Indonesia! Festival: Sun., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3rd-7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, free

Washington Spirit International Friendlies Double Header
Spirit vs. Kansas City Current at noon
Chelsea FC vs. Arsenal FC at 4 p.m.
Audi Field, $64-$125

Women’s Equality Day Power Up Concert: Sun., 6:30 p.m., The Kennedy Center, $50-$150

What to do in Maryland

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, $14-26 (before Sept. 8)

• FYI: Kids can go for free on Aug. 24 and 25. “One child aged 7 through 15 is admitted free with each adult ticket purchased. Children 6 and under are always free,” the festival said.
• Seniors aged 62 and over can go for free on Labor Day. No ticket is needed.

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 22 to Sept. 8, 200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, admission is $8.25 (ages 6-11) or $13.25 (age 12 and older) if purchased in advance

Foodie Fridays – Taste the Land: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Josiah Henson Museum and Park in Bethesda, $15

Kensington Community Block Party: Sat., 2-4 p.m., Kensington House Lawn, free

Fairwood Music Festival: Sun., 1-6 p.m., Fairwood Community Park in Bowie, free

Hand Dance Social: Sun., 6-8:30 p.m., Roosevelt Center in Greenbelt, free
Lesson from 6 to 6:30 followed by open dance

Free dog rides on the Capital Wheel for National Dog Day: Mon., National Harbor, free

What to do in Virginia

Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge: Sat. and Sun., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $55

Around the World Food Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oronoco Bay Park in Alexandria, free entry

Blues, Brews & BBQ feat. The Nighthawks: Sat., 6-9 p.m., Dirt Farm Brewing in Bluemont, Virginia, $20

Lake Accotink Park Celebration Day: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Springfield, free
Free boat rentals, nature activities and amusements

Starlight Drive-in Cinema double feature of “Migration” and “Elemental”: Sat., gates open at 6 p.m., Sully Historic Site, free

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Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

A gym in Northwest D.C. paused a plan to install security cameras inside the men’s locker room after it surprised members and met some opposition.

VIDA Fitness in Logan Circle emailed members to let them know cameras would be strategically placed in discreet locations near the exit and entry and the sink.

The company pointed to a rise in thefts in the men’s locker room since after the pandemic.

“I think it’s kind of an invasion of privacy,” member Garrett Anderson said. “You know, locker room is kind of a safe space for you to get changed, take a shower after you work out.”

The plan caught him off guard, and he considered changing gyms.

“I thought about it this morning, if I should change to a different gym that kind of respects your boundaries a little bit,” he said.  

In 2012, a VIDA Fitness location in Northwest D.C. installed cameras hoping to capture a locker thief. Cameras recorded a suspect going in and out of lockers.

VIDA Fitness CEO David von Storch said crime remains a concern years later.

“We’ve had a rash of thefts in the men’s locker room,” he said.

“The only place we have this problem is in our D.C. clubs in the men’s locker rooms,” he said.  

But he said the company’s messaging about the cameras could have been better.

“We’re trying to put out the fire that we caused by our own mistake,” von Storch said.

“What we need to do is make sure that people understand the policy,” he said.

In an email to members Tuesday afternoon, VIDA Fitness said it would halt the installation of the cameras until members understand its surveillance and privacy policy and can provide feedback.

The email said cameras would not capture any video of the toilet, shower or changing areas in the locker rooms. The company also said notices will be posted, cameras will be visible and the gym will not monitor any video live.

VIDA Fitness said in the event the video is needed, the footage will be reviewed and shared with police. Otherwise, it will be recorded over on a monthly basis.

Some members aren’t opposed to the cameras if they are used to to cut down on theft.

“Personally, it doesn’t matter to me; it doesn’t affect my gym experience,” Charles Lainoff said. “I’m going to keep my membership.”

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

As with most things a century old, time and weather has taken its toll on the gold dome, and PNC Bank, which now owns the building, is having it re-gilded.

“This is such a landmark space for all of Washington, D.C., and we wanted to do it right. It was not a space that we were going to do kind of half-dollar. We wanted to make the right investment for a landmark space that we have here in Washington, D.C.” said Jermaine Johnson, regional president of PNC Bank.

The work is delicate, painstaking and expensive.

Locally-owned Gilders Studio, renowned for its work around the world, is re-gilding the dome.

“We’re native Washingtonians and we have looked at this dome for years, and when it started to deteriorate, you know, 10-15 years ago, we really thought, ‘We really want to do that, and we’re so happy that we were able … to do that, and it’s here in D.C. It’s local,” Gilder Studio’s Michale Kramer told News4.

The gilders are artisans who are specially trained in the time-honored technique.

Kramer has been a guilder for more than 40 years, and worked on many D.C.-area landmarks during that time.

“We did the whole interior of Union Station several years ago after the earthquake. We also did the Mormon Temple right off the Beltway. We did all the spires and the Angel Moroni,” he said. “We did the State Library in the old Executive Office Building also, which was over 70,000 different pieces of ornament that all had to be individually gilded.”

The gold leaf Kramer and others are applying to the dome at the Georgetown bank is 99% pure gold.

“It’s a very heavy weight gold that we had made, especially for this project, in Italy. And it translates into about a third of a gram of gold per square foot up there,” Kramer said.

Like most artists, gilders use highly specialized tools, including one made with squirrel hair.

“This is a squirrel hair brush, costs over $100. … and it doesn’t readily scratch the gold,” Kramer said.

The scaffolding around the bank’s dome is set to come down soon. Kramer said the cost of the gold leaf is about $60 per square foot.

Sarah Katherine Magid was arrested Monday after police and special agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search and seizure warrant at her home in Burtonsville, police said.

DEA agents and police detectives discovered that a man who died in March from a fentanyl overdose had been in Montgomery County in the days leading up to his death and had been in contact with Magid, according to police.

Two days before the victim was found dead in a home for recovering addicts — according to a D.C. police report — he reached out to Magid for Xanax, according to charging documents. Montgomery County police say text messages show the teacher sold to the man for months before his death and knew how dangerous the drugs were.

The day before the man was found dead, text messages show Magid was trying to get in touch with him but he wasn’t responding, police said. The day after he was found, she texted him again, writing “Guess you died,” and expressing concern having not had contact with him for four days.

The next day, the man’s sister opened his phone and sent a message to Magid saying the man was dead. “I know who you are and I know what you did,” his sister wrote.

Documents also say an anonymous source alerted police to Magid allegedly leaving the classroom to sell drugs outside of school.

Magid teaches at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary in Silver Spring, according to the MCPS online staff directory.

Magid is in jail awaiting a bond hearing, police said.

Magid was placed on leave, according to an MCPS spokesperson.

The grocery chain announced changes to anti-theft policies for certain stores in the District and Maryland.

Giant is loosening up its no-bag policy for a handful of stores. The grocer banned backpacks and large-sized bags back in May, citing theft. But now, some stores will allow backpacks – if shoppers agree to security checks.

The grocer also announced plans to limit when minors can shop without an adult.

Unaccompanied minors barred from some stores after 6 p.m.

Starting Thursday, customers under the age of 18 will not be allowed inside specific Giant stores after 6 p.m. unless they’re accompanied by an adult.

Those locations include stores in D.C.’s Brentwood, Shaw and Van Ness neighborhoods, plus Oxon Hill, District Heights and Baltimore in Maryland. See a full list of impacted stores at the bottom of this article.

Backpacks allowed in some Giant stores

Backpacks no larger than 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches are once again allowed inside certain locations – but only if shoppers agree to security checks.

Standard and small-sized backpacks “will be allowed if the customer consents to having the bag tagged prior to entry and to having the bag searched before exit,” the company said in a statement.

Backpacks are now allowed inside locations in Cathedral Heights, Columbia Heights, the H Street Corridor, Shaw and Van Ness, a Giant spokesperson said. Some stores will continue to ban backpacks.

Giant is updating its bag policy after announcing a ban on large bags at D.C.-area stores in May, an effort to crack down on shoplifting.

Because of the updated policies, customers no longer have to leave their bags unattended in the front of those stores before they enter.

ANC Commissioner would like to see different approach

ANC Commissioner Alexander Padro, who represents the Shaw neighborhood, says he wrote a letter to Giant complaining about the policy. He’d like to see them take a different approach.

“The retail theft problem is going to continue and it makes more sense to invest in some lockers and have a policy that’s easy to enforce,” Padro said.

Padro also questions how the new rule for shoppers under the age of 18 will be received.

“I think that’s going to be fraught, and I’m sure we’re going to be hearing hell about that soon,” he said.

For some, it’s a step in the right direction but not perfect.

“It’s better but I don’t think it’s going to deter theft,” customer Angela Alston said.

“I’m not really too fond of it, but I understand why it’s in place,” customer Justin Sessions said. “It goes back to normal people actually wanting to come and shop and it’s unfortunate that bags have to be tagged.”

A spokesperson for Giant told News4 that they recognize the changes make for a less convenient experience, but it’s a way for them to cut down on retail theft.

Which Giant locations are affected by the new policies?

These stores will allow backpacks and ban unaccompanied minors after 6 p.m.:

• 1400 7th Street NW Washington, DC 20001
• 300 H Street NE Washington, DC 20002
• 4303 Conn Ave NW Washington, DC 20008
• 1345 Park Road, NW Washington, DC 20010

According to a statement from Giant, here are the stores impacted by the new anti-theft policies.

This store will allow backpacks and minors:

• 3336 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20016

These stores will ban unaccompanied minors after 6 p.m. and continue to bar backpacks:

• 1535 Alabama Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032
• 1050 Brentwood Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018
• 5150 Sinclair Ln, Baltimore, MD 21206
• 20 Audrey Lane Oxon Hill, MD 20745
• 4119 Branch Ave, Marlow Heights, MD 20748
• 5500 Silver Hill Rd, District Heights, MD 20747

For the first time since the severity of D.C.’s 911 outages came into focus, District leaders are finally trying to explain why it’s happening — and it appears there’s no quick fix.

The computer system that’s used to dispatch police, firefighters and paramedics has had 18 disruptions since December, City Administrator Kevin Donahue said. Of those 18 incidents, eight were widespread, and six of them affected dispatching.

Donahue said the computer dispatch system usually has just one or two outages per year.

Heather McGaffin, director of the District’s Office of Unified Communications (OUC), spoke to reporters for the first time Monday about the issues that have plagued the 911 call center. The News4 I-Team requested comment and interviews with McGaffin for months.

“Being in the nation’s capital and being the call center for the nation’s capital, a lot of folks are looking at us,” she said during Monday’s news conference. “So, I think what happens is when we have these issues, these mistakes, when we’re doing things, there’s a lot of hyper-focus about what we’re doing.”

An internal review by D.C.’s OUC hasn’t identified a common cause for the trouble, except for the acknowledgement that they have “old equipment that can’t handle the demand” of a system that gets 1.8 million emergency calls per year.

D.C. fields the highest number of calls for police, fire and emergency medical services per capita in the U.S., Donahue said.

“We want to make sure we maintain confidence with residents that they can call 911 and get a timely, high quality response,” he said.

DC officials release updated timeline of family’s emergency call during 911 outage

The most serious outage was on Aug. 2, as a family tried to call 911 when they couldn’t wake their 5-month-old baby from a nap — and no one answered their call.

On Monday, D.C. officials acknowledged for the first time that the family initially called 911 at 12:39 p.m. that day, but their call was never picked up. D.C.’s 911 computer dispatch system was offline.

The family eventually got through at 12:51 p.m.

The city says the family was working in other ways to get help during that interim period, insisting there were no other unanswered calls. D.C. officials previously said all 911 calls were taken while the computer system was offline.

The baby later died. It’s unclear if a faster response would have made a difference.

D.C.’s police department has launched an investigation into this specific incident, seeking to determine whether it was human error or a nefarious act that brought down the system.

Mayor Muriel Bowser explained why she wants the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to question the employees involved.

“Human error happens; let’s just face it — and quite frankly, I think that’s what we think it was; it was an error,” Bowser said. “But we have to be able, the director of OUC, of our technology office at MPD, to tell me it was human error.”

Government leaders have said that a software test was supposed to go out to three to four people that day, but instead, it went to everyone with an OUC device, shutting down the system for two hours.

McGaffin said Monday the issue was a “system mistake.”

“No one person did anything in this. If one person had done something in this, I would be holding them accountable. They wouldn’t be answering 911 calls or dispatching,” McGaffin said.

When it happened, the screens in the 911 center went dark, cutting off real-time information on which police and fire units were available. Staffers were forced to rely on a handwritten form that had to be run from place to place.

Washington DC Aug 19

DC 911 system had 18 disruptions since December and computer system too old to handle volume, officials say

Washington DC Aug 15

DC police open criminal probe in 911 system outage to determine whether it was an intentional act

DC 911 director seeks new hires to help with staffing shortage

Staffing at the OUC remains a major issue. According to records, 33% of all 911 shifts didn’t have enough people working to meet the minimum staffing levels in July 2023 — and one year later, that shortage had jumped to 88%.

Call takers are supposed to be trained quarterly on the 911 center’s policies and procedures, but some have had their training postponed because of staffing problems.

The OUC is aiming to fill 22 open 911 call taker positions by the end of this month, McGaffin said.

“We have 22 openings right now for call takers. We have 63 people going through background checks. So, 22 people will start at the end of this month, and then, from that, we will fill the 19 vacant dispatcher positions from a promotional process,” she said.

McGaffin said the biggest obstacle in hiring more employees to fill open 911 call taker positions is the time it takes to do background checks and the psychological process to make sure prospective employees are a good fit for the often “traumatizing and tough job.”

She said since May 2023, the OUC has been able to shorten the hiring process from nine months to about three months.

McGaffin also spoke about employees’ long shifts, saying there are more human errors when employees work past their 12-hour shifts to make up for staffing shortages.

“Ideally, once we’re fully staffed we would certainly look at even reducing the shift hours from 12 to either eight or 10, which the employees have expressed they would really love and enjoy, but we need full staffing to be able to do that,” she said.

$800 ‘show up to work’ bonuses wildly successful, official says

The staffing crisis got so bad that the agency began offering bonuses to staff members simply for showing up for every scheduled shift. Those recently enacted bonuses have been “wildly successful” in getting staffers to work all of their scheduled shifts and boost morale at D.C.’s OUC, an official said.

McGaffin made the offer to staff members in an email Aug. 13.

“Good morning 911 Team- Starting immediately all 911 employees who show up for all of their scheduled shifts will receive an $800 incentive for the month,” said the email from McGaffin, which was obtained by News4.

“Staffing is crucial to the success of our agency. Unscheduled call outs of all kinds are up and causing a hardship for fellow employees who are continuously getting stuck, coming in early, and being asked to come in on days off,” she continued in the email. “The pilot is simple- show up for each shift you’re assigned and receive $800 additional for the month. We start today for August.”

The announcement of the bonuses came less than 24 hours after News4’s I-Team reported that staffing at the call center hit dangerously low levels.

911 computer system upgrades sped up

The District has started making upgrades to the troubled 911 computer dispatch system.

A third party review of the 18 outages over the past nine months identified different “root causes,” Donahue said. Some of those root causes were tied to old computer equipment that has been unable to keep up with the complex needs of the 911 center.

The District had money set aside in next year’s budget to significantly upgrade the computer system, but started the project early in light of the recent troubles.

“Right now we’re seeing work done to procure and replace some equipment that we slated to replace in October,” Donahue said.

A slew of unplanned computer dispatch outages, major staffing shortages and a criminal probe hang over Washington, D.C.’s 911 center. A center that residents and visitors rely on to get help in an emergency.

Heather McGaffin, director of the District’s Office of Unified Communications, spoke to reporters for the first time Monday about the issues that have plagued the 911 call center. The News4 I-Team requested comment and interviews with McGaffin for months.

“Being in the nation’s capital and being the call center for the nation’s capital, a lot of folks are looking at us. So, I think what happens is when we have these issues, these mistakes, when we’re doing things, there’s a lot of hyper-focus about what we’re doing,” McGaffin said during Monday’s news conference.

So far this year, the computer system that is used to dispatch police, firefighters and paramedics had at least seven outages. Government officials said Monday there have been a total of 18 disruptions to the system since December 2023.

An outage on Aug. 2 is being investigated by police as they seek to understand whether it was human error or a nefarious act that brought down the system. That outage coincided with the death of a 5-month-old child.

McGaffin said Monday the issue was a “system mistake.”

“No one person did anything in this. If one person had done something in this, I would be holding them accountable. They wouldn’t be answering 911 calls or dispatching,” McGaffin said.

The child’s parents called 911 for help, but said they were unable to get through by phone at first. Officials said phone calls were not affected by the outage.

Here are updates as they came in to our newsroom on Monday:

D.C. Council member Trayon White was arrested by federal authorities on Sunday, law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell News4.

The circumstances of White’s arrest were not immediately known.

News4 video shows agents outside his apartment in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Southeast D.C. Agents appeared to try to access White’s car, a silver Tesla with D.C. Council license plates.

White is expected to appear in federal court on Monday. He remained in custody as of late Sunday.

A neighbor spoke about previously seeing the FBI.

“To be honest, this is actually not the first time the FBI has been to our building,” Seun Sanusi said. “So, the FBI being here is not surprising.”

White was first elected to represent Ward 8 in 2016. In June, he won the Democratic primary for what would be his third term.

Ward 8 Aug 11, 2023

‘We know it's tough times': Ward 8 residents worried only grocery store east of the river could close

Washington DC Oct 14, 2021

DC Councilmember Trayon White Running for Mayor

News4 I-Team Feb 15, 2019

Council Member Trayon White Received $75,000 Settlement From DC Police for Civil Rights Lawsuit in 2017

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

ANC Commissioner Erica Green, who represents a portion of Ward 8, spoke in support of White at a virtual news conference she held Monday morning. She said she’s frustrated that residents and fellow elected officials still don’t know why White was arrested.

“The public has a right to know. We’re concerned about our council member,” she said.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

It happens every year and isn’t that hard to figure out why. In the absence of real games, the absence of wins and losses, fumbles and touchdowns, brilliant plays and bonehead blunders, the minutia becomes the meat.

Thus fans and analysts alike examine the details that likely aren’t actually telling the story that snap counts or formations in an August football game might portray.

Attempting to solve that problem? Enter Dan Quinn – Washington’s head coach and self-ordained myth buster.

“I think there’s a narrative that can happen for any ball player outside the building versus inside the building,” Quinn said late Saturday night after the Commanders’ 13-6 loss to Miami in the second week of the preseason.

Quinn was answering a question about second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, but the answer could have applied to a number of positions. Forbes has had his struggles this preseason (and certainly last season) but he’s firmly on the 53-man roster and is a player that Quinn and company hope can show significant improvement this fall.

That doesn’t match with some of the vitriolic comments made about Forbes – and other players – on social media. And Quinn is over it.

“I wanted to make sure he was aware of the decisions that we’ll make, Adam [Peters] and I, are the ones that come from inside the building, not from outside. I love the way he’s competing at practice,” Quinn said about Forbes.

The comments came as Forbes said during the team’s game broadcast that sometimes he feels under a microscope and that his mistakes get taken out of proportion by the fanbase. To an extent, Forbes is right.

Fans take far too much stock in preseason performances, particularly as often coaches are trying to put players into different and more difficult roles to test what might work in the regular season.

While his 2023 rookie season was subpar, Washington’s entire season was subpar. How much of that is on Forbes? How much of that was on the situation?

Those questions won’t have answers, at least for a few months, but Forbes isn’t the only player with lingering questions. Many if not most of Washington’s players from the 2023 season can’t be happy with their play. The Commanders went 4-13 and dramatically overhauled their roster this offseason.

So as fan angst rises from players that didn’t perform their best for a coaching staff that has been almost entirely replaced, how much does that carry over to this season? For Quinn, not much. And for the storylines forming based on last year’s production and early preseason returns, the head coach doesn’t want to hear it.

“I know that’s a narrative in here but it’s not as much as me. I want to be clear on that,” the coach said. “We’re trying to feature all the things players can do.”

Specifically, Quinn was asked if a hierarchy was emerging for the Commanders’ wide receivers, which has been a hot topic as fourth-year pro Dyami Brown continues with a strong camp. But the comments could have been made about just anybody.

Far too much has been made about a seemingly down camp for 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson, who has three catches so far this preseason. Like Forbes, Dotson is firmly in the Commanders’ plans for this fall and has a close relationship with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Quinn went out of his way to say he “loves” the way Dotson runs his deep and in-breaking routes and that showed during the Commanders’ joint practice with the Dolphins.

“I don’t see it as one person has to be in this space. I just want the guys to be absolutely flying and at their best and competing and playing with urgency. It’s not about a number at a position, it’s really about just the urgency, competitiveness, contested catches, route running, getting away from press coverage, beating man-to-man. Those are all the things I look for.”

It is interesting to note the shift in Quinn’s tone when talking about the wide receiver group. Earlier in the week the head coach stressed competition for the second wideout – Terry McLaurin has the WR1 role locked up. So in a way, Quinn bears some responsibility for the WR2 conversation emerging as a hot topic, but in much the same way the conversation about Forbes went overboard, the same happened with Dotson.

“It doesn’t have to be a 1, 2, 3; it just has to be really consistent,” Quinn said of his wideouts. “I like the group.”

In just three drives this preseason, Daniels has completed 12 of 15 passes, spreading the ball around to a number of pass catchers. If the rookie can maintain that efficiency and accuracy in the regular season, there will be plenty of work for all the wideouts.

Quinn’s reputation around the NFL is of a stand-up guy who builds strong relationships. Sure it was just a few minutes of a postgame interview after a preseason game, but in trying to shut down emerging narratives and support the organization’s 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, Quinn is showing why he has that reputation.

Since his arrival as Washington’s head coach back in early February, Quinn has stressed competition. Now it’s happening, but not without some compassion against the social media tides.

“I think belief is a big deal for a player,” Quinn said. “I think the best of the best players can have a lot of confidence and are still going to have some times where it fails and doesn’t do them good. And so in those moments, you want to remind them: this is how to create it and correct it because if you keep hanging onto that to the next play or the next down, it can certainly affect you.”

Confidence matters for NFL players, especially in August. Quinn wants his group confident. He can control narratives now, but a month from now, the results speak for themselves.

The U.S. National Arboretum announced Tuesday that clippings from the original cherry tree on the Tidal Basin rooted into self-sustaining plants — meaning the saga of Stumpy continues after D.C.’s favorite little cherry tree got the chop back in May.

That’s right: Stumpy clones are now growing, courtesy of the horticulturists at the National Arboretum and the National Park Service.

There’s a long way to go before these Stumpy 2.0s will make their way to the Tidal Basin. Somewhere between two and three years of growth are required before the baby Stumplings can be planted in the ground, and up to five years could pass before those trees bloom during Cherry Blossom season.

As National Arboretum horticulturist Piper Zettel told News4 in March, “The process takes a long time… Trees grow very slow. So we need to be patient.”

But the clippings have grown roots, and that’s a start.

How does the process work?

Before Stumpy was removed from the Tidal Basin in May, the NPS asked the National Arboretum to take clippings from the tree.

We got a preview of the propagation process from Zettel in March, who used plant material from a different Yoshino cherry tree to demonstrate the process eventually used for Stumpy.

First, material is clipped from whatever tree the horticulturist is trying to clone. The National Arboretum collected new spring growth from Stumpy three separate times between April and May 2024, the Arboretum said in a press release.

In most cases, only a few leaves would be taken. But because Stumpy was already on the chopping block and had so few branches left, the National Arboretum wanted to give itself the best chances of propagation.

The clipped material is prepared by trimming down the size of the leaves to reduce the surface area that water can evaporate off of. Those prepared clippings are placed into a flat full of dirt, plant nutrients and rooting hormone, specially mixed by the Arboretum to start plant propagation.

The flats are then placed into a propagation greenhouse, and left in ideal rooting conditions until the roots form. The greenhouse lets Arboretum staff control the temperature, humidity, light and water levels, giving all samples their best chance.

According to the National Arboretum, eight weeks after they were prepared and processed, the Stumpy cuttings had established root systems, and were placed into individual pots.

The new “self-sustaining plants” are still very vulnerable, the National Arboretum cautioned in a press release.

“The new trees have a long way to go, but we are doing all we can to ensure NPS receives strong, healthy and vigorous trees,” Zettel said in the release.

If those efforts are successful, in two to three years, those strong baby trees will go back into the ground near the Tidal Basin.

Will the new trees look like the original Stumpy?

Even when Stumpy 2.0s do grow, although they’ll be genetic clones of the original, you might not recognize them.

Stumpy was small, crooked and hollowed-out because of his daily inundation of brackish water. It gave him the shape we all know and love, but it wasn’t good for him.

The goal of the NPS’ seawall reconstruction and the National Arboretum propagation project is to create “ideal environmental conditions for the new trees that are planted,” Zettel said in March.

So, because the new trees will be healthy and happy, without “the same life experiences that have shaped Stumpy,” they won’t have Stumpy’s “unique form,” Zettel said.

Did you meet Stumpy?

Stumpy, if you missed his moment of glory, was a beloved cherry tree found along the Tidal Basin between the Ohio Drive Bridge and the Jefferson Memorial.

He was visibly different from many of his brethren in one of the most popular blossom-viewing spots in the District. But he was doing his best, and the District loved him for it.

The tree got the nickname “Stumpy” in 2020, from a Reddit user who posted a photo to the r/washingtondc subreddit alongside a joke about the tree being “as dead as my love life.”

Yet, despite his mostly dead appearance, Stumpy bloomed that cherry blossom season — and every spring after.

Affection for the crooked, struggling little tree was already pouring into the comments section before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Stumpy’s resilience struck a unique chord as COVID cases climbed and the country entered lockdown.

The symbolism only increased when Stumpy’s stubborn blooms appeared again the next spring, and the next, right as Americans crawled out of quarantine and back into something resembling normal life.

From there, Stumpy’s fame only grew.

Cherry Blossoms Mar 13

Goodbye, Stumpy: DC's favorite little cherry tree to be removed from Tidal Basin

Cherry Blossoms Mar 23

Why Stumpy, the ‘Little Cherry Tree That Could,' can't be transplanted — and how he'll live on anyway

Cherry Blossoms May 24

Stumpy, iconic cherry tree, removed from Tidal Basin

What happened to Stumpy?

The very factors that made Stumpy so unique and beloved also lead to his demise earlier this year.

Stumpy was stumpy because of persistent flooding around the Tidal Basin. The protective seawall in that area of the National Mall was slowly sinking into the water, and climate change has led to a rise in sea levels.

That unfortunate combination meant that high tides regularly caused water to overflow the seawall, inundating the trees and their root systems — which is really bad for the plants.

“Too much water on a tree’s roots can be just as damaging as too little,” Mike Litterst, spokesperson for the National Park Service, said in an email in 2023. “Excess soil moisture can reduce oxygen in the soil, damage fine root hairs, and render the root system unable to absorb water.”

Many of the other trees around Stumpy’s home had already died when he rose to fame. Visitors to the Tidal Basin in 2024 saw dozens of stumps and a whole lot of empty space near the Jefferson Memorial. Sometimes that empty space was filled with muddy, brackish water, flooding the walkways and rendering them dangerous to unusable.

Which is why, last spring, the NPS announced that 159 cherry trees on the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park would be cut down to make way for seawall repairs — including Stumpy.

D.C. did not take the news well. The District mourned. Stumpy received cards and bottles of liquor. Literal diplomats paid their respects.

But death is inevitable, no matter how many traffic-stopping mascots a life inspires.

And so, Stumpy was quietly removed from the Tidal Basin on May 24.

Why couldn’t the NPS just move the original Stumpy?

Stumpy would probably not have survived being transplanted. He was already clinging to life in his spot near the Tidal Basin.

In fact, he had barely been hanging on since the beginning. According to Litterst, Stumpy was already in what arborists call the “mortality spiral.”

By the time we found and started to love him in 2020, in part because of how scraggly he looks, there was nothing that could really be done.

“There is so little of that tree left to transplant,” Litterst said in March. “There is no interior trunk. People ask us, ‘You know how old that tree is?’ There literally aren’t any rings for us left to count on the interior of the tree.”

Stumpy was running on the fumes of a bark framework, barely transmitting nutrients to the few branches that bloomed every spring, “and not much else,” Litterst said.

The tree was doomed by the narrative.

If he’d stayed where he is, the floods would have killed him and the few remaining other trees still being flooded by the deteriorating seawall.

If the NPS tried to transplant Stumpy, he could have died of “transplant shock,” Litterst said. It’s a bit like the transplant shock some people experience after an organ donation, he explained. Even if the soil, the nutrients and the sun are compatible with what the tree is used to, the new experience of a different location can be hard on any tree’s root system.

And Stumpy was in no condition to be transplanted.

So, to save the other trees from the flooding, and to spare Stumpy an undignified transplant death, the NPS and National Arboretum created a third option: the clones currently growing in an Arboretum greenhouse.

That cleared the way for the seawall reconstruction project currently underway near the Tidal Basin, which will rehabilitate the area and keep the cherry blossoms beautiful for many more decades to come.

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We’re only halfway through August, but wow, the final month of summer might be the best yet.

We’re still buzzing about the Paris Olympics. Maryland has welcomed home Katie Ledecky and Quincy Wilson – AKA the most-decorated female Olympian in U.S. history and Team USA’s youngest-ever male track athlete.

The Summer Games may be over, and our last 8 p.m. sunset of the year is coming up on Friday. But before we’re ready for school and the Paralympics… it wouldn’t be August without another meow-velous summer competition.

Clear the Shelters Aug 13

Pat's Prized Pets Challenge: Show us your pet's gold medal trick

Things to Do DC Aug 11

DC Summer Restaurant Week is here: How to eat like a pro

Pat’s Prized Pets is back to support our Clear the Shelters campaign! 🐶🐱 This year, we want to see your pet’s gold medal-worthy trick. Find more details here. We can’t wait to see your pets on the podium!

Before the sun sets on summer, you still have time to take a beach trip! Or, go on a water adventure that doesn’t require crossing the Bay Bridge. Plus, it’s still sunflower season at several Maryland farms.

Weekend highlights

County Fairs

County fair fever! Cram in all the rides and funnel cakes you can in Arlington, Montgomery and Prince William counties this week.

• Arlington County Fair: Through Aug. 18, Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington, free admission
• Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: Through Sun., Gaithersburg, $13.36+
• Prince William County Fair: Through Aug. 17, Manassas, gate admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children

D.C.’s Summer Restaurant Week
Through Sun.
🔗 See all our recommendations

Summer Restaurant Week has returned with more dining deals than ever.⁠

D.C.’s features multi-course brunches and lunches ($25 or $35) or dinners ($40, $55 or $65) at more than 350 spots representing 75 different cuisines.

And D.C. is just kicking off a whole season of restaurant weeks. Alexandria Restaurant Week begins on Friday, and Fairfax’s will run Sept. 2-8.

Washington Spirit International Friendlies: Spirit vs. Arsenal
Sun., game at 2 p.m., Audi Field, $15+
🔗 Details

If you were all-in on watching the U.S. women’s national team charge to a gold medal in the Paris Olympics, you’ll be thrilled about the Washington Spirit Friendlies.

On Sunday, the Spirit will play Arsenal, England’s most successful women’s football club and the current home of Team USA’s Emily Fox, a native of Ashburn, Virginia.

It should be a great match, although the status of any Olympians, including Fox and Spirit star Trinity Rodman, is TBA.

However, on Sunday the Spirit will celebrate its Olympians Gabby Carle, who played for Canada, and newly signed midfielder Leicy Santos, who represented Colombia.

Next weekend, Audi Field will host a doubleheader. First, it’s Washington vs. Kansas City at noon. Then, Arsenal will take on Chelsea for the second match of the International Friendlies. That’s when Spirit is set to celebrate its gold medalists including Rodman. Look for the pink hair-braiding station so you can try out Rodman’s memorable look.

Free pick
Chuck Brown Day
Sat., 1-7 p.m., Fort Dupont Park on Minnesota Ave. SE
🔗 Details

D.C. is celebrating the godfather of go-go with a day of music that’s “bigger, better, more cranking” than ever with Chuck Brown Band, Northeast Groovers, DCVybe, QUICKSILVA and more. Heads up: The party’s moving to Southeast this year.

“Emily in Paris” pop-up bar

Bonjour, oui oui, I’m in Paris! Or at least you’ll feel like you’re Emily in Paris after stepping inside Morris American Bar.

Adoption events for Clear the Shelters

• Reston Station will host an adoption event from 6-8 p.m. Friday before a free outdoor showing of “Air Bud.”
• The Farm Brewery at Broad Run will also host an adoption event on Saturday.
• Crumbs and Whiskers, a cat café in Georgetown, is set to host Brat (Charli XCX) Night on Monday and Sabrina Carpenter Night on Fri., Aug. 23. They also have adoptable cat yoga this Thursday and Aug. 29.

Concerts this weekend

Chameleons, 8 p.m. Saturday, Black Cat, $40

Regarded as one of the greatest post-punk bands of all time, this English group really is unlike any other band under that label – a bleak and more goth sound than others, plus hints of folk. They are performing the classic 1986 album “Strange Times.” Details.

Things to do in D.C.

That 2000’s BLOCK Party Hosted By BOW WOW: Fri., The Bullpen in Southeast D.C., $15+

Ben Schwartz & Friends: Fri., show at 8 p.m., The Anthem, $49.50 – $75

Joy of African Movement dance class: Sat., 9-10 a.m., National Museum of African Art, free
FYI: Also on Sat., Aug. 31 

Mystics vs. Lynx: Sat., 2 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

East of the River Fall Festival: 2-6 p.m., Sycamore & Oak on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus, free
FYI: Backpack and school supply giveaway for first 500 kids, plus live music

Uncorked: DC wine fest: Sat., 7-11 p.m., Nationals Park, $75-$110

Future & Metro Boomin: Sat., Capital One Arena

“MJ: The Musical”: Through Sept. 8, The National Theatre

Sneaker Con: Sat. and Sun., Washington Convention Center, $30-$45

Unique Markets, DC Summer Pop-Up: Sat. and Sun., Dock5 at Union Market, free admission

Sky-High Sweat Sessions at Kimpton Banneker Hotel: Sun., 9 a.m., Lady Bird, THE Roof Top, free
FYI: Bring your own yoga mat. Attendees get a free smoothie and 15% off brunch at Le Sel after.

Washington Spirit International Friendlies: Spirit vs. Arsenal: Sun., kickoff 2 p.m., Arsenal, $15+

“MAMMA MIA!”: Through Sept. 1, The Kennedy Center, $49 – $199

Things to do in Maryland

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: Through Sun., Gaithersburg, $13.36+

All-Star Comedy at Cabin John Regional Park: Fri., 6-8 p.m., Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, free

RisuCon anime and cosplay convention: Sat. and Sun., Montgomery County Conference Center in Rockville 

Pro Motocross Championship: Sat., Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, $35.52+

Hot Joe’s Summer Festival: Sat., 5-8 p.m., 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mt. Rainier, pay what you wish

JAMAICA Fest: Sun., noon to 9 p.m., Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, free

Things to do in Virginia

Prince William County Fair: Through Aug. 17, Manassas, gate admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children

Arlington County Fair: Through Aug. 18, Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington, free admission

Alexandria Restaurant Week: Aug. 16-25

“The Sound of Music” Sing-A-Long: Fri., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $29+

Leesburg Festival of Crafts & Kites: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ida Lee Park, free

Bands & Brews: Del Ray’s Summer Bar Crawl: Sat., 12:30-6 p.m., along Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, $15

Begonia Show: Sat., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sun., noon to 3:30 p.m., Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, free

Localpalooza featuring Black Flag: Sat., 3 p.m. to midnight, 8890 Mathis Ave., Manassas, $20

Fairfax Comic Con: Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center, $20+

Boyz II Men: Sat. and Sun., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $45+

Jerry Seinfeld: Mon. and Tues., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $55+

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Today a D.C. police Internal Affairs agent contacted News 4 reporter Ted Oberg trying to find out how we knew about a family’s unanswered 911 call for help.

Last week News4 reported a D.C. family said they called 911 repeatedly for several minutes. They said 911 didn’t pick up. They were trying to get help for their 5-month-old child who couldn’t be revived after a nap. They eventually got through to 911, but the baby died. We don’t know if the delay would have changed that outcome.

D.C.’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety released a timeline of the calls 911answered, but that timeline didn’t include the calls that didn’t get through. The News 4 I-Team learned of the family’s unanswered calls from two public safety sources who each had details of an internal police record.

Today an internal affairs agent called Oberg and asked what information we got and who gave it to us. News4 did not provide that information. Protecting our sources is an obligation we take seriously.

The Internal Affairs agent admitted he knew Oberg was unlikely to answer the questions, but said the commander of internal affairs assigned him to investigate it and ask them.

The call comes 13 days after the desperate but unanswered 911 calls for help from those parents. News4 hasn’t heard from the 911 director Heather McGaffin or Lindsey Appiah, the deputy mayor in charge of D.C. public safety on camera about the six 911 outages this year , but now have heard from an internal affairs officer.

News4 asked both D.C. Police and D.C.’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety why they think a leak investigation is worth conducting. Neither got back to us.