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New details: What led forensics board to suspend DC crime lab’s accreditation 04/06/2021 10:08pm • New details are emerging on the reason a national forensics board suspended the D.C. crime lab’s accreditation to conduct forensic testing, with the board saying it has “credible evidence” the lab deliberately concealed information and engaged in fraudulent behavior. WTOP obtained a copy of DC mayor defends crime lab but says she wants issues ‘fully investigated’ 04/05/2021 09:15pm • The Firearms Examination Unit of the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences analyzes ballistics evidence. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty) D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday she wants concerns about the operations of the District’s Department of Forensic Sciences “fully investigated” after a national First on WTOP: Embattled DC crime lab has accreditation suspended 04/03/2021 08:10pm • The Firearms Examination Unit houses the guns it collects from crimes inside the city’s department of forensics. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty) The embattled D.C. crime lab, already under investigation for its handling of a ballistics error in a murder case, has had its accreditation to perform forensi How a DC-area business owner uses ice cream, social media to support community 04/02/2021 06:01am • When Victoria Lai, owner of D.C.-area dessert shop Ice Cream Jubilee, first learned a gunman killed eight people at three Atlanta-area spas last month, she became saddened at the realization of another mass shooting. Shortly thereafter, Lai recalled reading that one of the police officers said th Maryland House passes bill to end life without parole for juvenile offenders, allow re-sentencings 03/31/2021 05:05am • This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. After a winding debate that dwelled on concepts of redemption, justice, religion – and, at times, raw politics — the House of Delegate Parents group says they've been targeted for opposition to teachings of critical race theory in Loudoun Co. schools 03/28/2021 09:07pm • A private parents education-reform group in Loudoun County, Virginia, says they're being targeted for their opposition to racial equity education in schools. The group, Loudoun Parents for Education, says parents, teachers and "six-out-of-nine" Loudoun County school board members are part of a cl Prince George's Co. leaders protest violence against the Asian community 03/28/2021 09:05am • Leaders in Prince George's County, Maryland, held a rally Saturday to honor the victims of the mass shootings in Atlanta and denounce the increasing rate of hate crimes against the Asian American community. The event was organized by Amy Fry, a member of the Cheverly town council, who is Korean A Va. Gov. Northam on death penalty: Wednesday 'was a big day for Virginia' 03/25/2021 05:18pm • The day after signing the bills ending the death penalty in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam told WTOP that the move righted a historical wrong and reflected the will of the voters. “ was a big day for Virginia,” Northam said on Thursday. “Obviously, we have some really good history, but we hav Victims of Georgia spa shootings mourned at Annandale vigil 03/23/2021 04:14am • A crowd of residents from across the Washington region gathered Monday evening at a busy spot in Annandale, Virginia, to mourn the dead from the spa shootings in Georgia and to call for an end to hate crimes targeting Asian Americans. People brought flowers and lit candles in remembrance of the e How to help Asian Americans under attack 03/22/2021 05:55am • Across the US, Asian Americans are under attack -- verbally, economically and physically. An elderly man on his daily walk was ambushed, shoved to the ground and killed. Strangers hurled insults and rocks at an Asian American family's home. A business owner's restaurant Where are they now? Catching up with 'Tiger King' cast a year later 03/19/2021 12:56am • Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of "Tiger King" premiering on Netflix. The bonkers true-crime docuseries got many of us through the early part of the pandemic, binge-watching the mullet-wearing, meth-addicted polygamist Joe Exotic, who formerly Asian-American man left brain dead by robbery, assault in Oakland 03/10/2021 07:37am • Oakland, California — Police here announced an arrest Tuesday in an assault and robbery that critically injured a 75-year-old Asian-American man. An official in Oakland's Chinatown community told CBS San Francisco the victim was brain dead from the critical injuries he suffered in the attack. Juvenile Restoration Act pushes for resentencing for youthful offenders 03/01/2021 11:16pm • This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. Paul LaRuffa suffered five gunshot wounds in 2002, all at the hands of a 17-year-old boy, who he said “left for dead.” “But, obvio 'Blame Trump' defense in Capitol riot looks like a long shot 02/27/2021 08:33am • The “Trump-made-me-do-it” defense is already looking like a longshot. Facing damning evidence in the deadly Capitol siege last month — including social media posts flaunting their actions — rioters are arguing in court they were following then-President Donald Trump's instructions on Jan. Hyattsville man faces firearm charge after shooting outside Secret Service facility in Beltsville 02/27/2021 08:16am • A Prince George's County man has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm following a shooting outside a Secret Service facility in Beltsville on Thursday, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. Jeremiah Peter Watson, 22, of Hyattsville, was charged Friday aft