WTOP | Washington’s Top News | DC, MD & VA News, Traffic & Weather

Recovery teams lift the mangled remains of a military helicopter that crashed midair with an American Airlines commercial airplane from the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, on February 6.

Congressional report critical of military actions in January crash near Reagan National

Deportation Error Garcia

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported, can spend Christmas with family

Closed sign in English

What's open and closed on Christmas Day 2025 in the DC area

ASPEN, CO - DECEMBER 19: Audi and Piaget Celebrate the Holidays on December 19, 2011 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Nick Tininenko/WireImage)

Q&A: Montgomery Co. Fire official gives safety tips for the holiday season

Trump Kennedy Center

'Complete disgrace': Democratic lawmaker sues to challenge Kennedy Center's name change

APTOPIX Election 2024 Virginia Early Voting

Northern Virginia to see another special election as Spanberger makes two key cabinet appointments

‘60 Minutes’ story shelved by Bari Weiss streamed in Canada — and instantly spread across the web

Tips on how to try to avoid a trip to the ER this Christmas

Pet of the Week: Meet Grizzy, a cuddly Pittie mix puppy who's seen some hard times — plus, bonus pup Ichabod

Powerball jackpot soars to $1.7 billion after another night with no big winner

Trump announces plans for new Navy 'battleship' as part of a 'Golden Fleet'

OPM to hire critic of HR consolidation plan

Couple Hug During Christmas

Who do you celebrate Christmas with? Marriage counselor's advice to new couples making holiday plans

Vehicles travel on Interstate 495

Traffic changes during the holiday season in Virginia, Maryland

Thanksgiving Open Closed

Drugstores and grocery stores. These are just some businesses that have hours on Christmas Day

a man stands with arm around mailbox on front porch

How a nonbeliever in Maryland became one of Santa’s helpers

close up image of two people exchanging a gift with red bow

Diamonds, not a toaster: What mom really wants for Christmas

Nordstrom bag on a car seat

'Don’t have them out': Police warn about leaving holiday gifts in cars

Prince George's County Toys for Tots event

Prince George’s County fire and police departments team up for Toys for Tots

Meet the Loudoun Co. family whose Christmas lights are so good, they won $50K

Decorative holiday star at a D.C. holiday market

Jordans, iMac and a trip to Germany: DC holiday market visitors recount priciest gifts

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Cocktails are served during the Prada Forum Shops at Caesars store opening event on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Prada The Forum Shops at Caesars)

Where to party on New Year's Eve in the DC area

How 2025’s passenger jet, chopper crash near Reagan National has, and continues to change DC airspace

Former nonbeliever helps Santa answer letters in Maryland

Judge allows Kilmar Abrego Garcia to remain free while she considers immigration issues

Incoming interim police chief on the future of the investigation into DC's crime numbers

SPONSORED: Camp Accomplish is where kids can be their fullest, truest selves

The nearly complete skull of a dinosaur is now on display at the Smithsonian

HERO Act signed, ensuring faster, increased benefits for families of fallen first responders

DC police Chief Smith gives fiery speech at walkout ceremony

What Mom really wants for Christmas

Penny ‘funeral’ brings hundreds to Lincoln Memorial

Prince George’s County fire and police departments team up for Toys for Tots

BWI Marshall Airport nearly $500M expansion project set to open in January

Moby Dick House of Kabob offers 'Catering for a Cause' to help needy families during holidays

Kennedy Center starts work on renaming

DC-area travelers brace for holiday rush

DC renters could see relief in 2026 as Zillow sees rent-buy gap narrowing

Celebrity chef Carla Hall on her theater kid background

×

YE US 2025 Photo Gallery

How the 2025 passenger jet, chopper crash near Reagan National has changed DC's airspace

Trump District of Columbia

These 5 stories defined the DC-area in 2025

Trump Inauguration

Chainsaw-wielding Musk, Trump's return, a devastating plane crash. Photos that captured 2025 in DC

Election Justice Department

The Trump administration is suing the District of Columbia over its gun laws

Volunteer hands holding food donations box with grocery products on white desk

'Potential for a perfect storm': Analysis shows DC area hit hard by cuts to funding for nonprofits

Tourists on National Mall

Wet and mild: Christmas Day weather outlook for the DC area

Russia Ukraine War

Ukraine's Zelenskyy says progress in US-led peace talks is 'quite solid'

Texas Plane Crash

At least 5 killed after Mexican Navy plane on medical mission crashes in Texas

Interim CHief Jeffery Carroll with Mayor Bowser

DC's new interim police chief on what's next in crime data tampering investigation

Founding DC with host Dan Simons

WTOP News Podcast

Betty Reid Soskin, a then-park ranger with the National Park Service, shows the replacement coin she received from Sally Jewell, then-US Secretary of the Interior, at the 72nd annual anniversary of the Port Chicago explosion at the former Naval Weapons Station in Condord, California, in July 2016.

America’s oldest National Park Service ranger ever, who shared her own stories of life during WWII, dies

Advanced surgical care with a personal touch at GW Hospital

Insight by by GW Hospital

Montgomery County fire truck

Montgomery Co. moves to speed up benefits in the event of the death of a first responder

A man was critically injured in a fire at an apartment building in Southeast D.C. on Monday night.

Man critically injured in apartment fire in Southeast DC

Close up of hand touching smartwatch with health app on the screen, gadget for fitness active lifestyle.

Gifting a smart watch to monitor heart health? Cardiologist weighs in

quartberbacks in line preparing to throw at practice

Commanders sign Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals' practice squad and put Cosmi, Lane, Goldman on IR

Climate Clean Energy

Trump administration pauses 5 wind projects, including in Virginia

Obit James Ransone

Baltimore native James Ransone, known for his role in ‘The Wire,’ dead at 46

Overturned vehicle after it hit two Southeast DC homes

Man charged with DUI after crashing into two Southeast DC homes

A Montgomery County firefighter shows the hoods that will be used to fight fires after a donation from a woman's family after she died in a fire. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue)

After daughter’s death, family donates smoke hoods to Montgomery Co. fire crews

DC dad charged in death of daughter in Florida

The car hit an emergency exit door of the Leisure World Giant Foods store on Sunday, December 21, 2025.

Man crashes car into Silver Spring supermarket

Deportation Error Abrego Garcia

WATCH: Reagan National crash report, the latest on Abrego Garcia, other Top Local Headlines

County News

What’s open and closed on Christmas Day 2025 in the DC area

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported, can spend Christmas with family

DC region ranks in the top 20 for traffic congestion worldwide

Q&A: Montgomery Co. Fire official gives safety tips for the holiday season

Congressional report critical of military actions in January crash near Reagan National

People gather at the Lincoln Memorial

Penny ‘funeral’ brings hundreds to Lincoln Memorial

donut shop

Worldwide attention comes to Annapolis doughnut shop featured on new TV show

work done on facade of Kennedy Center

DC residents react to Trump's name added to the Kennedy Center

VIDEOS

Congress Virginia Statue

WATCH: US Capitol unveils statue of Va. teen civil rights icon Barbara Rose Johns

can and glass of beer sitting on table

This WTOP Beer of the Week is reminiscent of rich German malts

spiderman balloon thanksgiving parade

WATCH: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

PHOTO GALLERIES

Front angle of the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE

Car Review: 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE

Cat dog

2025 Pets of the Week

Remembering the stars who've died this year

LOCAL

A missing man, 79-year-old Leonard Thompson.

Dominique Dawes’ father-in-law from Herndon found dead after search

DC

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a news conference on President Donald Trump's plan to place Washington police under federal control and deploy National guard troops to Washington, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.

'I'm proud of our city': DC Mayor Muriel Bowser reflects on 11 years as city's top leader

GOVERNMENT

Transcontinental Railroad Merger

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern file historic $85 billion rail merger proposal with federal regulators

Sponsored

Building culture and staying ahead of the curve at Saalex

Building culture and staying ahead of the curve at Saalex

Insight by JPMorganChase

22 Hours: A Second Look

Paul Wagner sits down with Mike King to discuss the Sherry Crandell case

When purpose defines your business plan

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Creed

WTOP's DC Sports Huddle

How the Commanders 'win' NFL free agency

493 | Denmark Confronts Trump Administration over Greenland

thERINpy with Erin Washington

Marni Battista, life design coach and author of Your Radical Living Challenge

From Our Partners

Crosswords, Sudoku, Puzzles, Solitaire and more! Play FREE games from WTOP!

Click here to learn more about the WTOP App!

WTOP Interviews and Links

Enter for your chance to win the WTOP Free Lunch Friday Contest for friends and family!

Listen live to WTOP so you never miss a moment

Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.