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

The Arts Endangered

Trump's handpicked board votes to rename Washington performing arts center the Trump Kennedy Center

A view of the White House during rain.

Rain showers expected Friday in the DC region before return to cold this weekend

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Maryland moves forward on replacing Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Doug Lane, whose wife Christine Conrad Lane and son Spencer Seojin Lane perished on American Eagle flight 5342, speaks during a news conference regarding the Jan. 29, 2025, mid-air collision between American Eagle flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter, at the National Press Club, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

'An emotional roller coaster’: Families of DC plane crash victims react to Senate approving ROTOR Act

Pakistan-Social Media

TikTok signs deal to sell US unit to American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake

Officials Standing Behind Podium

Plastic bag ban coming to Montgomery County

New
Justice Department sues DC, 3 states over voter data

New
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year is ...

Updated
Police are investigating link between Brown shooting and killing of MIT professor, AP sources say

News Alert
NASCAR mourns the loss of Greg Biffle, family in tragic plane crash in North Carolina

News Alert

Trump finalizes 1% federal pay raise for 2026

Trump’s ‘Warrior Dividend’ for troops is housing money approved by Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: Ornaments and lights hang on the tree for the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse on November 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Calvin Coolidge participated in the first tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in 1923. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Things to do in the DC area: Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular … and more!

Election 2022 Virginia

Spanberger makes affordability centerpiece of 2026 agenda as legislative session nears

Police patrol car with sirens off during a traffic control. Blue and red flashing sirens of police car during the roadblock in the city.

Student who allegedly stabbed 14-year-old inside Prince George’s County high school charged with attempted murder

Wreaths decorate the White House on Christmas Eve in Washington, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Trump gives most federal employees two days off around Christmas

A photo of D.C. leaders, Metro and Commanders representatives sitting at a table.

Commanders stadium project sparks debate over public transit and traffic solutions

A house for sale sign

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

Maryland State Police car

Inmate connected to Silver Spring gold bar scam found dead

The Commanders stadium project sparks debate over transit and traffic solutions

Celebrity chef Carla Hall on her theater kid background

Watch what happens if you stop giving your Christmas tree water

USPS says: Mail your packages today

SPONSORED: “I want the kids here to feel the same way I felt”

Violence interrupters graduate with skills to combat crime in DC neighborhoods

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

Mahjong is surging in the DC area, and ‘everybody’s playing’

Wish kid flips over meeting Simone Biles

New Fairfax Co. Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer wants to restore trust in government

Fired federal workers turn to start their own businesses and ventures

Festival of lights shine bright inside Hanukkah pop-up bar in DC's Shaw neighborhood

Celebrate Christmas with dinos, trains and holiday plants at the US Botanic Garden

WTOP Asks: What's the most expensive gift you've ever gotten?

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

Festival of Lights at Ivy and Coney bar

This Hanukkah bar has patrons getting lit by the 'shotnorah’

Decorative holiday star at a D.C. holiday market

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

US Army troops listen during an event with President Donald Trump at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on June 10.

Troops will receive $1,776 checks before Christmas, Trump announces

President Donald Trump speaks during an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Trump gives a partisan prime-time address insisting the economy is stronger than many voters feel

Federal Reserve Inflation

US says price increases eased last month but data may be distorted and Americans aren't feeling it

Founding DC with host Dan Simons

WTOP News Podcast

Mega Millions Jackpot

Virginia Lottery wants you to be aware of a scam when buying tickets this holiday season

Building culture and staying ahead of the curve at Saalex

Insight by JPMorganChase

Aircraft Down-Investigation

US government admits Army and air traffic controller failures in deadly midair collision near DC

Obit Peter Arnett

Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Peter Arnett, who reported on Vietnam and Gulf wars, has died

Bowser talks about the next steps in the District’s response to the House Committee’s report on crime data manipulation

Jeffery Carroll

Bowser names interim DC police chief

Congress Health Care Explainer

4 Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies

Trump Venezuela

Senate passes $901 billion defense bill that pushes Hegseth for boat strike video

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

Carla Hall

Celebrity chef Carla Hall talks to WTOP about her upcoming one-woman show

Gun used in Reston shooting

Reston man arrested in fatal shooting had been released from custody the day prior

Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School students

Kids from a DC elementary school will perform holiday music at Union Station

Military Aviation Mishaps

US admits fault in DCA crash, federal workers rehired and more Top Local Headlines

County News

Trump’s handpicked board votes to rename Washington performing arts center the Trump Kennedy Center

‘Vegetable salad budget:’ Proposed $3.78B Montgomery County Public Schools spending plan reflects 5% increase

US Justice Department sues 3 states, District of Columbia for voter data

Plastic bag ban coming to Montgomery County

‘An emotional roller coaster’: Families of DC plane crash victims react to Senate approving ROTOR Act

Dino-Mite runs through January 4th at the United States Botanic Gardens.

US Botanic Garden's annual model train holiday display returns with a prehistoric twist

Women playing mahjong

This Chinese table game, described as ‘the new pickleball,’ is surging in the DC area

man stands heavily bundled in winter clothing outside apartment building

‘We’re doing all we can’: Prince George's Co. Council member responds to Marylander Condominiums crisis

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

Cat dog

2025 Pets of the Week

Remembering the stars who've died this year

Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid trim

Car Review: Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid

Sports

Tai Baribo of the Philadelphia Union celebrates scoring

Striker Tai Baribo heads to DC United in $4M trade with Philadelphia

MARYLAND

Slavery Reparations Maryland

Maryland to consider slavery reparations after Gov. Wes Moore's veto is overridden

GOVERNMENT

FBI Pipe Bomb Investigation

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau's No 2 official

Sponsored

Expert Edition: How to tackle complex federal cyber challenges

Expert Edition: How to tackle complex federal cyber challenges

Insight by Carahsoft

22 Hours: A Second Look

Introducing Profiling Evil: Chad Daybell Letter Number Nine, The Spirit Woman in Black

When purpose defines your business plan

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Kristen Stewart

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

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