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

Interim CHief Jeffery Carroll with Mayor Bowser

Incoming interim DC police chief wants to rebuild community trust

Couple Hug During Christmas

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

Texas Plane Crash

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

a man stands with arm around mailbox on front porch

Former nonbeliever helps Santa answer letters in Maryland

Election Justice Department

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

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

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

Traffic
Record-breaking holiday travel is expected in the DC region. Here are some traffic changes

'We delivered big': Mayor Bowser reflects on year of resiliency for DC

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

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

OPM to hire critic of HR consolidation plan

Montgomery County fire truck

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

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

Elon Musk wearing a T-shirt that reads "DOGE."

How much of an impact did DOGE have on the DC region?

Obit James Ransone

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

Climate Clean Energy

Trump administration pauses 5 wind projects, including in Virginia

Trump Inauguration

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

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

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

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

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

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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

Thanksgiving Open Closed

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

Overturned vehicle after it hit two Southeast DC homes

Man charged with DUI after crashing into two Southeast DC homes

Trump District of Columbia

These 5 stories defined the DC-area in 2025

Founding DC with host Dan Simons

WTOP News Podcast

FILE - The Smithsonian Institution's Smithsonian Castle is seen at the National Mall in Washington, Jan. 27, 2015. The Smithsonian will commemorate Women’s History Month in March 2022 by displaying 120 3D-printed statues depicting women who have excelled in the fields of science and technology. The life-size neon orange statues will be displayed in the Smithsonian Gardens and in select museums in the Smithsonian network in March. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

White House pushes Smithsonian to comply with review to receive federal funding

Advanced surgical care with a personal touch at GW Hospital

Insight by by GW Hospital

Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson scrambles under pressure from Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr.

Four Downs with the Commanders: Failing against Philly

Transcontinental Railroad Merger

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

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

NEW YORK - JUNE 20: A flag is seen outside CBS News headquarters June 20, 2006 in New York City. CBS announced that Dan Rather is leaving the network after 44 years, following his departure as anchorman last year. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

CBS shelves ‘60 Minutes’ story on Trump deportees at the last minute

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

Prince George’s police warn holiday shoppers to stay alert for online marketplace deals and gift card scams

Turning Point

Nicki Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event

Judge's wooden gavel on bench in courtroom. Conceptual image of judicial system. Legal process, judiciary image, legal process, right to attorney. Constitutional rights. Symbolic Scales of Justice.

Jury convicts Waldorf man in deadly forklift rampage

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

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

Anne Arundel County Police vehicle.

WATCH: 2nd Anne Arundel officer suspended and other Top Local Headlines

County News

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

Man critically injured in apartment fire in Southeast DC

Former nonbeliever helps Santa answer letters in Maryland

Incoming interim DC police chief wants to rebuild community trust

Montgomery Co. church teacher sentenced to 20 years for sexual abuse of minors

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

Sports

Patriots Ravens Football

Drake Maye leads the Patriots to a 28-24 win over the Ravens that clinches a playoff spot

LIFESTYLE

White House Website Livestream

Americans weigh in on cost of living, Trump, expectations for 2026 in poll

NATIONAL

San-Francisco-Power-Outage

Power restored to most in San Francisco after massive outage

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

Introducing Profiling Evil: Summer Wells Abducted, Murdered, or an Accident?

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

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