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This image taken from video, Brendan Banfield, charged with aggravated murder in the 2023 killings of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, appears in court during opening statements on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 in Fairfax, Va. (Court TV via AP, Pool).

Jury deliberates in Fairfax double murder trial connected to au pair affair

Obit Catherine O'Hara

Catherine O'Hara, Emmy-winning comic actor of 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone' fame, dies at 71

Congress Budget

Senate moves to pass government funding deal despite GOP backlash

APTOPIX Trump

Trump announces upcoming IndyCar race through DC streets — including Pennsylvania Avenue

A faucet is seen in this stock photo.

'Essential water use' extended through weekend in Prince George's, Montgomery counties

Closings & Delays

A row of school buses after a snowfall.

Spotsylvania County schools to have remote learning Monday, Tuesday

New
200 chickens euthanized, other animals recovered by Prince William police after Haymarket FBI raid

Water utilities try to assure customers their drinking water is safe after Potomac sewage spill

Updated
DC's winter restaurant week extended through first week of February

Journalist Don Lemon is charged with federal civil rights crimes in anti-ICE church protest

Data Doctors: Should I be using Microsoft PC Manager?

Trump says deal reached on stopgap spending bill for DHS, but weekend shutdown still possible

North Carolina Plane Crash Biffle Auto Racing

NASCAR's Greg Biffle wasn't flying his plane before crash that killed him and 6 others

Farmers Almanac

After 200 years, the Farmers’ Almanac bets on a digital reboot and new owner

Justice Department Jeffrey Epstein

Justice Department says it's releasing 3 million pages from its Jeffrey Epstein files

people stand holding candles

‘So wrong’: Fairfax Co. community vigil honors Renee Good, Alex Pretti

Election 2026 Redistricting Virginia

Virginia voter guide: 2 seats in General Assembly up for grabs in special election

hand close up holding pen signing lawsuit paper

Group of Prince George’s Co. residents file suit against county council over at-large seat appointment

Get your retinas ready for this sportier Lexus NX SUV

WTOP’s Michelle Basch bids farewell to the morning anchor chair

Potomac River sewage spill did not affect drinking water, officials say

Fairfax Co. community vigil honors Renee Good, Alex Pretti

Icy conditions leading to more injuries, delays and road hazards, Fairfax Co. firefighters say

Plows are out, but many Virginia neighborhoods still aren't passable

How kids, parents feel about returning to school in DC after snowstorm

Dozens of water main leaks and breaks have WSSC Water crews busy

FAA says renovated Air Traffic Control System is coming

Explore the ‘Rosetta Stone’ of marine life: the Smithsonian Ocean Library

Deadly midair collision near DCA followed years of ignored warnings about traffic

First responders at DCA crash recall ‘devastating’ recovery efforts

Virginia skaters honor those lost in DCA plane crash

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man stands outside a firehouse

‘Each call is more challenging’: DC Fire chief talks about snow days

room full of wires and servers and technology

How DC stays online during major winter weather events

Snow-covered statue of Joseph Henry seems to watch a jogger run by the Smithsonian Castle, on the National Mall in Washington DC.

How cold is too cold for an outdoor workout, and just how dangerous is shoveling for your heart?

a pile of croissants

Friday Freebies: Croissants, Valentine's gifts and vacations with your pet

basketball player dribbles the ball during game

Beltway Basketball Beat: Can the Midshipmen make it happen?

Gervonta Davis Arrest Boxing

Boxer Gervonta Davis arrested on attempted kidnapping and battery charges

Expert Edition: How to build cyber resilience for the quantum era

Insight by Carahsoft

US Immigration Facilities Security

‘Not the right location:’ County supervisors, residents oppose DHS ICE facility near Richmond

Why government employees should think carefully about Roth conversions going into 2026

Insight by FEBA

Immigration Enforcement Minnesota

Man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Omar is charged with assaulting and intimidating her

Commercial Driver's Licenses

What to know about the FAA's multibillion dollar air traffic control system upgrade

National Film Registry

As if! 'Clueless,’ ‘The Karate Kid,’ ‘Inception’ among 25 movies entering National Film Registry

UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed

Judge bars federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione

UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed

A man impersonating an FBI agent tried to get Luigi Mangione out of jail, authorities say

Backhoe loaders remove snow left from the weekend snowstorm on Massachusetts Avenue

DC school kids trek slippery sidewalks to go back to school

Closeup hands holding smartphone and going to charge battery by power supply socket in private car

'Touching' your phone behind the wheel is not enough for a traffic stop, Md. Supreme Court rules

WATCH: Government spending deal, 'au-pair affair' trial and other Top Local Headlines

County News

Former Brazilian au pair testifies her ex-lover plotted to kill his wife, though lacks some details

200 chickens euthanized, other animals recovered by Prince William police after Haymarket FBI raid

DC’s winter restaurant week extended through first week of February

Jury deliberates in Fairfax double murder trial connected to au pair affair

Trump announces upcoming IndyCar race through DC streets — including Pennsylvania Avenue

man squats next to a large ruler

And the winner of WTOP's Snowzilla 2026 Contest is …

group of kids shoveling snow

Young Snow Team Heroes dig out seniors trapped behind icy sidewalks in DC

First responders to DC midair collision recall 'devastating' recovery efforts — 1 year later

VIDEOS

DC Officer Terry Bennett

WATCH: Funeral service for DC officer Terry Bennett

WATCH: 10-foot-tall replica of Trump’s alleged birthday message to Epstein appears on National Mall

Greenland US Protest

'Make America Go Away': Pro-Greenland protesters mock Trump's MAGA slogan

PHOTO GALLERIES

Obit Catherine O'Hara

PHOTOS: 2026 celebrity deaths

2 dogs

WTOP's Pets of the Week

snow landscape in dc with washington monument in the distance

Snow, ice storm turns DC region into winter wonderland

Olympics

Shacarri Richardson Speeding Arrest

Olympic gold medalist Sha'Carri Richardson charged with speeding in Florida

ENTERTAINMENT

Financial Markets Wall Street Trump

Melania Trump's documentary premieres at the Kennedy Center ahead of global release

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Massive Winter Storm Creates Havoc Across Large Swath Of US

Montgomery Co. officials respond to residents' frustrations with snow response

Sponsored

Tips for smartly navigating online medical information

Tips for smartly navigating online medical information

Insight by American Medical Association

22 Hours: A Second Look

S2 E10 - Answered Prayers

Total Wine & More’s David Trone: The strategies behind a $6B retail giant

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Daniel Redfern

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

WTOP News Welcomes John Wordock as New Business Reporter 2026

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