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

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)

Smithsonian’s historic castle open for summer during renovations

APTOPIX Trump New York

US military says it carried out 'self-defense' strikes in Iran, including on missile launch sites

Customers walk around Tysons Corner Center as the post holiday shopping season begins.

Area malls grapple with closures of former ‘anchors'

A Montgomery County Public Schools sign

Parent plans to push to keep Montgomery Co. schools staff that were targeted in proposed position cuts

people working out in a gym

DC athletes honor fallen service members with push-ups, pull-ups and lots of running

Parade participants march in Washington to commemorate Memorial Day

Memorial Day in DC region marked with solemn ceremonies, emotional parade

Two chicks from species classified as extinct in the wild born at Smithsonian zoo's conservation campus

This drive-thru coffee chain is pushing into undercaffeinated parts of America

New
Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese behind the 7-Eleven ‘conbini’ empire, has died at 93

Weather
Gloomy Memorial Day in DC area with scattered showers

How to watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in DC

HHS shrinks cash awards for top performers, shifting funds to bonuses with less clear criteria

Evidence markers are seen on a crime scene

What we know about the Maryland man accused of shooting Secret Service near the White House

APTOPIX White House Lockdown

Analysis: Gunfire at the White House reveals America's dangerous new security reality

Trump Triumphal Arch

‘A hideous thing to have’: DC-area group pushes back on Trump’s plan for arch near Memorial Circle

01:32

Athletes honor fallen service members with push-ups, pull-ups and lots of running

00:49

Visitors reflect at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day

01:02

Sights and sounds from DC’s National Memorial Day Parade

01:05

DC-area group pushes back on Trump’s plan for arch near Memorial Circle

01:23

‘Rolling to Remember’ brings thousands of motorcyclists to DC

01:07

Summer unofficially starts for travelers coming to the DC area for Memorial Day weekend

01:25

How Virginia’s new balcony solar law could cut your utility bill

01:05

What connects whiskey with DC's famous cherry trees?

01:22

This nun graduated from University of Maryland and is also an expert in architecture

01:23

A year after opening, does Southeast DC trust Cedar Hill hospital?

00:54

Blue Angels take flight over Annapolis ahead of Naval Academy graduation

01:22

What to expect from proposed Buc-ee’s in Va.

00:57

Water main break floods Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda, roadway remains closed

01:22

DC teacher uses ‘bike bus’ to boost attendance, improve safety

×

US Memorial Day

The origins of Memorial Day and how it has evolved

sign hanging outside business says close

Memorial Day 2026: What’s open, what’s closed around DC area

travels in front of DCA sign

From surprise parties to anniversaries, Memorial Day holiday travelers share their stories

Vatican Pope Encyclical

Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity

Rolling to Remember motorcycle ride

‘Rolling to Remember’ brings thousands of motorcyclists to DC

Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams

Nationals Notebook: Looking more 'contender' than 'pretender'

America 250: How the federal workforce evolved from paper pushers to the cloud

America 250 | In partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

White House Lockdown

Bystander in serious condition after fatal shooting near White House checkpoint

AI & Data Exchange 2026: SentinelOne’s Ron Ringgold, AWS’ Sri Elaprolu on changing cyber rules at speed of AI

Insight by SentinelOne/AWS

A person using a computer

Data Doctors: Is online age verification safe?

Shadows from a jail cell

Gaithersburg man sentenced to federal prison for SNAP benefits fraud scam

APTOPIX Southern California Chemical Tank

The risk of a catastrophic chemical tank explosion in California has been eliminated, officials say

Judge's gavel

Columbia man gets life in prison for teen murders

Stafford County house after fire

Multiple pets killed after house fire in Stafford Co.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing

Late pass sends Felix Rosenqvist past David Malukas for the closest Indianapolis 500 win in history

DC police vehicle

DC man indicted on 69 charges after 5 wounded in bus stop shooting

Trump

WATCH: DC delegate candidates say they are willing to work with Trump and other Top Local Headlines

County News

Parent plans to push to keep Montgomery Co. schools staff that were targeted in proposed position cuts

Smithsonian’s historic castle open for summer during renovations

DC athletes honor fallen service members with push-ups, pull-ups and lots of running

Scripps National Spelling Bee guide: How to watch, who the notable spellers are, rules and prizes

Two chicks from species classified as extinct in the wild born at Smithsonian zoo’s conservation campus

CRIME

keg on ground of bakery with smashed glass around it

Man accused of hurling keg through Georgetown Cupcake window turned in after father recognized him

TRAVEL

Trump Coast Guard

Travel industry worries after Trump administration reiterates threat to sanctuary city airports

NATIONAL

APTOPIX White House Lockdown

'Every second matters': How effective are post-9/11 counterterrorism systems against the 'lone actor'?

Sponsored

AI & Data Exchange 2026: Salesforce’s Leo Blackwell on taking advantage of AI-infused analytics

AI & Data Exchange 2026: Salesforce’s Leo Blackwell on taking advantage of AI-infused analytics

Insight by Salesforce

VIDEOS

Jim Henson Creature Shop

WATCH: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop opens for tours

Air Show Planes Collide

4 crew members eject safely after two Navy jets crash during air show in Idaho

floating with friends beer

Grab a can of this WTOP Beer of the Week and get ready to float away

PHOTO GALLERIES

US Memorial Day

PHOTOS: Memorial Day 2026 in DC region

Obit NASCAR Kyle Busch Auto Racing

2026 celebrity deaths

Yellow Kia car.

Car Review: Kia K4 Hatchback

Texas Instruments laser Guided Bomb in museum

America 250: The Age of Precision: How guided weapons changed war

US Capitol at night

America 250: How the federal workforce evolved from paper pushers to the cloud

Sears "Elmhurst" kit house

America 250: How people ordered their ready-to-assemble homes from a catalog

22 Hours: A Second Look

You Might Also Like: Deep Cover: The Family Man from Pushkin

#15, Shizu Okusa on scaling wellness brand Apothékary to $40M, gaining TikTok halo effect and avoiding founder blind spots

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Scotty McCreery (Part 2)

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 Kristin Diaz as New AM Drive Anchor

WTOP News Welcomes John Wordock as New Business Reporter 2026

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

Click here to learn more about the WTOP App!

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.