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

Trayone White mobile billboard truck

Trayon White wins back Ward 8 DC Council seat in special election caused by his expulsion

There's a forest in Tennessee where fireflies put on a show unlike anywhere else. It's no wonder thousands of tourists turn out each year to witness the spectacle of nature's nightlife: a species of synchronous fireflies that flashes in unison. Correspondent Lee Cowan brings us a front row seat. [Originally broadcast on July 13, 2014.]

Nature’s light show: Why this summer’s fireflies are lighting up the DC region

cars on wet roadway

Flash flooding overwhelms DC Beltway after torrential rainfall

School desks in a Classroom

Md. church makes nationwide push to help schools in need

people crowded on the street near a truck

Montgomery County passes bill to crack down on for-profit house parties

Aerial view of RFK Stadium

Stalled at the goal line: Exclusive negotiation period between Commanders, DC ends Tuesday

Police: Rockville man caught filming girl at mall charged with sexual abuse involving kids, dog

News Alert
McLaurin casts doubt on attending Commanders training camp given lack of progress on a new contract

Public school enrollment continues to fall, including in Virginia

Applying for government benefits just got much easier in Maryland

Weather
Evening storms threaten DC area, following intense heat — again

State Dept layoffs necessary for ‘higher quality’ workforce, deputy secretary tells lawmakers

Minnesota Lawmakers Shot

Federal grand jury indicts man accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman

man sits behind podium

Georgetown University leader and educators grilled about antisemitism on campuses

Girls light firecrackers during celebrations to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Pugoda on April 14, 2025.

Laurel teens get summer curfew after fights, fireworks tossed

01:26

Pet of the Week: Surfer Cooler!

01:11

Nationals fans toast fired GM Mike Rizzo with drinks he bought

00:50

Arguing about where to get dinner? This new food hall concept in DC may help

00:38

HVAC problems shutter some local museums

00:32

SPONSORED: Confronting the ‘financial anchor’ of soaring health care costs

01:04

The crews trying to convince you DC isn’t so dirty

02:29

Exploring every DC neighborhood with Austin Graff!

00:39

Booming thunderstorms, heavy rain prompt flooded roads in the DC area

00:52

The latest effort to put a dent in the Chesapeake Bay’s blue catfish population

01:18

How a Prince William Co. manager discovered her joy in cooking for kids

01:31

Couple gets married in free wedding at Arlington Public Library after winning contest

01:40

WAWABILITY honors ADA’s 35th anniversary with shows at The Anthem

00:57

Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be deported to Mexico or South Sudan, says ICE official

×

Consumer Spending

The tariff-driven inflation that economists feared begins to emerge

A woman walks past the fountain in the courtyard of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

4 Smithsonian museums shut down for days over HVAC issues

Britain-Sycamore Gap Tree Trial

They cut down England’s beloved Sycamore Gap tree. Now they face over 4 years in prison

Founding DC with host Dan Simons

WTOP News Podcast

Savannah Bananas v The Party Animals

'Disrupted a market': Va. professor uses baseball entertainment craze Savannah Bananas as lesson in business

Why proposed federal funding cuts are raising red flags across the U.S. health care system

Insight by National Health Council

Awards Season

'Severance' leads Emmy nominees with 27 and 'The Studio' tops comedies as Apple TV+ dominates

Man with a glass of beer

'I'll take care of everything': Fired Nationals GM Mike Rizzo picks up the tab for fans during happy hour

Exterior of Wonder food hall

20 restaurants fit under one roof at this new DC food hall

Art Monk

Commanders are retiring Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk's No. 81 this season

A man cools off in a fountain at Inner Harbor in Baltimore

11 Marylanders have died from heat-related illnesses so far this summer

Austin Graff

This DC content creator has become locally famous for exploring every DC neighborhood

a crew of people wearing vests who clean city

‘It rubs me the wrong way’: The crews trying to convince you DC isn’t so dirty

D.C. police car

WATCH: DC's tougher teen curfew and other Top Local Headlines

County News

Nature’s light show: Why this summer’s fireflies are lighting up the DC region

RESULTS: Trayon White wins back Ward 8 DC Council seat in special election caused by his expulsion

Flash flooding overwhelms DC Beltway after torrential rainfall

Md. church makes nationwide push to help schools in need

Evening storms threaten DC area, following intense heat — again

I-66 Theodore Roosevelt Bridge DC District

Expect more congestion over 'vital link' between Virginia into DC

Rafaela Herrera making burgers

She never used to enjoy cooking. Now this Prince William Co. manager is making school meals kids actually like

Woman's hands shown playing Sudoku on a tablet computer

Need a news break? Try out these free games

VIDEOS

Grand Canyon-Fire

WATCH: Wildfire destroys historic Grand Canyon lodge

State Department Cuts

State Department employees walk out to applause as more than 1,300 are laid off

WTOP’s Brennan Haselton is joined by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Beer Director and Food and Wine Sommelier of the Year Greg Engert to talk about Schneider Weisse Original German Hefe-Weizen for the latest edition of WTOP’s Beer of the Week.

This WTOP Beer of the Week goes well with German, Italian dishes

PHOTO GALLERIES

Collage of Surfer Cooler the dog

Pet of the Week: Meet Surfer Cooler!

France Fashion Birkin Bag Auction

The prototype for fashion’s must-have accessory sells for over $10 million

This 2025 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid comes in dark, metallic gray with some flashy silver and black turbine-style wheels.

This luxurious Hyundai Sonata looks to help keep the sedan alive

SPORTS

All-Star Home Run Derby Baseball

Nationals' James Wood hits 16 home runs during the Home Run Derby. But did he win?

ENTERTAINMENT

People Beyoncé

Unreleased Beyoncé music stolen during 'Cowboy Carter' tour

HEALTH & FITNESS

Businesswoman eating salad at the restaurant

More elderly Americans are choking to death. Are these devices the answer?

Sponsored

solar panel

Top solar questions for 2025 answered

Insight by Solar Energy World

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

'Stranger Things'

Episode 13 — Strength in Unity: One Woman's Mission to Empower MS Warriors

WTOP's DC Sports Huddle

How the Commanders 'win' NFL free agency

Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America

222 | The 5th Anniversary Show

486 | Putin is giving Trump "the Middle Finger"

thERINpy with Erin Washington

Bernice McFadden, award-winning novelist and author of 'Firstborn Girls'

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.