Neal Augenstein
Ever since 1997, when Neal Augenstein kept nudging the then-news director to hire him as a part-time weekend reporter, he’s had the great pleasure of being a reporter for WTOP.
In 2013, Neal took on the role of Tech Editor, overseeing the growth of the WTOP.com tech section.
Things have changed in many ways. When he walked in the door, the newsroom was still equipped with reel-to-reel tape recorders, and the portable bag phones that weighed as much as a bowling ball. Today, Neal is the first major market radio reporter who does most of his field production on an iPhone.
Through the years, Neal has covered many of the crimes and trials that have gripped the Washington community – including the Beltway Snipers, Chandra Levy, and of course, Sept. 11, 2001. But ironically, listeners seem to remember the lifestyle and feature reports – cooking food on the dashboard of his car in 100 degree weather, butt-lifting underwear and pole dancing for guys.
Neal’s been pleased to receive awards over the years for hard news, feature reporting, use of sound and sports. However, he’s most proud when people he reports about tell him they believe his reporting is accurate, fair and in context.
Neal’s ultimate honor is having listeners trust him and the WTOP team, to provide information they need and enjoy in their life.
You can email Neal at naugenstein@wtop.com or follow him on Twitter @AugensteinWTOP.
Latest Articles by Neal Augenstein
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Rockwool sues school board after threat to condemn W.Va. factory site
After a threat to condemn the land a controversial insulation factory is being built upon, the Rockwool company has filed a federal lawsuit against the Board of Education of Jefferson County, West Virginia.
1 week ago -
After debate, huge solar power plant coming to Northern Virginia
After more than a year of debate, the nation’s largest solar power plant will be built in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
1 week ago -
Teen driver, alcohol crash deaths up in Virginia
While the overall number of people killed in Virginia auto crashes dropped in 2018, more teenage drivers were killed, according to the commonwealth’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
1 week ago -
Bad house guests: DC police suspect 8 men looted Airbnb
D.C. police have released home surveillance video of eight men suspected of stealing more than $5,000 worth of TVs, tablet computers, bed duvets and clothing from a home on Leroy Place Northwest, near Connecticut Avenue, on Saturday, March 9.
1 week ago -
Parents of murdered teacher ‘proud’ of Md. as bill to protect pregnant women set to become law
The parents of a murdered Howard County teacher are proud that Maryland lawmakers have passed a bill that adds protections for pregnant women. It places pregnant women in a protected class — similar to enhanced penalties for the murder of a police officer.
2 weeks ago -
Loudoun United will play some ‘home’ games at Audi Field
With its first season underway, Loudoun United has announced where it will play some of its scheduled home games, while its Leesburg stadium is under construction.
2 weeks ago -
Charlottesville ready, excited for NCAA championship game
The city of Charlottesville is readying for the excitement of Monday night’s NCAA championship basketball game between U. Va. and Texas Tech. “It’s bigger than the Super Bowl,” local reporter Hawes Spencer said.
2 weeks ago -
As clock ticks, plea to Md. lawmakers from parents of murdered teacher Laura Wallen
With a deadline looming, the parents of murdered high school teacher Laura Wallen are urging Maryland lawmakers to pass a bill that would protect pregnant women.
2 weeks ago -
Catherine Hoggle, accused of killing her children, won’t get independent mental evaluation
A Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge in Maryland denied a request from prosecutors to allow an independent doctor to evaluate Catherine Hoggle, after almost five years of determinations by doctors at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital have found her incompetent to stand trial for the murders of her two children.
2 weeks ago -
DC drinking water needs more monitoring for lead, audit finds
The audit found D.C. Water’s records indicate 79% of the water service lines on customers’ property are made of unknown material.
2 weeks ago -
Still unclear if National Park Service will charge to recover costs for protests
The acting head of the National Park Service said the agency is “not trying to do anything to take away First Amendment rights in this country, but we do look for ways to manage it.”
2 weeks ago -
Montgomery Co. police review finds 2018 shooting, killing of unarmed man justified
An administrative review by the Montgomery County police found that Officer Anand Badgujar was “in grave danger” when he shot and killed 41-year-old Robert Lawrence White in a Silver Spring, Maryland, parking lot, on June 11, 2018, and that the shooting “was lawful and justified.”
2 weeks ago -
‘Not the Wild West’: Lost drivers fired at in Fauquier Co.
Twice in one week, lost drivers in Fauquier County, Virginia heard gunshots when they ended up on private property.
3 weeks ago -
Vanished: Va.-based Aireon to launch global plane-tracking system
McLean, Virginia-based Aireon’s new plane-tracking technology attempts to minimize the risk any commercial aircraft will disappear.
3 weeks ago -
Plea will take death penalty off table for man convicted in Charlottesville car attack
James Alex Fields, Jr. is expected to enter a plea to federal hate crimes in federal court in Charlottesville, to avoid the possibility of the death penalty, sources tell WTOP. Fields is already facing life in prison plus 419 years after being convicted in state court in December of first-degree murder in the death of activist Heather Heyer.
3 weeks ago
