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

U.S. currency

Use it or lose it: Making the most of those FSA funds before year's end

Voting booths

Fairfax Co. prepares for firehouse primary Sunday as voters look to elect new House District 17 delegate

Powerball Jackpot

Christmas Eve winner in Arkansas lands a $1.817 billion Powerball lottery jackpot

Vatican Pope Christmas

Pope Leo XIV urges the faithful on Christmas to shed indifference in the face of suffering

National Christmas Tree lit on the Ellipse in front of the White House

Christmas Day offers up mild conditions but a wintry mix is on the horizon for Friday

U.S. Capitol

2025's economic bottom line, from tariffs to the K-shaped economy

Two injured in Anne Arundel County shooting by immigration officer

A message from Prince William County: Don’t be so trashy

How the Commanders’ RFK stadium deal came together in 2025

Things to do in the DC area: Winter Skate Spectacular, Holiday Record Swap … and more!

Fairfax County launches new way to recycle unwanted books

Hegseth authorizes cash bonuses of up to $25,000 for top civilian employees

Janney Elementary students bring in the holidays

Closed sign in English

What's open and closed on Christmas Day 2025 in the DC area

Vehicles travel on Interstate 495

Traffic changes during the holiday season in Virginia, Maryland

Tips on how to try to avoid a trip to the ER this Christmas

Couple Hug During Christmas

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

a man stands with arm around mailbox on front porch

How a nonbeliever in Maryland became one of Santa’s helpers

close up image of two people exchanging a gift with red bow

Diamonds, not a toaster: What mom really wants for Christmas

Meet the Loudoun Co. family whose Christmas lights are so good, they won $50K

Decorative holiday star at a D.C. holiday market

Jordans, iMac and a trip to Germany: DC holiday market visitors recount priciest gifts

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Cocktails are served during the Prada Forum Shops at Caesars store opening event on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Prada The Forum Shops at Caesars)

Where to party on New Year's Eve in the DC area

See the Lynchburg penguin house

Wish kids share words of wisdom

Could 2026 bring another government shutdown, after the longest shutdown ever?

Parents of teen killed by counterfeit pills finally get justice for son

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

Meet Grizzy, a cuddly Pittie mix puppy who’s seen some hard times

How 2025’s passenger jet, chopper crash near Reagan National has, and continues to change DC airspace

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

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

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APTOPIX CPAC 2025

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

YE US 2025 Photo Gallery

How the 2025 passenger jet, chopper crash near Reagan National has changed DC's airspace

APTOPIX Trump Inauguration

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

Patrick Moran with the AFSCME Council

Maryland union files unfair labor practice claims against the state

Uber Lyft Massachusetts Settlement

How to beat rideshare surge pricing for your holiday travels

Fresh, raw, Pacific oysters, crassostrea gigas, on a bed of ice in a UK food market

Marylander among 64 sickened by multi-state outbreak of Salmonella from raw oysters

Expert Edition: How to assemble the building blocks of impact-driven AI

Insight by ThunderCat Technology

Government Shutdown

Could 2026 bring another government shutdown, after the longest shutdown ever?

Building culture and staying ahead of the curve at Saalex

Insight by JPMorganChase

Wallet of Money

Make progress with your money in 2026

An image of the crash on I-695 that injured a D.C. police officer

DC police officer seriously injured in crash while helping driver of broken-down vehicle

Pat Finn

Pat Finn, who appeared in 'The Middle,' 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld,' dead at 60

TRUMP HARVARD

Student loan borrowers in default may see wages garnished in 2026

Congress Energy Permitting

Frederick County Council approves proposal that could lead to more data centers

Hearing aid installation

Why hearing loss should be on your radar as you age to maintain cognitive health

Virginia State Police cruiser

1 killed in early morning crash in Prince William County that closed portions of I-66

Nursing Home-Explosion

Explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home kills at least 2, governor says

APTOPIX Election 2024 Virginia Early Voting

Northern Virginia to see another special election as Spanberger makes two key cabinet appointments

Trump Kennedy Center

'Complete disgrace': Democratic lawmaker sues to challenge Kennedy Center's name change

Red and blue lights atop a police car

WATCH: Laurel hit by string of vehicle break-ins and other Top Local Headlines

County News

Fairfax Co. prepares for firehouse primary Sunday as voters look to elect new House District 17 delegate

Use it or lose it: Making the most of those FSA funds before year’s end

Christmas Day offers up mild conditions but a wintry mix is on the horizon for Friday

Looking back: How the Commanders’ RFK stadium deal came together in 2025

Things to do in the DC area: Winter Skate Spectacular, Holiday Record Swap … and more!

Interim CHief Jeffery Carroll with Mayor Bowser

DC's new interim police chief on what's next in crime data tampering investigation

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

VIDEOS

Baby Boomer Trivia

QUIZ: Take the baby boomer quiz. How much pop culture do you remember?

Texas Plane Crash

WATCH: Bystander rescues woman trapped in plane crash

Congress Virginia Statue

WATCH: US Capitol unveils statue of Va. teen civil rights icon Barbara Rose Johns

PHOTO GALLERIES

Ichabod (left) and Grizzy (right)

2025 Pets of the Week

Front angle of the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE

Car Review: 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE

Remembering the stars who've died this year

WORLD

Belgium Europe Summit

Zelenskyy says he's open to creating demilitarized zone in Ukraine's industrial heartland

NATIONAL

Extreme Weather California

Powerful holiday storm lashes Southern California and brings flash floods, mudslides

SPORTS

Jayden Daniels

This is not what Netflix or the NFL had in mind when Cowboys-Commanders was scheduled for Christmas

Sponsored

Expert Edition: How to tackle complex federal cyber challenges

Expert Edition: How to tackle complex federal cyber challenges

Insight by Carahsoft

22 Hours: A Second Look

Paul Wagner sits down with Mike King to discuss the Sherry Crandell case

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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