WTOP News – News Happens Here

Freedom 250 Grand Prix official vehicle

Washington, DC

WTOP rides shotgun at 140 mph on DC’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix course

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Maryland

Bowie mother shot in the head while holding her baby, another child tried to intervene, police say

School bus on its side

Virginia

School bus emergency? Fairfax County students have a plan to handle it

Road bridge over the Anacostia River

Washington, DC

Anacostia River closer to being safe for swimming, report says

Virginia

After 130 years, Arlington neighborhood bids farewell to episcopal church

Inside WTOP

Declan Moore named president of WTOP and Federal News Network

Maryland

Deadly Annapolis home explosion deemed accidental, authorities say

1:24

A front-seat view of the IndyCar Grand Prix track

PlaySmart video game screen capture

Health & Fitness

This new video game can help prevent depression in teens, researchers say

DC police cruiser

DC

Wisconsin man accused of breaking into Kalorama home, attempting to sexually assault 18-year-old

Man's hand holding cardboard sign: "Homeless please help"

Virginia

Prince William County unveils new 311 signage to curb panhandling, promote community resources

Montgomery County Public Schools headquarters

Education

Montgomery County schools facing a $3 billion maintenance backlog, officials say

Bowie police car

Crime

Woman critically injured in domestic shooting in Bowie; suspect in custody

APTOPIX UFC Freedom 250 Trump

DC

Trump's IndyCar race: Doing 200 in a 25 mph zone with manhole cover-displacing torque

An IndyCar was pulled along the Metro tracks

Freedom 250

Metro and IndyCar team up for a busy weekend of Freedom 250 Grand Prix events

IndyCar Series driver David Malukas boards a race car

Freedom 250

An inside look at final preparations for Freedom 250 Grand Prix in DC

Photo Aug 19 2026 4 17 56 PM

Traffic

‘Worse than cherry blossoms’: Drivers react to Freedom 250 Grand Prix road closures

:39

School bus emergency? Fairfax Co. students can handle it

1:24

A front-seat view of the IndyCar Grand Prix track

:40

Fairfax County firefighters return after assisting Colombia earthquake victims

:43

Why Chuck Brown’s family pulled out of DC’s Chuck Brown Day

1:26

An inside look at Freedom 250 Grand Prix preps

1:11

‘Yokai Parade’ exhibition explores Japanese supernatural monsters

:51

Metro and IndyCar team up for a busy weekend of Grand Prix events

1:21

Fairfax Co.’s newest high school prepares to welcome students

:46

Commuters say Freedom 250 Grand Prix traffic is ‘worse than cherry blossoms’

1:18

Man charged in Great Falls stabbing has confessed, police say

1:20

Commanders hold final open practice of 2026 preseason

2:58

This WWII-era machine was used to decode Shakespeare’s works

1:17

How DC schools are preparing for returning students

1:16

Rare photos reveal how DC changed in the years after World War II

1:05

Meet Sallie, a charming, lively and endlessly fun dog

1:17

School spirit takes over Prince George’s Stadium ahead of new year

1:15

What to expect from the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, according to one of the drivers

2:24

Inside the room where 400-year-old copies of Shakespeare are restored

1:14

Va. college student helping seniors avoid AI scams

1:06

‘Nine best days of summer’ begin in Montgomery County

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School Bus Stop Sign

Maryland

As Maryland schools reopen, drivers reminded to stop for school buses

Back to school concept. School empty classroom, Lecture room with desks and chairs iron wood for studying lessons in highschool thailand without young student, interior of secondary education

Maryland

After threat by DOJ, Anne Arundel Schools amend gender policy

Skyview High School classroom

Virginia

With pool and pod-style classrooms, Fairfax Co.'s newest high school prepares to welcome students

Boone Elementary School

DC

How DC prepares school buildings for students to return to class

Dc schools officials at news conference

Education

DC students made small gains on last year's standardized tests, but still below prepandemic levels in math, data shows

Catherine Hoggle

Maryland

Judge clears way for Catherine Hoggle’s insanity plea

Chuck Brown Day

DC

For first time, Chuck Brown Day will go on without Brown family

Britain Honors 66724 scaled

Lifestyle

Martin Scorsese, Cynthia Erivo to headline National Book Festival in DC

Federal Leaders Guide to the CFO

FNN Event

Which issues are dominating federal CFO priorities right now? Register to find out!

FBI Headquarters

FBI HQ Move

'Victory for Greenbelt': City leaders celebrate FBI headquarters ruling

Ledisi

Music

Grammy-winner Ledisi brings Dinah Washington, her own music and a reverence for history to Strathmore

glass of beer next to beer can on table

Beer of the Week

WTOP's Beer of the Week: Ocelot Home IPA

Troy Swanda LIA

Insight by Kaiser Permanente

At SOME, food is everything

D.C. police cruisers are seen in this WTOP file photo. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

DC

12-year-old arrested, charged with fatally shooting 13-year-old in DC

Elementary school kids climbing on to a school bus

Education

Prince George's schools focus on smoother bus rides after last year's bumps in the road

Immigration Virginia

Virginia

Congressional Democrats launch probe into ICE enforcement in Northern Virginia

Researchers use a Hinman collator to help decode William Shakespeare's text at D.C.'s Folger Shakespeare Library.

Matt About Town

Where to find an obscure piece of Shakespeare ‘decoding’ technology in DC

Photo Jul 24 2026, 11 27 46 PM

Car Review

Car Review: Land Rover Defender OCTA is a sinister supercar

'Attack on the Tsuchigumo'

Things To Do

Things to do in the DC area: 'Yokai Parade,' National Book Festival … and more!

DC Subway Shutdown

Traffic

Survey: Drivers would take pay cut to avoid Northern Virginia commutes

letter with portrait of MLK

History

Intern at Virginia seminary finds original draft of letter by Martin Luther King Jr.

Businessman hand use laptop submit online feedback. Virtual interface, customer service survey. Business technology, user experience, satisfaction review. Submit button, corporate office.

Sponsored by GAP Solutions

How GAP Solutions built an award-winning workplace culture

Great falls homicide 1024x683

Crime

Man charged with murder offers ‘full confession’ in killing of 42-year-old woman in Great Falls

Washington Dulles Transformation Conceptual Rendering North Facade Side July

Travel

Dulles airport leaders clarify who will pay for $22B, 15-year makeover

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Sports

Orioles fans surprised, cautiously optimistic about team’s unlikely playoff push

WEATHER

UPCOMING

TRAFFIC

Crash

I-695/Southeast Freeway westbound at the 11th Street Bridge , left lane blocked by the crash.

08/22/2026 at 09:02am

Crash

I-95 southbound after the Laurel Rest Area , left lane blocked by the crash.

08/22/2026 at 09:06am

Crash

US-1 northbound after Pohick Rd/Fort Belvoir Tulley Gate , right lane blocked by the crash.

08/22/2026 at 08:46am

Event

Freedom 250 Grand Prix closing Constitution Ave NW, Pennsylvania Ave NW, 4th St NW, 7th St SW, Independence Ave SW, 9th Street Tunnel, 12th St Expressway , traffic affected by the event.

08/18/2026 at 02:16pm

Event

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair affecting MD-355/Frederick Rd, MD-117/W Diamond Ave, Perry Pkwy , traffic affected by the event.

08/21/2026 at 06:42pm

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Top News From WTOP

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American Nightmares

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Founding DC

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Target USA

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thERINpy with Erin Washington

Colors Podcast

Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America

Charity of the Month

Partners

Charity of the Month: Goodwill of Greater Washington

WTOP Mystery Newsmaker

Partners

WTOP Mystery Newsmaker Contest: Aug. 22 & 23

Press Releases

WTOP News Expands Content Offerings with Enhanced Top News Podcast

Press Releases

WTOP News Announces 2026 Top Workplaces

Press Releases

WTOP Brings Home Five 2026 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, Six Chesapeake AP Awards