Julia Airey

Metro watchdog prepares to handle rider safety

Metro's newest safety watchdog has "aggressive teeth," a multimillion-dollar budget and a full staff in anticipation of the federal government ceding it oversight of the regional transit system, officials say.

October 10, 2018

Muriel Bowser opens second homeless shelter

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Tuesday opened the second homeless shelter to replace the dilapidated facility at the former D.C. General Hospital campus -- part of her campaign promise to close D.C. General by the end of the year and to make homelessness "rare" in the District by 2020.

October 10, 2018

Metro IG staff bulks up in prep for probes

The Metro Office of Inspector General (OIG) is gearing up for more investigations of the long-troubled transit agency as it seeks more independence from Metro officials, who are launching a $500 million, multiyear repair project.

October 4, 2018

D.C. Council gives preliminary OK for bill to repeal tipped workers raise initiative

The D.C. Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would repeal a voter initiative that eventually would raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to equal the citywide minimum wage.

October 2, 2018

D.C. Council approves limits on Airbnb rentals

The D.C. Council gave unanimous, preliminary approval Tuesday to legislation that would limit how long home owners can rent properties via Airbnb.

October 2, 2018

D.C. judge rejects key part of lawsuit challenging Bowser’s chancellor search panel

A D.C. Superior judge dealt what could be a mortal blow to a lawsuit against Mayor Bowser's advisory panel on recommending a new education chancellor.

September 28, 2018

Paul Wiedefeld gets raise at as Metro GM, rider advisory council axed

The Metro Board is poised to dissolve it's only direct mechanism for rider feedback and advocacy, the Rider Advisory Council (RAC), according to testimony during a Thursday morning meeting.

September 27, 2018

Bicyclists slam Muriel Bowser’s Vision Zero plan

City lawmakers and bicycling safety advocates slapped D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration Thursday during a public hearing on its "Vision Zero" plan for ending traffic fatalities.

September 27, 2018

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Vision Zero plan criticized after 2 traffic-related deaths

Two traffic-related deaths in the past week have kindled anger and doubt over D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's "Vision Zero" plan to reduce traffic deaths.

September 26, 2018

D.C. homicide total already tops 2017

Bucking a trend in other major U.S. cities where the homicide rate is heading down, the District has just passed a grim milestone: More people have been killed in the city so far this year than for the entire year of 2017.

September 25, 2018

Arthur Capper Senior Public Housing resident found alive five days after fire

Officials say inspection crews found a 74-year old man trapped in his second-story apartment in Arthur Capper Senior Public Housing complex Monday morning, five days after the building burned down.

September 24, 2018

Metro IG opens Silver Line construction review

Metro's Office of Inspector General will be keeping a close eye on the construction on the Silver Line, per an announcement Tuesday.

September 19, 2018

D.C. Council holds hearing on independent education research group

The D.C. Council is considering legislation that would wrest some control of city schools from Mayor Muriel Bowser by creating an independent research group to analyze education data and report directly to lawmakers.

September 18, 2018

D.C. Council’s tipped minimum wage hearing draws hundreds

The D.C. Council held a crowded, contentious public hearing Monday on an initiative that eventually would raise the city's tipped minimum wage to $15 an hour.

September 17, 2018

Camp Cedar Cliffs hosts Hurricane Florence evacuees

Hundreds of evacuees from Hurricane Florence, many of them with children and pets, made their way through the Smoky Mountains this weekend to a Christian summer camp, relieved to find shelter from the deadly storm.

September 16, 2018

Hurricane Florence begins battering North Carolina, South Carolina

The outer edge of Hurricane Florence began scouring the Carolina coastline Thursday, as people banded together to help evacuees find safe harbor. Meteorologists said the leading edge of the massive storm on Thursday buffeted Cape Lookout, North Carolina, with 68 mph sustained winds that gusted to 85 mph.

September 13, 2018

Hurricane Florence expected to create ‘life-threatening’ conditions

The National Weather Service on Wednesday warned that Hurricane Florence could create "life-threatening conditions," as the massive storm weakened to a Category 3 gale packing 120 mph winds on a collision course with the Carolinas.

September 12, 2018

Donald Trump: Federal government is ‘totally prepared’ for Hurricane Florence

President Trump said Tuesday that the federal government is "totally prepared" for Hurricane Florence and declared states of emergency in Virginia and the Carolinas after meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Brock Long. Mr. Trump's declaration allows for federal assistance in hard-hit areas.

September 11, 2018

D.C. Election Board kicks another candidate off the ballot, citing fake signatures

The D.C. Board of Elections has kicked business-favorite candidate S. Kathryn Allen off the November ballot after an inquiry into the signatures on her petition.