Ryan M. McDermott
Articles by Ryan M. McDermott
Progressives plan large protests over expected Trump impeachment trial acquittal
Anti-Trump protesters are planning more than 270 "Reject the Cover-Up" rallies for Wednesday evening after the U.S. Senate's likely vote to acquit President Trump in the impeachment trial. Published February 5, 2020
Muriel Bowser attempts to restore $55 million in funding to expand D.C. Streetcar’s route
Officials from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration made a last-ditch effort Monday to restore $55 million in funding to expand the D.C. Streetcar's route. But city lawmakers are unlikely to delay a vote on the nearly $14 billion budget for a transportation project plagued by problems. Published June 12, 2017
‘Smart growth’ discourages longtime, low-income residents
Advocates for "smart growth" have long extolled the virtues of creating green spaces, bike paths and pedestrian areas for the benefit of all city dwellers. But a report from the pro-business D.C. Policy Center shows that smart growth designs actually push out longtime, low-income residents to make way for younger, wealthier newcomers. Published June 8, 2017
Muriel Bowser’s D.C. mayor campaign committee fined for ‘excessive contributions’
D.C. regulators fined Mayor Muriel Bowser's 2014 campaign committee $13,000 after an audit uncovered more than a dozen "excessive contributions," several of them from real estate developers and contractors. Published June 7, 2017
Charter school teachers unions pushed
Teachers unions increasingly are trying to unionize charter schools nationwide, an effort school choice advocates say will stymie the mission and success the nontraditional schools have delivered to struggling school systems. Published June 6, 2017
Brandon Todd, D.C. Council member, fined $5,100 for failure to document contributions
City auditors fined D.C. Council member Brandon Todd $5,100 on Wednesday for his campaign's failure to document more than $100,000 in contributions during his 2015 special election. Published May 31, 2017
Bryan Moles arrested on gun charges at Trump International Hotel in D.C.
A Pennsylvania man was arrested on gun charges at the Trump International Hotel in Northwest D.C. around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Published May 31, 2017
D.C. Council approves $100 million in tax cuts for businesses, wealthy residents
The D.C. Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a $14 billion budget for fiscal 2018 that includes $100 million in tax cuts for businesses and wealthy residents. Published May 30, 2017
Airbnb gives hotels competition with lower costs, fewer regulations
Travelers' choice between traditional lodging providers and upstart short-term rental services has upset the hotel industry, which claims Airbnb and similar operations unfairly cut into its market share with unregulated accommodations and unlicensed vendors. Published May 25, 2017
Larry Hogan vetoes paid sick leave bill in Maryland
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan vetoed a bill passed by the General Assembly that would have required employers in the state to provide paid sick leave. Published May 25, 2017
Washington, D.C., increases efforts to help missing, exploited children
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says she has redoubled efforts to find and help missing children and runaways, but she still asserts that the city isn't facing a crisis of vanishing youths. Published May 24, 2017
FBI investigating fatal stabbing of black student at University of Maryland
The FBI is investigating as a possible hate crime the fatal stabbing of a black student visiting the University of Maryland at College Park, one of a series of racial incidents reported on local campuses this year. Published May 22, 2017
Five officers from Freddie Gray case face internal charges: Report
Five of the officers involved in the Freddie Gray case are facing internal charges from the Baltimore Police Department despite being cleared of criminal charges in separate trials last year. Published May 22, 2017
Share Better DC ad leads to Airbnb FTC complaint
An industry group opposing D.C. legislation to regulate Airbnb-style short-term lodging has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission claiming an ad promoting the measure is deceptive and misleading. Published May 18, 2017
D.C. housing bill seeks to convert offices to low-cost homes
The D.C. Council is mulling several bills to increase affordable housing, as rising rents and home prices push longtime residents out of the city. Published May 17, 2017
Walter E. Washington Convention Center’s owners want to give it an upgrade
Amid an economic boom downtown, owners of the District's convention center plan to upgrade the behemoth concrete-and-glass building in the Shaw neighborhood. Published May 16, 2017
D.C. business leaders call on lawmakers to keep $100 million tax cut plan
D.C. business leaders called on city lawmakers Monday to cut $100 million in taxes as scheduled in January and not delay the cuts to pay for housing and education. Published May 15, 2017
Muriel Bowser, D.C. mayor, says she will raise per-pupil spending by 2 percent next year
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Thursday that she will increase the per-pupil funding by 2 percent next year. Published May 11, 2017
Homelessness in District decreased, says D.C. mayor
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is hailing a one-night tally of homeless people last summer as proof of the success of her efforts to end homelessness in the District. Published May 10, 2017
Opioid addiction summit takes on urgency in Maryland, Virginia, D.C.
Opioid addiction isn't merely the scourge of the Rust Belt and the Appalachians: It's crippling and killing people in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, regional leaders said Tuesday. Published May 9, 2017