Articles by Sophie Kaplan
The D.C. Council approved legislation that removes a proposed tax on advertising sales from the city's $16.7 billion budget on Thursday, two days after heated debate over the measure prompted lawmakers to postpone a final vote on the budget.
Published
July 23, 2020
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Maryland's state superintendent said Wednesday that schools can determine how to conduct instruction this fall, whether it's online or in-person, but they must follow guidelines set by the state.
Published
July 22, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday signed an executive order strengthening the city's mask requirement as coronavirus metrics trend upward in the District.
Published
July 22, 2020
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During what one lawmaker called a "dumpster fire of a legislative process," the D.C. Council on Tuesday debated an amendment to scale back a proposed 3% tax on advertising sales that would generate more than $18 million in the city's $16.7 billion budget.
Published
July 21, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Thursday that she is delaying her decision on how D.C. Public Schools will operate this fall, but added that an online-only option will be available for all students.
Published
July 16, 2020
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The Montgomery County Thrift Shop, which shutters for good at the end of the month, joins a growing number of local stores, restaurants and other businesses that are unable to reopen now that coronavirus shutdown orders have begun to be lifted.
Published
July 15, 2020
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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Wednesday that the state's Department of Labor discovered nearly 50,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims totaling over $500 million.
Published
July 15, 2020
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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday he will increase enforcement of coronavirus protocols, especially in the Hampton Roads area, which has seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases mostly among young people.
Published
July 14, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that the District has seen four consecutive days without deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Published
July 13, 2020
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Trade associations are opposing a new sales tax on advertising in the District, saying the 3% levy will only further hurt businesses already devastated by the economic recession created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Published
July 12, 2020
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D.C. police made arrests Thursday in two of the fatal shootings that happened over Independence Day weekend, including the killing of 11-year-old Davon McNeal.
Published
July 9, 2020
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Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced Wednesday that the commonwealth had eliminated a backlog of nearly 3,000 untested rape kits.
Published
July 8, 2020
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A harried but unanimous D.C. Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to the city's $16.7 billion budget for fiscal 2021 after several hours of debate on tax policy and some tension among lawmakers on the process.
Published
July 7, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday said the city is plagued by another epidemic besides the coronavirus — the "sense of hopelessness of kids with guns that will kill other kids" -- after three people, including an 11-year-old boy, were fatally shot in the District over the Fourth of July weekend.
Published
July 6, 2020
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The D.C. government and the Trump administration are butting heads over events this weekend on the National Mall, with city leaders urging residents to stay home and federal officials encouraging people to congregate to celebrate Independence Day.
Published
July 2, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Tuesday warned Washingtonians to avoid Fourth of July celebrations where social distancing isn't possible.
Published
June 30, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday the District government will be seeking requests for proposals soon to develop the municipal building at 14th and U streets as the new headquarters for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Published
June 30, 2020
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday that she will approve the Washington Nationals' waiver to hold training and games without spectators.
Published
June 30, 2020
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A raft of new laws, including gun control and marijuana decriminalization, take effect Wednesday in Virginia — the work of the first Democrat-led legislature in more than two decades.
Published
June 29, 2020
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The House on Friday passed a bill giving the District of Columbia statehood, the first time either chamber of Congress has passed any bill that would make the nation's capital a state.
Published
June 26, 2020
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