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‘The pain that lingers’: Jan. 6 hearing takeaways Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

We take a local focus on the first January 6th hearing with CBS Congressional Correspondent Scott MacFarlane. He gives us perspective on the biggest takeaways from the hearing, but also the very real trauma that our neighbors and friends who work at the U.S. Capitol are still dealing with a year and a half later. And Professor of History at American University – Allan Litchman – takes us back to critical moments in our country’s history that threatened our Democracy before and the impact the insurrection on January 6th will have on our future.

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Why Commanders lost Va. stadium deal & DC council’s RFK interest Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

A day after the defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders doubled down on his tweet minimizing the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, Virginia lawmakers withdrew legislation that could have brought the team’s new stadium to the Commonwealth. WTOP’s Sports Director George Wallace tells us what Jack Del Rio said and why it’s having such an impact. Then, we speak with lawmakers from both Virginia and D.C. about why they chose to speak out in opposition to a stadium for different reasons.

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DC Police Chief Robert Contee: State of the District’s safety Jun 08, 2022

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In this second portion of the exclusive conversation with DC police Chief Robert Contee, we focus on the state of public safety in the nation's capital. Chief Contee shares his thoughts on the competition to hire police officers, the perceived increasing violence on Metro, and what he thinks residents and businesses can do to make the city safer.

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DC Police Chief Contee: Threat of mass shootings ‘keeps me up at night’ Jun 07, 2022

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As mass shootings send shockwaves through the country, we sit down with D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee to learn more about how his department is preparing for mass shootings and how it responded to the last shooting in April in Van Ness. In part one of this two-episode exclusive conversation, Chief Contee shares details of that mass shooting response, what his department has learned from other mass shootings and the plan to reassess the response plan with school leaders. Contee also shares his approach to a rise in teen-related violent crime.

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DC convictions ‘called into question’ after crime lab blunders & Heavy cars set to face hefty fee Jun 06, 2022

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A DC lawmaker is refusing to wait to see whether DC’s Department of Forensic Sciences can right its own ship, proposing legislation to restructure the crime lab which lost the ability to process crime scene evidence in the Spring of 2021. Megan has been reporting on this saga for years. She tells us how we got to this point, and where a criminal investigation into lab management stands. Then, lawmakers in DC have placed a fee hike in the 2023 budget for drivers of heavy vehicles. WTOP’s Melissa Howell tells us while it’s meant to prevent additional wear and tear on the District’s roads, it could also impact the purchase and production of electric vehicles.

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Gauging where feds stand on return-to-work debate & a DC deli owner’s fight to survive Jun 03, 2022

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To return or not to return to the office, that is the question workers and managers face across the country and in our area. This debate is likely to go on for a while, but in our region all eyes are on how federal agencies will decide whether to lean toward virtual, hybrid or in-person work. We talk to Federal News Networks’ Drew Friedman about how the government’s decision on his will shape how other industries navigate out of the pandemic. And with fewer office workers, some small businesses downtown are struggling with the drop in customers. We talk to WTOP’s Jeff Clabaugh about the numbers and a D.C. deli owner’s fight to survive.

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Enrollment drops at community colleges & ‘Representation matters’ at US National Parks Jun 02, 2022

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College enrollment is below average nationally, but the drop in enrollment is hitting community colleges especially hard. However, as WTOP’s Mike Murillo explains, it’s not entirely due to the pandemic. And one professor’s idea to introduce minority students at Bowie State University to the National Parks on a 1500-mile journey is more than just a fun trip. WTOP’s John Domen explains why he says a change is needed at the parks which are mostly enjoyed by white Americans.

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Verdicts in Depp-Heard Defamation Trial & Commanders’ Dan Snyder called to Congress Jun 01, 2022

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After six weeks of trial in Fairfax County, a jury reached a verdict in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation suits. Finding both proved defamation, the jury awarded Depp a far greater amount in compensatory damages than it did for Heard. We speak with entertainment attorney Kirk T. Schroder who explains what the verdict means and whether it could be appealed. And members of Congress want to hear from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders team owner Dan Snyder — calling them to appear in front of the House Oversight Committee. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller tells us what this means for the Congressional investigation into workplace harassment within Snyder’s organization.

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Va. law loops parents in on school threats & DC’s eaglet gets a name May 31, 2022

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A new law in Virginia that goes into effect in a month aims to keep parents in the know when it comes to violence or threats at school. Before now, principals only had to report crimes that would be considered felonies to law enforcement. Now, they must also report misdemeanors. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein explains why some think the law will prevent violence, while others are concerned over who it singles out. Then, we turn to a bald eagle nest at DC’s National Arboretum where an eaglet known as DC9 now has a new name. WTOP’s Kate Ryan tells us how he got the name, some of his quirks and the details of his parents’ love story.

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Monkeypox in Northern Virginia. Plus, noticeable changes at Delmarva beaches May 27, 2022

Show notes

Monkeypox is in the D.C. region. The Virginia Department of Health found a confirmed case of Monkeypox in Northern Virginia. So, should we worry about this virus or do anything about it? Virologist Andrew Pekosz at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health talks about what Monkeypox is and how we should treat it. And scores of DMV residents are migrating to Delmarva beaches this long weekend, but they’ll notice that a lot has changed. WTOP’s John Domen says staff shortages are hitting the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia coasts hard.

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