Mayor Muriel Bowser signed an executive order Friday that says businesses should serve unmasked patrons who are fully vaccinated. Businesses can require proof of vaccination before allowing someone to take off their mask.

COVID-19 Apr 30

DC Launches Walk-Up Vaccine Sites Saturday: What to Know

face masks Apr 29

DC Relaxes Mandate for Masks Indoors and Outdoors

The order took effect immediately.

The updated rules apply to people who are fully vaccinated, meaning it’s been two weeks since they received their one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot or the second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

The District’s order recommends people with immune conditions take more precautions.

D.C.’s Latest Mask Rules

Mask restrictions have been loosened for vaccinated people under the mayor’s latest order, which says businesses can serve some patrons who aren’t wearing masks.

Unvaccinated people must continue to wear masks when they’re likely to encounter another person. Previous exceptions including for exercise and eating remain.

Masks are always required for drivers of rideshares, buses, taxis, vans, school buses and other forms of transit, D.C. says.

Vaccinated people can:

• gather indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing
• visit with one other household with unvaccinated members without masks or social distancing, unless someone is at high risk from COVID-19
• skip masks for outdoor activities, unless there is a crowd
• pass through apartment or condo buildings without a mask
• go maskless in a business, although proof of vaccination may be required

Businesses are directed to post signs encouraging masking and try to “exclude” or kick out unvaccinated people who aren’t wearing a mask.

However, businesses shouldn’t refuse vaccinated people who are unmasked in accordance with D.C.’s rules on being fully vaccinated, the order says.

Vaccinated people must still wear masks when spending time in apartment or condo common areas.

Employers can set more strict rules for their employees.

D.C.’s Proof of Vaccination Rules

Businesses and institutions can ask to see someone’s vaccine card or other proof of vaccination to determine whether they need to mask, D.C. says.

Exceptions must be made for people with medical issues or religious beliefs that bar vaccinations.

Businesses can limit one-time incentives or donations to people who provide proof of a COVID-19 shot.

D.C.’s Latest Travel Guidelines

Vaccinated people who travel within the United States no longer need to self-quarantine after they return.

International travelers should take a COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the U.S. and 3 to 5 days after returning to the District.

D.C.’s Latest COVID-19 Exposure Orders

Most vaccinated people exposed to someone with COVID-19 no longer have to quarantine, unless they start showing symptoms. The exception is people who live in correctional institutions, group homes, care facilities or other group settings.

Two cars collided around 3:35 a.m. on the Outer Loop after MD-201, Maryland State Police said.

Maryland Department of Transportation cameras showed a fire where the cars crashed, our news partner WTOP reported.

Police haven’t yet released the number of people injured or killed.

All Outer Loop lanes in the area were closed while police investigated. The interstate has fully reopened.

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story

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A strong line of rain showers moving through Friday evening increased the strength of the winds. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued to warn people about the dangerous conditions.

Cicadas Apr 29

FAQ: What to Know as Brood X Cicadas Emerge in DC, Maryland, Virginia

weather alert Apr 30

Tree Falls on Capital Beltway, Strikes Car Amid High Winds

“This really is a dangerous situation,” said Storm Team4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer, who advised people to stay home.

The strong winds caused power outages across our area that continued into Saturday morning amid blustery conditions and cold wind chills. The breeze is set to calm during Saturday and highs will approach 70 degrees.

Dominion Energy reported around 6,800 customers are without power around 8 a.m., including 2,800 in Fairfax County and 2,400 in Loudoun County.

Fewer than 500 outages were reported in Arlington and Alexandria.

Pepco has fewer than 500 outages in D.C., Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.

Potomac Edison reported more than 300 outages in Frederick County, Maryland.

A high wind warning and wind advisory expired for D.C.; parts of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and parts of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties plus Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church in Virginia. Go here to see all severe weather alerts.

During the high winds, the National Weather Service advised people to stay away from windows.

On Garfield Avenue in upper Northwest Washington, a large tree branch snapped, falling onto an SUV. No one was inside at the time.

In Potomac, crews are investigating whether the wind knocked power lines onto a house, starting a fire that caused $100,000 in damage.

In the 1200 block of Walter Street in Southeast D.C., a large tree branch fell on a home. No injuries were reported. In Arlington, Virginia, a tree crushed a car on 36^th Street.

Also in Arlington, a large tree fell on North Glebe Road, blocking part of the northbound lanes. Part of the tree also fell on the Buckingham Apartments, damaging them. No injuries were reported.

In Bethesda, Maryland, trees fell on houses in the 7300 block of Pyle Road, the 5100 block of Wissoming Road and the 5600 block of Newington Road.

In Northwest D.C., trees fell on houses in 3900 block of McKinley Street and the 3700 block of Brandywine Street.

On Golden Ash Way in Gaithersburg, Maryland, wind tore off an aluminum roof. No one was injured.

D.C. Fire and EMS was called to a building collapse in the 700 block of Malcolm X Avenue SE where a home under renovation collapsed toward the street. No one was found injured or trapped when a K9 searched the debris.

Fairfax Fire and Rescue said they were dispatched to 210 calls for help between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., including dozens of downed trees, several small brush fires caused by arcing power lines. Ten homes were damaged by downed trees across the county. No injuries were reported.

A bulldozer was used to clear a downed tree from Kirby Road near Loch Rave Drive in McLean, Virginia.

Several trees fell in the D.C. area before noon, including one on the Capital Beltway that appeared to damage multiple cars.

A wind advisory was issued for Charles, Saint Mary’s and Calvert counties in Maryland and Fauquier, Rappahannock, Stafford, Culpeper and Prince William counties plus Fredericksburg, Manassas and Manassas Park in Virginia. It has expired.

“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected,” the NWS said.

Here are safety tips for high winds:

• Secure lawn furniture, trash cans and outside toys ASAP.
• Keep your devices at full charge in case of a power outage.
• Use battery-powered flashlights, not candles, if lights go out.
• Stay aware in case of falling branches or flying objects.
• Drivers, slow down. Pedestrians, keep extra distance from the road.
• Never approach a downed power line and avoid touching anything in contact with one. Call the authorities.

D.C. closed COVID-19 testing at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center due to the forecasted winds and canceled test kit pickup for TestYourselfDC.

As of 4 p.m., eastbound delays were approximately 5 miles prior to the Bay Bridge. The bridge was under limited restrictions with no house trailers or empty box trailers allowed and two-way traffic operations prohibited. A gust of 69 mph was recorded there.

The following restrictions and warnings were implemented on all Maryland Transportation Authority bridges:

• Wind Warnings (sustained wind speeds of 30-39 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 30 mph over a period of 15 mins) operators of house trailers, box trailers, motorcycles, vehicles with roof-mount racks containing cargo or any other vehicle that may be subject to high winds are advised to use caution while traveling across the bridge.
• Limited Wind Restrictions (sustained wind speeds of 40-49 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 40 mph over a period of 15 mins) house trailers, empty box trailers or any vehicle that, in the opinion of law-enforcement personnel, may not safely cross the bridge will be prohibited from traveling the bridge. Motorists who are denied passage will be assisted with safely turning around.
• Full Wind Restrictions (sustained wind speeds exceeding 50 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 50 mph over a period of 15 mins) only automobiles, pickup trucks, flatbed trailers, commercial buses and heavy-laden tractor/trailers are permitted to cross the bridge. Tractor-box trailer combinations will not be permitted to cross any bridge if the gross weight is less than 64,000 pounds.

• Traffic Holds/Bridge Closure (sustained wind speeds exceeding 55 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 55 mph over a period of 15 mins) In the event of a sudden increase of sustained wind speeds or wind gusts that could jeopardize life or property, the MDTA may elect to discontinue the movement of all traffic across the bridge.

DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia Weekend Forecast

Temperatures plummet overnight with lows falling into the mid-30s to mid-40s. Wind chills Saturday morning will be in the 30s areawide with breezy winds. Frost is possible in the most rural areas well west of Washington early Saturday.

Winds will subside throughout the day the temperature warming to near 70 degrees.

Sunday will feel like summer with highs in the low 80s and plenty of sun.

Some scattered showers are likely on Monday, especially later in the day.

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Walk-up vaccinations will be available at 11 high-capacity vaccination sites across all eight wards. Here are the locations and hours of D.C.’s vaccine sites.

Each site will offer either Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shots on Saturday, so check the city’s schedule if you have a preference.

Saturday will be the last day for vaccinations at the Entertainment and Sports Arena.

RISE Demonstration Center and Kenilworth Recreation Center will open after May 1.

When residents get their first shot, they’ll be able to schedule a time for the second dose.

All D.C. residents over 16 are eligible to get a shot.

You can also get vaccinated at CVS, local pharmacies and through health care providers. Free rides are available to anyone who needs them. Here’s more information.  

The group that calls itself “Babuk” has dumped more than 500 pages of information belonging to five officers on the dark web so far.

The group also proved it stole information about police informants and threatened to reveal it unless its demands are met.

DC Police Apr 28

Hackers Release Stolen Information on DC Police Officers

DC Police Apr 28

Hackers Publish Extensive Dossiers on DC Police Officers in Extortion Attempt

City officials did not disclose where those demands stand. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Thursday there is a process the city is following.

The leaked documents contain the officers’ Social Security numbers, home addresses, cellphone numbers, names of relatives, polygraph results, health and financial information, and more.

News4 reached out to the five officers, contacting two who declined to comment.

Brett Callow, a cyber threat expert, said Babuk is a new group of amateurish hackers working with inferior software but underestimating them would be a mistake.

“Organizations in this position really have no good option available to them,” he said. “Whether they pay or not, they’ve had the data breach, the cyber criminals have their data and they may reveal the data.”

In a message to the force, acting Police Chief Robert Contee encouraged officers to contact the credit reporting agencies and place fraud alerts on their accounts.

Officers responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in an apartment building near Arena Stage and the Southwest Waterfront Metro Station about 9 p.m. encountered the man, who refused orders to drop the gun, police said.

Officers shot the man, who was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Police said another person was in the apartment but did not give any other information about that person.

Stay with NBCWashington.com for more on this developing story.

All five were indicted as part of an investigation that began last year while they were still with the fire department.

Jeremy Hawkins, 26; Nicolas Holzberger, 19; George Smith, 24; Jay St. John, 24; and Cole Vazquez, 21, are all charged with multiple counts related to the arsons.

“Evidence shows that all involved were aware of the fires before, during and after the fires were set,” said Shajahan Jagtiani, the battalion chief and fire marshal for Prince George’s Fire and EMS.

An investigation into the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department began after two arson arrests of civilians connected to the fire house last year.

Giancarlo Reyes, who wanted to be a firefighter but was rejected after a background check, and his friend Francis Ortiz-Oro were both charged for allegedly setting an empty Lanham home on fire. The crime was caught on a home security camera.

Reyes’ mother told Telemundo 44 that her son helped at the fire department and one of the firefighters told her son to set a house on fire.

She said in part that other firefighters were telling her son that they were bored and they wanted an adrenaline rush. Reyes’ mother said they then went to an old, empty house to set it on fire, which fire investigators confirmed Friday.

“The former firefighters who had been indicted had knowledge of and were planning arsons for the purpose of responding to and extinguishing those fires,” Jagtiani said.

Investigators said their case centers around arsons of four empty homes, two of which were for sale at the time, according to Jagtiani. No firefighters or residents were injured.

During the year-long investigation, the fire department said they found some issues inside of the fire house that are in violation of the department’s policies.

“Anyone who has been in this position of trust, who has been trained, who has raised their right hand and sworn to protect this community, when they violate that oath it is devastating to our community,” said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.

Hawkins is being held at the Prince George’s County jail while the other four former volunteer firefighters have been issued a criminal summons to appear in court.

After the criminal trial, an administrative investigation into the leadership of the fire house will begin, according to the fire department.

“It is beyond disheartening to learn that the accused were willing to cause harm simply so they could serve themselves,” said Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green. “I want to make clear that their alleged actions in no way reflect upon the hundreds of dedicated volunteer firefighters who serve our community each and every day.”

Milk tea, cake, ice cream, shaved ice and ice pops.

These are some of the sweet treats in which foodies can find boba— the chewy tapioca balls, sometimes known as bubbles. Popular with milk tea, boba adds texture and a special sweetness to the drink. And luckily for boba lovers, the boba scene continues to expand in the D.C. area.

Judie K. uses Instagram to highlight some of her favorite boba shops in the area that offer the bubbles on soft serve with cones, cakes, iced tea or milk tea. For beginners, she recommends going for the classic black milk tea with boba. The drink is also known as pearl tea in some places.

“That is known to be a classic back in Taiwan and all over the U.S.,” Judie, who is Taiwanese-American, said. “The black milk tea is usually an indicator if the place is even good in the first place.”

So what makes a good boba? Judie says to look for a boba that is chewy, but not too chewy, and it does not melt in your mouth.

So whether you’re a long-time boba lover or new to the game —here are four places to mix and match flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth.

BobaPop

312 Main St, Gaithersburg, Maryland

BobaPop in Gaithersburg, offers tea made with leaves from Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and India. Sam Lin, the owner, said they brew the tea in small batches every hour for a fresh flavor. The shop offers a tea that isn’t found in a lot of similar tea shops: Japanese brown rice tea.

Lin says that temperature affects the texture of the boba balls. Therefore, his shop got down to the science for the perfect texture. Just like the tea, Lin says the boba balls are made every hour, so customers can expect to have the perfect texture in their drink when it is served.

BobaPop also offers a community for K-Pop fans. The shop has held events to celebrate the birthdays of BTS members J-Hope and Suga, as well as NCT’s Johnny.

MOMO’S CAFE

4828 MacArthur Blvd NW Washington, D.C.

If you want the milk tea and boba experience along with Taiwanese cuisine, Momo’s Cafe in Northwest D.C. is the whole package.

“They do a really good job in showcasing what makes Taiwanese food, Taiwanese,” Judie said.

Momo’s offers tea flavors such as wintermelon lemon and assam and hokkaido milk tea. The boba is “chewy and pretty tasty,” Judie says. She also recommends their “smooth” matcha.

Kyoto Matcha

33 Maryland Ave Unit A, Rockville, Maryland

If milk tea isn’t your thing, at Kyoto Matcha you can get boba as a topping for its milk or matcha soft serves. This spot also has a brown sugar boba milk cap cake that is perfect for Instagram.

secreTea

1959 E Street NW Washington, D.C.

To accompany your boba, SecreTea offers tea that is “only picked in the current season of the countries” they are imported from. The shop offers seasonally inspired drinks and keeps its customers on their toes by regularly announcing its “secret tea of the month.”

“Our goal is to redefine the way people think of boba,” the owner Rong Tang said.

The “secret tea of the month” usually showcases the shop’s creative side. For April, customers could get a “Sunny-Side Up Marshmallow Egg”— a marshmallow that resembles a sunny-side-up egg —as a topping.

Tang said her most popular drink has been the bunny drink that looked just as cute as its name.

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Firefighters responded to the 8600 block of Bunnell Drive early Friday. The fire started outside and spread to the deck, roof and inside, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said.

People inside were able to escape, and no injuries were reported. The fire did about $100,000 in damage, Piringer said.

Photos show siding melted off and soot marks on a chimney.

The cause was “likely electrical,” Piringer said.

Firefighters didn’t say how the power lines fell, but forceful winds are expected in the D.C. area Friday. A wind advisory and high wind warning go into effect at noon.

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story

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It’s unclear if anyone was injured.

Multiple cars appeared damaged, and ambulances responded to the scene, Chopper4 footage shows.

Crews quickly began to remove the tree from the lanes and some lanes have reopened.

All Outer Loop lanes of Interstate 495 were blocked before Old Georgetown Road (MD-187 at Exit 36), the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination says.

An extensive traffic jam formed as traffic was diverted onto Interstate 270, authorities say.

Rubbernecking delays were starting at the I-270 spur, authorities said.

A high wind warning is in effect in the D.C. area and the National Weather Service warned of gusts strong enough to knock down trees.

Stay with NBC Washington for more on this developing story

While some may be worried about creepy crawlies, University of Maryland entomologist Michael J. Raupp encouraged people to get excited about this exceptional event.

“This is a unique, natural phenomenon that happens nowhere else on earth besides the eastern half of the United States,” Raupp said.

Brood X Cicadas Apr 29

Signs of Brood X Cicadas Emerging: Look for These Clues

Cicadas Mar 18

It's ‘All About Romance' for Cicadas Emerging in DC Area This Spring, Entomologist Says

These cicadas breed and grow in 17-year cycles, so they haven’t been visible in the D.C. area since 2004 — and a lot of people are wondering what to expect.

Here are answers to the most common Brood X cicada questions.

When do the Brood X cicadas emerge in D.C., Maryland and Virginia?

Cicadas emerge when temperatures several inches underground reach about 64° in your neighborhood.

The first signs of cicadas emerging appeared in late April in areas including College Park, Maryland, and upper Northwest D.C. More will come out in the coming weeks.

Cicada season will likely be in full force in the capital region by the last two weeks of May, Raupp predicted. Each area’s timeline could vary depending on the temperature and other factors in different areas, but once you start seeing cicadas in your area, their numbers could explode overnight.

By the end of June, the swarm should be over.

How many Brood X cicadas are there?

Certainly billions, and likely trillions.

How do you pronounce “Brood X”?

There are 15 broods of cicadas found in the United States. The cicadas emerging in 2021 are Brood X, sometimes called the Great Eastern Brood.

The “X” in Brood X is the Roman numeral for 10, so you’d say “Brood Ten,” not “Brood Ex.”

Where are the Brood X cicadas?

Brood X covers the largest geographical area in the United States.

Brood X cicadas can be found in parts of Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and D.C.

You’ll see the highest number of cicadas in parks, nature preserves and neighborhoods that underwent less construction and development in the past several decades.

Brood X cicada map:

Brood X cicadas are found in parts of 15 states. The USDA Forest Service’s map below shows Brood X territory shaded with yellow, or red with black stripes.

Where won’t there be cicadas in D.C., Maryland and Virginia?

Southern Maryland doesn’t get periodical cicadas, and Brood X isn’t typically found in central, southern or western parts of Virginia.

You’re also not likely to see them in recently built-up neighborhoods such as Navy Yard.

What’s the cicada timeline?

Individual cicadas climb out of the ground, molt and then mature into adulthood over several days. Once adults, cicadas live three to four weeks.

The peak of cicadas singing, mating and laying eggs — and buzzing all around your neighborhood — typically happens within five weeks, according to Cicada Mania.

Memorial Day might be buggy, but by the Fourth of July this rare event should be over.

What are the signs of cicadas emerging?

There will be signs that cicada time has sprung — even before their legendarily loud mating songs begin.

The first indication that cicadas are emerging in your area would be dime-sized holes that go deep into the soil. Cicadas could stay in the holes for a while after digging them or climb up into trees.

After that, the signs will become harder to ignore. Expect to see a lot of empty, molted shells, even some that are left attached to vertical surfaces.

Then, you might need noise-canceling headphones to block out their songs.

What do Brood X cicadas look like?

There are three species of Brood X cicadas. They all have six legs, red-orange wings and legs, and most have large, red eyes — except for a few rare instances of blue eyes.

Magicicada septendecim are usually the first to emerge and the largest. Their undersides are orange.

Magicicada cassini are typically smaller and emerge shortly after the septendecim species. They have black bellies.

Magicicada septendecula are also small. Their undersides are orange and black.

What do Brood X cicadas sound like?

Loud. The chorus of mating calls can reach 100 decibels — louder than a lawnmower.

They’re making a huge racket to find their mates, and different species have distinct mating calls.

M. septendecula make a ticking noise; M. septendecim make a “wee-oh” sound that’s been compared to a spaceship, and M. cassini sound like static.

Why do the Brood X cicadas come out every 17 years?

Cicadas emerge in massive numbers every 17 years to mate. That’s right: The loud chorus of buzzy screeches is a love song.

Their long lifecycles and massive numbers are likely both survival mechanisms for the species. Predators don’t rely on them for food, and their sheer numbers allow them to guarantee plenty of cicadas are born into the next generation — even if birds feast on many of the adults.

Are Brood X cicadas dangerous or harmful to people and pets?

No. Brood X cicadas don’t bite or sting and aren’t poisonous or venomous.

If dogs or cats eat a lot of cicadas, they may get some stomach discomfort due to the hard wings and shells.

Cicadas are not great fliers and sometimes land on humans. They have hard exoskeletons and suckers, though, and could poke your hand if you hold or squeeze one.

Are Brood X cicadas edible?

Yes, but be cautious if you have allergies — especially to shellfish.

If you do decide to chow down on a cicada, you may want to avoid the crunchy, hard shells and wings.

Virginia Oct 9, 2020

Keep Your Distance: Fuzzy-Looking Caterpillar Found in Virginia Is Venomous, Experts Warn

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‘Frenzy' of Hook-Jawed Sea Worms Swarm South Carolina Coast

Will Brood X cicadas eat or harm my garden or trees?

Most healthy trees will be able to withstand cicadas, Raupp says. Cicadas eat the sap from trees and lay their eggs on woody branches, especially of young trees.

You can use cicada netting to protect young or recently replanted trees.

If you’re considering transplanting any trees, it’s safest to put it off until the fall planting season.

Should I use pesticides on cicadas?

Raupp advised against using pesticides, since it’s harmful to the cicadas and may not be effective.

How can I have some fun with cicada season?

Play cicada bingo, download the Cicada Safari app to track what you see and tag @nbcwashington in your photos on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

An Aldie, Virginia, home burst into flames Tuesday evening after newly placed mulch ignited and extended to the home. 

Alarming videos show the fire covering the single-family home and firefighters rushing to extinguish it. Angelica González and her family had self-evacuated the home and were found safely outside. 

“It was so sad, yeah … really sad. And the fire started spreading,” Gonzalez said.

Civilians and firefighters were not injured, but the four residents were displaced.

The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion of landscaping mulch that caused the mulch fire and ignited the home. 

“Spontaneous combustion can happen when a decomposing, organic material such as mulch generates enough heat to ignite without an outside source,” said Chief Fire Marshal Linda Hale. “Because of this, a large or compacted area of mulch can create sufficient heat to spontaneously combust. Remember, in all cases, mulch fires are more likely to start when the weather is hot, and it has been dry for an extended period.”

The total amount loss is expected to be $1.36 million, including $20,000 in damages to two nearby houses.

To help prevent mulch fires at your home or business, the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office suggests these safety tips:

• Maintain at least 18 inches of clearance between the edge of the mulch bed and combustible building materials, such as exterior vinyl siding and decks.
• Keep landscaped mulch beds moist if possible.
• Recognize that hot and dry spells, along with windy conditions, allow mulch fires to start more readily.
• Ensure proper clearance to electric devices, such as lights, by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Use non-combustible materials such as river rock, pea gravel or crushed rock for the first 18” around the base of a building with combustible siding and around gas and electrical meters.
• Immediately report any smoke or fire by calling 9-1-1.

Hale said the risk of mulch fire is common this time of year and urges homeowners to have that 18-inch buffer between the house and the mulch. Taking these steps will give fire and rescue units a fighting chance to stop a mulch fire in time. 

Storm Team4 is in Weather Alert mode after the National Weather Service issued the watch. Go here to see all severe weather alerts. 

Friday will be sunny, with a high of 71 degrees, but the wind could take down trees and power lines. 

“Without the wind, it’d be a perfect afternoon. But your Friday is definitely looking like we’ll see some windy conditions,” Storm Team4’s Doug Kammerer said. 

The strongest wind gusts are expected Friday afternoon, with gusts of 41 mph in D.C., 45 mph in Gaithersburg, 50 mph in Winchester and a powerful 53 mph in Hagerstown. They could go even higher.

Before then, some showers are possible Thursday night to the northwest of D.C., in the Frederick and Hagerstown areas of Maryland. Rain there will be light though steady. 

More rain is possible at about 11 p.m., possibly with a rumble or two of thunder. 

Saturday will be breezy early in the day and then calmer, with sunshine and a high of 69. 

Then we’ll see highs back in the low 80s on Sunday and Monday. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on the Storm Team4 forecast. 

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First responders need to know what to say and what to do when someone is breaking down. 

“Especially with the pandemic right now, that’s creating a lot of stress and strain on individuals and their families. So, they’re presenting with a lot of challenges that need help,” Sante Group CEO Michelle Grigsby-Hackett said.

Sante’s crisis intervention therapists are on call 24/7/365 to respond to calls for services via the county’s police radio dispatch, law enforcement or everyday citizens in need.

They have been working with the county since the 1990s but are expanding their efforts.

“That includes increasing mobile service capacity,” Director James Drake said. “That includes putting counselors in police vehicles and having officers that are specially trained.”

“We are going to try to meet as many of their needs as we can,” Drake said. “We’re going to create a plan on what we’re going to do in the next days, in the next week, the next month, and then we’re going to follow up and check on them.”

“Then in 3, 6 months down the line when the crisis is resolved, we’re going to check on them one more time to try to ensure and make sure they’re staying in a place that’s positive and a place that’s safe for them and the community,” he said.

Sante’s specially trained mental health professionals are also training other first responders.

County mental health statistics show that people who are in crisis are more likely to interact with police departments than with mental health professionals, often resulting in unfortunate outcomes. The hope is to form relationships with those in need and have better outcomes for first responders dedicated to saving lives.

Sante has worked with more than 250 first responders in the county.

Prince George’s County recently broke ground on a mental health medical center that will provide wraparound services. The project was funded with money diverted from the Prince George’s County Police Department.

The D.C. Department of Health published new guidance that scales back mask requirements, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated. An order from Mayor Muriel Bowser is expected soon. 

Here are some of the changes: 

• No mask is required for anyone at a small outdoor gathering of family and friends, as long as you’re not with anyone who is sick or at high risk from COVID-19
• People are not required to wear masks at small, private, indoor gatherings where everyone is vaccinated 
• Masks are still required at large outdoor gatherings

At places such as uncrowded parks and playgrounds, you don’t have to wear a mask anymore. Masks are still required, though, at large events even outside, such as weddings or baseball games. 

coronavirus Apr 29

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Montgomery County Apr 29

Montgomery County to Maintain Restaurant Limits, Some Outdoor Masking

Everyone is still encouraged to avoid large gatherings and crowded settings, whether indoors or outdoors. People also are advised to avoid indoor settings with poor ventilation. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

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D.C., Maryland and Virginia each report that COVID-19 diagnoses and hospitalizations are trending downward, even as this week they surpassed 1 million cases combined since the start of the pandemic.

D.C. reported 81 new cases Thursday, and one person died, a 74-year-old woman. A total of 314,929 people have been partially or fully vaccinated, a third of the population.

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coronavirus Apr 29

U.S. Vaccination Pace Slides Further From Peak Levels as Covid Case Counts Decline in Most States

Virginia counted 916 new cases, and 17 more residents died in the past day. Nearly 44% of Virginians have received a vaccine dose, and 2.5 million are fully vaccinated.

Maryland reported 966 new cases and nine more residents died. About 43% of residents have gotten their first vaccine dose, 3% got the single-dose shot, and 29% have received both doses.

Local Coronavirus Headlines

• The District has now relaxed some of its mask mandates after the CDC revised its guidelines Wednesday. Masks are no longer required for anyone at small outdoor gatherings of family and friends, as long as you’re not with anyone at high risk of COVID-19 or who is sick. People will not be required to wear masks at small private indoor gatherings where everyone is vaccinated. Masks are still required at large outdoor gatherings.
• Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan lifted the state’s outdoor mask mandate on Wednesday, saying “consistent improvements” in the state’s health metrics allowed it to take steps to “continue our health and economic recovery.” Face masks will still be required at large, ticketed venues and indoors. 
• Residents of Arlington County and the city of Alexandria who are age 16 and older may now make vaccine appointments directly, without pre-registering first. Those ages 16-17 should look for appointment dates where the Pfizer vaccine is offered, officials said.
• D.C. will loosen COVID-19 restrictions starting Saturday, May 1, use walk-up vaccination sites and discontinue use of its vaccine preregistration system, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday. District residents and workers will be able to go to 11 high-capacity vaccination sites without needing an appointment for their first dose.
• In an official opinion issued Monday, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring concluded that Virginia colleges and universities have the authority to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students.
• Maryland and Virginia health officials told providers to resume their use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal agencies lifted a pause on the vaccine.
• The National Zoo and seven other Smithsonian facilities in the D.C. area are set to reopen in May. Here’s how to plan your visit.
• Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week that he would further loosen coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses and social gatherings in mid-May. Here’s what to know.
• As the District continues to vaccinate its residents, DC Health is aiming to reach Asian Americans through its Faith in Vaccine program.
• A Maryland biotech company developed a test to help predict how sick you may get from COVID-19. The company is awaiting FDA emergency use approval.
• Virginia has a new mass vaccination site at Tysons Corner Center. Here’s how to look for an appointment to get your shot there.
• Some mass vaccination sites in Maryland are offering a limited number of walk-up shots every day, no appointment needed.
• A mass vaccination site is open at the Greenbelt Metro station in Prince George’s County. It offers shots to anyone, not just Maryland residents. Go online here to create an account.
• NBC News is making finding information on when, how and where to obtain your coronavirus vaccination easier with its Plan Your Vaccine website.

Key Charts and Graphs

The vaccinated population in D.C. may be overestimated in this map because some non-residents who work in D.C. are included in the totals.

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How to Stay Safe

Anyone can get COVID-19. Here are three simple ways the CDC says you can lower your risk: 

• Wear a snug-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth. 
• Avoid being indoors with people who are not members of your household. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19. If you are indoors with people you don’t live with, stay at least six feet apart and keep your mask on. 
• Wash your hands often, especially after you have been in a public place.

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Brandon Long died after he was shot the night of April 20 in the unit block of Franklin Street NE. He was a 30-year-old father who worked as a roofer, his parents said. 

“Brandon was a good, good, good son. My pain is just unreal. It’s shocking that he’s gone and someone would do this to him,” his mother, Montrell Green-Long, said Wednesday. 

The search for Long’s killer is ongoing. 

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Long’s heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas were donated, his parents said. Someone just got his heart on Saturday. 

“I’m really impressed that he was able to be a hero,” Long’s mother said. 

Anyone with information on the shooting that killed Long is asked to contact police. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered. 

“I just want his killer to be found. It’s just too much. This person doesn’t know what they have done to our family,” the victim’s mother said.

Gov. Larry Hogan announced rolled back statewide regulations on Wednesday, urging people to get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19. Most outdoor mask requirements are lifted and restrictions on dining outside will end Saturday.

mask mandate Apr 28

Maryland Gov. Hogan Lifts Outdoor Mask Mandate, All Restrictions on Outdoor Dining

reopening Apr 27

Montgomery County to Reopen in 3 Phases Based on Vaccination Numbers

Montgomery County, however, will keep stronger local restrictions.

Executive Marc Elrich says lifting the outdoor mask mandate altogether goes too far.

“County residents should continue to follow face-covering guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Elrich said in a statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say most people can skip masks when outside and socially distanced but still recommends unvaccinated people cover their faces in many situations.

Montgomery County leaders say they will opt out of the changes for restaurants this weekend.

“We learned of Gov. Hogan’s order when it was announced publicly so our staff are reviewing the state order to determine any potential impacts on the Board of Health regulation,” Elrich said.

The county this week announced a phased approach to reopening tied to the percentage of people who are vaccinated. The county would follow state guidelines once half of residents are fully vaccinated.

NBC Washington has reached out to Prince George’s County to see if they plan to follow the new order, but have not yet heard back.

A total of five people were shot in the 1300 block of Congress Street SE in the Congress Heights neighborhood. Two of the victims, George Evans III, 25, and Keosha Ferguson, 28, both of Southeast D.C., were killed.

Members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 25-year-old Tarik Turner of Southeast D.C. and charged him with second degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Ferguson.

Party Chairman Rich Anderson said the decision comes after several gubernatorial candidates complained the ballot counting software system the party had planned to use could not be trusted to deliver accurate results. The convention delegates will select nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Anderson said 53,524 Republicans have registered to cast ballots through an unusual drive-in convention. There will be 37 voting sites around the commonwealth. 

When voting concludes at 4 p.m. May 8, teams will drive the ballot boxes to Richmond. Anderson said for security reasons they will be instructed not to stop for gas.

The boxes will be delivered to a ballroom at the Richmond Marriott where off-duty police have been hired to guard the ballots until May 10 when the counting begins.

It’s estimated about 60 people will be needed to tabulate the ranked-choice ballots. An independent auditing organization will also be on hand.

Each of the 17 statewide candidates will be able to assign an observer to the room. Anderson said the ballroom is booked through May 13 in case it takes several days to finish the count. 

The party chairman said with more than 53,000 delegates, the 2021 convention will be the largest ever for Virginia Republicans.

The bill was among 38 signed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice. It had narrowly passed the state Senate, which had added the college component, before being overwhelmingly approved in the House of Delegates.

Justice said earlier this week that he would “proudly” sign the bill despite warnings from some lawmakers that the NCAA could retaliate and decide not to hold college tournaments in the state.

Last month, hundreds of college athletes signed a letter to the NCAA Board of Governors asking the organization to refuse to schedule championships in states that have banned transgender athlete participation in sports.

The NCAA in 2016 moved championships out of North Carolina in response to a bill legislating transgender people’s use of public restrooms.

“It concerns me that we may miss out on a really important sporting event or something like that that could come to West Virginia,” Justice said. “However, I think the benefits of it way outweigh the bad part of it.”

Bills seeking to ban transgender girls from competing on girls’ sports teams in public schools also have been enacted this year in Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi, while South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has implemented the move by executive order.

“We regret the governor has signed this cruel and unlawful bill after refusing to meet with young transgender West Virginians and their family members,” the American Civil Liberties Union’s West Virginia chapter said. It added in its statement: “ACLU-WV stands ready to intervene whenever and wherever this harmful law is enforced.”

Andrew Schneider, executive director of Fairness West Virginia, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said Wednesday that “transgender children are worthy of love and support. They deserve the chance to learn and grow in the classroom and on the field.”

A 2017 study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA law school used state-level, population-based surveys to estimate that West Virginia had the highest percentage (1.04%) of residents ages 13 to 17 among all states who identified as transgender. That equated to about 1,150 teens.

During debate in the House of Delegates, Republican John Mandt defended the bill. He said it could drive residents to move into the state, a comment ridiculed by Democrat Cody Thompson, an openly gay man.

“This isn’t going to bring people to West Virginia,” Thompson said. “This just sends a message across the country that we’re closed minded and we don’t accept you for who you are.”

Several Democrats said the bill was discriminatory, while some Republicans said the bill was about ensuring an equal playing field for biologically female athletes. Supporters have argued that transgender athletes would have physical advantages in female sports.

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission has not received any complaints about transgender athletes on girls teams. SSAC Executive Director Bernie Dolan has said the SSAC is unaware of openly transgender students participating in scholastic sports currently or in the past.

Three suspects have been arrested and detectives are trying to determine if others were involved, police said in a news release.

Police believe one group began shooting outside the apartment complex in south Richmond on Tuesday evening and struck the victims, who were innocent bystanders, Police Chief Gerald Smith said at a news conference. Another group returned fire, Smith said, but police don’t believe they hit anyone.

Three types of guns were used, he said.

Sharnez Hill, 30, and her infant daughter were killed. Smith said the three other victims — ages 29, 15 and 11 — were in stable condition.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney condemned the shooters for having “no regard for human life.”

“I have no idea and I’ll never understand why this sort of gunplay occurs so much in our communities,” Stoney said. “And although there’s been progress made with laws at the state level, laws here locally, still firearms find their ways into our communities far too often.”

Police said Donald Hemmings, 22, Shyheem Martin, 23, and Shamondrick Perry, 19, had been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, with additional charges pending. It was not immediately clear if any of them had obtained an attorney.

Oscar Rodas of District Heights, Maryland, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday after being shot on April 15, police said in a statement. He was 49. 

A search for the shooter, who is now a homicide suspect, is ongoing. The suspect and vehicle of interest were caught on surveillance footage.

Rodas was driving with his wife in the 3600 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW, a few blocks from the U.S. Naval Observatory, early the morning of April 15 when a woman sideswiped his Acura SUV. 

The woman and Rodas got out and exchanged information, Acting D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said on the day of the crash. The woman began to drive away but then turned around and shot Rodas while he was outside his car. 

“We’re not sure exactly what that exchange was,” Contee said.

The woman then sped off toward Montgomery County, police said. 

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Police responded at about 4:35 a.m. and found Rodas had been shot twice in the head. He was taken to a hospital and had been in a coma.

The search for the shooter is ongoing. Police were looking for a blue car with shiny rims. Anyone with surveillance footage or other information is asked to contact police. 

For the first time since 2019, the pools will give the summer months a sense of normalcy for many.

“We’re not just the agency where fun happens, but where fun happens safely,” said Delano Hunter, the director the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation. “And I don’t know about you, but I am really excited to open pools this summer.”

The pools will be limited to 50% capacity and social distancing will be required, with deck chairs spaced six feet apart.

The outdoor pools will be open on a first-come, first-served basis. Indoor pools will remain open for reservations only for lap lanes, Hunter said.

Summer camps will reopen as well.

“We are proud of the fact we operated camps in 20 locations in summer 2020 without one COVID case,” Hunter said. “It’s a point of pride for us.”

With the reopening of pools and splash parks, Hunter also anticipates hiring more than 700 seasonal employees, including lifeguards and camp counselors.

Apartments, condos and hotels will be able to open their pools at 50% capacity, as well, but hotel pools can only be open for their guests.

“Masks and face coverings are no longer required outdoors in the state of Maryland,” Hogan said.

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Face masks will still be required at large, ticketed venues and indoors. Hogan cautioned that people not vaccinated were at risk of hospitalization and death and that they should continue to be careful, wear masks where they cannot socially distance and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

He said vaccinating every eligible Maryland resident would be the “fastest way to put this pandemic behind us, once and for all.”

Starting Saturday, May 1, the governor also said “all restrictions will be lifted for outdoor dining.” Outdoors, standing service at bars and restaurants may resume and capacity and social distancing limits will no longer apply.

CDC guidance released Tuesday said that vaccinated people could safely go outside without a mask, and people who had not received a vaccine could as well, in some cases.

“We can’t check IDs to check to see if you’ve been vaccinated or not. It’s like, you’ve had plenty of time to get a vaccine, you can get one anywhere,” Hogan said. “Everybody who’s been vaccinated can no longer continue to be, you know, held back because of the few who are refusing to.”

More than 4.5 million vaccines have been administered in the state, the governor said.

He added that Maryland has vaccinated more than 60% of residents over the age of 18, lowered hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and has the lowest transmission rate in the country.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

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The files, each of which is around 100 pages long, are marked “Background Investigation Documents” and labeled “confidential,” alongside the department’s seal, NBC News reported. They include a vast array of personal information, as well as arrest history, housing and financial records, polygraph results and extensive details about their training and work background.

The hackers are one of several known ransomware gangs that hack an organization, then lock its  files or threaten to leak them if not paid a ransom fee. Many, including the MPD’s hackers, post evidence of their exploits to dedicated websites on the dark web to increase pressure on their victims to pay.

One former MPD officer whose file was among those leaked and who requested to not be named to protect his privacy, confirmed in a phone call that the information was authentic. MPD had not yet contacted him, he said.

Read the full story at NBCNews.com.

Cpl. Darryl Wormuth was indicted on a first-degree assault charge. He also is charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office, the department said Wednesday. He was suspended without pay.

Wormuth, who has been with the department for 15 years, is accused of grabbing the handcuffed 17-year-old by the neck as he put him into a squad car.

When News4 asked what the teen had been suspected of doing, prosecutors said he is not involved in any current cases. 

Two Black officers who witnessed the incident Oct. 20 turned in Wormuth. His police powers were suspended six days later. The police department then took the case to prosecutors to consider charges.

Interim Police Chief Hector Velez and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy both praised the officers who reported alleged misconduct. 

“I support and commend the officers who stepped forward to report this incident. I encourage and expect all officers who witness any potential wrongdoing to do the same,” Velez said in a statement. 

“We have a very strong case, and that’s in large part due to the officers who came forward, and we want to thank them,” Braveboy said.

That case includes video of the alleged incident.

Police sources told News4 there was retaliation against the two Black officers who reported Wormuth. Lt. Edward Scott Finn and at least two other ranking officers are under investigation for allegedly ordering officers in the field to stop backing up the Black officers who reported Wormuth.

Finn operates a security company patrolling apartment complexes. Wormuth was one of the officers who worked part time for him.

Police sources said an investigation into Wormuth and his connection to Finn resulted in Finn’s arrest last week and federal charges for tax invasion related to his security company.

Braveboy would not confirm if there are other ongoing investigations tied to Wormuth’s arrest.

“If there are other investigations, we will work with the police department to conduct those investigations and take the appropriate actions at the appropriate time,” she said.

After Finn’s arrest, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced the resignation of Mark Magaw, the public safety director who oversaw the police department, and the pending retirement of Velez. On Friday, Kathleen Mills, the former head of internal affairs, also retired.

The new police chief, Malik Aziz of Dallas, begins work May 9.

Finn retired Monday with his full benefits. Finn and Wormuth both are out on bond.

Many county officers joined the department because they want to serve their community, Braveboy said. 

“What they also understand is the law applies to everyone,” she said. 

Wormuth was assigned to the patrol bureau. In 2018 he was hailed a hero after rescuing a child from a hot car. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

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The carving completes a quartet of heads of prominent figures sprouting from the four corners of an alcove known as the Human Rights Porch, joining Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks and Jonathan Myrick Daniels, a young Episcopal theologian and civil rights crusader who was shot to death in Alabama in 1965, giving his life to protect a 17-year-old Black woman.

“This is the space where we celebrate human aspiration,” cathedral spokesman Kevin Eckstrom said.

Wiesel, who died in 2016, was the author of 57 books, including “Night,” which is based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. He became an outspoken advocate for human rights causes around the world, helped found the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

The Rev. Randy Hollerith, the cathedral’s dean, chose Wiesel for the alcove’s final corner, calling him “the living embodiment of resilience in the face of hatred.” Wiesel’s inclusion is particularly important as the number of living Holocaust survivors dwindles, he added.

“We have to make sure that we keep that reality in front of people,” Hollerith said. “Those who stood for human rights and human dignity ought to be part of this sacred space.”

Artist Chas Fagan, who created all the sculptures in the Human Rights Porch, worked off photos and videos provided by Wiesel’s family to fashion a clay image of Wiesel’s head that cathedral stone carver Sean Callahan and head stonemason Joe Alonso used to make a plaster model. Then Callahan, using specialized calibration equipment, painstakingly carved the image into a small slab of rock that has been sticking out of the wall for years awaiting a fourth face.

During an early April visit to the cathedral by The Associated Press, Callahan was putting the finishing touches on the carving about 10 feet (3 meters) above the floor.

“We’re about 95 percent of the way there,” said Callahan, who also did the other three faces. “But this last 5 percent takes forever because there’s a lot of precise detail work.”

He was able to complete the job about twice as quickly as the previous ones because the cathedral was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning he didn’t have to work around sermons and other events.

Before it was permanently etched into stone, the image of Wiesel was approved by his widow, Marion. The Holocaust Museum and the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity will partner with the cathedral for a series of events and programs later in the year.

Conceived in the 1990s, the Human Rights Porch also includes small statues of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Óscar Romero, the Roman Catholic archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 and was later canonized as a saint by Pope Francis, in 2018.

Wiesel’s addition highlights Washington National Cathedral’s unusual nature as a living canvas — unlike other Gothic cathedrals which are, by definition, somewhat frozen in time.

Alongside traditional figures like the Apostles St. Paul and St. Peter, there are dozens of modern features: a carving of Helen Keller, who is buried there; a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered his final Sunday sermon at the cathedral in 1968 before his assassination in Memphis; and a stained glass window dedicated to scientific achievements that includes a piece of moon rock.

Another modern, and whimsical, touch is the so-called businessman or yuppie gargoyle, depicting a Gothic creature with sideburns and holding a briefcase.

“One of the wonderful things about having a 20th century cathedral,” Hollerith said, “is that you can have 20th century iconography in it.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

The town of Christiansburg has been a testing ground for commercial delivery drones operated by Wing, a subsidiary of Google’s corporate parent Alphabet.

Now the company is adding the iconic boxed cookies to the more mundane drugstore offerings, FedEx packages and locally-made pastries, tacos and cold brew coffees it’s been hauling to a thinly populated area of residential subdivisions since 2019.

Wing said it began talking to local Girl Scout troops because they’ve been having a harder time selling cookies during the pandemic, when fewer people are out and about. The organization jumped on the new twist to its skills-building mission.

“I’m excited that I get to be a part of history,” said 11-year-old Gracie Walker, of the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Troop 224. “People are going to realize and be, like, ‘Hey, this is better for the environment and I can just walk outside in my pajamas and get cookies.'”

It’s the latest attempt to build public enthusiasm for futuristic drone delivery as Wing competes against Amazon, Walmart, UPS and others to overcome the many technical and regulatory challenges of flying packages over neighborhoods.

Federal officials started rolling out new rules in mid-April that will allow operators to fly small drones over people and at night, potentially giving a boost to commercial use of the machines. Most drones will need to be equipped so they can be identified remotely by law enforcement officials.

The 10-pound Wing drone that made the first deliveries in Christiansburg in fall 2019 is already an artifact held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Whether it will go down in history as a revolutionary innovation or a utopian flop remains to be seen.

Amazon has also been working on drone delivery for years. In 2013, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said in a TV interview that drones would be flying to customer’s homes within five years, but that deadline has long since passed. The company did win government approval to deliver packages by drones last August, but Amazon said it was still testing them and hasn’t started delivering goods to shoppers yet.

David Vos, an aerospace engineer who led Google’s Wing project until 2016, said he has been surprised that drone delivery ventures haven’t taken off more quickly.

“I thought it was completely doable to be up and going by 2021,” Vos said. While he still thinks drone technology is getting closer to delivering the size, weight and power needed to transport goods safely in populated places, Vos said the tech industry also needs a cultural shift.

In particular, he said, it needs to bring on people from the traditional aviation industry who have experience building “safety-critical systems” that meet strict performance standards.

Wing’s drones are able to navigate autonomously — without a human pilot controlling them remotely — and are powered by two forward propellers on their wings and 12 smaller vertical propellers. When a drone reaches its destination, it hovers above the front lawn as a tether releases to drop the package.

“It was so smooth and it didn’t shake,” said Walker, who, before her troop added drones to its sales strategy, would don a mask and set up a cookie booth outside a home improvement store. “They look like a helicopter but also a plane.”

There’s not much evidence that consumers have been clamoring for drone delivery, and many have expressed privacy, safety or nuisance concerns when asked to imagine the noisy machines over their homes. Wing has objected to some of the FAA’s new drone rules on privacy grounds, saying the remote ID requirement could allow observers to snoop on delivery routes online.

But in a small survey of Christiansburg residents by researchers at nearby Virginia Tech that Wing helped fund, most townspeople appeared to be content with the drones.

“One of the reasons is because Virginia Tech is here and there’s an engineering culture of trying new things,” said Lee Vinsel, an assistant professor of science, technology and society who conducted the Virginia Tech survey. “And the suburban setup is easiest for drone delivery.”

That might not be the case for much denser places, he added. “Manhattan would be tough.”

—-

AP Retail Writer Joseph Pisani in New York contributed to this story.

—

For all of AP’s tech coverage, visit https://apnews.com/apf-technology

Instead of honoring the nation’s third president, Thomas Jefferson Elementary will now be known as Oak Street Elementary. The school board in Falls Church also voted Tuesday to rename George Mason High to Meridian High.

The school board said it chose Meridian to represent the school’s international perspective; a meridian is a global line of longitude that runs through both poles. The name also pays homage to the fact that Falls Church lies on the original 1791 meridian delineating the border between Virginia and the District of Columbia.

In addition, a name beginning with ‘M’ fits with the school’s existing ‘M’ logo and Mustang nickname. Other potential choices included Metropolitan, Metro View, Tinner Hill and West End.

The school board had voted unanimously in December to remove the George Mason name and select a new one. Mason authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as a template for the Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

Both Mason and Jefferson were prominent landowners in Virginia who owned numerous enslaved people.

The board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night, saying schools must be able to provide at least 180 days of in-person learning to all students starting in fall 2021. The resolution says teachers must be in classrooms.

School districts will be allowed to ask the state board for exemptions.

The resolution would force schools to reopen for in-person classes, but board members said they could change course depending on how the pandemic progresses, WTOP reported.

Right now, Maryland ranks low for in-person learning opportunities, ahead of only Washington state, California and Hawaii, according to community event tracking website Burbio.

Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement that the vote is an important step toward returning to normal.

“The science supports getting our children back into school for in-person learning,” Hogan said. “Families and students deserve certainty that all school systems will return to full in-person learning.”

In March and April, the bears began leaving dens after a four-month hibernation, and are searching for food.

The bears’ natural food sources, such as berries or nuts, will not be plentiful until later in the spring and summer, so they might be attracted to nearby “human-generated food sources,” according to a news release from the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service.

The department has advised residents to be vigilant and keep their garbage in a bear-proof bin or a locked shed, and to store their grills inside.

Bears in Maryland are most populous in four western counties — Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington — however in the coming months when the young, juvenile bears separate from their mother and find new territory, they can spread out all over the state, according to the news release.

The Wildlife and Heritage Service stated it is important to avoid man-made attractions for bears as it reduces the chance of “human-bear conflicts” as well as damage.

Between 2009-2019, there have been an average of 480 or more nuisance calls every year for bears as well as over $18,000 in agricultural damage, according to the Wildlife and Heritage Service.

The Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund was created by the service in order to provide financial relief to farmers that have sustained damage to their property from bears.

The bear population has been steadily rising in the state.

Due to the large traveling range of bears, whole population estimates are difficult and expensive to conduct.

The last one was published in 2011, and estimated 701 adult and subadult bears in Garrett and Allegany counties.

However, the growing population is routinely monitored through annual mortality, den, and reproduction surveys, and now there are 2,250 black bears residing across Allegany, Garrett, Washington, and Frederick counties, according to Harry Spiker, the Game Mammal Section leader for the Wildlife and Heritage Service.

In the 2021 Bear Den Survey, Spiker told Capital News Service, the department tagged 13 bear cubs from five sows, or female bears, in March, averaging 2.6 cubs per sow.

“The Department has been conducting this survey since the mid-1980s and the long-term average is 2.9 cubs per sow, which is very good production, and indicates that our bears are healthy and living in a good quality habitat,” Spiker said.

In order to control population growth, the Maryland Bear Hunt was reinstated in 2004 after 51 years.

The bear hunting season is open for five days in October, and each permitted hunter is allowed to harvest one bear.

Since 2014, the department has eliminated the previous quota system that capped the total number of bears that could be harvested.

In 2020, the bear hunt went on despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; 950 permits were issued to hunters and 117 black bears were harvested in total.

In a news release published by the department after the 2020 bear hunt, Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto commented on the success of the hunt.

“With such an expanding and healthy bear population throughout western Maryland, this hunt is an essential management tool,” Peditto said.

The 2021 Maryland Bear Hunt will take place from Oct. 25 to Oct. 29 in the Allegany, Frederick, and Washington counties.

Hunters who want to participate in the hunt fill out an application (https://compass.dnr.maryland.gov/) in August, and permits are issued via a lottery system in September, according to Spiker.

___

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the University of Maryland’s Capital News Service.

WWBT previously reported that three of the victims were teenagers, but police have since said that the victims include two adult women, two teenagers and a three-month-old baby who is in “serious condition,” Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith told WWBT.

Smith said the shooter is still at-large.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

Hyattsville resident Stacy Howard Moore, 48, of Hyattsville was arrested April 22 and charged with first-degree burglary, the use of a handgun during the commission of a felony, three counts of armed robbery, five counts of first-degree assault and five counts of false imprisonment. 

On the night of Jan. 22, 2003, Moore is accused of approaching the 31-year-old victim as he neared the door of his apartment. Moore and two other men allegedly said they were police officers and then forced their way into the victim’s home while his wife, 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter were inside, Montgomery County Police said. 

The men bound the family with duct tape, and then came the torture. 

They stabbed the husband, poured bleach on him, threatened to cut out his eyes and kill his children. The men also heated a knife on the stove until it was scorched and held it against the husband’s neck. 

About two and a half hours later, the husband’s 22-year-old brother entered the apartment, where he was also assaulted by the men, duct-taped and had bleach poured on him. 

After the assailants made off with cash and valuables, the family freed themselves from the tape and called 911. 

During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspects used socks they found in the apartment to cover their hands and then left them behind. The socks and additional evidence were collected, police said. 

It wasn’t until March 22 of this year that the Montgomery County Police “received notice from the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) that a suspect’s DNA sample obtained from a sock one of the suspects wore on his hands matched the DNA profile for Moore,” police said in a news release. 

When asked why the case took so long to solve, Rick Goodale of the Montgomery County Police Department said that first police had to rule out that the DNA belonged to any family members.

“And that took some time. Eventually our crime lab did determine that the DNA belonged to an unknown suspect,” Goodale said.

Police said they are still working to identify the remaining two men and ask anyone who may have information to call 240-773-5100.

The pup has gained widespread attention from the community as people rallied to cover his treatment and find the person responsible.

The shooting occurred in a wooded area between the Manassas VRE parking lot and an apartment complex near 9300 Manassas Drive at about 9:25 a.m., according to the Manassas Park Police Department.

News4 spoke by phone with Rafael, a man who was on his balcony with his own dog when he heard six gun shots. Moments later, Rafael said, he saw a man walk quickly out of the woods to a black SUV in the parking lot.

Limping behind him was a dog.

“The dog, if anything, looked confused why the door closed on him,” Rafael said. “It was kind of heartbreaking seeing that.”

The driver then fled the scene, according to police.

Manassas Park Police arrived at the scene and followed a trail of blood back into the woods, where they found the dog and rushed him to get emergency medical care.

Surgery was performed on Monday to remove a bullet from his jaw, according to police. He also received multiple stitches at the entry and exit wounds, but will need his right hind leg amputated.

The pooch with floppy ears and brown and white fur is now “resting comfortably” at MedVet Northern Virginia’s facility. He is recovering in stable condition.

Donations have poured in to both the police department and MedVet Northern Virginia.  

“Any donations over the allotted amount will go directly to our Lucas Fund, which is our hospital’s fund to help Northern Virginia pets in need,” MedVet Northern Virginia said in a Facebook post.

Police believe the man in the SUV knew the dog, based on the animal’s behavior immediately after the shooting. 

“The only thing I can describe is that if a pet, or a dog, would follow somebody back out of the woods after being shot multiple times — that shows the love that that animal had for that person,” Manassas Police Capt. Frank Winston said.

Police said detectives were working hard to follow up on leads. The person who shot the dog faces a felony charge of animal cruelty and gun charges.

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Video out of Delhi shows overcrowded hospitals and an overflow of patients on the streets desperately trying to get hooked up to oxygen. The World Health Organization said more contagious variants and mass gatherings are to blame. 

“Every day I’m afraid to talk to somebody in India, because I hear someone we know has been severely impacted or has passed away,” Kannan Srinivasan, a Sterling resident, said. 

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Like Srinivasan, other residents also have loved ones back in India. 

“We had one death in the extended family, like yesterday, and then one of my aunts, she’s not doing well,” Shashank Sharma said. 

Sharma lives in Clifton and is also raising money for COVID-19 relief in India. 

Another person he’s worried for is his roommate from graduate school, Dr. Vijaykumar Gowda. Gowda is now a doctor treating COVID-19 patients at Shakthi Hill View Hospital in Mysuru, India. 

“It’s getting worse and we don’t know what the next couple weeks is gonna hold,” Gowda said. 

That’s the reason Sharma wanted to help. He started a GoFundMe page to help buy oxygen concentrators for his friend’s hospital. 

“It’s awesome,” Gowda said. “The work he is doing is quite awesome and it definitely helps a lot of people. That will open up a lot more oxygen beds in our hospital.”

So far, the GoFundMe page has raised nearly $15,000. Srinivasan is also pitching in, raising money and making calls to help a family friend find oxygen. 

“Everything helps, but it’s kind of heartbreaking and it’s very tough situation there,” Srinivasan said. 

In the meantime, an entire country faces a health crisis, awaiting help that can’t come soon enough.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Montgomery County Council approved the reopening plan. 

Phase 1 starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday, after more than 50% of residents received their first vaccination shot. Under Phase 1: 

• Gathering limits increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
• Businesses that were limited to 25% capacity can operate at 50% capacity
• Malls can reopen their pedestrian concourses and return tables and chairs inside 
• Sports are allowed to have 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors 

Council leaders say the new approach validates the success of their approach to reopening, which has been slower than other jurisdictions in Maryland. 

“We would not be here without the cooperation of our residents and without their full understanding of why we had to make certain decisions,” Council Member Nancy Navarro said.

Phase 2 will start once 60% of the population has received one vaccine shot. Under Phase 2: 

• Gathering limits will be increased to 250 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
• Most businesses will be able to move to 75% capacity
• Food service establishments may move to 75% capacity 
• Sports may increase capacity to 250 indoors, with no limit outdoors. 

Phase 3, the final phase, will begin once 50% of the population is fully vaccinated. Under Phase 3, all conduct and business in the county must follow county and state health requirements, but there are no specific capacity limits. 

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County health officials estimate it will take about six weeks to reach the final phase. 

“The sooner we get there depends on people showing up for their second doses,” Council Member Andrew Friedson said. 

For some in the county’s hard-hit hospitality industry, the loosening of restrictions is welcome.  

“This will allow us to bring back employees and slowly return to being an economic generator for the county,” said Amy Rohrer, president of the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association

John Anderson, owner of W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist, argued the county isn’t moving fast enough and the rules are uneven. 

“Our lounge is mandated to remain closed while the rest of the county reopens and restaurants are allowed up to 50 percent capacity. Our air handling system is better than you will find in any restaurant, yet we are mandated to keep our lounges closed,” he said. 

The rules for his business won’t change until Phase 2. 

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“You can sort see some of the stuff that was left at the bottom of the pile, ” said Northeast D.C. resident Griffin Friedman as he showed the I-Team where people often dump their trash in the alley behind his house. He first noticed the unsightly heap last March when he moved in.

“There was a pretty massive trash pile over there,” said Friedman.

But it was no simple pile of litter.

“I mean, you literally could climb up it and fall in and never be found again,” Friedman said.

Pictures he sent to the I-Team show a massive mix of construction, debris, trash and other personal stuff dumped and left behind

“We figured that was a temporary thing that no one could possibly leave something like that sitting out for months at a time,” he said.

But what he found was that even after calling 311 to have it cleaned up, the trash piles would reappear.

“Literally the next day someone dropped off two mattresses and then a bunch of furniture and then boxes and it’ll just sort of grow, ” said Friedman.

His alley appeared to be a magnet for illegal dumpers.

“It’s just, it’s annoying that people are willing to make their literal trash someone else’s problem, ” he said. The News4 I-Team found he’s not the only one annoyed.  When we posted online about  illegal dumping we were inundated with photos from people around DC ticked off about what people were dropping off near their homes. 

“It’s gotten worse since the pandemic,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ursula Higgins.

She said she’s been hearing from residents weekly.

“It’s out of control,” she said. “Toilets, sinks, mattresses, box springs, chairs, dining room tables.”

She blames it on more people being home this past year, many of them updating their homes leading to more waste.

“What’s ironic is because we have the Fort Totten transfer station about five minutes from here in which D.C. residents can dump their items free of charge,” said Higgins.

But, she says, often times the cars she sees creeping down the alley at night are not from D.C., but Maryland.

The I-Team reviewed a month’s worth of 311 calls and found more people are reporting illegal dumping. In that month there were more than 1,100 requests for clean-up.

“For the month of March, we received four hundred more calls than we did the year before,” said Department of Public Works Interim Director Christine Davis.

And it can take time to fully investigate illegal dumping. Crews can’t just show up and clean up the mess. They want to find out who’s behind the dumping.

“Absolutely. Our job is not only to clean, but to deter the illegal activity. So, we have to do our investigation first,” said Davis.

And as they say, it’s a dirty job, one that initially falls on inspectors like Mari Armistead, who responds to the service requests to take photos and look for any clues.

“We look to see if there’s any material to find out who we can cite for the illegal dumping,” said Armistead.

She reports to the proper agency that would help clean up the site eventually.

“What we tell the public is that it will be resolved in 13 days, but we generally resolve it much sooner than that,” Davis said.

The I-Team found so far this year most of the calls — 23% — have been in Ward 5 where Griffin lives.

“I think people realize that there’s no real consequences for doing this,” said Friedman.

He stressed the waiting can be frustrating, so he and some of his neighbors have taken their own steps by posting signs and hanging fake cameras to deter the dumpers.

“We rented a U-Haul truck and drove a lot of the stuff up to Fort Totten,” he said.

He even turned into something of a trash detective himself, tracking down some of the culprits.

“We ended up piecing together enough,” he said. “It’s hard to tear off all of every single label.”

He contacted one group and got some action.

“Who actually came to pick their stuff up,” he said. “So they were the only sort of real success story out of all that. But it was satisfying.”

One small triumph in a year with a mountain of challenges.

DPW said it does want to hear from residents who get tag numbers or descriptions of vehicle dumping the trash. To report illegal dumping call 311 or go here. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, shot by Steve Jones and Jeff Piper, and edited by Jeff Piper.

West Virginia aims to entice residents age 16 to 35 to get a coronavirus shot with the promise of a $100 savings bond.

Republican Gov. Jim Justice said Monday the move was intended to “jump-start” immunizing the demographic that officials say is most likely to be spreading the virus. There are about 380,000 West Virginians in the age range.

“Our kids today don’t really … realize just how important they are in shutting this thing down,” the governor said.

The state will use federal CARES Act money to cover the costs.

Justice said he chose a savings bond over cash for its “patriotic” factor and because he wants young people “to really see and understand that they’ve done something that’s really meaningful.”

A bond may take years to mature to reach its full value.

The incentive was announced as the state tries to turn around its slow vaccination program. Officials are also considering proposals to make vaccine clinics more ubiquitous by holding events at schools, fairs and more businesses.

Justice has previously said the mask mandate could be lifted if 70% of eligible residents get vaccinated. Currently, 47.5% of residents age 16 and over have received at least one dose, state data shows.

“We need to move from our older population to our younger population,” Justice said. “The young people are the key right now.”

The total number of statewide positive cases dipped 12% compared to the previous week. The number of COVID-19 related deaths statewide fell for the third straight week.

During a news conference, Justice painted a picture of what the state would look like if young people did not vaccinated. He said he would have to keep reading off names of the dead.

“What’s going to happen is, every other day when Jim walks in here, he’s going to be reading names,” he said. “There’s no way to get around it.”

D.C.’s population grew by about 15%, Maryland’s population grew by about 7% and Virginia’s population grew by about 8%, 2020 Census results released Monday say. 

Neither Maryland nor Virginia is set to gain or lose congressional seats. 

The District of Columbia’s population went up 14.6%, reaching nearly 690,000 people.

Maryland has seen an increase of 403,672 people from 2010, the report said. Maryland’s 2020 population is 6,177,224, compared with 5,773,552 in the 2010 census.

“We’ve had more births than deaths in Maryland, and we’ve had a portion of that international migration that the country has been experiencing happening here in Maryland,” said Rob McCord, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning, adding that the state was not expected to gain or lose congressional seats.

Maryland has eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is now the nation’s 18th most populous state, moving up a spot from 19th in 2010.

Maryland outgained some of its neighboring states in population. Pennsylvania saw a 2.4% increase. West Virginia saw a drop in population of 3.2%.

Some of the state’s neighbors saw higher increases than Maryland. Virginia had a 7.9% increase, but it wasn’t enough to obtain an additional congressional seat.

Altogether, the U.S. population rose to 331,449,281, the Census Bureau said. That’s a 7.4% increase, which was the second-slowest ever.

The census release marks the official beginning of the once-a-decade redistricting battles. The numbers released Monday, along with more detailed data expected later this year, will be used by state legislatures or independent commissions to redraw political maps to account for shifts in population.

Texas was the biggest winner — the second-most populous state added two congressional seats, while Florida and North Carolina gained one. Colorado, Montana and Oregon each also added residents and gained seats. States losing seats included Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

More detailed figures will be released later this year showing populations by race, Hispanic origin, gender and housing at geographic levels as small as neighborhoods. That redistricting data will be used for redrawing precise congressional and legislative districts, a process in Virginia that will be overseen by a newly created bipartisan commission.

The release of Monday’s data came almost four months later than planned because of delays caused by the pandemic and anomalies discovered in the data as the numbers were being crunched.

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The number of new COVID-19 cases diagnosed daily in D.C., Maryland and Virginia has markedly improved in the past week, indicating a shift in the fight against the virus.

The seven-day average of new cases, which shows the mean number of COVID-19 diagnoses in each of the past seven days, has been trending downward since mid-April.

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The data is now clearly showing that Maryland is turning around its case surge. The state’s weekly case average is at 987, down from 1,287 one week ago.

First doses of vaccines have been administered to 42% of Maryland residents and nearly 3% have gotten the single-dose shot. However, disparities persist between counties. Montgomery County reports 48% of residents have at least one dose; in Prince George’s, it’s about 34%.

D.C.’s weekly case average has fallen to 86, compared to 120 a week ago. The District counted 93 more cases on Tuesday, and one person died.

One-third of D.C. residents are partially or fully vaccinated, and one in five residents is fully vaccinated, as of Friday’s data.

Virginia had not updated its daily COVID-19 case data before this article was prepared.

Virginia says 43% of residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose and 29% are fully vaccinated.

Hospitalizations have also fallen in D.C., Maryland and Virginia over the past week.

Local Coronavirus Headlines

• Residents of Arlington County and the city of Alexandria who are age 16 and older may now make vaccine appointments directly, without pre-registering first. Those ages 16-17 should look for appointment dates where the Pfizer vaccine is offered, officials said.
• D.C. will loosen COVID-19 restrictions starting Saturday, May 1, use walk-up vaccination sites and discontinue use of its vaccine preregistration system, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday. District residents and workers will be able to go to 11 high-capacity vaccination sites without needing an appointment for their first dose.
• In an official opinion issued Monday, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring concluded that Virginia colleges and universities have the authority to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students.
• Maryland and Virginia health officials told providers to resume their use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal agencies lifted a pause on the vaccine.
• The National Zoo and seven other Smithsonian facilities in the D.C. area are set to reopen in May. Here’s how to plan your visit.
• Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week that he would further loosen coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses and social gatherings in mid-May. Here’s what to know.
• As the District continues to vaccinate its residents, DC Health is aiming to reach Asian Americans through its Faith in Vaccine program.
• A Maryland biotech company developed a test to help predict how sick you may get from COVID-19. The company is awaiting FDA emergency use approval.
• Virginia has a new mass vaccination site at Tysons Corner Center. Here’s how to look for an appointment to get your shot there.
• Some mass vaccination sites in Maryland are offering a limited number of walk-up shots every day, no appointment needed.
• A mass vaccination site is open at the Greenbelt Metro station in Prince George’s County. It offers shots to anyone, not just Maryland residents. Go online here to create an account.
• NBC News is making finding information on when, how and where to obtain your coronavirus vaccination easier with its Plan Your Vaccine website.

Key Charts and Graphs

The vaccinated population in D.C. may be overestimated in this map because some non-residents who work in D.C. are included in the totals.

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How to Stay Safe

Anyone can get COVID-19. Here are three simple ways the CDC says you can lower your risk: 

• Wear a snug-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth. 
• Avoid being indoors with people who are not members of your household. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19. If you are indoors with people you don’t live with, stay at least six feet apart and keep your mask on. 
• Wash your hands often, especially after you have been in a public place.

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The fire broke out before noon at Montrose Road and Rockville Pike. Thick smoke could be seen in North Bethesda and Rockville. 

Chopper4 footage showed the smoke plume from 15 miles away.

No one was injured, a spokesman for the Montgomery County fire department said. 

A piece of machinery on the roof of the building caught fire, and firefighters were able to put it out. 

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

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Three more sites are offering drive-thru Pfizer shots and appointments aren’t necessary:

Six Flags America in Prince George’s County will offer no-appointment vaccinations Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf will offer no-appointment vaccinations Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ripken Ironbirds Stadium in Aberdeen will offer no-appointment vaccinations Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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A total of nine mass vaccinations sites in Maryland now offer drive-up or walk-up shots, including at Greenbelt Metro Station, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center and Hagerstown Premium Outlets.

Individuals should be prepared to wait for shots if they haven’t booked an appointment, officials say.

You can still pre-register at covidvax.maryland.gov or 1-855-MD-GOVAX to book an appointment where you would be guaranteed a vaccine.

“Expanding no-appointment vaccinations is another way we are working to make it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated,” Hogan said. “Our goal throughout this massive effort remains the same—to provide a vaccine to every single Marylander who wants one.”

Waldon Adams was 60, and Rhonda Whitaker was 55. Both D.C. residents helped the organization Miriam’s Kitchen. Whitaker was about to receive an award from the group for her service.

“Both Rhonda and Waldon were longtime members of the Miriam’s Kitchen family, and tireless advocates for ending homelessness in D.C. The Miriam’s Kitchen community mourns this tragic loss,” the organization said in a statement. 

Adams’ message to people experiencing homelessness was, “You can do this, and not just you can do this but you are worth this.”  

Adams competed in more than a dozen marathons, including the Marine Corps Marathon. He had a great sense of humor even in tough situations, and shared his experiences to help others, said Pathways to Housing DC Executive Director Christy Respress. 

“You met him, and in his company you immediately felt loved and seen and taken care of,” she said.

Adams’ message to people experiencing homelessness was, “You can do this, and not just you can do this but you are worth this,” Respress said. 

Whitaker channeled the pain of life on the streets for about 20 years into helping others.

Adams and Whitaker was walking at Hains Point, at the southern tip of East Potomac Park, at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday when they were hit by a pickup truck. They were taken to a hospital, where they each were pronounced dead. 

U.S. Park Police are working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine any charges to be filed against the driver.

The fatal crash has renewed calls for increased safety measures in the area. People who regularly use the park to walk or bike said they have had close calls with drivers. 

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said safety improvements for the land overseen by the National Park Service need to be discussed. 

“I do think that we need to undertake, with the Park Service, a way to make the park safer for all patrons,” she said.  

D.C. Council Member Elissa Silverman said some changes could be made fairly quickly.

“Maybe one lane for car traffic and one lane for pedestrian and bike traffic. I think we should consider all of those, and then come up with a plan,” she said. 

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The Baltimore Sun reported Monday that there are spikes in cases in Baltimore and other Maryland counties that are tied to the variant first reported in the United Kingdom.

That variant is now the most dominant in Maryland and the U.S. It is considered to be highly infectious. But studies have shown that vaccines can fight against it.

Health officials say that people may eventually need to get booster shots or new vaccines.

State officials have approved emergency contracts with the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins University to study the genetic makeup of virus samples taken from infected people to identify variants.

Half of all cases across the country and in Maryland now result from variants.

Neither the names nor the ages of the two teens who died were released by police, per state law. They were both under 18, police say.

Zachary Burkard was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony after the killings in the 8000 block of Winding Way Court, in a Northern Virginia subdivision. 

Fairfax County police said that according to the initial investigation, “there was a previous argument through social media between the involved parties. As a result, four teenagers went to the home to talk to someone who lived there.” 

A fight broke out at the house. Burkard “emerged from the home” and shot the two teens at about 3:20 p.m. 

One victim was found in the garage with gunshot wounds to the upper body. Medics declared the victim dead at the scene.

The second victim was found in front of the house with a gunshot wound to the upper body. That victim was taken to a hospital and later died.

Burkard stayed at the house and was taken into custody. A gun was found.

No information was released on why the suspect and victims may have argued. The investigation is ongoing and detectives continue to interview witnesses. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fairfax County police. 

Mark Spann is one resident who will never forget what happened to him nearly 30 years ago.

The summer before Spann headed to law school in 1993, he was stopped by Davis, then a Prince George’s County police officer, in front of his family’s home in Temple Hills.

“At that point in my life, I was under the ideology that all police are here to help, to serve the community,” Spann said.

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After Spann was stopped, he said Davis violently took him to the ground and arrested him.

“At that point, Davis says, ‘Give me your hands’ and lodges me to the ground, throws me to the ground, and proceeds to mash my face into the pavement,” Spann said.

It was never clear why Davis pulled Spann over, but Spann was charged with battery, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

In an interview in 1993, with the blood from his injuries dried on his face, Spann said, “I think it’s out-and-out racism. The first question he asked upon when we stopped was not, ‘What have you done? Where are you coming from?’ It was, ‘How did you get that car?'”

Spann rode to the hospital in the front seat of Davis’ car. He would later describe those moments in court.

“I have to this date never experienced such racial slants, slurs and epitaphs and the denigration,” Spann said. “I remember at one point he had placed his baton next to me on the seat, and he began putting on black leather gloves, and these are all intimidation tactics.”

Spann won a civil lawsuit against Davis. Davis then rose in the ranks.

Six years after Spann’s case, Davis, who was then a sergeant, was sued for false imprisonment and arrest of a young man who claimed Davis and other officers essentially kidnapped him for a night.

The victim won his civil suit.

Davis went on to become assistant chief of the department and then led the Anne Arundel County and Baltimore police departments. 

“I’m incredulous that this person could rise in the ranks of helping to serve a community, any community,” Spann said. 

Davis released a statement to News4 that read:

“I’m proud of my long career in law enforcement that includes leadership roles as Assistant Chief, Chief, and Commissioner in three large jurisdictions. A career that includes a history of reform accomplishments, a demonstrated commitment to diversity, crisis intervention, use of force de-escalation, body camera implementation and police discipline transparency. I look forward to leading Fairfax County into a bright future of world-class constitutional policing.”

Davis did not respond to a request for a sit-down interview with Spann.

“You are never going to forget but you are compelled to move forward,” Spann said.

Jeff McKay, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said he’s excited for Davis to start and thinks he has a good reputation across the region. 

Davis will officially begin his role as chief of the Fairfax County Police Department on May 3. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday that starting Saturday, D.C. residents and workers will be able to go to 11 high-capacity vaccination sites without needing an appointment for their first dose. This Wednesday is the last day preregistrations will be accepted. 

Anyone who pregistered for a vaccine will be offered an appointment. Go to the District’s coronavirus website to learn how and where to get vaccinated.

Here’s how COVID-19 restrictions will change starting Saturday: 

• Non-essential retail businesses can have indoor capacity of 50%, up from 25%, or 250 people — whichever is lower 
• Ten people can sit at a restaurant table, up from six 
• Live music will be allowed outdoors for “summer gardens, courtyard dining and sidewalk cafes” 
• Alcohol sales may be made at restaurants’ outdoor areas without a requirement to also buy food

• Concert venues and theaters may open at 25% capacity with up to 500 people. Attendees must remain seated
• Movie theaters may operate at up to 25% capacity per auditorium 
• Weddings and special events are allowed indoors and outdoors at 25% capacity, with a waiver for attendance greater than 250 people. Attendees must remain seated and socially distanced 
• Gyms can operate at 50% capacity with no more than 250 people. Indoor fitness classes can include up to 25 people 
• Public and private pools may open with health and safety plans in place 
• Outdoor splash pads will open at full capacity 
• Places of worship may admit up to 40% of their capacity for the areas where worship services will be held
• D.C. Public School graduations will be held from June 19 to June 24 at Audi Field

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

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Brown’s family and attorney David Haynes demanded the release of communication between a 911 dispatcher and the deputy who shot him early Wednesday. Haynes says Brown, 32, had a landline house phone in his hand that the deputy mistook for a gun.

“He made it totally clear that he did not have a weapon, that he did not have a gun,” Haynes said at a news conference, describing a “failure of communication” between 911 dispatch and the deputies who responded to Brown’s home on West Catharpin Road.

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Brown was in intensive care at a hospital in Fredericksburg as of Monday morning. Surgeons were able to remove two bullets from his body; eight remained.

Doctors described Brown’s condition as “very critical” and “touch and go,” Haynes said. 

Brown is a home health aide who’s kind, upbeat and the life of the party, his sister, Yolanda Brown, said. She called for answers about why the deputy shot her brother. 

Their mother’s plea was simple: “My concern at this point is hopefully for my son to come home alive.” 

Body camera footage released Friday shows parts of the interaction between Brown, who is Black, and the deputy, who is white. The deputy’s name was not released.

“Show me your hands! Show me your hands now! Show me your hands! Drop the gun! He’s got a gun to his head! Drop the gun now! Stop walking towards me! Stop walking towards me! Stop. Stop,” the deputy can be heard shouting. 

Multiple shots then can be heard.

Brown was unarmed, officials later confirmed. What Brown had in his hand was a cordless house phone, the family’s lawyer said; he was still on the phone with the 911 dispatcher.

Earlier in the night, the same deputy gave Brown a ride home after his car broke down at a gas station on Route 3, several miles from home, at about 2:30 a.m. The deputy dropped him off and drove away.

Moments later, Brown called 911, reporting a dispute with his brother. It sounds like he’s asking his brother for a gun while on the call. He then tells the 911 dispatcher, “I’m about to kill my brother.”

“Don’t kill your brother,” the dispatcher replies.

“Alright,” Brown says.

“Why would you say something like that?” the dispatcher asks.

“Somebody needs to come here real quick,” Brown says.

Brown then tells the 911 dispatcher he does not have a gun on him. 

The deputy then returned to the home and shot Brown.

There was a gun in the Brown family’s home but it was locked up, Haynes said Monday.

News4 asked the sheriff’s office if they would comment on the allegations by the family’s attorney. The sheriff will not make any more statements until the Virginia State Police investigation concludes, a spokesperson said.

Virginia State Police said the deputy who opened fire was the only law enforcement official there at the time. 

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The officers crashed in the 1400 block of Anacostia Road NE, the department said in a statement. 

“Preliminarily, it appears the members may have been racing the vehicles, resulting in an accident,” MPD said.

A report released Monday revealed two cars were traveling south side by side at a “high rate of speed” in the 1500 block of Anacostia Avenue NE. They were in a 25 mph zone. The outside driver tried to make a left turn in front of the other car, onto Polk Street NE, and the two collided.

Four Sixth District officers were taken to hospitals with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. 

“Both vehicles were disabled and towed by ANT Towing to the MPD shop on West Virginia Avenue Northeast,” the report reads.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said it would be “unacceptable” if officers were racing and putting the public, themselves and government property at risk. 

“If we had officers who were engaging in this dangerous behavior, it would be in my view a dereliction of their duty, and they have to be held accountable,” she said at an unrelated news conference. 

It wasn’t immediately clear what time the crash occurred, how badly the vehicles were damaged or what kind of punishment the officers could face. The officers, whose names were not released, were placed on “non-contact” status pending an investigation. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.