WAMU: Local News

Georgetown history professor Maurice Jackson discusses Marian Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert and other episodes of the fight for Civil Rights in Washington made by musicians and athletes.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger on why he came out of retirement in 2019 to lead the U.S. Capitol police, how the agency is far better prepared than in 2021, and in what ways policing has evolved over the last five decades.

The widespread impact of federal layoffs have forced D.C. officials to consider painful cuts to social services. A long fight is just beginning over how much to trim these programs.

Thousands of federal workers have left their positions through a mix of layoffs and buyouts. Federal health workers also took a big hit, and are now facing an uncertain future.  

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser looks to be planning a bid for a fourth term, while At-Large Councilmember Robert White may challenge her a second time.

Priests and parishioners gathered at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in downtown D.C. the afternoon of the announcement of Pope Leo XIV.

Stories WAMU is following this week include a facelift to the Roosevelt Bridge, the REAL ID coming online at airports and Arlington National Cemetery, an emergency renting bill at the D.C. council and the EU open house weekend.

WAMU spoke to local environmentalist and author Mike Tidwell about his new book, "The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street."

This week on Get Out There, we help you plan your perfect D.C. day, minute by minute.

Bethesda Today reporter Ginny Bixby talks about Montgomery County's recent health report and the disparities faced by Black and Hispanic residents.

A new investigation by the New York Times takes a closer look at the events that led up to the deadly collision on January 29th.

A federal judge gave the Trump administration another week to answer detailed questions about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man whose illegal deportation has raised concerns about due process.

At the center of the case is the school system in Montgomery County, Md., the most religiously diverse county in the U.S., with 160,000 students of almost all faiths.

At issue is whether school systems are required to allow parents to opt their kids out of classes because of religious objections to classroom materials.

Stories WAMU is following this week include a lawsuit by Montgomery County parents at the Supreme Court, the D.C. council considering big budget items and the return of the D.C. Film Festival.

Dermott Foley won C-SPAN's StudentCam competition with his film Teens, Social Media, and the Fentanyl Overdose Crisis.

Metro General Manager Randy Clarke discussed Metro's future, ridership, federal oversight, and overhauling the bus system. Plus, NBC 4 Washington reporter Mark Segraves breaks down the reported deal between D.C. and the Washington Commanders to build a new stadium at the RFK site.

The hearing is the first about Abrego Garcia's case since El Salvador's president told reporters he is not going to "smuggle a terrorist into the United States."

Prince George's County congressman Glenn Ivey talks about the latest developments in the case of his resident who was mistaken deported by the Trump administration.

This week WAMU will look at the opening of the new Cedar Hill Hospital in Southeast D.C. and a key financial deadline for the Virginia statewide elections.

The former Ward 8 councilmember may be facing federal bribery charges, but he's still the heavy favorite to win the seat he was just expelled from on the Council.

Stopgap measures like rent and mortgage assistance could be on the table, but a good deal depends on whether the commonwealth has the ability to pay for them.

This week we're looking at some of the record stores in D.C., Maryland and Virginia that will be celebrating Record Store Day on Saturday.

Over the last several decades, an expert says the region has become very much accustomed to being somewhat insulated from the normal swings of the economy because of the presence of the federal government. This time it's different.

Awesome Con was back at D.C.'s Walter E. Washington Convention for a weekend-long celebration of nerd culture.

The MPD has frequently found itself the subject of unwelcome attention from the White House., while D.C. officials face tricky politics as they try to respond.

This week WAMU will look at the wrap up of the Maryland General Assembly's legislative session, D.C. students protesting on Capitol Hill and Record Store Day 2025.

This week on Get Out There, we get geeky previewing this weekend's Awesome Con

A recent survey of D.C.-area restaurants show there is a pretty pessimistic mood among owners.

Ward 8 residents made their message loud and clear in the November election: whatever charges their councilmember Trayon White faced, they needed him in office. Then the D.C. Council expelled him.

Federal workers share their mental health trauma as the workforce is dramatically reduced under the Trump administration.

County leaders recently raised the bar for police cooperation with immigration officials, but advocates say more protection is needed.

This week WAMU will look at D.C. leader's reactions to Donald Trump's executive order to make D.C. "safe and beautiful," the Virginia General Assembly's one-day session and a weekend at AwesomeCon.

There are various resources available for affected workers across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

This week for Get Out There, we're getting you ready for peak bloom weekend!

In the wake of the detainment of a Georgetown University scholar, how can international students and researchers in our region protect themselves?

WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi talks about the biggest stories from this past week.

Nationwide, including in the D.C.-area, there's a shortage of speech-language pathologists , especially in schools. Experts say high caseloads and low pay may be to blame.

The U.S. House returned from recess Monday, but has yet to take up a bill to fix the billion dollar hole in D.C.'s budget. Some Republicans say they're awaiting public support from President Trump.

This week WAMU will look at Congress' next steps on a bill to restore $1.1 billion dollars to D.C.'s budget, Glenn Youngkin's deadline to sign or veto 700 pieces of Virginia legislation and peak cherry blossom bloom.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly agreed Thursday on a budget framework to raise $1 billion in new revenue. And District officials respond to the MPD being called in to assist in a DOGE raid.