A statement from our union @wamu.org:

WeMakeWAMU is a union@wemakewamu.bsky.social · 2mo ago

WAMU began newsroom changes this past May that leadership announced as an expansion in local journalism. What was missing in that announcement: WAMU also recently ousted two people essential to the local journalism it says it’s expanding.

“No one ever looks into what’s actually going on in your home,” says Leilani Scott-Clark, a teen living in SE. “That’s what causes youth to even act out the way they do or even stay out.”  @sarahykim.bsky.social hears directly from kids impacted by the curfew debate: wamu.org/story/26/05/...

Voices of Wards 7 and 8: What D.C. youth have to say about teen curfews

City lawmakers have been debating whether to implement more stringent youth curfews in D.C., following so-called “teen takeovers” that have prompted concerns about public safety. Some young people fee...

wamu.org

The curfew sunset passed, so the policy expires at the end of 2028 unless the council opts to extend it. The permanent curfew, set to take effect in August, is on its way to passing...

Alex Koma@alexkoma.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Curfew news! @brianneknadeau.bsky.social is backing an amendment to tomorrow's vote on extending the youth curfew that would sunset the policy at the end of 2028...a bid to both curtail the curfew's use and perhaps break the logjam that's had the council repeatedly returning to this issue.

Groups opposed to Trump’s intervention in DC (like @freedcproject.bsky.social @harrietsdreams.bsky.social) are at the Wilson Building rallying support for the veto override (and opposition to youth curfews). The mother of Phillip Brown (the man shot at by HSI) is among the speakers.

NEW: A recently developed Defense Department program was meant to reduce civilian harm during military operations. But months before the Iran war, the mission was dissolved as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made “lethality” a top priority. By @hannahallam.bsky.social

The U.S. Built a Blueprint to Avoid Civilian War Casualties. Trump Officials Scrapped It.

The Pentagon dismantled its civilian protection mission as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made “lethality” a top priority and the Trump administration reorganized national security around two principl...

propublica.org

Metro GM Randy Clarke just confirmed on The Politics Hour that he is NOT be running for D.C. Mayor this year. "I'm humbled by it. But I'm honored and proud to be WMATA general manager... if you put your heart into it, you can do a lot for [in this job]."

Happy holidays from me and Metro's approaching capital funding fiscal cliff wamu.org/story/25/12/...

Metro needs more money. Will Virginia deliver?

Northern Virginia officials argue transit is a key economic driver, but the ask for more money comes at a moment when Virginia’s budget is expected to tighten.

wamu.org

Here's what is on Virginians' ballots as they head to the polls on Tuesday. buff.ly/lJ9Yn9k

It's Election Day in Virginia. Here's what's at stake

Virginia voters are electing a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates.

wamu.org

Within the last year, over 50 new dispensaries have opened in neighborhoods across all eight wards. Both newcomers and veterans of the industry are wondering how stable the cannabis business will be moving forward. buff.ly/mSHQIDr

New: Mayor Bowser is seriously considering turning down a bid for a fourth term. She's discussed the prospect with her allies in recent days. Several have described it as a 50-50 chance she runs again. This would be a huge shift for a mayoral race defined by the incumbent: wamu.org/story/25/10/...

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser might not run for reelection. That could scramble the 2026 mayoral race

The three-term mayor is discussing the possibility of stepping aside, despite months of speculation she planned to mount a bid for a fourth term.

wamu.org

I spoke with folks who were living in homeless encampments cleared during Trump's federal takeover of D.C.. They lost many of their tents and belongings, but nearly two months later, they're still here. And without housing, many are still sleeping outside. wamu.org/story/25/10/...

Many remain unhoused on D.C. streets, months after the Trump administration ordered sweeping encampment clearings

The Trump administration abruptly cleared numerous homeless encampments in less than a month during its federal takeover of the District. Nearly two months later, many people are still in the region, ...

wamu.org

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere. Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself. Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

BREAKING: A federal judge has ruled that Chief Pamela Smith retains leadership of D.C.’s police force, under Mayor Bowser’s leadership, following a suit by DC AG Schwalb against the Trump administration @wamu.org

D.C. residents rallied near the White House this morning to protest President Trump’s federal takeover of city law enforcement. Free DC led a rally near LaFayette Square this morning, where speakers called on D.C. area residents to fight back President Trump’s ‘fascist’ federal takeover.

I got emotional listening to @sarahykim.bsky.social's farewell to Black Lives Matter plaza feature. I never pass by without thinking about those heady, hopeful, hard days reporting on the protests in 2020. It's remarkable that one space can contain so much. Listen: wamu.org/story/25/03/...

“You cannot take history away”: For D.C., Black Lives Matter Plaza isn’t truly gone

After nearly five years, D.C. is saying goodbye to Black Lives Matter Plaza. Painted overnight amid a wave of racial justice protests in the summer of 2020, the plaza was in and of itself a protest, w...

wamu.org

I wrote this story on what Black Lives Matter Plaza meant to D.C., with voices and sounds from the destruction. Special thanks to @margaretbarthel.bsky.social for all the tape she got on the front lines the summer of 2020, and all the DCist/WAMU journalists at the time documenting history.

WAMU 88.5@wamu.org · 2y ago

D.C. is dismantling Black Lives Matter Plaza. The city created the plaza in June 2020, days after police murdered George Floyd and on Breonna Taylor's birthday. Some local residents felt the plaza was performative. It also became a gathering place where people found community. buff.ly/NNJZymc

The Trump administration is considering shutting down the CDC's HIV division. LGBTQ health organizations across the country, including @whitmanwalker.bsky.social in D.C., say it will "severely impede the nation’s ability to prevent new HIV infections, undoing decades of hard-won progress."

At the Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C. The District is starting removal of the plaza today. In the summer of 2020, Mayor Bowser had the plaza painted over - a symbolic act of defiance against President Trump @wamu.org

The U.S. figure skating community came together Sunday night at Capital One Arena for Legacy on Ice, a memorial and fundraising event to honor the families and loved ones of those killed in the January 29th crash near Reagan Airport, as well as first responders.

The National Park Service predicts that the cherry trees will reach peak bloom from March 28-31. The dates are subject to change with the weather. But, if the timeline holds, peak bloom will pair nicely with the Cherry Blossom Festival. The Festival runs this year from March 20 until April 13th.

Time for a nerdy point about data on the federal workforce. I've seen plenty of reporters and public officials referring to numbers from the Congressional Research service to give people a scale of the federal workforce in the D.C. region. crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/...

E Street Cinema, the beloved movie house in downtown D.C., announced it will close its doors later this year. The movie theater's owner, Landmark Theaters, confirmed the closure to The Washington Post but did not provide a specific date for final closure.

It's been one year since DCist was shut down. We're proud of what we've built in that time with all of you. If you'd indulge us in some reminiscing, plus dreaming of the future, we'd love to hear your thoughts: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We miss you, DCist

It's almost been a full year since the shut down of DCist! We want to hear from you, feel free to answer any / all of these questions:

docs.google.com

Such an important story by my colleagues @margaretbarthel.bsky.social, Chris Remington, and Tyrone Turner on USAID workers in the D.C. region. Read and take a listen: wamu.org/story/25/02/...

Local USAID workers are ‘in survival mode’

Thousands of local international development workers and contractors have been thrown into turmoil as the Trump administration pulls back on foreign aid. Some are considering leaving D.C.

wamu.org

A local health story we'll continue keeping an eye on: transgender people can still get gender-affirming services in D.C., which may include medication, surgery, and mental health. But under Trump, some centers have already cut back on their care or are facing pressure to. wamu.org/story/25/02/...

With gender-affirming care under threat, D.C. area providers worry about continuing services

D.C. area health centers providing gender-affirming care are navigating a delicate balance – between continuing their services, and not drawing the ire of the Trump administration.

wamu.org

Some news about me: I’m leaving City Paper at the end of the month. It has been so, so much fun being your Loose Lips these last 3 years and I will miss this place terribly. But I’m not going far: Starting March 3, I’ll take on the DC politics beat at WAMU. So cover your ears!