Ciara Wells

Washington, D.C., United States

Deputy Writer and Editor at WTOP-FM (Washington, DC)

be nice to me, it’s the law 🖋 opinions are my own

Featured in: Favicon

wtop.com

spoonuniversity.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

insidenova.com Favicon

ourcommunitynow.com Favicon

rappnews.com Favicon

news-journal.com Favicon

cbs19news.com Favicon

breezejmu.org

Articles

6 people arrested after large group of teens descend on DC’s Wharf

5 days ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

Six people have been arrested after “multiple large groups of juveniles” descended on The Wharf in Southwest D.C. on Friday night, police said. In a release, a spokesperson with the Metropolitan Police Department said five teens were arrested for disorderly conduct and another was arrested for assaulting a police officer. No serious injuries were reported from the group of teens or the involved officer.
International students fear losing their student visas

5 days ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells |Alan Etter

President Donald Trump’s administration has rescinded more than 1,000 student visas of international students studying in the United States, multiple sources have reported. The news is causing anxiety among some local international students who are concerned they’ll be next. “There’s a lot of fear,” said a graduate student at Bowie State University from India, who added that she’s just trying to keep a low profile and do her work.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen meets with Kilmar Abrego Garcia

6 days ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

In a post on X Thursday night, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen confirmed he met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Prince George’s County resident who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month. Van Hollen wrote in the post that during his visit to the Central American country, he was able to meet with Abrego Garcia and pass along a message to his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura.
Trump extends government hiring freeze for civilian executive branch workers

6 days ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

President Donald Trump signed a directive Thursday that will extend the hiring freeze for federal agencies for three more months. The president extended the freeze through July 15. Under the directive, vacancies would not be filled on the civilian side for the first six months of his second term.
Mother of Maryland woman killed by Salvadoran fugitive is ‘special guest’ at White House briefing

1 week ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press briefing with the mother of a Maryland woman, Rachel Morin, who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023 while exercising on a popular hiking trail northeast of Baltimore. Victor Martinez-Hernandez was convicted of raping and killing Rachel Morin and concealing her body in a drainage culvert. Leavitt previously announced the unscheduled briefing with a “special guest.”Leavitt has highlighted the Morin case for days.
The best 2025 hybrid and electric cars, according to US News & World Report

1 week ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

You could be helping the environment from the driver’s seat of an electric car. In this year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings, Hyundai came out on top for the second year in a row with the most awards for its electric and hybrid models. “We have the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is our best electric SUV, and the Hyundai IONIQ 6 is our best electric car,” Alex Kwanten, managing editor of the autos team at U.S. News & World Report, told WTOP. “Both of them are really good vehicles.
Prince George’s Co. check fraud scam leader sentenced to 9 years in prison

1 week ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

A Prince George’s County, Maryland, woman was charged last week to over nine years in prison for her role in a check-stealing scheme that cost more than $5 million. On April 9, Tianna Cosby, a.k.a. “Mendoza,” 24, was sentenced in a Maryland District Court, months after pleading guilty to commit mail and bank fraud as well as aggravated identity theft.
Prince George’s Co. check fraud scam leader sentenced to 9 years in prison

1 week ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Ciara Wells

Share A Prince George’s County, Maryland, woman was charged to over nine years in prison for her role in a check-stealing scheme that cost more than $5 million. On April 9, Tianna Cosby, a.k.a. “Mendoza,” 24, was sentenced in a Maryland District Court, months after pleading guilty to commit mail and bank fraud as well as aggravated identity theft.
Metro approves nearly $5B budget that extends weekend hours starting in June

1 week ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Ciara Wells

Share Metro’s Board of Directors approved its 2026 budget of $4.96 billion on Thursday, which hopes to improve and extend service without raising fees again. The transit agency’s four main goals in its budget are to up security and provide reliable service, recruit and retain employees, engage the community and offer financial and environmental sustainability. Starting Sunday, June 22, Metrorail will open at 6 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and close at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Verdict in for man who ran over Montgomery Co. officer while going more than 100 mph

1 week ago | wtop.com | Ciara Wells

The 21-year-old man charged with intentionally running over a Montgomery County, Maryland, police officer was found not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of 13 other charges related to a crash that caused Sgt. Patrick Kepp to lose both of his legs. A jury on Friday found Raphael Mayorga, who was 19 at the time of the 2023 crash, guilty of second-degree assault, failure to return to and remain at the scene of a crash and multiple counts of fleeing and eluding police.