Thomas Robertson

2 weeks ago | wtop.com | Thomas Robertson

The threat of severe weather is lingering over the D.C. region Friday afternoon, with the heightened heat and humidity adding more fuel to the fire. The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 p.m. that covers the entire D.C. region. The main threats, according to the weather service, are damaging winds up to 70 mph and large hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter. Around 2:30 p.m., severe weather was already hitting the most western tip of Maryland.

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Thomas Robertson

The chair of the D.C. Council indicated Thursday that he believes negotiations to bring a new Washington Commanders stadium to the old RFK Stadium site will be successful, and that the council will approve a stadium deal. In an interview with WTOP, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson said that while his view is that the city should not use public tax dollars to subsidize the stadium, he acknowledged he’s in the minority and would negotiate in good faith.

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Thomas Robertson

The grandfather of an elementary school student who brought a gun to school that accidentally went off inside a classroom in Charles County, Maryland, has been charged in the case, according to authorities. Investigators with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said the inside Billingsley Elementary School in Waldorf belonged to 68-year-old Phillip Bright, of Crestview, Florida. No one was injured when the 9-year-old accidentally discharged the gun.

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Thomas Robertson

Crime is down in the District so far this year, and D.C. police say that it’s a result of their public safety initiatives. Robberies are down 24%; homicides are down 17%; and assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 14%, compared to the same time last year, according to D.C. police. D.C. crime data shows a 22% drop in all violent crime so far, and a 2% dip in property crime, which is far more common. All told, crime is down 5% to start 2025, compared to this point last year.

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Thomas Robertson

April didn’t get the memo, as most of the D.C. area is experiencing drought conditions, but the showers are coming in earnest this week, providing some relief and much-needed rainfall while also bringing the risk of flooding. D.C.’s western suburbs and southern points will be under a flood watch from Tuesday morning until Wednesday morning. The showers will begin Monday night, but that’s just the start of a prolonged period of moderate to heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service.