Washington’s Top News – Monday, July 14, 2014

Here’s a look at some of the day’s top stories from WTOP:

Israel says it’s downed drone along southern coast

Israel’s military says it has downed an unmanned drone along its southern coastline, the first time it has encountered such a weapon since its struggle with Gaza Strip militants began last week.

Since the conflict began, militants have fired nearly 1,000 rockets at Israel, causing some injuries and damage to property, but no fatalities among Israelis. By contrast, 172 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s air attacks.

Major parking ticket crackdown begins in D.C. this week

For a week, the D.C. police have been issuing warnings along this corridor, but starting Monday the tickets are for real. WTOP’s Ari Ashe explains where and why.

Obama seeks governors’ support on immigrant kids

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell met privately with dozens of governors Sunday as the Obama administration tried to get support from the leaders of states that will host thousands of the Central American children who have crossed the Mexican border on their own since Oct. 1.

How much is a ‘spoonful’?

A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but a study says that kind of imprecise measurement can lead to potentially dangerous dosing mistakes.

The study, published in Pediatrics, underscores recommendations that droppers and syringes that measure in milliliters be used for liquid medicines — not spoons.

Argentine World Cup celebration marred by violence

Police in Argentina say 20 officers and 60 people have been injured after vandals in downtown Buenos Aires disturbed a peaceful rally celebrating Argentina’s gutsy performance in a 1-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup finals.

Parents with small children began fleeing as young vandals on motorcycles clashed with police.

Got a rash? iPad, other devices might be the cause

Unexplained rash? Check your iPad. It turns out the popular tablet computer may contain nickel, one of the most common allergy-inducing metals.

A guide to bicycling in D.C.

Bicycling is growing faster in the D.C. region than anywhere else in the country, one expert says — but given the area’s legendary traffic, that can mean friction between drivers and cyclists. On our Living page, check out a primer on everyone’s rights and responsibilities, as well as some great places to ride.

The 10 best places for free Wi-Fi

It’s becoming a staple for eating places and other businesses — free Wi-Fi. On our Tech page, see the top 10 places in the area for free, public Internet access.

Telling the tale of Poe’s life and death

How did Edgar Allan Poe die? There’s no simple answer, and a new production at the Capital Fringe Festival is similarly complicated. “A Dream Within a Dream” is a mix of theatre, film, dance, performance art and art installation that’s as chilling and complex as the art and artist it explores. WTOP’s Alicia Lozano has a preview on our Entertainment page.

A different kind of bike race: The Brompton U.S. Championship

What kind of bike race requires competitors to wear a dress shirt and tie? A bike race like no other — and one that uses a bike like no other. This year’s U.S. championship for the Brompton bicycle was held Sunday in D.C., and WTOP’s Noah Frank was there.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up