WTOP | Washington’s Top News | DC, MD & VA News, Traffic & Weather

Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky falls in 800 free at Pan Pacs, ending long international winning streak

Virginia State University-Shooting

Police have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with Virginia State University shooting

National Museum of the American Indian

3 Smithsonian museums to have modified access during Freedom 250 Grand Prix

2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony

Mystics legends Delle Donne and Holdsclaw inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in the 2026 class

marions

Case of 2 Marions: Fairfax Co. police seek info in decadesold Springfield cold-case killings

A grocery store worker stocks bread at a MOM's Organic Market on April 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP) (Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

MOM’s Organic Market bans employees from wearing face masks while working

Hurricane Lala skirts Hawaii's Big Island without making landfall as heavy wind, rain lash region

Democrats' 2028 presidential calendar gives Black and Latino voters and union members an early say

DC man gets 17 years in prison for string of mail carrier armed robberies

Family of man with Down syndrome who spent days trapped in Metro station sues transit agency

UK's leader calls for reflection after the death of former Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism

DoD hiring boards add secrecy, delays to civilian hiring

Backpack and school supplies

Thousands of back-to-school supplies donated in Woodbridge

In this photo illustration a virtual friend is seen on the screen of an iPhone on April 30, 2020, in Arlington, Virginia. - "It's so good to hear your voice." "I was worried about you." "What would you like to do today?"
This might sound like ordinary banter between friends. But in these cases, the "friend" speaking was a chatbot created with artificial intelligence. The custom-designed chatbots -- male, female or other -- in this case come from California-based startup Replika and are designed to be companions for people needing a connection. The AI chatbots have drawn increased interest during the global virus pandemic, which has led to a sharp rise in isolation and anxiety. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

What two studies say about teens and AI usage, and what it means for parents

Elevated view of students writing their GCSE exam

Why is enrollment across DC-area school districts falling?

Row of yellow school buses parked with blue sky in the background

Back to school: Hear from Stafford County Public Schools superintendent

Three young adult university students are sitting on steps, using smartphones and studying, with backpacks beside them

How ‘popcorn brain’ can create challenges in the classroom

children’s boutique Rue & Row

Local boutique says kids are calling the shots on back-to-school fashion

yellow school buses

Back to school: Hear from Spotsylvania County Public Schools superintendent

PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA - APRIL 19: A school bus is shown parked at a depot on April 19, 2023 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The Florida Board of Education today approved banning discussion in the classroom of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades through 12th grade, an expansion of what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Back-to-school guide: Changes coming to DC-area schools this fall

01:06

‘Nine best days of summer’ begin in Montgomery County

01:06

Maryland nonprofit connects immigrants with healthy food from their homelands

01:25

‘TickBot’ inventors hope to tackle neighborhood tick populations

01:01

Investigation underway after vandalism, bubbles found at DC’s World War II Memorial

00:48

Wizards host party for DC kids returning to school

00:48

Bear the cold to see The Grinch at the Gaylord National

01:10

Restaurant weeks, festivals and other foodie events in the DC area this August

01:28

Virginia woman speaks out after viral ICE video

02:58

Step into a vault of centuries-old books at this DC library

00:58

Mongtomery Co. 'court camp' gives teens a front-row seat to the justice system

01:14

Why Fairfax Co. students are reading to shelter animals

02:15

Takeaways from the Commanders-Dolphins joint practice

01:29

Mott's Market reopens on Capitol Hill after 4 years

00:43

Why school enrollment is falling across the DC area

01:34

Six arrested for series of retail store robberies around the DC region

00:49

Protesters call to ‘Free DC’ 1 year after Trump deployed National Guard

×

Seneca Creek State Park

10-year-old girl attacked by beaver at Montgomery County park, leading to closure of park

America 250 Objects The Drive Thru

Pull up to the window, please, for a glimpse of an American icon: The drive-thru

77th Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

From funnel cake to farm animals: '9 best days of summer' begins in Montgomery County

Britain Coronation

Liechtenstein changes its rules to allow women to inherit the Alpine principality's throne

Spotsylvania County firefighter Mason Fercovic-Ortege

Spotsylvania Co. firefighter dies in off-duty drowning at Lake Anna

Flock Safety license plate reader

Critics challenge Fairfax County police use of AI-powered license plate cameras

FEHB and Medicare: Understanding how they work together in retirement

Insight by FEBA

Border Wall Lawsuit Texas

Judge refuses to block Trump administration from building border wall along tribe's reservation

DoD building AI tools to predict, mitigate risks to sustainment supply chain

Insight by Zebra Technologies

Researchers with Old Dominion University are working on a 'TickBot'

‘Roomba effect’: Va. university’s ‘TickBot’ aims to tackle neighborhood tick populations

Three people in front of AfriThrive truck

Food and culture meet at Maryland nonprofit serving African immigrant communities

woman appears to be spray painting

Kentucky woman charged in connection to DC’s World War II Memorial vandalism

road work sign

Expect closures, delays near Suitland Parkway Interchange project

Bryan Betancur

Man accused of filming himself stroking women’s hair on Metro sentenced to 6 months in jail

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hands the ball to running back Kaytron Allen (31)

Commanders defeat Dolphins 20-7 in preseason opener for both teams

Schools Confederate Names

Va. school board to appeal federal court order to remove Confederate school names

Maryland State Capitol house entrance

Digital ad sales tax struck down in Maryland

County News

Police have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with Virginia State University shooting

3 Smithsonian museums along National Mall to have modified access during Freedom 250 Grand Prix

Thousands of back-to-school supplies donated in Woodbridge

MOM’s Organic Market bans employees from wearing face masks while working

Case of 2 Marions: Fairfax Co. police seek info in decadesold Springfield cold-case killings

LIFESTYLE

Be Well-Bedbugs

Bedbugs can cause people to lose sleep — and blood. Here's what to do about them

NATIONAL

Democratic National Committee Summer Meeting

Democrats disagree over abolishing or reforming ICE at DNC meeting

WORLD

Lebanon Israel

Iran claims Qatar is holding pilots, Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon, and other Middle East news

Sponsored

How GAP Solutions built an award-winning workplace culture

How GAP Solutions built an award-winning workplace culture

Sponsored by GAP Solutions

VIDEOS

WTOP’s Beer of the Week: Bluejacket Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin DIPA

1UP: 'Absolutely pristine' copies of Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt found

APTOPIX Trump Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

WATCH: 'Apology would be nice.' Judge tosses ex-Olympian's Reflecting Pool vandalism case

PHOTO GALLERIES

APTOPIX Spain Solar Eclipse

PHOTOS: Total solar eclipse awes millions in Spain, Iceland

Car Review: Subaru Crosstrek Sport Hybrid

Meet Earl and Toppy, WTOP's Pets of the Week.

WTOP's Pets of the Week

22 Hours: A Second Look

American Nightmares Season 6 Primer: From The Garden to The Canal

#17, Justin Baer: Building a $75M men's lifestyle brand from 1 shirt

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Andy Pollin

WTOP's DC Sports Huddle

How the Commanders 'win' NFL free agency

493 | Denmark Confronts Trump Administration over Greenland

thERINpy with Erin Washington

Marni Battista, life design coach and author of Your Radical Living Challenge

From Our Partners

WTOP News Welcomes Kristin Diaz as New AM Drive Anchor

WTOP News Welcomes John Wordock as New Business Reporter 2026

Crosswords, Sudoku, Puzzles, Solitaire and more! Play FREE games from WTOP!

Click here to learn more about the WTOP App!

Enter for your chance to win the WTOP Free Lunch Friday Contest for friends and family!

Listen live to WTOP so you never miss a moment

Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.