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This image taken from video, Brendan Banfield, charged with aggravated murder in the 2023 killings of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, appears in court during opening statements on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 in Fairfax, Va. (Court TV via AP, Pool).

Au pair details phony phone calls, alibis, fetish site account during Herndon double murder trial

a police cruiser parked in the street

Teacher arrested, charged for throwing shoe at student in Woodbridge

US Ukraine F-16 Training

Fighter jets to fly over DC region in defense exercise

corporate employees shaking hands close up

What the 100 best jobs in US News' ranking have in common

Sexual Misconduct Timothy Busfield

'West Wing' actor Timothy Busfield turns himself in to face child sex abuse charges in New Mexico

APTOPIX Trump National Portrait Gallery

Smithsonian faces a deadline to show Trump its plans for exhibits for America's 250th birthday

Updated

WATCH: Former au pair testifies in double murder trial of Fairfax County husband

Updated
Scott Adams, whose comic strip 'Dilbert' ridiculed white-collar office life, dies at 68

Girls flag football is a permanent fall sport in Prince William County schools

Maryland chef hopes to inspire kids to look beyond chicken strips

DC Water takes big step forward in Potomac River Tunnel project

Shrinking federal office space, more agencies spared from major cuts: Highlights from latest spending bills

DC Water takes a big step forward in its Potomac River Tunnel Project

Mary is a gentle girl who loves long, sniffy walks and cozy naps

DC Mayor’s final year in office starts with walking tour of Ward 8

The mysteries of Mother Nature come to life at this hidden Md. Smithsonian campus

As the Kennedy Center faces controversy, local theaters get more support

Alexandria revisits hate crime policies after alleged assault

Protests continue in DC as calls to end ICE violence intensify

Elementary students are learning the 'how' behind AI

Who will replace Steny Hoyer in Congress?

RFK stadium is almost completely demolished

Wonder food hall opens in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard

Wes Moore reflects on Steny Hoyer's legacy

The latest on Trump's White House ballroom plans

Colleagues remember DC police officer who was killed while helping a stranded driver

Cell service improvements on National Mall and Tidal Basin

Do you know about DC's most haunted residence?

ICE officer kills a Minneapolis driver in Trump’s latest immigration operation

Dupont Circle lab helps everyone from hobbyists to nurseries clone their plants

Celebrating 50 years of go-go music in DC's Lincoln Theater

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Voters at a polling station in Virginia.

Polls open Tuesday for special election to fill open seats in Virginia General Assembly

Trump President's Golf Course

Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings

Trump Baltimore

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s approve-disapprove numbers are tightening

World Championships Figure Skating

Here are the DC-area athletes competing in the Winter Olympics

Pet of the Week: Mary and Hershey are looking for their new forever home!

Mayor Bowser meets with community in Ward 8.

DC mayor’s final year in office starts with walking tour of Ward 8

Federal Enforcement-Minnesota

ICE tensions could jeopardize DHS funding

Trump

Trump calls on Tehran to show protesters humanity amid reports of rising death toll in crackdown

little crab in a white hand

The mysteries of Mother Nature come to life at this hidden Md. Smithsonian campus

a police cruiser parked on the side of road

Woman arrested for homophobic hate crime inside Alexandria grocery store

Federal News Network’s Industry Exchange Cyber 2026

Federal News Network Event

Supreme Court Transgender Athletes

Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state bans on transgender athletes in girls and women's sports

Military acquisition reform has important backing

Insight by Amazon Leo

Trump Kennedy Center

DC-area theaters on how shake-ups at the Kennedy Center are affecting them

Mass Firings-Trump

Md. attorney general says state wins most appeals on denied health care claims, too many give up

Trump

What DC-area physicians think about RFK's new food pyramid

The Kelly Leadership Center

Prince William Co. planning to offer universal preschool by 2030

people sitting outside dining on sunny day

Head of DC restaurant association warns 2026 could be another hard year for eateries

FILE - An entrance to the Arizona PBS offices in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix is photographed, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Katie Oyan, File)

PBS weekend newscasts shut down due to funding cuts, replaced by single-topic programs

Centreville High School

Allegations Fairfax Co. social worker arranged, paid for student abortions are untrue, investigation finds

A Washington Commanders helmet sits on the field before the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Atlanta. The Washington Commanders won 24-16. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

WATCH: New Commanders stadium update and other Top Local Headlines

County News

Fighter jets to fly over DC region in defense exercise

Teacher arrested, charged for throwing shoe at student in Woodbridge

Attorneys give dueling narratives to open ‘au pair affair’ double murder trial in Virginia

DC Water takes big step forward in Potomac River Tunnel project

What the 100 best jobs in US News’ ranking have in common

consumer electronic show

Theme park-style exhibit booths transform CES into 'Disneyland for techies'

US-Congress-Steny Hoyer

Expect a long list of potential candidates to replace Steny Hoyer

scene of a car crash

'He was just too good for us’: Colleagues remember pedestrian killed in multivehicle crash in DC

VIDEOS

Banfield home in Herndon

WATCH: Fairfax County husband accused of double murder goes on trial

Gadget Show

Tombot’s ‘Jennie’ puppy steals hearts at CES 2026

Steven Hardeman and son Seth tape an episode of NBC's

Prince William County family wins $1.6 million on NBC’s ‘The Wall’

PHOTO GALLERIES

HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS - DECEMBER 06: Conor McDermott-Mostowy performs in the 1000 m Men Division A race during the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Thialf Ice Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)

DC-area athletes competing in the Winter Olympics

lexus suv

Car Review: Lexus TX 550+

Animals

2025 Pets of the Week

LOCAL

Montgomery County Councilmember and Executive Official

Montgomery County proposes funding boost to programs helping seniors

NATIONAL

APTOPIX Immigration Enforcement Minnesota

Minnesota and the Twin Cities sue the federal government to stop the immigration crackdown

DC

DC Police Crime Statistics

DC's inspector general is investigating police crime statistics, the latest probe against the force

Sponsored

Founding DC with Dan Simons featuring Total Wine & More’s David Trone

Founding DC with Dan Simons featuring Total Wine & More’s David Trone

WTOP News Podcast

22 Hours: A Second Look

Needle in a Haystack

Total Wine & More’s David Trone: The strategies behind a $6B retail giant

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Tom Arnold

WTOP's DC Sports Huddle

How the Commanders 'win' NFL free agency

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thERINpy with Erin Washington

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From Our Partners

WTOP News Welcomes John Wordock as New Business Reporter 2026

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