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

Washington Extreme Weather Heat

Dangerous heat bears down on DC area to open July

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on March 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing to review the readiness of U.S. Northern and Southern Commands and their fiscal year 2027 budget request. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

NORAD warns pilots to check flight restrictions ahead of July 4 celebrations

Jack Maher, co-founder of Sea Suite Cruises.

July 4 boat restrictions force major changes on DC waterways

a modified e-bike

Vienna police warn parents about e-bikes modifications kids are making

two men pose with award at press event

From an 8-by-8 office to Top Workplaces: NR Labs’ culture stands out

Congress Vote

House GOP deadlocks over Trump's demands, sending lawmakers home early

New
Virginia to allow recreational marijuana to be sold in retail stores beginning in 2027

New
Celebrate July Fourth responsibly with SoberRide

New Virginia law lets judges put the brakes on extreme speeders

Montgomery County prepares for dangerous heat ahead of Fourth of July

Trump announces midterm convention for Republicans in Dallas in September

Seven fired EPA employees sue agency over their terminations

The Washington Monument is seen below an Independence Day fireworks display along the National Mall in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2022. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

What’s open and what’s closed in the DC area for Fourth of July 2026

Fireworks light up the sky over the Lincoln Memorial

Fourth of July weekend brings traffic closures in DC, Virginia

re marg with American flag decor

Where to party on July Fourth for America's 250th birthday

TOPSHOT - Fireworks explode over the National Mall as the US Capitol (R) and National Monument are seen on July 4, 2017, in Washington, DC. (Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images)

20 Fourth of July DC-area celebrations away from the National Mall

A United jet takes off from Reagan National Airport as seen from the Washington Monument, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

July Fourth events will keep Reagan National flights grounded most of the day, airports authority says

boating potomac river

Potomac, Anacostia rivers to close to boaters for Fourth of July weekend

The veterinarian doctor treating, checking on dog at vet clinic

Helping a pet that frets over Fourth of July fireworks

01:21

Kids are hacking e-bikes to get around speed controls, police warn

00:34

Meet Gamora, a pretty pit bull mix with lots of love

00:52

Virginia judges can now force ‘super speeders’ to install speed limiting devices in cars

01:06

Supreme Court rules on birthright citizenship, trans athletes

01:06

Why Fairfax Co. NAACP is calling for urgency, transparency from schools

02:06

DC-area restaurant stars react to their RAMMYS wins

00:49

Fairfax County officials seek public’s help after fire destroys Task Force 1 training equipment

01:16

New laws going into effect in DC, Md. and Va. on July 1

02:57

An American love story: National Zoo goose takes turkey wife

01:02

Kennedy Center honors Bill Maher with Mark Twain Prize

00:45

Silver Spring business releases infected mosquitoes in DC-area

01:09

How LGBTQ+ communities make their voices heard during political campaigns

×

ICE officers patrol at Dulles Airport

New laws go into effect in Virginia, Maryland and DC on July 1

AP Poll American Flag

Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s proposed limits

dc sports fans pose for photo at memorabilia exhibit announcement

DC sports fans have a chance to showcase their favorite memorabilia in new exhibit

pit bull puppies

8 pit bull puppies stolen in Southeast DC home burglary, police say

rammy winners pose for photo

2026 RAMMYS celebrate excellence in DC area's restaurant scene

Master plan rendering

DC reveals master plan for housing, parks around future Commanders stadium

America 250: How natural gas and propane entered the vehicle fuel market

America 250 | In Partnership with The American Petroleum Institute

Trump AI States What to Know

Trump filing shows he took in about $1.2 billion from crypto businesses last year

Cloud Exchange 2026: Red Hat’s Michael Epley on building resilient AI architectures

Insight by Red Hat

California Assault Weapons

Supreme Court will consider whether laws known as assault weapons bans violate the Second Amendment

An asteroid named "Spooky"

What's the significance of Asteroid Day

Supreme Court

Supreme Court upholds state laws banning transgender girls and women from school athletic teams

facility on fire

6 people seen on video before fire at Fairfax search-and-rescue training facility

A goose and turkey

National Zoo goose pairs up with turkey to make the cutest (and most unlikely) couple

Mosquitoes in a can

Why a company is releasing 600,000 Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in the DC region

Tony Pierce, of Akin law offices

Tony Pierce: A top workplace runs on culture, cornhole and AI

Vincent Delie

Why a Civil War-era bank still ranks as a top workplace

Laura Kennington

Laura Kennington: A winning workplace starts with vision and people

Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager dives for the soccer ball.

The World Cup can come down to penalty kicks. How easy are they?

Nurse caring for a patient.

Nursing gains 'professional' label for student loans after judge's ruling, but theology now dropped

County News

What’s open and what’s closed in the DC area for Fourth of July 2026

Dangerous heat bears down on DC area to open July

From an 8-by-8 office to Top Workplaces: NR Labs’ culture stands out

Virginia to allow recreational marijuana to be sold in retail stores beginning in 2027

July 4 boat restrictions force major changes on DC waterways

VIRGINIA

People work on the roof of a new housing development

Local leaders seek to reestablish Centreville as ‘suburban center’ through new long-range plan

Government

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger Delivers The Democratic Party’s Response To President Trump’s State Of The Union

Virginia lawmakers approve 2-year spending plan, avoiding partial government shutdown

World

Venezuela Earthquake

More than 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the US hours before the earthquakes are missing

Sponsored

Cloud Exchange 2026: Google Public Sector’s Cameron Groves on how AI agents are reshaping government workflows

Cloud Exchange 2026: Google Public Sector’s Cameron Groves on how AI agents are reshaping government workflows

Insight by Google Public Sector

VIDEOS

can and glass of beer sitting on table

This WTOP Beer of the Week pairs well with Japanese food

Britain Robin Hood Oak Tree

WATCH: 1,200-year-old oak tree said to have sheltered Robin Hood has died

France US

Trump signs memorandum of understanding with Iran

PHOTO GALLERIES

dog and cat

WTOP's Pets of the Week

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet

Car Review: Sun, speed and swagger: Inside Mercedes’ AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet

four people standing in crowd cheeing

Sights and sounds of WTOP Top Workplaces 2026 celebration, awards

plug in hybrid car

America 250: How natural gas and propane entered the vehicle fuel market

ATOM the Robot dog

America 250: Artificial intelligence and autonomy: The new decision advantage

Fireworks next to the US Capitol

America 250: Back to the future celebrating Fourth of July

22 Hours: A Second Look

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

#16, Billion-dollar outcomes: Sarah Chen-Spellings on the value of investing in women founders

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Christopher Ferguson

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.