Metro Newsletter

Trayon on Trial

Martin Austermuhle, Shamira Muhammad, Zara Norman — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/trayon-on-trial

Ward 8 council member Trayon White in federal court Friday. Opening statements in his bribery trial could begin as early as this week. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

Good morning. This is The Washington Sun Metro newsletter for Sept. 14, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

In today’s newsletter: The Trayon White trial, a warning about D.C.’s economy and the Commanders’ season-opening defeat.

Capital Weather’s Daily Digit: 9/10. Close to perfect with sunshine, dropping humidity and a refreshing breeze. Read the full forecast.

THE LATEST

A particularly high-stakes moment in D.C. politics is set to play out in the coming weeks, but it won’t be in City Hall — it will be in a federal courthouse.

Opening statements in the federal bribery trial of Ward 8 council member Trayon White could begin as early as this week. The long-awaited trial comes more than two years after he was indicted on charges of taking $35,000 in cash from D.C. businessman Allieu Kamara in exchange for promises that he would help Kamara maintain his existing contracts and land new ones.

White has conceded that he accepted the money. But as The Washington Sun’s Jenny Gathright and Martin Austermuhle report, his defense attorneys are expected to argue that he didn’t actually do anything official in exchange to help Kamara. A decade-old Supreme Court ruling involving former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell may help White — it tightened the definition of what it takes to prove that an elected official was actually bribed.

But those envelopes full of cash that were handed to White — all caught on video — will probably hang in the minds of jurors, said Peter Zeidenberg, a former public corruption prosecutor in D.C. who is now a partner at ArentFox Schiff: “It doesn’t smell right. Nobody looks at that situation and thinks, ‘This is normal.’”

The role of the FBI may also come into play. White has claimed he was entrapped by the government, and the fact that Kamara was working as an informant for the FBI may help buttress the claim. “It does look like the government went after White and set him up, essentially, and jurors don’t always like that,” said Erica Hashimoto, the director of the appellate litigation program at Georgetown Law.

White’s legal problems have hung over the city since he was indicted, and his trial comes as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have aggressively inserted themselves into the city’s local affairs. Should he be convicted, White could face prison time — and would be immediately expelled from the council, triggering a special election in Ward 8.

DEEP DIVE

D.C. Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee isn’t mincing words.

In a presentation to the D.C. Chamber of Commerce last week, Lee told an audience of local business leaders that "economic and revenue signals are flashing red."

More than 36,000 jobs have been lost since June 2025, largely from federal government layoffs. The unemployment rate in D.C. stood at 6% in June, above the national rate of 4.3%. The office vacancy rate is up, and business tax revenue is down.

One positive note is that revenue from individual income taxes is up. But that comes with a caveat: Most of that is from people doing well in the stock market, or residents who received severance payments from the federal government. Lee said the revenue is “wild and subject to sudden swings,” unlike the preferred streams from property and sales taxes.

Lee’s warnings seemed to have had their intended effect. One attendee tells The Sun that the crowd came out of the event “sobered” about the challenges ahead.

Those challenges include a growing deficit that D.C. lawmakers will have to close next year — just as Janeese Lewis George, the expected winner of November’s mayoral race, will be trying to enact her ambitious agenda. In October, the council will start discussing possible tax increases to bring in more revenue, but there’s no certainty yet that they’ll actually pass any into law.

Lee’s warnings aren’t gospel: Some of his critics say that while they don’t contest that D.C. is facing economic headwinds, the CFO has sometimes underestimated how much revenue the city takes in. Earlier this summer, D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson criticized Lee’s relationship with the council and urged him to more fully explain his dire predictions. “The CFO is damaging his office’s credibility by sounding alarms without adequate explanation,” she wrote.

FROM THE DISTRICT

Reflecting Pool AP - 26249769200328 (5575x3717, AR: 1.50)

Contractors admitted that their own errors, not vandalism, caused damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, The Sun’s Gavin J. Quinton reports. New documents show that Atlantic Industrial Coatings said workers had mistakenly layered two incompatible materials that caused paint on the pool liner to peel — and the government had knowledge of this error as it pursued criminal vandalism charges earlier this year.

Kennedy Center leaders say the venue is on the brink of bankruptcy and could close as soon as Tuesday, The Washington Post reports. In documents distributed to the center’s board, officials say the only way to avoid “certain fiscal collapse” could be putting President Donald Trump’s name on the building and therefore ensuring his support. Officials also recommend closing the building until a renovation is complete. The board could approve such a move at a special meeting Tuesday.

Trump wants a massive statue of George Washington installed outside the National Museum of American History. In a post to Truth Social last week, Trump wrote that he would like to see the "Infinity" sculpture that has stood outside the museum since 1967 replaced by a 30-foot statue of the founding father. Trump also proposed a five-year exhibit on Washington, starting in 2027 and running to his 300th birthday in February 2032.

WMATA has amended a policy requiring all bus operators to quote fares to passengers after public backlash over potential driver safety issues, WJLA reports. Now, only drivers in “fully enclosed workstations” are required to remind passengers of the fare. WMATA says it’s investing $18 million to install fully enclosed workstations on all buses by next May.

FROM MARYLAND

We Are CASA, a national immigrant rights advocacy group, filed a lawsuit last week against the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of four Maryland residents over what they say are unlawful arrests by ICE agents, The Sun’s Kendall Staton reports.

D.C. TRIVIA

Which group’s song inspired the name of legendary D.C. punk band Bad Brains?

The Clash
The Ramones
The Rolling Stones

Email us your answer — the first reader who gets it right will receive a shout-out at the end of tomorrow’s newsletter.

SPORTS

Jayden Daniels Eagles AP - 26256835961582 (4787x3191, AR: 1.50)

Eagles 24, Commanders 22: After stumbling through a 5-12 campaign last year, Washington showed signs of improvement in Sunday’s season opener. A revamped defense held the Eagles mostly in check, but Jayden Daniels and the offense took some time to get going. When they did, new additions Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams scored second-half touchdowns and the Commanders gave themselves a chance to tie the game late. That hope ended with a failed two-point conversion attempt.

We’ve got you covered after a dramatic Week 1:

Martenzie Johnson breaks down the game and its key moments.

Dave Sheinin writes about Daniels’ up-and-down performance in his first game with a new play caller.

And Alex Schiffer rounds up the biggest Sunday storylines from the rest of the league.

High School Football Players of the Week: The Sun’s Noah Ferguson highlights five local standouts from Week 3, including a dual-threat quarterback from Largo and a Westfield running back who scored three touchdowns Friday.

What to Watch Today

NFL: Broncos at Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@washsun.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson.]]>

A Republican Candidate? In D.C.??

Martin Austermuhle, Jenny Gathright, Zara Norman — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/a-republican-candidate-in-d-c

The main issue that animates almost all of the GOP contenders in D.C. is public safety. (Kainaz Amaria/The Washington Sun)

Good morning. This is The Washington Sun Metro newsletter for Sept. 11, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

Capital Weather’s Daily Digit: 6/10. Cooler and more comfortable, but a lingering early shower, humidity and plentiful clouds keep it from being a standout. Read the full forecast.

THE LATEST

If you’re looking for a rare breed in D.C., try to find a local Republican. They make up just 5% of the city’s 485,000 registered voters, and none has served in elected office for almost two decades.

But those significant political obstacles aren’t stopping seven D.C. Republicans who are running for D.C. Council, attorney general and the nonvoting delegate to Congress, The Washington Sun’s Martin Austermuhle reports.

“This election is especially important because it represents a renewed effort by the Republican Party to offer the District’s voters a range of ideas and qualified candidates,” said Manuel Rivera, a Puerto Rican-born immigration lawyer (and former Democrat) who is running for attorney general.

The candidates are running on bread-and-butter issues: Improving public safety, better city services, fighting D.C.’s notorious rats, keeping spending and taxes under control and continuing some of the gains in public schools. They don’t often bring up President Donald Trump, which might be a wise political move — he only notched 6% of the city’s vote in 2024, and his recent forays into local issues haven’t proved to be particularly popular here.

Some former Republicans say it’s a fool's errand. “It’s pointless,” said David Krucoff, who ran for the Ward 3 council seat as a moderate Republican in 2022 and won 22% of the vote. He’s now an independent, and says he thinks there’s more hope for right-leaning residents there.

In 2028, independent voters will be allowed to vote in a partisan primary of their choice, which Krucoff says will give them a bigger chance to moderate city politics without carrying the heavy political baggage the GOP currently does in many urban areas.

Whether or not they can win, the Republican candidates in D.C. still think there’s value in running for office. “Washington, D.C., is a one-party system,” Rivera said. “I believe democracy works best when voters have a real choice. Somebody must be willing to challenge that status quo.”

DC0A2993 copy.jpg (6988x4659, AR: 1.50)

DEEP DIVE

The D.C. Police Union has joined the anti-Flock chat.

The group issued a press release Thursday sounding the alarm about the powerful cameras, which the Metropolitan Police Department uses to store license-plate information in a searchable database.

The union filed a grievance this summer, complaining that D.C. police managers had been misusing the tech. Union chair Gregg Pemberton tells The Sun’s Jenny Gathright that the department refused to investigate — so he decided to go public with the concerns.

“All I can tell you is that we discovered improper access or improper queries,” said Pemberton, who declined to share more details about what the managers were allegedly looking up in the Flock data.

A D.C. police spokesperson said the union’s grievance was over the use of Flock cameras in an internal affairs investigation regarding the misconduct of a union member.

“The DC Metropolitan Police Department’s has a stringent policy regarding the use of license plate reader (LPR) technology that was updated in April 2026,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “The Department’s position is that the use of LPR in the misconduct investigation was appropriate.”

The department has taken some steps to limit other police agencies’ access to its Flock data and firm up its internal policies on license-plate readers, but it has notably denied public records requests seeking details of how its cameras have been used.

Pemberton acknowledged that Flock cameras can be useful for solving crimes — but he’s urging the D.C. Council to explore legislation to put guardrails on the program. That’s a rare step for someone who has been an outspoken critic of the legislative body’s approach to police reform.

“At the end of the day, I’m just sick of citizens not trusting cops,” Pemberton said. “Here we are, acting bizarrely and very secretive about this program.”

FROM THE DISTRICT

A quarter-century after Sept. 11, the Pentagon remains the only one of the three memorial locations without a visitor education center,The Washington Post reports.

The D.C. Fire and EMS Foundation captured the stories of D.C. firefighters who responded to the Pentagon and to Ground Zero in New York City in a forthcoming oral history project;watch a preview here.

The Justice Department is suing D.C. over its policy of allowing undocumented immigrants to get in-state tuition rates at the District’s public university, calling the benefit an unconstitutional preference, reports The Sun’s Kendall Staton. Similar lawsuits have been filed in 21 states since last month as part of the administration’s broader crackdown on immigration.

Remember the D.C. Department of Buildings plan to use AIto find housing violations and vacant properties? Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky), who chairs the congressional committee overseeing D.C.,wrote a letterto the city expressing concern that it will "ensnare District property owners in a regime of excessive fees."

FROM VIRGINIA

A new bill would limit the number of flights in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, The Sun’s Kendall Staton reports. The measure, set to be introduced by Virginia Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, would cap arrivals at 28 per hour; there were 36 prior to the January 2025 crash between a commercial airliner and military helicopter that killed 67 people.

METRO MOMENTS

Dupont Circle Tree (2248x1885, AR: 1.19)

When a massive storm hit D.C. last week, it brought down hundreds of trees, including the top half of a decades-old oak in the middle of Dupont Circle.

Since then, residents have been pinning condolence notes to the 15-foot-tall section of trunk that remains. They include everything from heartfelt odes (“Even your half makes us whole”) to tree puns (“You were the best at throwing shade,” “We are rooting for you to come back!”). Some people have even demanded that the National Park Service not remove what’s left of the tree.

It’s unclear whether the Park Service will listen. “Life’s a birch,” as one writer noted.

SPORTS

Sonny Styles is a football unicorn. The Commanders’ rookie linebacker, the No. 7 overall pick in April’s draft, has unsurpassed athleticism for someone his size. At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, with the speed of a running back, he isn’t merely representative of the modern, versatile NFL player, The Sun’s Dave Sheinin writes. The 21-year-old is something altogether new.

“He’s a jack of all trades,” safety Jeremy Reaves said of his young teammate. “I’ve never seen a guy who plays in the box go sideline to sideline like he does. … He’s going to be one of the ones we talk about 30, 40 years down the road.”

What to Watch This Weekend

Friday

MLB: Nationals vs. Angels, 6:45 (MLB.TV)

Saturday

NCAAF: Maryland at UConn, 3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

MLB: Nationals vs. Angles, 4:05 p.m. (MLB.TV)

MLS: D.C. United vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. (Apple TV)

Sunday

NWSL: Spirit vs. Boston FC, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

MLB: Nationals vs. Angels, 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

NFL: Commanders at Eagles, 4:25 p.m. (Fox5)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@washsun.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson.]]>

JLG Is All Ears

Martin Austermuhle, Michael Brice-Saddler, Zara Norman — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/jlg-is-all-ears

Janeese Lewis George is spending the months before November’s general election on a citywide listening tour. (Kainaz Amaria/The Washington Sun)

Good morning. This is The Washington Sun Metro newsletter for Sept. 10, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

Today’s Daily Digit — 4/10: Feeling like August with highs around 90 and humidity pushing the heat index toward the mid-90s. Scattered storms possible late. Full forecast from Capital Weather.

THE LATEST

What happens when D.C.’s presumptive next mayor asks the entire city to be “unabashedly honest” about what it needs? She gets a massive, complicated to-do list.

Janeese Lewis George is spending the months before November’s general election on a citywide listening tour. From residents east of the Anacostia River pleading for consistent sanitation services, to progressives in Ward 1 demanding she abolish the police department, the tour has so far laid bare the sheer weight of Lewis George’s coming mandate, The Sun’s Michael Brice-Saddler reports.

“Everything y’all put on this list — the micro and macro things — we’re going to take a check and say, ‘Hey, did you do what you said you were going to do?’” Lewis George told the large crowd gathered for Ward 7’s listening session. “We’re basically creating accountability for ourselves.”

But taking in thousands of demands creates immense political friction. As her campaign converts into a governing machine, Lewis George must figure out how to meet voters’ sky-high expectations. She concedes that the flood of feedback is already forcing her to look past her usual legislative playbook, particularly after hearing an unexpected number of concerns regarding health care access citywide.

“That’s the difference between legislating and governing,” Lewis George said. “Governing requires me to now take into account some things that maybe I felt personally as a council member.”

Observers say the immediate test will be how she balances quick administrative wins — like easing small-business permits — against the massive, multiyear battles that would probably accompany landmark proposals such as social housing or universal child care.

“I’m less worried about disappointing people and more excited about surprising people,” she said.

_MG_0068 copy.jpg (5909x3940, AR: 1.50)

DEEP DIVE

The level of cannabis competition in the D.C. region is about to get much higher.

With Virginia set to roll out recreational sales next July, cannabis retailers in D.C. are getting increasingly nervous that they won’t survive, The Sun’s Zara Norman reports. That’s because Virginians have long made the drive into D.C. for their cannabis needs, accounting for a significant amount of what vendors in the city are selling.

“Virginia coming online will definitely, probably take 20% to 25% of our business,” said Johannes Cassidy-Seyoum, the owner of High Demand in Capitol Hill. “A good amount of our customers come from Richmond, Fredericksburg. They make a trip maybe two, three times a month and they stock up.”

Of the 2,101 non-D.C. residents who patronized D.C. cannabis retailers in July, 807 came from Virginia, according to the city’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration.

On top of high rents, cannabis sellers in D.C. face an obstacle Virginia doesn’t: Capitol Hill. For more than a decade, Congress has prohibited D.C. from legalizing recreational sales. As a workaround, D.C. has expanded its medical cannabis program, allowing anyone — including Virginians — to self-certify. But that adds paperwork and fees.

“We have a lot more restrictions in D.C. right now than Virginia will next year,” said Caroline Crandall, who owns Green Theory in the Palisades, a short drive from Virginia. “[We’re trying to] figure out ways to remain competitive.”

FROM THE DISTRICT

Metro is debuting a systemwide redesign of its station signage, to mixed reviews. Exits will no longer be labeled by the street intersections they lead to, but rather a letter that corresponds to attractions near each exit, The Sun’s Kendall Staton reports. Graphics showing the remaining stops on each line will be taken off the wall of each terminal, relegating full route information to signs on the platform.

Riders pushed back on social media, saying the new signs are less intuitive and make information harder to find, but Metro defended the effort. “It may seem unfamiliar at first glance, but multiple rounds of feedback were considered to finalize this effort,” WMATA said in a post.

A National Guard member deployed in D.C. is facing felony charges after being accused of pointing a loaded service weapon at a fellow soldier during an argument over Army grooming standards, The Sun’s Jenna Monnin reports.

The candidate list for D.C.’s 345 Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats is nownullfinal. And if you were hoping for a competitive, hyperlocal election in your neighborhood come November, you may need to lower expectations. According to the D.C. Board of Elections, 82% of the ANC seats have either no candidate or a single person on the ballot for the general election, leaving a mere 62 contested ANC races citywide.

A TPS reprieve, but for how long? The Department of Homeland Security hasn’t yet decided whether it will terminate the Temporary Protected Status held by 200,000 Salvadorans across the U.S., The Sun’s Manuela Silva reports. That status — which protects them from deportation — has been extended for decades, largely due to political conflict and natural disasters in the Central American country. There are an estimated 30,000 Salvadorans with TPS in the Washington region.

FROM VIRGINIA

DSC05422.JPG (3504x2336, AR: 1.50)

Flock off. Several elected officials in Alexandria are pushing the city’s police department to end its contract with Flock, The Sun’s Kendall Staton reports. The automatic license-plate readers have been credited with helping police solve high-profile crimes, but they have also prompted concerns over privacy and surveillance. There are 61 Flock cameras in Alexandria. Some activists in D.C. have raised their own concerns with the city’s 67 Flock cameras.

TALK TO TOM

Tom Sietsema is back answering your questions about the D.C. dining scene. Submit your questions here.

With the season about to change, I want to plan a road trip. Where would you go for a dining escape within a few hours of D.C.?

In the exurbs of Virginia, I’m high on Three Blacksmiths in Sperryville. The drill is a single seating for up to 20 guests in a handsome dining room, and a seasonal, five-course menu prepared by chefs who double as your attendants by introducing the dishes to you. Then there’s Maude & the Bear in Staunton, which began life as a Montgomery Ward home kit more than a century ago, helmed by chef Ian Boden. He, too, offers a five-course list — along with nine- and 22-course tasting menus — that the chef says includes “several little surprises.”

In Maryland, I’m always happy to settle into the inviting, Old World interior at Bas Rouge in historic Easton. Its details are rich: Zalto stemware, Bernardaud china and an antique Lobmeyr crystal chandelier to illuminate the space. As for the cooking, Harley Peet won the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award from the James Beard Foundation two years ago.

In the full Q&A: Corkage fees, cramped dining rooms and thoughts on Rye Bunny.

SPORTS

Want proof that the Nats have truly entered a new era? Look at their minor league teams. The Sun’s Dave Sheinin reports that Washington’s new regime has overhauled the farm system with advanced analytics, new technology and a new philosophy.

“For us, it’s: ‘Let’s tether ourselves to what the evidence says contributes to winning and do our best to actually help our people get there,’” Nats president Paul Toboni told The Sun. Up in the majors, the Nats have made a habit of blowing saves this year. In fact, Washington has already set an MLB record with 38 blown saves this season. But The Sun’s Jesse Dougherty writes that the numbers are not as bleak as they appear.

After a near-perfect rookie season, Jayden Daniels had a rough 2025. Dealing with injuries, he missed more games than he played as Washington stumbled to a 5-12 record. Now, Daniels is looking to put all of that — the good and the bad — behind him. The Sun’s Martenzie Johnson reports that Washington’s quarterback has learned a new playbook, brushed off criticism and even added some muscle as he prepares for Year 3.

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman was busy Wednesday morning. After watching boyfriend Ben Shelton battle Carlos Alcaraz late into the night at the U.S. Open, she made her way from New York to D.C. for practice. Shelton finished off his five-set win around 3:30 a.m. and, according to the Spirit, Rodman showed up to train by 9:30.

What to Watch Today

NFL: 49ers at Rams in Australia, 8:35 p.m. (Netflix)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@washsun.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson.]]>

New Name, Same Local Flavor

Martin Austermuhle, Zara Norman, Kendall Staton — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/new-name-same-local-flavor

What was once NOTUS is now The Washington Sun. (Mark Alfred/The Sun)

Good morning. This is The Washington Sun Metro newsletter for Sept. 9, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

What was once NOTUS is now The Washington Sun! While the name may have changed, what remains the same is our commitment to covering the District the way it deserves to be covered. That means sports stories from Northwest Stadium to high school gyms; local politics coverage from the streets of D.C. to the halls of the Wilson Building; food writing from Tom Sietsema; an eye on the sky from Capital Weather; and the kind of entertaining, illuminating coverage you can’t find anywhere else. We’re excited to have you along for the ride.

In today’s newsletter: A trip to D.C.’s lost and found, the best meals under $25 and Thomas Boswell on Jayden Daniels.

Today’s Daily Digit: 6/10. Some spots have a shot at 90 degrees. But September heat isn't as harsh as midsummer, and humidity is still relatively tame. Full forecast from Capital Weather.

THE LATEST

D.C. has its own municipal lost and found, and we got a peek inside. A D.C. office known as the Unclaimed Property Unit serves as the city’s official depository of people’s lost stuff, collecting everything from millions of dollars worth of misdelivered checks to family heirlooms left in forgotten safe-deposit boxes.

As The Sun’s Martin Austermuhle reports, the unit’s staff collects and catalogues what it can, auctioning off items such as rare coins and jewelry while endeavoring to reunite personal belongings with their owners. And yes, sometimes they find strange things: gold teeth, locks of hair, a diaper and even state secrets.

“We get teeth all the time,” one worker told us, sounding none too pleased.

DEEP DIVE

DC0A3355 copy.jpg (8192x5462, AR: 1.50)

It can be hard to find good food on a budget. Tom Sietsema, The Sun’s food correspondent, believes that the best values come from restaurants where “the experience exceeds what you’re paying.”

At a time when many locals have cut down on dining out, Sietsema shares his five favorite dinners in D.C. that go for $25 or less. The list includes a perfect plate of spaghetti and meatballs at Caruso’s Grocery in Hill East and some finger-lickin’ fried chicken at The Hitching Post in Petworth.

FROM THE DISTRICT

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch will retire at the end of this year, The Sun’s Torrie Herrington reports. His departure comes after months of criticism from the Trump administration, though he said the White House did not pressure him to leave.

Rise of the machines: Food delivery robots have become increasingly popular in the District, offering contactless delivery from some restaurants in Bloomingdale, Dupont Circle and Logan Circle, The Washington Post reports.

Should D.C. keep its public pools open after Labor Day? At-Large council member Elissa Silverman certainly thinks so. With steamy summer temperatures often extending deep into September, plenty of residents would probably agree. It wouldn’t be a first: Back in 2023, Mayor Muriel Bowser kept two pools and a number of spray parks open past Labor Day, largely due to high temperatures.

City officials say the challenge is both in funding and staffing. Many lifeguards are students who have already returned to school in September. At least our canine friends are set: The annual Doggie Day Swim will take place at four D.C. pools on Saturday.

FROM MARYLAND

Will Jawando, a Montgomery County Council member and the Democratic nominee for county executive, suffered a heart attack Saturday morning during his weekly pickup basketball game, his office said on social media. Jawando is expected to make a full recovery.

FROM VIRGINIA

The Trump administration removed language criticizing a Confederate monument that previously stood at Arlington National Cemetery, The Sun’s Kendall Staton reports. The statue is set to be reinstalled next year.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Philadelphia Ballet (5053x2868, AR: 1.76)

For balletomanes: Philadelphia Ballet at Wolf Trap, Thursday.

For “Succession” fans: Brian Cox in “The Score” at Shakespeare Theatre, Friday through Oct. 25.

For something a little different: Adams Morgan Day, Sunday.

For more info on this weekend’s events, read our weekly culture calendar here.

SPORTS

It’s been a long time since Washington has had a franchise quarterback. The Sun’s Thomas Boswell estimates the drought has lasted more than 50 years. But Jayden Daniels has that kind of talent, Boswell writes. So the team’s main objective this season should be pretty simple: Protect him at all costs.

There is no doubt that Daniels is Washington’s most important player. The Sun’s Martenzie Johnson ranked the 10 Commanders who could swing this season, and Daniels was a shoo-in for No. 1. Others on the list: a rookie kicker, an expensive edge rusher and a much-discussed center.

What to Watch Today

MLB: Nationals at Padres, 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

NFL opener: Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@washsun.com.]]>

A Big Dig

Martin Austermuhle, Zara Norman — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/a-big-dig

The Southeast Library in Eastern Market. (Courtesy of the D.C. Public Library System)

Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Sept. 8, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

When a century-old D.C. library is standing on nothing but stilts, it can make anyone nervous.

“One wrong move by one excavator could take the whole thing down, so the stakes were literally very high,” says Jaspreet Pahwa, the director of capital planning and construction for the D.C. Public Library system.

That was one of the pitfalls of the 2 ½-year renovation of the Southeast Library in Eastern Market, which wraps up this week ahead of the library’s reopening on Thursday.

It was built in 1922 as one of the city’s three Carnegie libraries — the others are in Takoma and Mount Pleasant — so library officials had to balance protecting the historical landmark with trying to expand one of the 10 busiest neighborhood libraries in the city.

That involved digging between 24 and 40 feet under and around the building, allowing for an expansion of the ground-floor level and the addition of a basement level that will now largely serve kids. With that, the Southeast Library will double in size but leave the original historic building largely intact.

“This was a really complex project, to say the least,” says Rich Reyes-Gavilan, DCPL’s executive director. “The need was there. It was just about finding the money and the ingenuity and the know-how.”

To ensure the new basement level didn’t feel like it’s underground, a new skylight was carved from the roof down the center of the building, drawing natural light all the way into the deepest recesses of the library. Reyes-Gavilan — who has overseen the modernization of dozens of libraries in his 13 years leading DCPL — says the skylight is the library’s “architectural marvel."

And there’s more: An extension was built in what used to be an alley behind the library, connecting it to a neighboring rowhouse and allowing for a new main entrance to be constructed along South Carolina Avenue.

The renovation wasn’t cheap. The $40 million price tag is roughly double what was originally contemplated, because of both increasing construction costs and a need to comply with historic preservation rules. But library officials say they were able to leverage federal COVID recovery funds to pay for it.

The next projects for the library system include a brand-new facility in Congress Heights and another in Eckington/Edgewood. Future renovations include libraries in Chevy Chase and Shepherd Park. To Reyes-Gavilan’s relief, none of these projects is expected to be as complicated as the Southeast Library makeover.

FROM THE DISTRICT

A federal planning commission has approved the transfer of the D.C. Armory, the headquarters of the District’s National Guard, to local control, NOTUS’ Kendall Staton reports. The transfer still has to be approved by D.C.’s mayor, the D.C. Council and Congress.

D.C.’s Department of Public Works is testing rat-proof trash bins in high-traffic areas of the city, WUSA9 reports.

President Donald Trump has become obsessed with “architectural immortality” — building monuments around D.C. that will outlast him, New York Magazine reports.

Former Kennedy Center chair David Rubenstein has purchased the large sculpture that was removed from the grounds of the venue last week, The New York Times reports. Rubenstein, a billionaire philanthropist who owns the Orioles, sat as chair from 2010 to 2025, when he was ousted as part of Trump’s takeover of the center’s board. Rubenstein reportedly paid more than $2 million for the abstract sculpture, titled “Blue.”

The grieving tree: D.C. residents have been leaving condolence messages on a large tree in Dupont Circle that was severed by last week’s wild storm.

FROM MARYLAND

All aboard! The stretch of the Red Line between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights reopened Monday after nine weeks of construction work. The project finished “on time and on budget,” Metro said in a news release.

D.C. TRIVIA

Where did the first D.C. Public Library branch open in 1911?

Anacostia
Capitol Hill
Takoma

Email us the answer — the first reader who gets it right gets a shout-out. The answer will be at the end of the newsletter tomorrow.

SPORTS

Jayden Daniels camp AP - 26238573512493 (3872x2581, AR: 1.50)

The Commanders should have plenty of bulletin board material this season. In a roundup of preseason coverage and power rankings, NOTUS’ Alex Schiffer reports that many national analysts and pundits are down on Washington ahead of a pivotal year for GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn.

“Skinny quarterback who got hurt last year combined with nobody who can block?” The Ringer’s Bill Simmons said on a recent podcast. “I’m out.”

High school football season is fully underway, with Maryland public schools kicking off this past weekend. NOTUS’ Noah Ferguson highlights five standouts from around the area in our Players of the Week column; this week’s group includes a Quince Orchard DB who nabbed three interceptions and a Gonzaga running back who scored four touchdowns.

DMV native Frances Tiafoe has advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. The 28-year-old Tiafoe, currently ranked the No. 12 men’s tennis player in the world, will face 22-year-old American Alex Michelsen today at 1 p.m. Tiafoe is chasing his first Grand Slam title.

What to Watch Today

MLB: Nationals at Padres, 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@notus.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Library photo courtesy of the D.C. Public Library system. Commanders photo by Stephanie Scarbrough/AP.]]>

Crashing the Party

Martin Austermuhle, Shamira Muhammad, Zara Norman — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/crashing-the-party

Autonomous vehicles could be permitted to operate in D.C. this fall. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Sept. 4, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

A happy birthday to D.C.’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles, which celebrated turning 10 yesterday with a celebration at MLK Memorial Library. It was a joyful occasion, celebrating D.C.’s taxicab drivers with a live band, canapés and an awards ceremony.

But the party masked a sober reality. The industry faces a watershed moment, as autonomous vehicles could be permitted to operate in the city this fall.

“Hell no, Waymo!” chanted one attendee, disability advocate Heidi Case, as DFHV Director Jonathan Rogers took the stage for a speech.

“We’ll talk about Waymo, Heidi,” Rogers replied. “Because that’s one of the themes: We’ve had a lot of change over the past 10 years, and there’s a lot more coming. We’ll handle it together.”

DFHV was created to meet a specific moment, Rogers said. Ten years ago, the agency was charged with modernizing the city’s taxicabs and regulating rideshare services Uber and Lyft, which had recently made their entry into D.C. with few guardrails. The decade since has seen the number of active cabs on the street drop from 8,000-10,000 to around 1,400, Rogers previously told NOTUS.

“We’re in another one of those moments, where a lot is changing again because technology is not slowing down,” Rogers said.

Drivers are anxious about their livelihoods. Abeba Berhe, who’s been driving a wheelchair-accessible cab in D.C. and Virginia for 20 years, told NOTUS she thinks the entry of autonomous vehicles would be a “disaster” for her industry.

“Driver jobs are getting disappeared. … Our job income [has] shrunk,” Berhe said, adding that she already has trouble making credit card payments every month.

There will always be a role for the “human element” of for-hire vehicles, Rogers told NOTUS. The D.C. Council, including Janeese Lewis George, has expressed concern about workforce impacts and accessibility, he said.

“There’s always been disruption and new competition,” Rogers said. “There are things that humans are able to do as a driver, as an assistant in a vehicle, that AVs are not likely to do any time in the near future.”

DEEP DIVE

An update on East Potomac Park: At a hearing Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes emphasized that she is “not the Lorax”: She does not, in fact, speak for the trees.

About 150 of them have come down at East Potomac in recent days, a removal campaign that the government called “routine maintenance” but that raised alarm with the public. NOTUS’ Shamira Muhammad reports that Reyes said Thursday she has received several angry calls, including one advocating for her disbarment if she did not stop the tree removal.

Although she previously asked the government to notify her before cutting down more than 10 trees, Reyes said that did not apply to maintenance and she had no issues with last week’s work.

An amended complaint is expected to be filed by the plaintiffs — preservationists seeking to block the park’s renovation — by Sept. 12. Reyes declined to rule on the DOJ’s recent motion to dismiss the case until she receives that complaint.

FROM THE DISTRICT

Trump arch AP - 26185088891653 (6755x4503, AR: 1.50)

President Donald Trump’s plan to construct a 250-foot arch in D.C. will move forward, with excavation work starting in the next two weeks, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Thursday. NOTUS’ Jenna Monnin reports that the project, which was displayed in miniature at the Great American State Fair this summer, will be located near Arlington National Cemetery. A lawsuit challenging its construction is still pending in the U.S. District Court for D.C.

Federal prosecutors are accusing Ward 8 council member Trayon White of jury tampering in the wake of a video posted on Instagram this week where he spoke about his upcoming trial on federal bribery charges and addressed the jury selection process, NOTUS’ Martin Austermuhle reports. Prosecutors have asked a judge to admonish White, while White’s defense team says he “expressed nothing unlawful.”

A pied-à-terre tax for D.C.? Council Chair Phil Mendelson has scheduled an Oct. 16 public hearing where lawmakers will hear testimony and debate possible revenue-raising options, ranging from a hike in capital gains taxes to new levies on second homes. With D.C.’s economy souring in the wake of sweeping federal layoffs, city revenue has dried up and lawmakers are facing a large budget deficit in the year to come.

Not a state, but still quite fair. The D.C. State Fair returns Sunday with “art, agriculture, and the culinary arts.” It’ll take place at Anthem Row (800 K St. NW) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

FROM VIRGINIA

Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam has learned his phone calls with state Sen. Louise Lucas were monitored by the FBI and DOJ as part of a broader investigation into Lucas, Subramanyam said in a statement Thursday. Lucas’s calls with two journalists were also monitored, Virginia Scope reports.

FROM MARYLAND

Maryland has lost more than $800 million by failing to collect tolls and penalties that drivers owed, The Washington Post reports.

A budding dispute: The University of Maryland is threatening legal action against a cannabis company in Colorado over its name: “Terps USA,” WTOP reports.

METRO MOMENTS

E2991D8B-876B-42BA-9FA7-653A931C333F copy.jpg (3703x2468, AR: 1.50)

Raising her son in D.C., Kainaz Amaria — NOTUS’ senior editor of visual storytelling — didn’t get a sense that kids are growing up with a shared story. Many schools have specialized curriculums these days, so there is little that is universal about how and what our kids learn. But since 2016, her son and nearly 100,000 other children across the District have had something in common: a gift in the mail every month from “The Book Lady,” Dolly Parton, Kainaz writes in NOTUS Perspectives.

We want to hear from you: Have an image from around D.C. you want to share? A question for our reporters? An “only in D.C.” moment? Tell us about it.

SPORTS

In recent years, Thomas Boswell has found the Nationals to be almost unwatchable. So, Boswell writes, it is a testament to Washington’s new regime that the team is still entertaining at this point in the season. As long as there are some ups with the downs, the Nats retain their power to please.

Meanwhile, outfielder Daylen Lile is in the middle of a loud, elongated “up” of an up-and-down season for the Nationals. NOTUS' Jesse Dougherty writes that his recent stretch is a reason to believe Lile could be a key part of the next winning core in Washington. But, as with many baseball players, that will come down to whether Lile, an unforgiving perfectionist, can quiet the negative thoughts in his head.

What to Watch This Weekend

Friday

MLB: Nationals at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Saturday

MLS: D.C. United at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. (Apple TV)

NCAAF: Maryland vs. Hampton, 8 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

MLB: Nationals at Dodgers, 9:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Sunday

NWSL: Spirit at Portland Thorns, 4 p.m. (WUSA9)

MLB: Nationals at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@notus.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Arch photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP. Books photo by Kainaz Amaria/NOTUS.]]>

Ballot Blues

Martin Austermuhle, Zara Norman — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/ballot-blues

President Donald Trump’s push to make voting by mail harder has injected fresh uncertainty into November’s elections. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Sept. 3, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Are you going to get a ballot in the mail for November’s D.C. elections?

Under normal circumstances, the answer would be simple: Yes. Since the pandemic, the D.C. Board of Elections has been mailing every registered voter a ballot ahead of every election, and voters seem to have embraced voting from home. In the June primary, 63% of voters opted to use a mail ballot instead of heading to a polling place.

But President Donald Trump’s push to make voting by mail harder has injected fresh uncertainty into November’s elections. He’s ordered the U.S. Postal Service to increase its scrutiny and handling of mail ballots, prompting warnings and litigation from some groups that say the plan will create chaos — and potentially disenfranchise many voters.

“Until we hear otherwise, we’re proceeding as we otherwise would,” says Monica Evans, the director of the D.C. elections board. She tells NOTUS that continued uncertainty as to whether Trump’s plan will come to fruition won’t interrupt the work her office has to do to mail out more than 450,000 ballots to D.C. voters at the end of September.

“Being in elections, we’re used to being flexible,” she adds. “Sadly, it’s one of the things the powers that be don’t understand: There’s lead time to anything, so you can’t waive a magic wand and do something. There are some processes you can’t just undo.” Evans says D.C. has already paid a vendor to handle mail ballots for November; should Trump upend those plans, the city cannot recoup that money.

The main concern from some quarters is that USPS just wouldn’t be able to do what it’s been charged with, including creating master lists of voters who are permitted to get mail ballots. Evans shares that worry. “I have no earthly idea how USPS is equipped with maintaining accurate registration data that is real-time and current,” she says.

For now, all Evans can hope for is a final answer on how November’s elections will be conducted. “Things are changing almost daily,” she says. “Every morning I am checking my email to see where we are.”

FROM THE DISTRICT

Kennedy Center statue removal AP - 26245517002624 (6000x4000, AR: 1.50)

The Kennedy Center has removed a famous outdoor sculpture from its grounds, the latest in a series of changes made as part of Trump’s takeover of the storied arts institution, NOTUS’ Avani Kalra reports.

Ward 8 council member Trayon White is speaking out ahead of his upcoming trial on federal bribery charges. “I feel really good and encouraged about my trial. I’m in good spirits. … I trust my legal team,” he said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

White also encouraged D.C. residents to answer jury summonses, arguing that while the District is plurality Black, those numbers aren’t reflected on city juries. “I can’t do this without getting the opportunity to have a jury of my peers. I’m not going to say that all Black people support me, all non-Black people do or don’t,” he said. “I want to make sure those in my community ... take this very seriously.”

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing a prominent and well-connected local developer over what he says are “shocking” conditions at a residential building in Northeast. Schwalb is asking a court to order the developer, Buwa Binitie, to make immediate repairs at Delta Pearl on Florida Avenue Northwest and offer restitution to residents.

A sports-centric game plan: In a news conference Wednesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Destination D.C. — the city’s official marketing organization — said they expect a crowded slate of major sporting events will breathe new life into the District over the next year, NOTUS’ Shamira Muhammad reports. The city will host the NFL draft in April, and officials expect around 1 million visitors. The District will also host the National Women’s Soccer League final in November and men’s college hockey Frozen Four in the spring.

The hope is that these events will create business and jobs. Bowser said expecting a one-for-one return of federal jobs was “foolhardy.” “So all of our focus in attracting jobs is on the private sector, be it sports, hospitality, tech, across higher ed, hospitals, across all industries,” she said. “We’re recruiting.”

FROM VIRGINIA

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Virginia’s new limits on local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities until a legal challenge is settled, WTOP reports.

FROM MARYLAND

Are you fur real? The Maryland Renaissance Festival has banned furries from attendance this year, City Cast D.C. reports. The anthropomorphic costumes were making people uncomfortable, organizers said — and they're ahistorical anyways.

TALK TO TOM

Omakase @ Barracks Row (7225x4817, AR: 1.50)

Tom Sietsema is back answering your questions about the D.C. dining scene. Submit your questions here.

My husband and I are going out to celebrate our 10th anniversary — without our two kids, for the first time in ages. Can you recommend some grown-up restaurants?

High on your list should be empire builder Stephen Starr’s tribute to old-school fine dining, the dashing, multistory Occidental near the White House, where servers in white jackets navigate the dining rooms, ferrying elegant pigs in a blanket, playful crab-stuffed avocado, fine steaks, and such oldies but goodies as ham with pineapple rings and pheasant under glass. Dessert is practically mandatory, especially anything prepared table-side and featuring fire.

For Italian, look into the bustling L’Ardente, home to such whimsical dishes as the 40-layer lasagna and a menu that hews to owner David Deshaies’ “simple but elegant” mantra; for French, I adore the tiny Lutèce in Georgetown, which uses the old name for Paris and offers some of the most artful cooking this side of The Inn at Little Washington. If you want something that puts you on a trip to Tokyo, Omakase @ Barracks Row seats guests at a long marble counter, behind which the star of the show, chef Ricky Wang, creates wonders from raw fish while a service director narrates the performance.

In the full Q&A: Eating invasive species, planning a high school reunion and finding caviar that won’t break the bank.

SPORTS

The Commanders have finally found some relief from the injury bug. Starters K'Lavon Chaisson, Nick Allegretti and Bill Croskey-Merritt all returned to practice this week after extended absences. Linebacker Odafe Oweh will return to practice next week, which means every presumed starter will be back in the fold ahead of a Week 1 meeting with the Eagles.

“I’m excited for the group to get together,” coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday. "It's challenging, for sure, because there's timing that goes with it. There's movements, but it's nice to see that.”

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@notus.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Kennedy Center photo by Mark Schiefelbein/AP. Talk to Tom photo by Kainaz Amaria/NOTUS.]]>

Taking Aim

Martin Austermuhle, Zara Norman — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/taking-aim

There have been legal challenges to D.C.’s ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, and to the law prohibiting people with felony convictions from possessing guns. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Sept. 2, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

D.C.’s restrictive gun laws have come under legal assault over the past 18 months, leaving local officials concerned that the city’s persistent gun violence could get worse.

There have been legal challenges to D.C.’s ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, and to the law prohibiting people with felony convictions from possessing guns, NOTUS’ Martin Austermuhle reports.

Many of those challenges stem from a 2022 Supreme Court decision that made it harder for jurisdictions like D.C. to justify their restrictions on guns. The Bruen ruling, as it’s known, says limits on gun possession must have some equivalent in American history or tradition. If not, they’re unconstitutional.

D.C.’s ban on high-capacity magazines has been litigated, and this year a panel of judges on the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that it was unconstitutional. (That ruling is on hold pending a further appeal.)

The Trump administration has been leading the charge against some of D.C.’s gun laws. It backed the challenge to the high-capacity magazine ban, and separately sued the city over its prohibition on AR-15 assault rifles.

Defense attorneys are now fighting to overturn D.C.’s felon-in-possession law, saying it's unconstitutional. The office of U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, which prosecutes most violent crime in the city, told NOTUS that she will “always fight to keep illegal firearms out of the hands of dangerous felons.”

Some of these new legal challenges are already making their way to the Supreme Court. Later this year, the justices will consider whether outright bans on assault weapons are unconstitutional.

“The weakening of our gun laws is only going to make public safety more difficult,” D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson told NOTUS.

DEEP DIVE

Janeese Lewis George made Anacostia’s Union Temple Baptist Church the first stop of her campaign's citywide listening tour on Tuesday night, signaling a shift from winning votes to gathering community feedback. NOTUS’ Michael Brice-Saddler reports that Lewis George said starting in Ward 8 was an intentional effort to prioritize a historically marginalized part of the city.

The packed crowd — which included Ward 8 council member Trayon White — split into breakout groups to discuss localized issues ranging from homeownership to public safety and education.

Lewis George said she plans to use these ward-by-ward meetings to build a focused administration agenda, setting the tone for her transition by asking the room: “How do we get from words to plans to actions to accountability? That’s what this is about.”

FROM THE DISTRICT

East Potomac golf course (7008x4672, AR: 1.50)

All’s quiet at East Potomac Park. Months ago, President Donald Trump declared that major renovations of the island park’s golf course would begin on Sept. 1. But NOTUS’ Shamira Muhammad reports that it was a sleepy Tuesday at East Potomac. On the day some locals had long dreaded, the area was mostly quiet. A few people fished. A pack of cyclists zipped through bike lanes. A couple enjoyed a mini-golf date.

A few backhoes were staged in a parking lot, but nobody was there to operate them. After a few days of tree removal last week, a Maryland-based tree care company was seen driving around the perimeter of the park. Otherwise, life went on as normal.

There are now fewer National Guard troops in D.C., reports WUSA9. As of Monday, the count stood at 3,865, down 663 from the week before. That decrease is probably linked to the end of summer events for America’s 250th anniversary. Though there are fewer troops, their presence is expected to continue into 2029. As NOTUS recently reported, D.C. residents are conflicted about the Guard’s presence.

He drove a 10-foot-tall homemade guillotine around the U.S. Capitol in the bed of his pickup truck, but Philan Le didn’t expect to get criminally charged for the stunt, The Washington Post reports.

Check, please. Washingtonian magazine resurrected its guide to the D.C. area’s “Best Cheap Eats” for the first time since 2019, listing 60 selections available for under $25.

FROM VIRGINIA

Some Northern Virginia homeowners, sick of living in the data center capital of the world, are moving elsewhere, Axios D.C. reports.

FROM MARYLAND

A deadly wrong-way crash in Montgomery County last weekend has put county police on the defensive about disbanding their impaired driving enforcement unit, WJLA reports.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

For quiz masters: Live! At the Library featuring Ken Jennings at the Library of Congress, Thursday.

For jazz enthusiasts: DC JazzFest at Arena Stage and The Wharf, Saturday and Sunday.

For people who like free things: The National Symphony’s free Labor Day Concert at DAR Constitution Hall, Sunday.

For more info on this weekend’s events, read our weekly culture calendar here.

SPORTS

Commanders training camp has come to a close and suddenly Week 1 is around the corner. NOTUS’ Martenzie Johnson looks back on everything we learned about this year’s team since camp opened July 29. From the much-needed arrival of Stefon Diggs to the recent spate of injuries, there was no shortage of drama in Ashburn.

D.C.’s new Major League Volleyball team officially has a name: D.C. Flight. The Washington Business Journal reports that the women’s indoor volleyball franchise will begin its inaugural season in January, with plans to play home games at a “major performing arts venue in D.C.”

What to Watch Today

MLB: Nationals vs. Braves, 1:05 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@notus.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Photo by Lillian Bautista/NOTUS.]]>

The Road to RFK

Martin Austermuhle, Zara Norman — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/the-road-to-rfk

WMATA estimates it would cost $1 billion to build a second Metro station at the new Commanders stadium, and it wouldn’t even be ready in time for the team's projected move in 2030. (D.C. Office of Planning)

Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Sept. 1, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

A new Commanders stadium is coming, that much we know. But no one can agree on how anybody will get there.

At an open house hosted by Metro last week, some Ward 7 residents clashed with officials who’ve said building a second rail station is an impossibility at the old RFK site where a new stadium is being built, NOTUS’ Zara Norman reports.

“It's just not feasible, and it's not just about numbers,” Randy Clarke, the general manager of WMATA, told NOTUS. “It’d be this big station in the sky, on a curb no one could get to, and it doesn't actually help with capacity. … There's just no there there.”

Metro estimates it would cost $1 billion to build a second station, and it wouldn’t even be ready in time for the team’s projected move in 2030. A new rapid-transit bus line — dubbed “the Gold Line” — as well as improvements at the Stadium-Armory Metro station will do the trick, Clarke said. Not everyone is convinced.

“I don't really trust the numbers and the evaluation they did,” Ward 6 council member Charles Allen told NOTUS. “The option to build that new station has got to remain on the table, because it really is about if we want to see this as a growth opportunity in this part of the city or not.”

For residents, part of the skepticism stems from the failure of D.C.’s streetcar, which ran into trouble along the exact H Street corridor Metro is proposing for the Gold Line.

“The RFK campus needs a durable transit solution if the city is going to see a return on its billion-dollar investment,” Hill East resident David Wyman told NOTUS. “The streetcar hasn't worked. Metro stations are forever.”

When the political winds change in January, it’s possible that new leadership might revisit adding a second station. Though a spokesperson for Janeese Lewis George declined to give her thoughts on transit options supplying the area, Allen told NOTUS he has a “hunch” that “she’ll at least be much more open-minded.”

FROM THE DISTRICT

Construction on the controversial White House ballroom can continue, per a 5-4 ruling that came down Monday afternoon from the Supreme Court, NOTUS’ Ben T.N. Mause reports. A majority of the justices ruled that historic preservationists lacked standing to sue.

A D.C. police officer died Monday morning after sustaining a gunshot wound inside the Second District police station in Northwest, NOTUS’ Martin Austermuhle reports. City officials say there was no indication that anyone else was involved, but did not share further details on what occurred. This is the second line-of-duty death for the Metropolitan Police Department this year, and one of only seven that have taken place since 2000.

Chronic understaffing at D.C.’s Department of Behavioral Health means the city’s suicide and crisis lifeline, 988, has one of the nation’s lowest pickup rates, City Cast D.C. reports.

A historic D.C. building near the White House, Hamilton Square, sold for $126 million at a steep loss: The seller acquired it for $198 million in 2012, the Washington Business Journal reports.

Rush, the U Street gay club seized by U.S. marshals last month, was plagued by problems from conception to launch and finally to eviction, City Cast D.C. reports.

FROM VIRGINIA

Ready for takeoff. Washington Manassas Airport is now certified for commercial passenger flights, WJLA reports. The airport, which will launch its commercial service next year, might benefit from rising enplanement costs at Dulles, the Washington Business Journal reports.

FROM YOUR FEED

Soon after President Donald Trump announced he would change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, many locals, including NOTUS’ Martin Austermuhle, began noodling on the implications for the District. PoPville reports that someone took matters into their own hands Monday, plastering “America” over a street sign for Ontario Place Northwest.

https://x.com/PoPville/status/2094418845050015815?s=20

SPORTS

High school football season has arrived and we are on the lookout for the DMV’s top talents. NOTUS’ Noah Ferguson will be covering all the action across the District and its suburbs this fall, highlighting what makes this area one of the country’s most respected high school sports hotbeds.

Each week, Noah will highlight five local football players who stood out over the weekend. Our very first group includes a freshman from Bullis who rushed for more than 150 yards and an Oakton senior who turned heads with a 99-yard touchdown run.

Mystics Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were called up to Team USA on Monday ahead of the FIBA World Cup. NOTUS’ Alex Schiffer reports that Washington’s young duo will replace Kelsey Plum and A’Ja Wilson, who stepped back because of injury concerns. The international tournament runs Friday to Sept. 13 in Berlin.

What to Watch Today

MLB: Nationals vs. Braves, 6:45 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@notus.com.

The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Finally, yesterday’s trivia answer was B) Ulysses S. Grant. He was arrested for speeding in a horse-drawn carriage in 1872. A special shout-out to Willie Wynn, who answered first.]]>

Prime Real Estate

Martin Austermuhle, Shamira Muhammad, Zara Norman — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:31:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro-newsletter/prime-real-estate

Arlington Community High School opened a 30,000-square-foot campus across two floors of Amazon’s Arlington headquarters on Friday. (John Nacion/STAR MAX)

Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Aug. 31, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Amazon wants to do it all. The tech giant is at once an online shopping mall, a streaming service, a cloud computing business, a grocer, a pharmacist and now … a local landlord?

Arlington Community High School, an alternative high school for county residents age 16 and over, opened a 30,000-square-foot campus across two floors of Amazon’s Arlington headquarters on Friday.

NOTUS reporter Zara Norman’s experience at the grand opening started the way many Amazon deliveries end up: late and at the wrong address. Eventually, the event got on its way next door to the school (which has a separate entrance) in a cavernous auditorium where parents and educators mingled with Amazon employees, snacked on sliders, sipped on smoothies, sat through a DJ set blasting censored pop hits and heard from local officials and tech executives on the nature of this unique partnership.

“We’re really just a facilities partner and obviously a community partner, and then Arlington Public Schools runs all the school and educational programming,” Andrea Fava, Amazon’s vice president of U.S. public policy, told NOTUS.

Amazon employees will do “a lot of volunteer events” at the school, a spokesperson told NOTUS, but Fava said the tech giant isn’t trying to move into education. Rather, the partnership is part of the company’s efforts to be a good community partner. Amazon also increased Arlington’s affordable housing stock by 23% as part of that commitment, with a $1.3 billion investment.

Though a speaker at Friday’s event graduated from ACHS last year and now works at Amazon, Fava told NOTUS that the company isn’t running any kind of employment scheme. She was “sure,” however, that there’d be “organic opportunities” for employment with the company.

School officials spoke glowingly of the partnership, which has allowed ACHS to find a permanent home at no cost after decades without a dedicated campus. The school signed a 30-year lease through which it gets the space for no cost other than those for routine maintenance and repairs (estimated at $25,000 per year, according to ARLNow).

“This new permanent home represents much more than a new space,” Francisco Durán, superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, said in a speech. “It represents opportunity, belonging and our community’s commitment to helping every student succeed. We are incredibly grateful to Amazon for its partnership and investment.”

DEEP DIVE

Tensions continue to rise at East Potomac Park. Cyclists, anglers, joggers and bird-watchers showed up to a rally at the island park Saturday ahead of President Donald Trump’s proposed start date on Tuesday for the construction of a new golf course.

With plenty of uncertainty still surrounding plans for the course and the widespread effect the changes could have on nearby recreational areas, protestors highlighted all the activities and communities that could be at stake. NOTUS’ Shamira Muhammad spoke to one cyclist who rode 30 miles down from Montgomery County to join the rally.

“When I got here, I saw people on their bikes, running, walking,” she said. “We should be encouraging that instead of taking away safe places where people can do it.”

The event occurred after days of tree removal across the island raised alarm. In a statement, the Interior Department called the work “routine maintenance” to remove “hazard trees.” But Saturday’s attendees were not convinced.

“[This is] the beginning of them tearing this entire space out,” one said, “and building it to be something that is not for the public.”

FROM THE DISTRICT

March on Washington AP - 26240709536451 (5000x3333, AR: 1.50)

Thousands gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Friday for the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington, with this year’s event centered on “defending the vote.” National leaders, including Al Sharpton, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Martin Luther King III, spoke out against red-state redistricting efforts and what they see as threats against voting rights.

Local leaders used the event as an opportunity to elevate the District’s fight for statehood. At-Large council member Robert White said the country has to “end second-class citizenship in the capital of the United States.” Janeese Lewis George highlighted the region’s inability to push for change without a vote in Congress. “This isn’t an oversight, my people,” she said. “This is disenfranchisement.”

Patients spend more time in the emergency department in D.C. than anywhere else in the country, Axios D.C. reports. Limited access to urgent and preventive care has pushed the average waiting time here to more than five hours, nearly twice the nationwide median. In the first year the city’s newest hospital, Cedar Hill, was in operation, about 80% of its more than 45,000 emergency room visits were for “low-acuity” conditions that could have been handled at urgent care, the hospital said.

The National Park Service released a report Friday in support of Trump’s proposed arch, though the agency acknowledged the adverse effects it could have on the District’s most iconic memorials and landmarks, NOTUS’ Marissa Martinez reports.

A federal grand jury indicted Melissa Farris, who live-streamed herself vandalizing D.C.’s World War II Memorial earlier this month, on Friday, City Cast D.C. reports.

Have you ever fired off an angry tweet to Metro, complaining of a late bus or sweltering train car? The Washington Post profiled the 11-person team tasked with responding in real time to hundreds of such comments per week, with a goal to reply to each within 15 minutes.

FROM MARYLAND

State regulators approved less than half of the rate increase Pepco requested, meaning the average resident will see an increase of about $3.94 a month instead of the proposed $10.24, WUSA9 reports.

D.C. TRIVIA

Which U.S. president was once arrested for speeding through D.C. on his horse and carriage?

Abraham Lincoln
Ulysses S. Grant
Rutherford B. Hayes

Email us the answer — the first reader who gets it right gets a shout-out. The answer will be at the end of the newsletter tomorrow.

SPORTS

The Commanders are one step closer to the regular season after trimming their roster to 53 players this weekend. In his breakdown of the moves, NOTUS’ Martenzie Johnson reports that — to the surprise of no one — the offensive line remains the team’s biggest question mark.

The Spirit earned a much-needed win over Bay FC on Sunday, the team’s first victory in more than a month. NOTUS’ Alex Schiffer reports that the win ends a four-game slide that saw Washington post three losses and a tie, and keeps the Spirit in second place in the NWSL.

What to Watch Today

MLB: Nationals vs. Marlins, 6:45 p.m. (FS1)

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The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Photo by Francis Chung/Politico/AP.]]>