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.
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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
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
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)
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