News

D.C. is now distributing free KN95 masks at its new COVID-19 centers.

Why it matters: Even as cases decline sharply in D.C., officials said Thursday that they remain higher than during last winter's surge.

With temperatures plummeting into the teens, volunteers in D.C. headed out Wednesday night to survey how many people were sleeping on the streets as part of an annual effort to measure homelessness.

Why it matters: The federally required point-in-time count happens annually across the country and helps inform local policies on ending homelessness.

Maryland drivers owe the most in D.C. tickets from speed and traffic enforcement cameras, according to a new report.

By the numbers: Maryland drivers owed $13.5 million in unpaid tickets, from Oct. 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

As the pandemic stretches into a third year, disability advocates are exploring how to best use public space for accessible outdoor dining and social distancing.

Why it matters: Streateries and extended sidewalks are pandemic-driven pilot programs meant to allow people to safely dine and socially distance from others, but as the pandemic continues, these programs may take new and more permanent shapes.

Substitute teachers in the Washington, D.C. public school system protested on Monday a pay increase that Mayor Muriel Bowser announced last week, calling it insufficient.

Why it matters: The dozen or so protesters said that the $2 hourly wage increase, which was intended to attract more substitute teachers, falls short, Axios’ Erin Doherty writes.

Car thefts have been top of mind for Washingtonians in recent weeks, especially after D.C. Council candidate Nate Fleming was carjacked at gunpoint earlier this month.

• Fleming told WJLA that he’s lucky to be alive after the scary incident.

The big picture: Cars have been a hot target for thieves during the pandemic as car prices have skyrocketed thanks to supply chain shortages.

Fairfax native Ilia Malinin is an internationally recognized figure skater.

The 17-year-old’s fan base was outraged when he didn’t land a spot on the U.S. Men’s Figure Skating Olympic team after placing second in the national championship earlier this month; he’ll be the team's first alternate instead.

• We’ll have more on the high schooler’s skating career next month as the Winter Olympics get started, but for now we’re digging into his media habits with a new edition of Screen Time. 

WMATA general manager Paul Wiedefeld unexpectedly announced Tuesday that he will retire — after six years on the job and coming at a difficult moment for the agency as it tries to get sidelined 7000-series trains back on track.