Valerie Bonk – Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø News Washington's Top News Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:36:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/WtopNewsLogo_500x500-150x150.png Valerie Bonk – Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø News 32 32 3 men dead after small plane crashes near Bowie neighborhood /prince-georges-county/2026/06/deadly-plane-crash-in-bowie-maryland-state-police-say/ Sun, 21 Jun 2026 19:44:50 +0000 /?p=29367959
Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø's Ian Crawford and Dan Ronan with the latest following a plane crash near a neighborhood late Saturday night in Bowie, Maryland, that left three people dead.

A single-engine plane crashed near a residential neighborhood late Saturday in Bowie, Maryland, leaving three people dead, according to police.

The single-engine Piper Cherokee crashed around 11:30 p.m. with a pilot and two passengers on board, according to Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo. All three people on board were men. Identification is being withheld pending next of kin notification, police said.

The plane was en route from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Russo said.

Prince George’s County Public Safety Communications received information at 11:53 p.m. about an “iPhone crash alert” that indicated “a crash in the area of Rt. 50 and 301,” Russo said.

The search for the plane

Multiple local agencies responded and began a ground and aerial search immediately, including members of the Prince George’s County Fire Department, Maryland State Police College Park Barrack, Anne Arundel County Police and Aviation, Bowie City Police and the Prince George’s County Police Department.Ìı

The aircraft was located around 3:45 a.m., “in a wooden area in close proximity to a residential area” off of Scarlet Oak Terrace, Russo said, noting a public park was in the nearby area.

“We don’t have any other information at this point from any eye witnesses or anybody that heard anything. The only thing we have is that iPhone crash alert,” she said.

The debris covers about 100 feet in a wooded area behind a fence that is “very close to a townhome community behind a playground,” she said.

Police said they believe the plane belongs to an area flight school in Montgomery County and “was possibly participating in a training flight.”

“It’s absolutely a tragic incident that we are here investigating today. It could have been even worse because of the proximity of the crash was literally right next to a town home community in Bowie,” Russo said.

The plane that crashed is mostly ‘very safe’

Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø’s Dan Ronan, who is a licensed pilot, said the Piper Cherokee is commonly used in training because it is relatively easy to operate.

“It is frequently flown, very safe,” Ronan said.It is a relatively simple airplane to fly because it does not have retractable landing gear. The gear is fixed. The engine is relatively simple in terms of aviation parlance. Managing the engine and the power settings is relatively simple, as compared to other complex, more complicated airplanes,” he said.Ìı

When it comes to visibility, Ronan said Saturday night was very clear and conditions were favorable for flying.

“As far as nights to fly, last night was a gorgeous night,” he said.

The temperature was cool, it was in the 70s, the visibility was wide open, very good visibility in terms of flying. If you’re going to pick a night to fly general aviation and do a cross country from Ocean City, New Jersey, to our area, very, very good night to fly in terms of just overall conditions.”

NTSB investigation

The investigation will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. The NTSB dispatched an official from its area field office who is expected to arrive Sunday.Ìı

The NTSB said in a statement to Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø that additional information is expected Monday.

“Once on scene, the investigator will begin documenting the site and examining the aircraft,” the NTSB said. “They will request air traffic communications, radar data, and weather reports, and attempt to contact any witnesses. Additionally, the investigator will obtain the aircraft’s maintenance records, as well as the pilot’s medical records and flight history.”

Ronan said that the NTSB will be looking at the pilot, passengers, aircraft and all elements before and during flight.

They’re going to be looking at the airplane, the condition of the airplane, all of the mechanical records, and then, of course, they will deconstruct the lives of those poor people who passed away,” Ronan said.

Sadly, they will be deconstructing the last week of their lives to try and figure out what, if any, human factors might have been a contributing factor that caused this accident late last night, early this morning.”Ìı

A map of the area where the plane crashed is below:

CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE. (Courtesy Google Maps)

 

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‘You Are My Favorite Story’: DC-area professor writes about fatherhood and love /local/2026/06/local-law-professor-with-new-book-about-fatherhood-shares-why-the-little-things-matter/ Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:02:49 +0000 /?p=29364267 Father’s Day has special meaning this year for a D.C. area law professor sharing lessons from fatherhood in a new book about the small moments that shape a child’s life.

“Father’s Day is that one time that’s really highlighted when we really think about what that means to be a child’s father,†said N. Jeremi Duru, a professor at American University’s Washington College of Law.

Duru, who grew up in the D.C. area and has three sons, co-wrote Ҡwith his longtime friend and fellow law school housemate Shani M. King.

He said the book is about sharing stories and giving his children guidance as they grow eventually become fathers.

“The time when you encourage your child to go swimming for the first time, picking them up for school. How much fun it is to do your work with them while they’re doing their homework next to you,†Duru said.

The idea for the book came from King, who had been working on a message to his own children.

“Shani was working on kind of a piece of writing — a poem, a love letter to his children — and he shared it with me, and I was like, that’s incredible. And he said, ‘What do you think about us turning this into a book together?’†Duru said.

Duru said the book is also meant to help fathers express love in ways that may not come naturally.

“Our hope with the book is to allow fathers who may not have that instinct to express love in that way to do so through the book,†he said. “We want this book to be a tool for fathers who may not be as comfortable expressing their emotions to their child, telling their child, ‘I love you.’â€

For Duru, one of the book’s most meaningful moments focuses on a father comforting a child who has fallen off a bike.

“A father is holding his child and comforting the child and explaining that the child’s pain is the father’s pain. The father feels it as well, and the father wants to do everything he can to alleviate that pain for the child. To me, that’s the most touching page of the book,†Duru said.

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What you need to know about forever chemicals and how they can cause infertility in men /health-fitness/2026/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-forever-chemicals-and-how-they-can-cause-infertility-in-men/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:51:27 +0000 /?p=29364655 For Father’s Day weekend, Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø is taking a look at some of the things men need to watch out for when it comes to staying healthy. One of those is something called “forever chemicals.”

Research is finding that they have an impact on infertility in men.

“No dad can fix toxic pollution with a toolbox,” said Marc Boom, senior director of public affairs at the Environmental Protection Network.

He said they’ve recently to bring awareness to how harmful certain pollutants are, and how they could cause infertility in men.

Marc Boom, senior director of public affairs at the Environmental Protection Network, said research is showing these toxins that can be in your water and food can cause long-term infertility issues in men. (Courtesy Marc Boom)

The EPN said in the report that about 172 million Americans have PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” in their drinking water, and nearly everyone in the U.S., including newborn babies, has PFAS in their blood from multiple sources, such as water, food, consumer products and indoor dust.

“Things like PFAS, which are also known as forever chemicals, phthalates and even some pesticides, can interfere with hormones and fertility and reproductive health,” he said.

So how do you protect yourself? He said there are some simple steps to take.

“Don’t heat up your food in plastic, don’t store it in plastic, that can leach out and can increase your exposure. If you’re concerned about PFAs, you can, you can look at your water utility, see what they’re doing about it. You can buy a certified filter,” Boom said.

Another thing is looking at what’s in your cookware. Non-stick cookware often includes PFAS in the coating. You could be cooking harmful toxins into your healthy food.

“There’s this whole class of emerging pollutants, like PFAS, forever chemicals that we are just starting to understand,” Boom said. “You might come across them in your water, in your air and the food you eat at work, or in your home, the products that you buy.”

“Father’s Day is a time when a lot of us think about the people we love and what it means to protect them.”

Find more about the connection between PFAS and infertility in men at the EPN .

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Potomac, Anacostia rivers to close to boaters for Fourth of July weekend /local/2026/06/potomac-anacostia-rivers-to-close-to-boaters-for-4th-of-july-weekend/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:59:51 +0000 /?p=29361145 Boaters planning to head to the D.C. area on 4th of July will have to plan ahead for some major closures of local popular boating spots.

The that large sections of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River will be closed to recreational boaters during the holiday celebration.

The closures include all waters of the Potomac River from the Francis Scott Key Bridge to 200 yards south of the 14th Street Bridge from 8 a.m. on July 2 through 6 a.m. on July 5.

All areas of the Anacostia River from the 11th Street Bridge to 200 yards south of the Frederick Douglass Bridge will be closed from 6 p.m. to midnight on July 4. The closing on the Anacostia River applies to all vessels.

While recreational boaters will not be allowed on the Potomac from July 2 through July 5, commercial ferries and dinner cruises will be allowed to travel on the Potomac on July 2, but not from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 3 or noon to midnight on July 4.

Flights to and from Reagan National Airport will also be impacted on July 4 as the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Tuesday that no planes will take off or land at the airport on July 4 after noon until flights resume July 5.

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‘Strong enough to rattle the house’: 2.4-magnitude earthquake felt in Maryland /maryland/2026/06/strong-enough-to-rattle-the-house-2-4-magnitude-earthquake-felt-in-maryland/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:56:32 +0000 /?p=29352400 If you felt a shake in Maryland on Monday morning, you weren’t alone.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2.4-magnitude earthquake in Harford County shortly after 10 a.m.

The epicenter of the quake was a little less than 5 miles from Bel Air.

A map on the USGS website showed that from the epicenter.

Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø’s Sarah Jacobs felt it at her home Monday morning.

“We heard what we thought was an explosion,” Jacobs said. “Because we live close enough to Aberdeen Proving Ground, we thought they might have been testing some explosives.”

But she said this felt different from the explosions they’re used to.

“There was a little bit of rumbling that trailed off, which is not what you usually hear,” she said. “It was strong enough to rattle the house and makes me wonder if I should probably check my foundation for some new cracks.”

In October, USGS reported that a 2.5-magnitude earthquake shook Howard County, Maryland.

The quake happened in Columbia at a depth of nearly 5 miles and was reportedly felt in D.C. and Arlington, Virginia.

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Check your kitchen: Alfredo sauce, dairy cheese recalls impact DC area /recalls/2026/06/check-your-kitchen-alfredo-sauce-dairy-cheese-recalls-impact-dc-area/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 21:29:54 +0000 /?p=29349734 New recalls are impacting pasta sauces and dairy products sold across the D.C. region

The Coffee Connexion Co. that were sold in 41 states, including Maryland and Virginia. The products are printed with UPC number 0039954921963.

The sauce, packaged in sealed 3-pound, 7-ounce bags, is being recalled because it contains a dry milk powder ingredient that may have been contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, among other symptoms, when consumed.

, saying there’s “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Additionally, for requesón, soft ricotta cheese made by the Clover Hill Dairy in Mechanicsville. The health department previously suspended the dairy’s operating license on May 30 after the facility issued its own voluntary recall for a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The dairy is tied to a listeria outbreak strain that sickened eight people and killed at least one person in Maryland. Officials said the fatality was recorded in 2023. The ricotta cheese most recently flagged by investigators is labeled with the manufacturer number “24-128.”

Consumers, retailers and restaurants are urged against eating, selling or serving cheese products from Clover Hill Dairy and should dispose of any product containing them.

See a full list of the newly flagged Clover Hill Dairy .

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Man sentenced on multiple charges related to ‘drug ring’ in Virginia /virginia/2026/06/man-sentenced-on-multiple-charges-related-to-drug-ring-in-virginia/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 19:44:14 +0000 /?p=29349321 A man was sentenced in Loudoun County Circuit Court on multiple charges related to a drug ring in Virginia.

The charges stem from an incident in the summer of 2023, when William Christopher Callaway, 36, of Manassas, was seen retrieving a package from an apartment complex in Loudoun County and then entering a vehicle driven by Ann Sue Hyun Lee, 39, of Sterling.

Callaway was sentenced last week to 10 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections for convictions of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of conspiracy to transport methamphetamine into the Commonwealth, according to a news release.

Hyun Lee was sentenced in 2024 toÌıserve 14 years in prison for similar drug charges related to
Callaway’s arrest, according to the news release. She received a higher sentence due to an aggravating criminal history, according to the court.

Deputies stopped the vehicle and conducted a K9 scan, which alerted to the presence of narcotics.

Approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, and $16,000 in cash were recovered by law enforcement from Callaway and Lee, according to the release.

“We hope that these sentences send a strong message that dealing fentanyl and other lethal drugs will not be tolerated in Loudoun County. We are grateful to our law enforcement partner, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, for their diligence in bringing these criminals to justice,†said Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson.

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4 women injured in DC following single vehicle crash on Suitland Parkway /dc/2026/06/4-women-injured-in-dc-following-single-vehicle-crash-on-suitland-parkway/ Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:54:38 +0000 /?p=29346870 Four women were injured in a crash overnight in D.C. that required a helicopter to land on a nearby road to transfer one person who was critically injured.

D.C. Fire and EMS responded to a single car crash early Saturday on Suitland Parkway near Sheridan Road Southeast. First responders were called to the scene shortly before 1:30 a.m.

The crash ended with the car rolled onto its roof.

One of the women in critical condition when EMS arrived was transported by helicopter to a hospital. The three other women were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation to determine the cause of the crash remains active.

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Washington National Opera sues to recover donated funds from the Kennedy Center /dc/2026/06/washington-national-opera-sues-to-recover-donated-funds-from-the-kennedy-center/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:47:17 +0000 /?p=29345287 The Washington National Opera has filed a lawsuit seeking to force the Kennedy Center to turn over more than $17 million in donations that the organization says is being withheld by the arts center.

The WNO announced in January that it was moving performances away from the Kennedy Center, terminating a 15-year relationship to produce operas there. In a statement, the WNO said that the separation was “at the Kennedy Center’s own suggestion.”

Over the years, the Kennedy Center managed donations made through the center to the opera company.

When it separated from the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera said that the Kennedy Center has since refused to turn over the donations made to them.

The lawsuit filed Thursday claims that during their affiliation, the Washington National Opera and the Kennedy Center “always remained separate legal entities.” It also states that the funds being managed by the Kennedy Center for them, belonged to the Washington National Opera and not to the Kennedy Center.

“These funds represent years of gifts from loyal supporters who gave specifically to
advance WNO’s mission, its performances, its artists, and its education and community programs,” the company said in a statement. “WNO has a fiduciary responsibility to its donors to ensure their contributions are honored and used as intended to support the work of WNO’s artists and its programs.”

The company said that it “spent months attempting to resolve this matter privately.” Attempts included “repeated meetings and a formal request for mediation” before filing the lawsuit.

In a statement the Kennedy Center denied the allegations in the lawsuit, arguing that its longstanding agreement with the opera company created a significant financial strain on the institution.

“The exclusive WNO contract financially burdened the Center for more than a decade,†said Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations. Daravi said an analysis by accounting group BDO calculated that the opera company accumulated a $72 million deficit to the Center between 2011 through 2026, after accounting for WNO’s endowment.

Daravi said the Kennedy Center made multiple proposals to address the issue but accused WNO of failing to participate in “good-faith discussions†and that its former artistic director Francesca Zambello undermined coordination between the two organizations.

She said the Center will countersue the opera company.

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Ikea replacing Dulles Expo Center gives sneak peek ahead of June 18 opening /fairfax-county/2026/06/ikea-replacing-dulles-expo-center-gives-sneak-peek-ahead-of-june-18-opening/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:36:18 +0000 /?p=29345182 The new Ikea store opening in Fairfax County, Virginia, wants you to go say “hej” — the Swedish word for “hi” — ahead of its official opening on Thursday.

The store is coming into the former Dulles Expo space in Chantilly, and it’s opening on June 18. But it’s giving the community a sneak peek with a special event on Tuesday.

The event on Tuesday features activities and giveaways for their opening.

The Chantilly store will be the third Ikea location in Virginia and will be 110,000-square-feet.

Those wanting to check out the space need to register online for a free spot to enter. As of Friday, there were two time slots for entry into the store. The first is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the second is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ikea said that space is limited and on a first-come-first-served basis.

Find information on how to register . Scroll down the Chantilly page to the “come say hei” section.

The Dulles Expo closed in December.

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Herndon man on the run accused of kidnapping, car theft before police chase across DC region /fairfax-county/2026/06/herndon-man-on-the-run-accused-of-kidnapping-car-theft-before-police-chase-across-dc-region/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:15:53 +0000 /?p=29329466 A Herndon, Virginia, man faces a growing list of charges after a car chase through Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, police said.

around 9:30 p.m. Saturday for a “domestic situation.”

Officers said that after an “altercation” in the house, the 25-year-old Herndon manÌıleft before police arrived, allegedly kidnapping someone that he knew, taking that person’s car and fleeing the area.

Police from several agencies chased the car from Virginia through the District and into Maryland, they say. The car and the alleged kidnapping victim were both left in Prince George’s County, .

Police said the alleged victim is safe and the man is still on the run. Multiple charges have been filed against him, according to police, including robbery, assault and reckless driving.

See where the incident started below:

(Courtesy Google Maps)

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1 dead in car crash near White House /dc/2026/06/1-dead-in-car-crash-near-white-house/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:48:24 +0000 /?p=29329348 One person is dead after a two-car crash near the White House early Saturday morning.

Police said it happened around 3:30 a.m. near 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, near the National Mall.

The driver of one of the cars ran from the scene.

That person was quickly picked up by uniformed Secret Service officers, who turned him over to U.S. Park Police.

A passenger in the other car was ejected pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of that car was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

U.S. Park Police are investigating the crash. The driver who ran from the scene of the crash is in custody and “charges are being coordinated” with the U.S. State’s Attorney’s Office.

The crash happened less than two weeks after aÌıDundalk, Maryland, man was shot and killed near a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint on May 25. He had previously been arrested for trespassing on White House grounds.

A map of the area is below.

CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE. (Courtesy Google Maps)

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14 Maryland high school students named at semifinalists for US Presidential Scholars program /education/2026/05/14-maryland-high-school-students-named-at-semifinalists-for-us-presidential-scholars-program/ Sun, 31 May 2026 20:03:18 +0000 /?p=29308924 More than a dozen Maryland high school students have a reason to celebrate — they were named semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.

Fourteen students have been named semifinalists, including 13 from public schools and one from a private school.

The list includes one student each from Anne Arundel County and Calvert County public schools, four from Howard County public schools, six from Montgomery County Public Schools, one from Washington County Public Schools and one from a private school in North Bethesda.

“We are unbelievably proud by the national recognition for our students’ academic, artistic and career and technical education accomplishments,†said State Superintendent of Schools Carey M. Wright. “These students are among the best and the brightest and we wish them well during the final round of the selection process.â€

The program started in 1964 and honors top high school seniors in the U.S., with up toÌı161 students nationwide being named U.S. Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education.

Scholars are selected based on their accomplishments across many areas, including academic and artistic achievement, career and technical education (CTE) success, leadership and school and community involvement.

The finalists will be announced later this year.

The semifinalists are:

  • Anne Arundel County Public Schools: Nora B. Devine from Severna Park High School (CTE)
  • Calvert County Public Schools: Kayla Rae Jones from Patuxent High School (CTE)
  • Howard County Public School System: Nikhil R. Maddirala from Marriott Ridge High School, Advik Rai from River Hill High School, Chelsea I. Sun from Atholton High School (CTE) and Jayen A. Tolia from Reservoir High School.
  • Montgomery County Public Schools: Mayme Rose Killeen from Walt Whitman High School, Anya Frances Kleinman from Richard Montgomery High School, Cooper Liu Li from Montgomery Blair High School, Grace E. Li from Richard Montgomery High School, Sherry Lin from Richard Montgomery High School and Aditya Purohit from Richard Montgomery High School.
  • Washington County Public Schools: Ella Bryn Rechtorovic from Williamsport High School (Arts)
  • Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda: Joseph Michael Doherty

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Police ask public for help with dog stabbing in Southeast DC /dc/2026/05/police-ask-public-for-help-with-dog-stabbing-in-southeast-dc/ Sun, 31 May 2026 16:46:45 +0000 /?p=29308513 D.C. police are searching for a man they say stabbed a dog and fled the scene Saturday.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a call for a “man stabbing a dog” in the 2300 block of Nicholson Street SE.

Animal control arrived and took the dog following the stabbing, police said.

The man fled the scene before the police arrived Saturday morning.

No information on the dog’s condition was available.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 202‑727‑9099 or text 50411.

Below is a map of the area where the dog stabbing took place:

Map of Southeast DC dog stabbing
(Courtesy Google Maps)

 

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Free meals for kids returns to Nationals Park /dc/2026/05/free-meals-for-kids-returns-to-nationals-park/ Sun, 31 May 2026 12:31:55 +0000 /?p=29308159 There’s some good news for families wanting to save some money at the Nats games this summer.

Free meals are back for kids at Nationals Park through the summer.

Children 12 and younger each get one free meal at Nationals home games. The promotion includes one hot dog, a bag of chips and a bottle of water. For those looking for vegetarian and gluten-free option, those are available too.

To get the free food, an adult must scan their ticket with their children with them at one of the designated spots for the promotion before the end of the seventh inning at home games.

Adults can get the free meals at the Kids Eat Free kiosks by Sections 111 and 143, the Nats Snacks stand at Section 229 where the vegetarian option is available, the Kids Eat Free stand at Section 320 where the vegetarian option is also available, and Arepa Zone at Section 148 for the gluten-free option.

For more information on the deal, .

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