There is almost nothing left to steal at the CVS in Columbia Heights, and that gives you an idea of which items have actual value.
Washington
The zombie CVS, a late-capitalism horror story
Everything else that remains in the store in Northwest D.C., which is not much, is under plexiglass: Dawn dish soap, L’Oreal shampoo, MiraLax, a handful of Clairol root touch-up hair dye kits, flu season combo packs of DayQuil and NyQuil. The diapers are behind the counter. The Cetaphil and Neutrogena face washes are under lock and key.
Other shelves, stretching entire aisles, are totally empty.
It has been like this since at least October, when the Legend of the Empty CVS of Washington began to spread beyond the District’s borders. It became a horror story of Late Capitalism. Tales were told on social media, and in the comments sections of local news stories, and they were full of spooky scenes (harsh fluorescent lights shining on bare shelves!) and jump scares (hordes of teenagers reportedly ransacking the stores!).
But the thing about scary stories is that they metastasize with each retelling. So by the time it got to the New York Post, and then the conservative British tabloids, and then Twitter accounts with names including “No. 1 Deplorable,” the empty CVS had somehow become a stand-in for all that is wrong with American cities — and liberals (and liberal democracy?) — in 2024.
In the meantime, the zombie CVS kept filling prescriptions, dead but somehow still shuffling along — until Thursday, when corporate shut it down, at last.
On NextDoor, the social media site where neighbors go to ask whether fireworks are gunshots, the state of the CVS had become a consistent topic. One that usually devolved into people calling each other “thugs” or “Karens.”
“This unchecked lawlessness at any age needs to be stopped or the criminals will be governing us,” wrote one neighbor.
“Stop with the dog whistle nonsense,” wrote another.
“Its beginning to feel like the Columbia Frights of 20 years ago,” wrote yet another.
America is a sticky-fingered nation built on stolen land, and its current moral panic is about shoplifting. It’s not just a worry in Columbia Heights. All over the country, from sea to shining CVS, there are concerns about petty theft, which some retailers claim is worse than ever before. Videos of brazen thefts have gone viral. It has become a political talking point, and a political liability.
But the data is murky. Theft has gotten worse in some cities but better in others; it’s either underreported or overexaggerated, depending on whether you’re asking a corporation or a bureaucracy. Anecdotes and vibes have filled in the gaps. It doesn’t help that 2024 in America feels a bit like visiting a dying mall. Will some new stores open and bring everyone back, or will it be razed to create a parking lot?
The reasons this particular CVS’s shelves have been empty are complex, but Carlo Perri — co-chairman of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A’s Committee on Public Safety — is trying to break them down as simply as possible.
First, there are the economic factors triggering human need: joblessness, inflation, a slow recovery from the pandemic. There have also been changes to how police officers do their jobs — “a dearth in active policing,” as Perri puts it, that started in the pandemic, combined with efforts to use alternative forms of crime deterrent. “But none of those alternatives really were implemented effectively, or as effectively as they could have been.”
That dovetailed with CVS policy. Like many retailers, the drugstore chain employs security guards but instructs them not to pursue shoplifters. Meanwhile, in Washington, city officials say they’ve observed a rise in organized retail crime, which involves thefts of items to be resold on the street.
“If shoplifting is easy and available to you, with low accountability, then, you know, it just is a practical choice,” Perri says.
He and co-chairman Billy Easley personally met with corporate representatives from CVS to propose solutions, they say. The store was kept open while the company pondered its options, but left unstocked to prevent further losses, the co-chairs had been told.
“It’s embarrassing for people to walk into a neighborhood CVS or any store and for it to be barren. And there are many families that depended on that store,” Easley says. “Low-income families.”
Perri says they did “everything within our powers, as prescribed by the D.C. City Charter, to ensure that these businesses remained.” But those powers are limited: In January, CVS announced it would close the store on Feb. 29.
In a statement, CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault called it a “difficult decision” and noted that all prescriptions would be transferred to other nearby CVS locations.
But while she cited factors such as “local market dynamics” and “population shifts” to explain the closure, she made no reference to the widely reported incidents of shoplifting and declined to answer specific questions about the Columbia Heights store.
Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau — who is facing a recall campaign led by a Columbia Heights business executive who feels Nadeau has not done enough to address crime — declined to comment. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser took a question about the imminent closure of the empty CVS during an unrelated Jan. 25 news conference about a new blood transfusion program.
“We have to stop treating it … like kids just shoplifting a thing or two, because it’s having real impact on the ability for people to get the goods and services that they need,” said Bowser. “So the law has to be right. The police have to be able to do their jobs. And the prosecutors have to do their jobs. We do have to send the message in our city that stealing anything, anywhere, has consequences.”
Before the Washington CVS got caught up in the culture wars, it was the San Francisco Whole Foods.
The high-end grocery chain struggled with theft at its primary downtown outpost — as well as the drug use and violence that had frustrated the neighborhood well before the store opened. When these factors led to the store’s closing in April 2023, partisan critics on Fox News greeted the news with glee. If a Whole Foods couldn’t make it in San Francisco — the land of $14 kombucha and artisanal farro — then things must be really “spiraling out of control,” said Geraldo Rivera on Fox’s “The Five.”
“This city is disgusting,” declared co-host Jesse Watters. And “now, they can’t have organic rhubarb.”
In certain conservative circles, there’s a wild narrative about cities as terrifying hellholes of crime, theft and lawlessness. The bleakness of the D.C. CVS played right into this belief.
“The shelves are literally empty at CVS in DC thanks to shoplifters,” posted one account called End Wokeness on X. “Don’t care. They voted for this.”
“Democrat’s [sic] soft-on-crime policies have made our American cities uninhabitable!” wrote the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank, on X. Research has not found a correlation between political party leadership and a city’s crime rate.
“You can make it a left-wing, right-wing argument all day long. But at the end of the day, it’s a community issue,” says Karl Langhorst, a retail theft prevention expert who teaches at the University of Cincinnati’s School of Criminal Justice. “Organized retail crime has been around for many years and gone through many different political parties in power.”
While it’s true that the Columbia Heights CVS, as well as parts of the surrounding neighborhood, are experiencing crime and theft, it’s hardly the dystopian nightmare that outsiders make it out to be. It’s not even a retail desert: A Lidl grocery and a Burlington clothes store recently opened in the shopping complex cater-cornered from the CVS. An Indian restaurant is about to make its debut up the street.
Also: There is another CVS pharmacy inside the Target literally one block away from this one.
But, yes, there are certain visuals that encourage a sense of dystopia or paranoia. That same Target has closed one of its entrances, and it has posted a sign at the other stating that unaccompanied minors are prohibited.
If we try to judge by the social-media algorithms that feed off our fears and lusts, shoplifting seems worse. But is it?
The data doesn’t tell a clear picture, Langhorst says, because crimes are not always reported to authorities.
“In many cases, law enforcement doesn’t respond because they don’t have the resources to do so,” Langhorst says. Some jurisdictions don’t make it easy for retailers to file reports online, too. “So now the perception becomes, from a retailer’s perspective, ‘Why waste my time reporting if nothing is going to get done about it?’”
But industry groups have also overexaggerated the problem. In December, the National Retail Federation “retracted a claim that ‘organized retail crime’ accounted for nearly half of all inventory losses in 2021 after finding that incorrect data was used for its analysis,” Reuters reported.
When industry professionals talk about “shrink” — retail jargon for financial losses due to thefts — they talk about the “increased violence and just brazenness” that they’ve observed among shoplifters lately, Langhorst says. Is it especially bad in D.C.?
“D.C. is one of the cities that is high on the radar of opportunities and challenges,” Langhorst says, which is a polite way of saying, yes, it is.
In January, Fox 5 reported on a set of fliers that had been posted in Columbia Heights with the rallying cry “Shoplifters Unite,” encouraging people to “Take everything that’s not nailed down. Bust windows.” The poster also makes allegations of racism against a Safeway manager and contains a jumble of left-wing talking points referencing Palestine, reparations, the Black Lives Matter movement, and disability rights. It seemed, quite frankly, very fake, designed to exacerbate neighborhood tensions. The Fox reporters took it seriously, interviewing people in front of the zombie CVS.
Last month, that particular Safeway — which sits half a mile from the CVS, in Lanier Heights — installed new security gates that require customers using the self-checkout to scan their receipts before they leave. Days later, the store was robbed, according to WTOP. A week later, federal prosecutors charged a manager of a D.C. Walgreens with conspiracy, for orchestrating a series of violent robberies on his own store.
Maybe there’s just some ennui about nihilistic lawlessness in 2024. If a former president can commit financial crimes — and still run for office and probably win his party’s nomination — well, what’s a little petty shampoo theft, in the grand scheme of things?
Besides, there’s a Robin Hood mentality that has long bedeviled the folks like Langhorst who are charged with preventing retail theft. Thieves assume that a massive corporation can absorb the losses of petty thefts. Some shoplifters view it as a form of anti-capitalist social activism.
But as activism, it’s rather ineffective — more likely to harm a store’s lower-paid workers than the chain’s chief executive Karen Lynch, who was paid $21.3 million in 2022, according to CVS regulatory filings.
“When you’re stealing from that store, you are in fact stealing from those employees, in a sense, because it does impact their livelihood,” Langhorst says.
Though the CVS spokeswoman’s statement said that all of the store’s employees were being offered jobs at other locations, a Columbia Heights employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the company said he was still unsure whether he would be offered work at another CVS once this one closed.
Back to the brains of this zombie operation: the employees.
In the dwindling, final days of this CVS, there are still a few prescriptions awaiting pickup. Outside, an automated recording can be heard in a robotic voice: “This is a security operations center. This property is being monitored.”
It might seem a bit unnerving to work in an empty CVS, but a lone employee running the register points out that there’s still plenty to do. There are passport photos to take. He had to open the case whenever anyone wanted to buy the few remaining hair products behind plexiglass. The diapers and baby formula are all behind the counter, which is his domain.
A man enters the store and holds up a picture of Charms Blow Pop lollipops on his phone, asking if they had any.
“No candy,” says the clerk. (No candy at a CVS? Maybe we are in the end times.)
The customer looks around at the shelves, barren of American plenty. “It’s all like this?” he asks.
Certainly feels that way, sometimes.
GOLD BAR, Wash. — Hikers, bicyclists and other park-goers can expect to see restrictions at state park trails and campgrounds as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reviews where it will reduce recreation access across the state.
The DNR explained the upcoming restrictions are because of state budget cuts combined with an ongoing lack of funding for maintenance and staff.
ALSO SEE | State budget accounts for federal cuts to Medicaid & SNAP, but not fully backfilled
Some park goers told KOMO News they are frustrated their tax dollars may not keep their favorite trails open.
Riding dirt bikes at Reiter Foothills State Forest is a family affair for the Millers.
“This is local, so it’s nice here. I love it here,” said Jacob Miller from Monroe.
“This is the first time I’ve gone riding somewhere that’s not my house,” Miller’s son Sterling added.
Excitement is building for more trips over the summer, but trails and campgrounds at state-managed areas are at risk of service disruptions and even closures amid a budget crisis.
“Keep the trails open. Let us play here. It really would suck if we don’t have that area anymore,” Miller’s wife Danielle stated.
A photo of Reiter Foothills State Forest on April 9, 2026. (KOMO){ }
The governor signed off on the final budget, which cuts $750,000 a year in funding to the DNR’s Recreation Program. It clears trails, cleans restrooms, and addresses ongoing public abuse of millions of acres of land.
The reduction comes in addition to millions of dollars in prior cuts made to the program’s operating budget for the 2025-2027 biennium.
A draft list of potential impacts includes late openings or closures to 13 campgrounds; seasonal bathroom closures at sites in the Snoqualmie area; and partial closures at the Reiter Foothills State Forest.
“I guess it just feels horrible, right? Because, we don’t have very many places to go,” Danielle stated.
These changes are expected even after the state boosted the price of the Discover Pass in October. That’s expected to generate $1.2 million for DNR, but a spokesperson says it’s not enough to cover a roughly $8 million gap.
Miller adds he’s confident avid trail-goers will find some sort of solution.
“The trails have been here before Washington state was involved,” Miller said. “They got involved and the trails are great now. But, there’s plenty of volunteers that are willing and able to [help]. I don’t think they need to be shutting down trails.”
DNR is identifying places that are the most expensive to manage and that would be easiest to close or reduce services. The agency expects to have an updated list of impacts in a few weeks.
Malik Hardy ’26
Major: Business administration
Minor: Africana studies
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Why did you choose to come to W&L?
I attended trade school before coming to college, so my path to Washington and Lee University looked different from many students’. Before enrolling at W&L, I studied at the Apprentice School, where workers help build nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy. After spending a year in the shipyard, I realized I wanted to pursue something broader, not just for myself, but for the people around me. I was motivated by the opportunity to explore paths that hadn’t always felt accessible to me and to make the most of them. W&L offered me the chance to do exactly that while receiving an education that would help me grow both academically and personally.
Have you discovered a course or topic that you didn’t expect to study when you first came to W&L?
When I first arrived at Washington and Lee University, I planned to major in computer science, not business. But after taking a few classes in the business school, I realized they offered something I had always been looking for: the opportunity to work closely with people and solve real problems together. Through experiences in areas like budgeting and sales, I discovered how much I enjoy understanding people’s needs and finding ways to connect with them. I especially fell in love with sales because it combines strategy, communication and empathy in a powerful way.
Where is your “home” on campus?
The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership has always felt like home to me. I naturally gravitated toward the people there because I’ve always cared about building community and supporting others. That space gave me the opportunity to do both, and it became a place where I truly felt connected and supported.
What has been your most impactful experience at W&L, either on or off-campus?
One of my most meaningful experiences has been helping reactivate a dormant fraternity chapter on campus (the Beta Beta Nu chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.) with a close friend, Alan Haigler ’26. I’ve served as vice president for the past two years and have watched the chapter grow to more than 20 members. Together, we’ve contributed over 500 service hours and raised thousands of dollars to support initiatives across Rockbridge County. Seeing something we rebuilt create real impact on campus and in the community has been incredibly rewarding.
Who is your mentor on campus, and how have they helped you develop as a student?
While I wouldn’t point to one formal mentor, Dean T (Dean for Student Engagement and Leadership Tammy Futrell) has been an incredible source of support for me during my time here. She has consistently encouraged me academically and personally, and we bonded early on through our shared background. She’s someone who genuinely cares about my success and well-being, and I’m grateful to have had that kind of support throughout my college experience
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class has been my philosophy course with President Dudley. The structure of the class is highly discussion-based, which makes it different from a traditional lecture course. We regularly engage with one another’s ideas, challenge perspectives and explore questions without clear right answers. It created a space where everyone could think deeply and learn from each other’s viewpoints
What are your hobbies/interests and how has W&L helped you pursue them?
I enjoy photography and working out. I spend several hours a day training, and photography has become a creative outlet where I’m always trying to improve my skills and learn new ways to capture meaningful moments.
Being at W&L has connected me with people from a wide range of backgrounds who have helped me grow both as a photographer and as an athlete. I’ve learned new techniques, gained feedback from others and found encouragement to keep developing both interests in ways I might not have explored otherwise.
What has been your greatest accomplishment since arriving at W&L?
Knowing that I will be a first-generation college graduate is my greatest accomplishment. It’s something that means a lot, not only to me but to my entire family. We’ve talked about this milestone for months, and seeing it become a reality has been incredibly meaningful. I hope the work I’m doing now helps shine a light for students like me who once weren’t sure whether college was even a real possibility.
Have you studied abroad during your time at W&L? Where did you go, and how was your experience?
I studied abroad in Paris, where I took a course on Black Writers and the Allure of Paris with the Hills (Provost Lena Hill and professor of Africana studies Michael Hill). Seeing Paris as a place where many found the freedom to develop their voices and their work, the trip gave me a deeper appreciation for their experiences and influence. I also had the chance to mountain bike in Marseille, which made the experience even more memorable.
How have your experiences at W&L prepared you for post-graduate success?
W&L’s small class environment has strengthened my confidence in public speaking and storytelling. Being in discussion-based classrooms where participation is expected pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me develop communication skills I know I’ll carry with me after graduation.
Who or what inspires you?
My mother inspires me the most. Watching her work hard to raise and support my siblings and me instilled strong values in our family. Seeing her perseverance motivates me to keep pushing myself and make the most of every opportunity I have. She’s the person I look to through everything, and her support means the world to me!
What do you like about being a DIII athlete?
Being a Division III athlete has allowed me to continue playing the sport I love (football) while also focusing fully on my education. It’s still highly competitive, but it creates the balance I was looking for between athletics and academics.
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According to Casey Sixkiller, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, “widespread shortages and challenges across our state” are expected.
The Washington State Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency on April 8, 2026. It’s the fourth year in a row that the state had declared a drought emergency.
Courtesy of Washington State Department of Ecology
“Going into April with half of our usual snowpack is alarming,” Sixkiller said. “… Issuing a drought emergency now helps water users prepare for what is likely to be a very difficult summer. This is becoming an all-too-common experience and is another example of how climate change is visibly reshaping our landscape.” The Department of Ecology declared the drought emergency on April 8. Above normal temperatures and below normal rain is expected through June. A declaration like this is called for when the state has less than 75% of its normal water supply. The official emergency allows the state to distribute $3 million in grants and speed up water right permits.
Ecology notes that Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett anticipated a drought this year and began planning for one over the past winter. Therefore, they do not expect to be impacted by the drought. Other parts of the state may face challenges, however.
The news might sound odd to Washingtonians after the region saw 104% of normal precipitation between October 2025 and February 2026. The winter, however, was quite warm and most of that precipitation fell as rain, not as snow in the mountains. That contributed to severe downstream flooding in December. The ocean got most of the water that Washington usually saves as snow in the mountains.
Mountain snow is important for Washington. It’s where the water supply is built up over winter and stored. It melts in the summer, sending water down rivers and streams for use throughout the state. Less mountain snow means less summer water for hydropower production, agriculture, fish and wildlife.
“After our warmest December on record, we finally began to build snowpack in early January before an extended mid-winter dry spell through early March stopped snow accumulation in its tracks,” said Karin Bumbaco, deputy state climatologist with the Washington State Climate Office. “Even the heavy snowfall in mid-March was not enough to make up multiple months of poor snowpack growth, and early spring warmth has melted much of those gains,” she said. “The weather progression this winter has lined up to deliver very challenging conditions going into spring and summer.”
According to the Department of Ecology, 2026 snowpack levels in Washington’s mountains are worse than in 2025, when anxieties over low snow began to rise. Since 2015, four statewide drought emergencies have been declared in Washington, and there have been droughts in parts of the state in seven of the past 10 years.
Back in the 1990s, such droughts happened once every five years, according to Ecology. Now, they’re showing up about four out of every 10 years. By the year 2050, the state expects droughts to occur every seven out of 10 years.
Dyer Oxley is a reporter at KUOW. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.
As Washington’s current snowpack conditions become worse than last year, a statewide drought emergency has been declared. It’s the fourth drought emergency for the state in as many years.
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