Washington, D.C
Mayor Bowser celebrates federal funding deal that gives DC control of RFK stadium site – WTOP News
Mayor Muriel Bowser joined WTOP to talk about the legislation that would transfer the land of the old RFK Stadium to the District and her efforts to bring the Washington Commanders back to D.C.
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill come to terms on a stopgap funding bill, one provision could bring the Washington Commanders back to the team’s old stomping grounds in Northeast, D.C.
Mayor Muriel Bowser is celebrating the bill after years of pushing to bring the team back to D.C.
The legislation, which is expected to pass, would transfer the land of the old RFK Stadium in Northeast from the federal government to the District.
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Bowser joined WTOP anchors John Aaron and Michelle Basch to talk about the bill and her efforts to bring the team back to D.C.
Listen to the full interview below or read the transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser talks about the funding bill with WTOP anchors John Aaron and Michelle Basch.
John Aaron: You’ve called the legislation a giant step forward. It seems like this was the biggest hurdle to getting a stadium back in that spot, was it?
Muriel Bowser: Well, it’s been a hurdle to for the District to get control of 177 acres that’s been sitting blighted and vacant for several years now. And we think in 177 acres, you can do quite a lot, and we have been restricted in how we can use it because of our lease to only a stadium use. What this legislation would do is give us control and the ability to develop multiple uses, including a world class stadium.
Michelle Basch: So if this bill passes in Congress, as expected, what’s the timeline here? What comes next?
Muriel Bowser: Well, we’re going to have conversations in D.C. with our policy makers. We’re developing a great plan for the site that we will be very anxious to present. We’ll sit down in earnest with the team, talk about our joint goals, and we will be demolishing the current stadium on the RFK site.
John Aaron: What were your conversations like with lawmakers, and how did you get members of both parties on board with this idea when they can’t seem to agree on anything?
Muriel Bowser: I know it’s been an amazing, amazing kind of story, I think. We sat down. I went early on for a hearing with Congressman (James) Comer in the Oversight Committee, and I think they were expecting to talk about crime, and we were expecting to talk about how they could help us. And I have to give a lot of credit to (James) Comer. He said he would help us, and he did. He introduced a piece of legislation with Congresswoman (Eleanor Holmes) Norton, and he has been with us every step of the way. So we had one of the most comical committee votes I’ve ever seen. People that never agree on anything, agreed that Washington, D.C. should step into place for the National Park Service, develop this land, control our destiny and create a lot of jobs and opportunities for D.C. residents and our visitors.
Michelle Basch: Can we also talk about the Council making the final approval to keep Capital One Arena upgraded and keep the Caps and Wizards in the cities?
Muriel Bowser: Yes. It’s been an amazing kind of a year. Somebody mentioned to me that last year, this time, we were concerned that the Wizards and Caps would leave. Yesterday, the council approved my legislation that it allows us to buy Cap One Arena and keeps the Wizards and the Caps playing in Washington, D.C. until at least 2050 and our landmark legislation that gives us control of the RFK site is almost passed. It was agreed upon, and we expect it to pass this week.
John Aaron: Of course, there’s the issue of paying for all of the upgrades to the RFK Stadium site. How would that work?
Muriel Bowser: Well, it’s going to work like all of our major developments work, like the Wharf, like Walter Reed, like St. Elizabeth. Whether we have a stadium there or not, the District is going to be a partner in the redevelopment. And so we always go in, we create a great plan, likely we support the development of the infrastructure, and we look for a great development partner that helps us realize our vision for housing and jobs and recreation. What people don’t often mention, and I’m reading all the press coverage today about this site, is it’s on the banks of the Anacostia River, and right now, our residents don’t have great connections. This legislation also requires us, and we’re very happy to comply, with having 30% of the parcel be park space. So we’re going to get a lot of recreation space. I’ve already committed that the District would support our own indoor sports complex for our kids to have indoor track and other activities. And you know, we have a lot of space to meet the goals of our communities.
Michelle Basch: Anything else you want our listeners to know this morning (on) such big news?
Muriel Bowser: Huge news. And I just want to say it’s just a win, win, we think, for the region, and it’s going to allow us to create jobs and attract the types of events to our region that we haven’t been able to attract. Imagine if we were able to have a Super Bowl here, the World Cup, Taylor Swift concerts. All of those things that have passed by our 4 million plus person region can be served at the RFK campus.
John Aaron: All right, that is some big thinking. Thank you. Mayor Bowser, we appreciate it.
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Washington, D.C
Chicago woman testifies about being dragged out of car, detained by federal agents in viral video
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 2:09AM
Chicago woman Dayanne Figueroa testified in Washington, DC about being dragged out of a car by federal agents in a viral YouTube video.
CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago woman, who is a U.S. citizen, testified in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday about her experience being dragged out of her car and taken into custody by federal agents.
Dayanne Figueroa told a group of senators that on Oct. 10, she had just dropped off her son at school when an SUV rammed into hers.
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Once she was stopped, she says masked men dragged her out of her car.
A video posted on YouTube that has been seen more than 42,000 times shows what happened.
Figueroa was one of five U.S. citizens who testified.
Figueroa said she suffered severe bruising, nerve damage and aggravated injuries to her leg.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Washington, D.C
Global star Khalid heads to DC for ‘It’s Always Summer Somewhere’ tour
WASHINGTON (7News) — Grammy-nominated singer Khalid will stop in the Nation’s Capital for his “It’s Always Summer Somewhere” tour.
The North-American tour has 25 dates at cities across the U.S. and Canada. Khalid will perform with special guest Lauv at MGM Music Hall at The Anthem in D.C. on May 31, 2026.
SEE ALSO | Most shocking snubs and surprises from the 2026 Golden Globe nominations
Khalid is mainly known for his global 2017 hits “Location” and Young Dumb & Broke.” He has been nominated for seven Grammys, including “Best New Artist” in 2018.
The full list of tour stops are:
- Sat May 16 – Las Vegas, NV – PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
- Mon May 18 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Wed May 20 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
- Thu May 21 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
- Sat May 23 – Hershey, PA – GIANT Center
- Sun May 24 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
- Tue May 26 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
- Thu May 28 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
- Fri May 29 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
- Sun May 31 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
- Wed Jun 03 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
- Thu Jun 04 – Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
- Sat Jun 06 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
- Sun Jun 07 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage at Highmark Mann
- Tue Jun 09 – Portsmouth, VA – Portsmouth Pavilion
- Wed Jun 10 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
- Fri Jun 12 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
- Mon Jun 15 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Wed Jun 17 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
- Thu Jun 18 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
- Fri Jun 19 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater
- Sun Jun 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
- Mon Jun 22 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
- Wed Jun 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
- Fri Jun 26 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
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Presale opens Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. General sale begins Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. on Khalid’s website.
Washington, D.C
Who will lead DC police? Search for new chief begins – WTOP News
The D.C. police department is once again searching for a new chief who will lead the department following Pamela Smith’s departure.
About two years after Pamela Smith was approved to lead officers on a permanent basis, the D.C. police department is once again searching for a new chief.
Smith said Monday that she will step away from her position at the end of the year, calling it a personal decision she talked over with family.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke about Smith’s resignation during a news conference Monday.
“I’ve been around long enough to know and to have lived through transitions,” Bowser said. “There are ways to approach this period of time and do it in a way that’s going to be most beneficial to D.C. residents. I’m going to marinate on it a little bit, and I’ll appoint the right, perfect person.”
Bowser will nominate the department’s next chief. The next permanent police chief will also need to earn the approval of the D.C. Council.
Smith’s resignation isn’t the only shake-up in D.C.’s leadership.
The mayor recently announced that she won’t seek reelection for a fourth term. With about a year left on the job, a reporter asked Bowser about the “challenges” associated with searching for a new chief as she prepares to exit office.
“I don’t call it a challenge,” Bowser said. “Because of the very deep bench we have and because of the great reputation of our department.”
Bowser said she will look internally for a new chief but would be open to nominating an external candidate.
“I’m obviously going to start first with the best police department in the nation,” Bowser said.
At the time Smith took over as chief in 2023, D.C. was at the peak of a crime wave.
Under her leadership, rates of crime have fallen. According to data provided by D.C. police, overall crime dropped 18% in 2025. Homicides are down 30% this year.
What should Bowser be looking for? Groups weigh in
The D.C. Police Union called on Bowser to collaborate with its members in the search for a new permanent chief.
“The ideal candidate must demonstrate proven leadership qualities that prioritize respect for the rank-and-file officers, foster trust within our communities, and commit to reforming broken policies lingering from the misguided ‘defund the police’ era, which resulted in laws and regulations that have undermined effective policing and officer morale,” the union wrote in a news release Monday morning.
Congressman Oye Owolewa, who represents the District in the U.S. House, said there’s an opportunity presented by the change in leadership. He also will not be seeking reelection as D.C.’s shadow representative in 2026.
“As we look ahead, it is my hope that this transition presents an opportunity to continue strengthening trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, while advancing policies rooted in accountability, transparency, and true public safety for all,” Owolewa wrote in a statement.
Looking ahead, Bethany Young, policy director with D.C. Justice Lab, believes the next chief has a chance to make D.C. a national model.
“It feels like it’s in the air, like there’s something really that we’re on the precipice of,” said Young, whose organization pushes for police reform in the District.
Young said she hopes they will listen to residents and be open to reforms, such as limiting traffic stops for minor violations and supporting alternatives to policing for behavioral health crises.
“They want to see more accountability,” Young told WTOP. “They want to see more oversight. They want to have more information about how policing is operating in D.C.”
She also believes the next chief should rely on data, not politics, and be bold enough to speak out when policing practices don’t align with community needs.
“There are certain things that a police chief … cannot control,” Young said. “However, you always have a voice.”
She said the organization didn’t see eye to eye with the chief when it came to what she called an increase in unnecessary police interactions, collaboration with federal agencies and a lack of transparency and accountability.
‘What I’d like to do is give them encouragement’
Smith’s departure comes at a time when D.C. police officers have worked alongside federal partners, such as patrols with National Guard members.
City leaders have insisted police do not work directly alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers; but some D.C. residents have reported instances where immigrants are arrested for minor infractions and arrested by ICE agents moments later.
Smith was asked about advice for the next chief and what guidance she has given to police officers in navigating law enforcement responsibilities alongside federal partners.
“They know probably better than I do what’s happening in community from day to day with our federal partners, because a lot of them are very intimately involved, especially our commanders,” Smith said. “At this point, I don’t need to give them any advice. I think what I’d like to do is give them encouragement.”
Smith, who has served in law enforcement for 28 years, said she will be available to support the department’s next leader.
“I will be available to the incoming or interim to provide him or her support with respect to the direction that the police department will continue,” Smith said.
For the next chief, Smith said three things are critical: communication, collaboration with partners and being involved with the community.
“My phone rings all time of day, all time of night, and you have to answer the call, you have to answer the phone, you have to show up,” Smith said.
A passion for D.C. residents is essential, she said.
“You may have to sit in somebody’s basement to have a conversation about something,” Smith said. “You have to dress down sometimes. Sometimes I’m in the community, and people don’t know I’m there. It’s just to protect the anonymity of the folks who really trust the Metropolitan Police Department, but sometimes are afraid to share the information that’s necessary.”
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© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
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