Washington
Pike family invited to Washington, D.C. for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person's Awareness Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of Emily Pike’s family were invited to Washington, D.C., on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person’s (MMIP) Day.
It’s been over three months since the 14-year-old San Carlos Apache teen was reported missing from her Mesa group home. Weeks later, on Valentine’s Day the teen was found murdered off the U.S. 60 northeast of Globe.
Emily’s uncle and aunt, Allred Pike Jr. and Carolyn Pike-Bender, were part of the group invited to sit down with multiple leaders in D.C. Pike-Bender said everywhere she went, her goal was to share her niece’s story.
“Whether it’s the person that is pushing the suitcase, or cab driver, or somebody sitting next to me on the plane, or the airline person behind the counter, it’s just like I’m here for my niece Emily,” said Pike-Bender. “I’m here to tell her story and spread the word. Because Emily put a light on a lot of people’s cases.”
She described Monday as an emotional day, taking poster boards with Emily’s picture to national monuments and meetings.
The Pike family shared pictures from those meetings with leaders like FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
“The FBI Director was very attentive,” said Allred. “He listened to us tell Emily’s story. The Secretary of Interior, Burgum, was somewhat aware of Emily’s case and the MMIW issues. “So, he was very supportive in trying to make things easier for Indian Country and helping solve these cases and make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”
In April, the U.S. Justice Department announced they were boosting FBI assets at its field offices to investigate major crimes on tribal lands. The name of the push, Operation Not Forgotten.
Patel posted on social media Monday, mentioning Operation Not Forgotten and his meeting with the Pike family.
“We told them that we were grateful for any and everything that they’ve done, and we just don’t want this to happen again to anyone,” said Allred. “And any help that they can give would be very good for us, because in this case, we just don’t want it to fall to the wayside and never catch the person who took my niece’s life.”
Pike-Bender said they walked away from their first day in Washington, D.C., feeling hopeful.
“It felt really good walking away from it,” said Bender-Pike. “Because we feel like something is going to happen, something’s going to get done.”
Emily’s family has called the teen a light and a symbol. They told ABC15 they are sharing her story with the hope it will bring justice and attention to other cases as well.
“It’s not right, you know, the way she was taken from us,” said Pike-Bender. “But her name, and her story, herself; it’s like she matters. And everyone else that is missing, or just a loved one, they matter as well. And it’s like we’re her voice. And we’re not going to be silent. We’re just going to get loud. And we’re going to get loud for her and for everyone out there.”
On Monday, ABC15 reached out to the Gila County Sheriff’s Office for an update on Emily’s case. GCSO has not yet responded.
“We are continuing to pursue leads as they come in, and there is information that is being processed that I’m not a liberty to release,” said Lt. James Lahti in an email to ABC15 last week.
GCSO, at last check, said they still don’t have a “primary suspect or investigative lead”.
The ABC15 Investigators have also continued to look into two sexual assault allegations reported by Emily in the months before she was placed into foster care.
There is a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in Emily’s murder case.
Washington
Washington Spirit Names Kim Bolt Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer
Bolt transitions into role after driving impact as Fractional CMO earlier this season
Washington, D.C. (12/15/2025) – The Washington Spirit today announced the appointment of Kim Bolt as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, a newly created executive role that reflects the club’s continued evolution into a high-performance, growth-oriented organization.
Bolt transitions into the role after joining the Spirit earlier this season as Fractional Chief Marketing Officer, where she played a key role in strengthening the club’s marketing strategy, analytics foundation and demand-generation efforts during a pivotal stretch of the year.
In her expanded role, Bolt will oversee Marketing, Communications, Brand, Strategy and Analytics, with a mandate to build a modern, data-driven commercial engine that accelerates fan growth, deepens engagement, elevates the Spirit’s brand and supports the club’s long-term ambitions on and off the pitch.
With more than 20 years of marketing and strategy leadership across technology, fitness and sports, Bolt brings deep experience scaling mission-driven brands. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Google, Lyft, Under Armour and Disney, as well as serving as Chief Marketing Officer of the Washington Nationals. An expert in marketing technology centered around fan data, Bolt has also advised League One Volleyball and served as Fractional CMO for OnDeck Partners, an Avenue Sports Fund portfolio company focused on minor league baseball.
“As we evolve from a team that wins into an organization built for sustained excellence, Kim’s experience and mindset are exactly what we need,” said Kim Stone, CEO of the Washington Spirit. “She understands this market, this moment and the scale of the opportunity in front of us. Her global brand experience, strategic rigor and early impact with our organization strengthen the foundation we’re building and position us for long-term, sustainable growth.”
A former youth soccer player, Bolt was drawn to the sports industry by her belief in its unique ability to create emotional connection and lifelong memories, a passion shaped early by her family’s love of the game. Throughout her career, Bolt has championed a leadership style grounded in empathy, resilience and accountability. She is committed to supporting women in sports and business and believes high performance and personal balance can, and should, coexist.
“The first time my daughters came to a Spirit match, they memorized the roster and their eyes lit up when they saw a player who looked like them,” said Bolt. “That was the moment I knew I wanted to be part of this organization. Having worked closely with the team this season, I’ve seen firsthand the ambition, the talent and the opportunity ahead. I’m honored to step into this role and help build a brand and growth engine that matches the excellence we’re striving for on the field.”
Bolt resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband, three children and two dogs. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Cornell University. As the Spirit’s first Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Bolt will lead the club through the offseason and into the 2026 season, helping shape the next chapter of the organization’s growth.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012, and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Washington
Residents clean up, assess damage after waters recede from Washington state flooding
Receding waters allowed residents of Burlington, Washington, to assess damage and clean up after record flooding. (AP video: Manuel Valdes)
Receding waters allowed residents of Burlington, Washington, to assess damage and clean up after record flooding. (AP video: Manuel Valdes)
Washington
New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: Behind Enemy Lines
The New York Giants (2-11) and Washington Commanders (3-10) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 15 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Opening the week, the Giants were listed as 1.5-point home favorites, but that line has shifted slightly with New York now at -2.5 as of this writing.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.
Is Daniel Snyder back in charge? Explain the fall from NFC Championship Game to 3-10.
Manning: There have been so many factors in Washington’s fall this year. The year they’re having right now is probably the one everyone expected a year ago. The roster was in bad shape due to Ron Rivera whiffing on four drafts, but GM Adam Peters needs more from his draft picks. Is it coaching? We’ve already seen the DC “reassigned.” Injuries have played a role. Look, I saw questions on this roster before the injuries, but they haven’t helped. Daniels being in and out of the lineup hasn’t helped. McLaurin holding out over the summer really changed things. When you add it all together, it’s the perfect storm of terrible.
It’s been an odd season for Jayden Daniels, who is now out on Sunday. What have you seen from him in Year 2, and what do you expect from him moving forward?
Jayden has been let down a bit by the team. If anyone watched him last year, they’d know he was the reason this team won 12 games and made it to the NFC championship. He erased deficits. No third down was too long. He was automatic on fourth downs. However, McLaurin’s holdout, Noah Brown being out for so long, and Austin Ekeler’s injury crushed the offense. A rotating cast of wide receivers, often called up from the practice squad, has hampered the offense. The injuries were more bad luck than anything. And I believe Jayden could play through them, outside of the initial elbow injury. This offseason should be about finding a 1B to McLaurin’s 1A.
What does the loss of Zach Ertz mean for Washington’s offense, especially with Marcus Mariota under center?
Losing Ertz hurts. While he had some issues with drops at times, and he was no longer a threat after the catch, the quarterbacks trusted Ertz. He consistently gets open, even at 35. A great leader, and he’s still a productive player. His shoes are big. The hope is Ben Sinnott can be the guy. I am not confident he is ready to do some of the things Ertz did. Mariota, like Daniels, always trusts Ertz on third downs and inside the red zone.
Jonathan Jones and Bobby Wagner are banged up. What do they mean to the defense, and who steps in if they can’t go on Sunday?
Jones missed a lot of time earlier this season. When he returned, the Commanders lost Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos for the season. Jones is a solid veteran who can play inside and outside, and Washington doesn’t have a lot of cornerback depth now. The defense has stunk regardless of who has played in the secondary, so I am not sure we will notice much. Wagner is still a solid player, but teams wisely attack him in the passing game. That’s his weakness now as a 14th-year pro. He is still excellent against the run or as a blitzer. But he’s a massive liability in coverage. Jordan Magee has played a lot lately, but I would like to see him play the MIKE one entire game in place of Wagner, just to see what he can do.
How do you see Sunday’s game playing out, who wins, and what’s the final score?
These games are always crazy. I feel like it’s always the Giants and Commanders fighting for draft position late in the season. It’s unfortunate for both franchises. While I still like the future outlook for both teams, this game is for nothing more than who will pick higher in the draft. Although the players do not care. The Giants are playing better. Sure, the wins haven’t come, but they will on Sunday. Another close one, but New York wins, 24-20.
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