WASHINGTON – Heavy rain and flooded roadways complicated the morning commute Thursday for drivers across the Washington, D.C. region.

The showers and storms moved in overnight, bringing waves of heavy downpours.

Flood watches and advisories were in effect in parts of the area. Flood-prone areas like Annapolis and Old Town Alexandria saw high standing water.

Drivers on local roads were impacted by standing water and highways saw crashes and delays. A collision along southbound I-295 blocked lanes at Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue for about an hour. Residual delays from the crash extended into the morning commute. Showers and storms are likely to continue into the afternoon. 

Meanwhile, the remnants of Hurricane Helene are expected to bring wet weather to the D.C. area over the next few days. The area can expect some tropical downpours on Friday. The storm is likely to stall over the area, bringing gloomy weather with clouds, drizzle, and showers to the region over the weekend.

WASHINGTON – D.C.’s Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring is stepping down after a groundbreaking term marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and record-high homicide rates. 

In an exclusive interview with FOX 5, she discussed the impact of judicial decisions on the community, particularly in light of criticisms regarding lenient sentences for criminals.

Judge Josey-Herring responded to concerns that some repeat offenders feel that D.C. judges will quickly release them back into the community. “I do think judges think pretty hard about their decisions. And we don’t have, unfortunately, crystal balls. Sometimes we do take chances on people, and if we didn’t, we would always err on the side of locking people up no matter what,” she stated.

Throughout her tenure, Josey-Herring faced significant public criticism of the court system, including remarks from Mayor Muriel Bowser and U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, who suggested that the court contributed to D.C.’s rising crime rates. 

Josey-Herring had to navigate increasing criminal caseloads amid the pandemic and deal with double-digit judicial vacancies, which forced some judges to take on twice their usual workloads. 

In 2021, Bowser labeled the court a bottleneck when discussing the issue of rising crime, while Graves indicated that sentencing was too lenient.

Josey-Herring’s public rebuttals to these criticisms are unusual for a sitting judge, highlighting her commitment to the judiciary’s integrity.

As she prepares to pass the leadership to Judge Milton Lee, Josey-Herring participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for a new addition to the courthouse. 

Despite the new space, the need for more judges remains critical. When she departs next week, there will be nine vacant seats on the Superior Court bench.

Josey-Herring also touched upon whether judges share some responsibility for the rising crime rates in the District. More details from that conversation will be featured later this week on FOX 5’s “In the Courts.”

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service will close 17th Street between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, for a test installation of the 17th Street levee.

The annual test ensures the levee can be properly erected in case of high water, as required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which built and regulates the levee system.

Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists should avoid the closed area and plan alternate routes.

The 17th Street levee, part of the Potomac Park Levee System in downtown Washington, D.C., consists of aluminum panels between steel posts. 

In the event of high water, the structure can be assembled across 17th Street NW south of Constitution Avenue NW.

The National Park Service operates and maintains the levee.