Through the program, WMATA will mount cameras on 140 of its buses to capture video of vehicles that block bus lanes or zones. City officials say the effort will improve traffic and safety by reducing bus idle times and better allowing them to pull up to the curb for passenger entry and exit.
Vehicles that remain in the lanes or zones long-term will be towed.
The District has 12.7 miles of bus lanes where cars are not permitted, but transit users have long complained that cars and trucks have continued to block the lanes, slowing buses down. WMATA data shows that the average bus speed in D.C. is 9.8 miles per hour, a 9 percent decline from 15 years ago.
“In the District, Metrobus is the only mode of transportation for many people,” said Sherri Ly, a spokesperson for WMATA. “Keeping bus stop zones and bus lanes clear will improve the customer experience with faster, better, more reliable and equitable service.”
The fine was originally slated to be $200, but DDOT proposed changing it to address concerns that it would place an excessive burden on low-income drivers. The D.C. Council passed emergency legislation introduced by Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) lowering the fine on Nov. 7. The $100 fine matches fines for parking at a bus stop.
DDOT has issued more than 48,000 warning notices for vehicles parked in a bus lane or zone since July, according to data provided by city officials.
Authorized vehicles — including school buses, emergency vehicles and accessible transportation service vehicles — as well as bikes and scooters will continue to be permitted in bus lanes.
Unauthorized vehicles can still enter bus lanes under specific situations, such as when parking, pulling over for an emergency vehicle, or turning within 40 feet of an intersection or driveway.
Washington — The Secret Service said it is investigating overnight gunfire near the White House on Sunday.
Officers responded shortly after midnight on Sunday to reports of gunfire in the vicinity of Lafayette Park, the Secret Service said in a statement. No injuries were reported, according to the statement, and a search of the park and surrounding area was conducted. A suspect was not located.
Lafayette Park is located directly north of the White House.
President Trump is in Washington and is hosting a family Easter dinner at the White House on Sunday. White House operations remain normal, though a heightened security posture is in place, the Secret Service said.
Road closures were initially in effect adjacent to the park. Chief of Communications for the Secret Service Anthony Guglielmi said in a post on X after 8 a.m. that the closures had been lifted.
The investigation remained active Sunday morning. The Secret Service said it’s seeking a possible vehicle and a person of interest, while coordinating with U.S. Park Police and Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department.
Officials encouraged members of the public with information to call D.C. Police at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.
Trump FY 2027 Budget Proposes Eliminating Funding for Institute of American Indian Arts
The Trump administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget proposal, released Friday, April 3, 2026, calls for the elimination of federal operating funding for the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), drawing sharp opposition from the institution’s leadership.
IAIA’s Board of Trustees and administration condemned the proposal as reckless and inconsistent with the federal government’s treaty obligations, trust responsibility, and longstanding commitment to American Indian and Alaska Native higher education.
If enacted, the proposal would cut IAIA’s annual federal appropriation from $13.482 million to zero beginning in the next funding cycle. Leaders say the loss would severely impact the school’s ability to maintain academic programs, student support services, and daily operations—placing at risk an institution that has served as an international center for contemporary Indigenous arts and cultural leadership for more than 60 years.
“IAIA exists because Native artists, Native communities, and Congress recognized that Indigenous creativity and cultural knowledge are vital to this country,” said IAIA President Dr. Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). “Eliminating IAIA’s federal appropriation will weaken educational opportunity, threaten the development of future Indigenous artists and leaders, and severely undermine a mission that Congress has supported for decades. We urge Congress to reject this proposal and support IAIA in FY 2027 at $14.1 million.”
OSHA to Host April 8 Webinar to Support 2026 Safety Stand-Down Efforts
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is hosting an April 8 webinar aimed at helping employers across all industries participate in the 2026 Safety Stand-Down.
The session will provide guidance for employers planning events tied to the 20th annual Georgia Struck-by Alliance Safety Stand-Down, held each year during National Work Zone Awareness Week. During these events, employers are encouraged to pause work and focus on preventing serious injuries and fatalities through training, education, and demonstrations of safe workplace practices.
OSHA staff will share free compliance assistance resources, information about consultation services, and details on the agency’s Safety Champions Program. The webinar will also offer practical ideas for organizing stand-down events and explain how employers can register their activities to receive a workplace safety certificate.
The agency recommends employers host safety stand-downs during nationally recognized observances such as National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 20–24) and Workers Memorial Day (April 20–24).
driving dangerously
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7th and Q Street, NW
“Dear PoPville,
Tough morning in Shaw –
Metro driver told me that a car ran a red light and collided with another and the driver swerved to avoid and ran into ambar. Driver is injured and at the hospital along with a passenger who went through a window… horrible. Thank god it was 7 am or there would be a lot of dead or gravely injured people.”
photo by DC Fire and EMS
DC Fire and EMS reported starting at 7:23am:
“Update vehicle into building 7th & Q Sts NW. 3 adult female patients transported with minor injuries. Further structural assessment will be conducted once bus has been removed from inside building.
Update crash with vehicle into building 7th & Q Sts NW. Bus & vehicle involved with bus partially inside unoccupied restaurant. 4 patients being evaluated. Collapse team evaluating structural stability. Firefighters have secured utilities & searched structure.
Crash with vehicle into a building 7th & Q Sts MW. Bus into unoccupied restaurant. Working to determine number of injuries.”
Thanks to all who messaged me Saturday morning around 8am:
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