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.
Elmina, recently launched in Washington DC, and the debut bricks-and-mortar venture of Ghanaian-American chef Eric Adjepong, is a restaurant that celebrates modern Africa while acknowledging the complexities of its past. Its name carries weight, referencing the port that became the site of sub-Saharan Africa’s first European slave-trading post. ‘This restaurant has been a dream of mine since I was a child,’ says Adjepong, who made his name on Food Network TV series Top Chef.
(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)
Designed by local studio Drummond Projects, the 3,720 sq ft, three-storey space intricately weaves historical West African references into its aesthetic, with the restaurant’s six main areas subtly nodding to the prized commodities of transatlantic colonial trade. ‘We wanted to respond to Eric’s vision with a design proposal that would tell the story of migration, resilience and transformation,’ says studio founder and principal Jimmie Drummond.
The journey begins in the cocktail lounge, where a warm interior palette, set against rich leather finishes, Venetian plaster and marble counters, evokes the appearance of tobacco, while the main dining room is wrapped in curved partitions, with textured white wallpaper symbolising cotton. Upstairs, a second dining room, featuring deep indigo tones, plush seating and gold accents, leads out onto an enclosed terrace, its lush green hues and natural elements referencing sugarcane. The lower level’s wood-themed washrooms and staff areas, meanwhile, allude to the timber used to build the transatlantic trade ships.
(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)
(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)
At the heart of the restaurant, a dramatic curvilinear stairwell, finished in a plaster-like texture, connects the various sections, its sculptural elegance enhanced by a series of striking pendants. Furnishings and accessories come from Crate & Barrel, CB2 and West Elm, while lighting has been sourced from Scout & Nimble, Lightology, Diode LED and Ferguson. Personal touches, such as the handwoven Kente cloth from Ghana gifted by Adjepong’s mother, add charm, as do the custom-made decking, bespoke artwork by Charles Jean-Pierre, wallcoverings by Belarte Studio and artisan-crafted Sailrite fabrics.
The food itself is deeply rooted in tradition. ‘The menu is a love letter to the ancestors and recipes I grew up with,’ says Adjepong. ‘Although the focus is on Ghana, we recognise the entire African continent and the diaspora at large.’ Experiences on offer span a five-course tasting menu, a chop bar selection and a hearty brunch, with standout dishes including the comfortingly smoky jollof duck pot.
(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)
(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)
(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)
‘Jollof is one of the most popular dishes in West and Central Africa. We’re cooking the duck’s leg, breast and eggs in a way I haven’t seen in this country.’
Elmina is located at 2208 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, United States; elminarestaurant.com
A version of this article appears in the May 2025 Design Issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today.
The man suspected to have stolen Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s high-value Gucci bag from a restaurant in Washington, D.C., has been arrested.
The suspect is believed to be in the country illegally, Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in an interview with NBC News.
It is not believed that the suspect targeted Noem because of her role in the federal government. The theft is part of multiple purse robberies believed to be a theft ring recently targeting Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter.
“This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out,” Martin told the outlet. Authorities are looking for a second suspect who is also believed to be in the country illegally.
The investigation is being handled by the Metropolitan Police and the U.S. Secret Service. Martin said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now involved due to the man’s believed illegal status.
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Noem was dining at the chain restaurant The Capital Burger last week when her purse containing $3,000 in cash, her passport, DHS access badge, Louis Vuitton wallet, apartment keys, and checkbook, was stolen.
According to CNN, security footage of the theft showed the suspect moving close to Noem as he locked in on her Gucci bag near her feet. The man was dressed in dark clothing and sat down at an empty table next to Noem with his back facing her after surveying the restaurant. He then used his foot to slide the bag away.
The Washington Commanders have selected wide receiver Jaylin Lane with the No. 128 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lane (5-foot-10, 196 pounds) was a five-year player at the college level and spent time at MTSU and Virginia Tech. Over the course of his career, Lane amassed 2,532 yards and 18 touchdowns.
“Semi-versatile slot option with legitimate long speed and talent to add yardage with the ball in his hands,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zeirlein. “Lane can stretch defenses from the slot with his build-up speed and is a viable option in catch-and-run packages near the line of scrimmage.”
A three-star recruit out of South Carolina, Lane committed to MTSU after breaking every receiving record at Clover High School. He ended his three-year stint with the Blue Raiders by being a Second Team All-C-USA selection for leading the team with 69 receptions for 940 yards and five touchdowns.
Lane was an explosive athlete at the combine with a 4.34 40-yard dash to go with a 40-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump. All three numbers were among the best for a wide receiver.
Lane also has five years of experience as a punt returner with 733 career yards on 67 returns with two touchdowns.
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