Washington, D.C
DC takes step to end child marriage, aiming to protect minors from trafficking – WTOP News
In a significant move to protect minors and align with neighboring states, the D.C. Council held a legislative hearing Monday on the Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.
In a significant move to protect minors and align with neighboring states, the D.C. Council held a legislative hearing Monday on the Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, aims to address the alarming reality that, unlike its mid-Atlantic counterparts, child marriage is still legal in D.C.
“The 2016 reform in Virginia that limited child marriage led to an uptick in Virginia resident minors being married in Maryland the next year before they passed their reform. And so as we see other states who have ended child marriage — Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, all the way up and down, I-95 — eyes are going to be shifting more and more onto D.C. as the place where these minors can be brought for marriage unless we do something about it,” said Alex Goyette, an expert on child marriage legislation, during the meeting.
“I think that speaks to the time-sensitive nature of getting this protection passed as soon as we can,” Pinto said.
The hearing featured testimonies from a diverse array of survivors of child marriage and experts from renowned organizations, including the Tahirih Justice Center, the D.C. Rape Crisis Center and the Person Center.
“Right now, the federal government does not set any minimum age to petition for a foreign spouse, fiance, to be the beneficiary of a spousal or fiance visa,” said Lul Mohamud, the executive director of the Person Center.
“Instead, it refers to state law, and that means that right here in D.C., right now, a girl aged 16 or 17 can legally be trafficked for her citizenship, forced to marry an adult man overseas so that he can get a visa and a path to citizenship,” she added.
She also shared her personal experiences, shedding light on the profound impacts of child marriage.
“The sad truth is that when someone is forced to marry, their own parent almost always plays a crucial role in facilitating it. We have worked with girls who showed up sobbing at the clerk’s office, begging for help. In that scenario, there is nothing the girl can do, nothing the clerk or anyone else can do. The parent signs the form and that child is married off,” Mohamud said.
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Armored tanks arrive in DC for Trump’s military birthday parade
As Washington, D.C. prepares for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, armored tanks have begun to arrive ahead of Saturday’s celebration.
Preparations are underway for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade in Washington D.C., which also falls on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Held in the nation’s capital, the event is set to include Army parachutists jumping from aircraft, landing and giving Trump an American flag for his birthday, Pentagon officials said, according to Axios.
More than two dozen M1 Abrams tanks, scores of infantry vehicles and thousands of soldiers are also expected to be involved in the event.
A rare sight in Washington D.C., the last major military parade was held in 1991 to celebrate the end of the first Gulf War. The large military movement into the city comes only days after Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid an immigration crackdown and protests.
With only days before the Saturday, June 14 event, tanks, helicopters and other military vehicles are beginning to stage in the nation’s capital.
Photos: Preparations underway for US Army’s 250th anniversary parade
Contributing: George Petras and Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
DC leaders announce plan to increase waterfront access in Georgetown
Changes are coming to the Georgetown Waterfront. District leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday morning to increase public access, specifically for non-motorized boating activities along the Potomac River, after a decade in the making. The District, Georgetown University and the National Park Service will take part in land swap.
WASHINGTON – Changes are coming to the Georgetown Waterfront.
D.C. leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday morning to increase public access, specifically for non-motorized boating activities along the Potomac River, after a decade in the making. The District, Georgetown University and the National Park Service will take part in land swap.
What we know:
D.C. officials say Georgetown will donate a parcel of land on the Potomac River to the National Park Service to be added to the boundary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This will allow for a continuous path from the Capital Crescent Trail to the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
The National Park will then transfer jurisdiction of two parcels at the base of the Key Bridge to the district, which will then transfer the site to the west of the bridge to Georgetown to create a university boathouse, serving as a hub for the men’s and women’s rowing teams.
“Mayor Bowser has made this a big point. D.C. is a waterfront city and we’ve got wonderful access to the water and recreational opportunities, and this final push to complete the land swap is going to unlock this access to the river at this particular point which is right under the Key Bridge,” said Nina Albert, D.C. Deputy Mayor for planning and economic development.
Dig deeper:
Georgetown will provide year-round public access to the boathouse docks, giving the community access to kayak, paddle board and canoe along the Potomac River.
This increased access will benefit rowers, like D.C. resident Ivin Boddy, who frequents the Potomac River.
“I think it would increase more of our foreign visitors and our domestic visitors coming to town. So, I think it would definitely do some great justice for them,” Boddy said.
Others like D.C. resident Zaidun Jawdat, who frequents the area often, are curious to see what eventually happens.
“We enjoy it completely. We’re happy with it,” said Jawdat.
“I’m not sure just how much is going to change. I guess if they invest in structures and docking wharfs – maybe that changes the character.”
The land transaction is currently being finalized – and residents should expect to see changes within the next few years.
Washington, D.C
Showers, storms possible Tuesday across DC region; Canada wildfire smoke returns Wednesday
WASHINGTON – A humid and cloudy Tuesday across the D.C. area, with highs in the mid-80s and a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Morning temperatures range from the upper 60s to low 70s, with dense air making outdoor conditions uncomfortable.
Storms and humidity
What we know:
Spotty showers may develop early, particularly south toward Fredericksburg and southern Maryland, as well as northwest near Hagerstown and parts of West Virginia.
A cold front is expected to move through later in the day, bringing relief from high humidity and reducing the risk of showers and storms.
Temperatures should peak around 84 degrees, with a chance of pop-up storms through the afternoon. Skies will clear overnight, and humidity will drop, leading to drier conditions by Wednesday.
Wildfire smoke returns
Wednesday will be less humid, though Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to return, creating hazy sunshine.
By late this week, clouds will build again as temperatures rise, bringing unsettled weather heading into the weekend.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the FOX 5 Weather Team and the National Weather Service.
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