Washington, D.C
DC's panda drought ends as Bao Li and Qing Bao make National Zoo public debut
WASHINGTON – Washington, D.C.’s panda drought will end Friday when three-year-old giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao make their public debut at the National Zoo.
New Habitat for Bao Li and Qing Bao
The pandas arrived from China last October, landing at Dulles International Airport. After their arrival, they were quarantined while the zoo prepared their new habitat on the Asia Trail. The renovated space includes climbing structures, water features, rockwork, a ventilation system, fencing, and new signage.
READ MORE: DC’s new giant pandas arrive at new home at National Zoo
What we know:
10-Year Agreement
The pandas are part of a new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities. The previous agreement expired in 2023, sparking concerns among American panda enthusiasts that Beijing might withdraw its furry ambassadors amid diplomatic tensions.
Pandas have been symbolic of the nation’s capital since 1972 when Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing were gifted by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai following President Richard Nixon’s visit to China.
The terms of the current deal remain unclear, but previous agreements involved a $1 million annual fee per bear to the Chinese government. Cubs born in overseas zoos are typically returned to China before age four.
READ MORE: DC’s new pandas enjoy first Washington snowflakes, play in new enclosure
Panda fans can celebrate with limited-edition Metro SmartTrip cards available at select stations, including Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Metro Center, and L’Enfant Plaza. Additionally, the Zoo will relaunch the Giant Panda Cam following Bao Li and Qing Bao’s public debut.
Admission to the National Zoo is free, but entry passes are required. You can reserve your time online.
READ MORE: Metro celebrates the return of giant pandas with limited-edition SmarTrip card
Here’s what we know about D.C.’s new pandas:
Bao Li | 宝力 (pronounced BOW-lee)
Male
Born Aug. 4, 2021
In Mandarin Chinese, “Bao” means ‘precious’ and ‘treasure’. “Li” refers to vitality and strength. Put together, “Bao Li” means an active and vital power.
Qing Bao | 青宝 (pronounced ching-BOW)
Female
Born Sept. 12, 2021
Her name means ‘green’ and ‘treasure’ in Mandarin Chinese. ‘Qing’ evokes the lush and mountainous habitat of pandas. ‘Bao,’ which means ‘precious’ and ‘treasure,’ reflects how cherished and adored she is.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and FOX 5 reporting.
Washington, D.C
Bowling Green “presidential enthusiast” travels to D.C.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Camdon Honshell, a 10-year-old from Bowling Green, attended the presidential inauguration last Monday in Washington, D.C.
He traveled with his father, brother, and uncle to experience the event for the first time.
Camdon is an avid drawer of presidential headshots and even sent one to former President Joe Biden. Biden responded with a personal letter and a signed portrait that showed up at his front door in 2023.
Camdon can also name all U.S. presidents in order from number one to number 47, and even tell you what each president was known for.
Copyright 2025 WBKO. All rights reserved.
Washington, D.C
Apartment fire in Mount Pleasant leaves woman dead, 5 others displaced
A woman is dead after a Mount Pleasant row home caught fire overnight into Saturday, according to DC Fire and EMS, and five other people who lived in that building have been left homeless.
Those traveling down Newton Street NW on Saturday morning could see the busted-out windows on the first and second floors of that row home, located in the 1800 block of the street.
The fire began in the first floor, according to DC Fire and EMS, and though it was put out quickly after first responders arrived around 5:30 a.m., it did significant damage in that short time.
According to DC Fire spokesman Vito Maggiolo, the building is now uninhabitable.
“There are five displacements as a result of this incident,” Maggiolo told News4. “The American Red Cross National Capital Region chapter representatives are here and they’ll be assisting those in need.”
The adult woman who died was in that first-floor apartment where the fire began, Maggiolo said. First responders pulled her out and administered aid, but her injuries were too severe.
Another person was rescued from the second floor of the building, DC Fire and EMS said. That person’s condition is not yet known.
Washington, D.C
Why Trump has pardon power over DC cases
President Donald Trump’s pardons of the Jan. 6 defendants and two D.C. police officers convicted in the death of Karon Hylton-Brown have many people asking questions about the president’s pardon power.
A law professor who specializes in pardons explains the president’s unique power to intervene in local D.C. criminal prosecutions.
In his first hours back in office, Trump issued pardons to hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants, many who were convicted of attacking police officers during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Trump also extended his pardon power to two Metropolitan Police Department officers who had been convicted in the death of Karon Hylton-Brown.
While the Jan. 6 defendants were charged with federal crimes, the two MPD officers were charged with local crimes.
“Article II of the Constitution gives the president of the United States the power to pardon offenses against the United States government, meaning federal offenses, but also, it turns out the president does have the pardon authority over District of Columbia offenses as well, given the novel nature of D.C.,” said Kimberly Wehle, author of “Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works — and Why.”
Because most crimes in D.C. are prosecuted by the U.S. attorney, Wehle explains, the president has power in D.C. he doesn’t have elsewhere, whether the cases are brought in federal court or D.C. Superior Court.
“Given the unique nature of the District of Columbia, but there’s no other part of the country where he would be able to pardon a state crime,” Wehle said.
While reporters have asked the president about the reasons for the pardons, Wehle says the public rarely gets specific details.
“So not only is there no limits or oversight on the president’s ability to pardon, but there’s like a confidentiality lock on the information that the president has exclusive discretion whether to disclose it to the public,” she said.
As for how someone gets a pardon, and how they qualify: “There’s an application online on the Department of Justice website,” Wehle said. “And there are criteria, including that you have to have served your sentence and waited five years to be eligible, which of course is not what happened with the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. In addition, there’s a number of criteria. Two that are prominent are, you have to demonstrate remorse and accountability for the crime, and you can’t be violent. Those are generally disqualifying by the office of the pardon attorney in the Justice Department. But, of course, the president is not bound by those recommendations.”
About 10,000 people will apply for pardons during a president’s term, she said.
Once someone receives a pardon, rights such as the ability to buy a gun and to vote are restored. A person can refuse a pardon, as we have seen with one of the Jan. 6 defendants, she said.
It’s not just Trump who’s made headlines for issuing pardons. Former President Joe Biden has received backlash for pardoning his son Hunter in connection with his felony gun and tax convictions — a decision Biden made after previously stating he would not. Then, during his final hours in office, Biden also pardoned several people including Dr. Anthony Fauci, members of the Jan. 6 committee and members of the Biden family.
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