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DMV-chain Compass Coffee files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

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DMV-chain Compass Coffee files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy


Compass Coffee, the coffee chain founded in D.C. in the early 2010s, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on Tuesday in hopes of selling parts of the chain as it faces legal challenges from a cofounder, several landlords, and vendors.

The company, which has 166 employees and operates 25 cafes across Northern Virginia, D.C., and southern Maryland, said it plans to operate all stores as normal during the Bankruptcy process.

“Over the last decade, Compass has grown to 25 cafes across the DMV. Our original 7th Street cafe has never closed – not for a single day,” a portion of a statement from co-founder Michael Haft read. “Our spaces have been the setting for first dates that turned into marriages, interviews that led to dream jobs, and everyday moments shared over millions of cups of coffee. We have supported countless community causes, shipped coffee to all 50 states and to troops deployed overseas, and helped thousands of people navigate first jobs, in-between jobs, and next chapters.

The chain founded by Haft and Harrison Suarez said customer numbers have remained low since the COVID pandemic, and struggles remained despite also operating a roastery and distribution business. Documents showed the company began putting itself up for sale in 2021, and that the bankruptcy filing was made after reaching an agreement with a possible company.

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Compass leadership has requested to end the leases on several properties, including its former headquarters and roastery on Okie Street, Northeast, which was closed in Dec. 2025. The company has seen previous legal disputes with Ivy City over the roastery location.

Suarez sued Haft and his father in 2025, claiming the pair lied about Suarez having an equal share in the company. Suarez, who met Haft in college and both served as Marines, said he was cut from the company in 2021.

Documents show the company has 100-200 creditors. EagleBank, the Small Business Administration, Square, and inKind have filed statements claiming a total of $1.7 million in liens on Compass Coffee.

Compass also owes roughly $5.2 million to over insider and outside investors on unsecured convertible notes, while about 100 others have claims totaling $4.8 million. Most of the $4.8 million comes from past due rent, unpaid purchase amounts for store acquisitions, and unpaid accounts to suppliers and other vendors, according to a statement filed by Haft.

Filing for Chapter 11 could allow Compass to pay back its lenders, both secured and unsecured, according to Haft in a legal filing.

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Washington, D.C

DC-area Catholic leaders exempt parishioners from Sunday Mass over upcoming weather

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DC-area Catholic leaders exempt parishioners from Sunday Mass over upcoming weather


The Archbishop of Washington on Friday issued a rare decree, offering thousands of Catholics in D.C. and much of it’s Maryland suburbs an optional exemption from Saturday and Sunday Mass due to expected winter weather.

Leaders from the Diocese of Arlington, which oversees Catholic churches in Northern Virginia and over 430,000 parishioners, provided a similar statement for Sunday, Jan. 25.

Both groups said the exemption is optional, but urged safety for those who want to attend a Sunday Mass.

“No one is required to make use of this dispensation. It is certainly preferable to attend Mass if it is possible to do so according to one’s prudential judgement,” according to a portion of a written decree from Washington Archbishop Robert McElroy. The Washington Archdiocese has over 600,000 parishioners.

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Catholics, per church law, see it mandatory to attend a Sunday Mass in full every week and certain special events called Holy Days of Obligation. They can be missed for personal reasons in many cases or by a dispensation.

The Washington Archdiocese issued a similar exemption decree for the COVID-19 pandemic.



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Thousands expected for DC March for Life 2026

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Thousands expected for DC March for Life 2026


Road closures and parking restrictions begin Friday as thousands of people are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 March for Life.

The annual anti-abortion rally is scheduled to begin around 11 a.m. on the National Mall, followed by a march to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The pre-march rally, themed “Life is a Gift,” will feature several high-profile speakers, including Vice President JD Vance, who is appearing for the second consecutive year. President Donald Trump is set to deliver a pre-recorded message.

SEE ALSO | Wyoming Supreme Court rules to keep abortion legal, citing state constitutional violations

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Friday’s march comes as bitterly cold conditions settle into the region. The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory for most of the DMV on Friday, a sure sign that a sharp blast of Arctic air is settling in.

Drivers should expect traffic impacts throughout downtown D.C. and near the National Mall.

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

  • Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 7th Street to 3rd Street, NW
  • 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Madison Drive, NW
  • 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • 6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • 3rd Street from Indiana Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
  • Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, SW

The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

  • Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NE
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 7th Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
  • 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Madison Drive, NW
  • 12th Street Tunnel
  • 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 9th Street Tunnel
  • 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • 6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • 3rd Street from Indiana Avenue, NW to C Street, SW
  • Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
  • Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, SW
  • Independence Avenue, SW from 4th Street, SW to 2nd Street, SE

The following street may be closed for public safety to vehicular traffic from approximately 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

  • 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
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Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, event organizers have shifted more toward care for mothers and children during and after pregnancy.

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Washington, D.C

Issues inside Cedar Hill hospital now catching the attention of DC leaders

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Issues inside Cedar Hill hospital now catching the attention of DC leaders


7News first reported on serious staffing and care issues at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center last fall.

The district promoted the public/private partnership as life-changing for an underserved area of DC that was in desperate need of a state-of-the-art hospital.

However, 7News uncovered that Cedar Hill is still plagued by problems, and as some see it, falling short of its promise.

“We’re talking about $434 million in taxes raised to (for) this hospital,” said Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White. “Universal Health Services has not done a great job providing quality services.”

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Months after Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center opened, 7News reported on documented violations related to patient care.

Thursday, 7News discovered issues at the hospital have gotten the attention of city leaders.

“If you’re going to sit up here and invest all this money into the hospital and put it here as we advocated for, then again, do right by the people,” said Ward 8 Board Education member and mother LaJoy Johnson- Law. “If you promised A, B, C, D, and E, then the community deserves A, B, C, D, and E.”

Johnson- Law brought her daughter to Cedar Hill for care. However, after a 9.5-hour wait, Johnson–Law said Cedar sent her to another hospital because they couldn’t treat the girl.

“It really does hurt because everybody wants this hospital to be so successful,” Johnson- Law said. “And it still can be.”

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7News spoke with Councilman Trayon White on Thursday, not long after what he calls an intense meeting with the hospital board. White said Cedar Hill does not have the staff or the systems.

“We’ve had more services at United Medical Center than we have in this hospital,” said White. “We’re short almost 500 employees, the fully staffed, this hospital.”

Councilman white also told 7News the hospital is losing millions right now.

“The billing has not been correct since the hospital opened,” said White.

7News asked the councilman if he would feel comfortable sending a family member there.

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“Depending on the issue,” said White.

White and Johnson-Law aren’t the only city leaders wanting answers about what’s going on at Cedar Hill.

7News learned that multiple council members have sent letters to the hospital asking the same questions.

Councilman white also suggested D.C. leaders might call hospital administrators to testify about the situation before the full city council.

7News reached out to G.W. Health, which runs Cedar Hill in partnership with Universal Health Services, but did not hear back from them in time for this report.

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