Washington, D.C
Government shutdown causes a real Boo at the Zoo – WTOP News
Visitors are expressing their disappointment that the Smithsonian museums and National Zoo will be closed to the public due to the government shutdown.
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Government shutdown causes a real Boo at the Zoo
The National Zoo’s annual event, Boo at the Zoo, has a new meaning this year.
It took until day 11 of the federal government shutdown before the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo in D.C. had to shut their doors and gates to the public for the last time.
They both were using last year’s funds to stay open during the shutdown.
The line to pull into the parking lot of the National Zoo was backed up on Connecticut Avenue on Saturday, as both tourists and locals attempted to get one last peak at their favorite animals.
Eight-year-old Molly was posing by the massive letters spelling out zoo while her mother took pictures.
“I saw pandas, I saw the sloth bear, and I went into the big ape house,” said Molly. “My mom said we can get ice cream.”
Molly and her mother Bettina were visiting from Palm Beach, Florida, and went to between four and five different Smithsonian museums since they arrived on Wednesday.
“I think that we’ll see a resolution soon, I hope, and in the meantime, I do hope that all the furloughed workers see their back pay,” said Bettina.
A lot of locals look at the zoo and the Smithsonian with pride when they show out-of-town guests their home city.
One of those is Vanessa Furtado, who along with her husband and son, brought her parents, who are visiting from Chicago, to the zoo.
“The fact that everything is free for people to come and see, is a big draw for folks,” said Furtado. “Big bummer when it’s shut down.”
Furtado was asked if she had a message for those in Congress.
“Come to the table and start talking to each other, hardworking government employees who are doing their jobs not getting paid. So, let’s end the shenanigans,” said Furtado.
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Flu cases surging around DMV region
Flu cases are climbing sharply across the D.C. region, with new CDC data showing at least 11 million cases nationwide so far. Health officials say a new variant now accounts for roughly 90% of recent infections.
WASHINGTON – Flu cases are climbing sharply across the D.C. region, with new CDC data showing at least 11 million cases nationwide so far. Health officials say a new variant now accounts for roughly 90% of recent infections.
FOX 5’s Stephanie Ramirez says local health departments are urging residents not to wait if they start feeling sick.
READ MORE: Maryland health officials warn of flu surge as hospitalizations rise statewide
The dominant strain this season is H3N2 subclade K, which has been circulating since September. So far, the flu season has led to an estimated 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, with older adults hit especially hard.
Maryland is currently reporting high flu activity, according to state health department data.
READ MORE: Flu cases surging in northern Virginia, health officials say
In Arlington, emergency department–diagnosed flu visits jumped from 19 on Dec. 6 to 120 on Dec. 27 — an over five times increase, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Fairfax County, a much larger jurisdiction, saw flu-related ER visits rise from 121 on Dec. 6 to 788 by Dec. 27, an over six-and-a-half-time increase.
Numerous roads in D.C. will be closed to traffic Monday evening for a fireworks show celebrating America’s 25th birthday.
Projectors have lit up all four sides of the Washington Monument nightly since 7 p.m. Wednesday for the “Illumination of America: Washington Monument Lighting.” The fireworks that lit up the National Mall on New Year’s Eve are making a return Monday night, which is the last night of the display.
The grand finale of the display comes with some parking restrictions and street closures.
Street and parking restrictions for Freedom 250 fireworks
D.C. police said Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 17th Street NW will be an Emergency No Parking zone from roughly 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The following streets will be closed to traffic from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.:
- Westbound 395 – no traffic toward Maine Avenue/Independence Avenue, SW
- Independence Avenue from 15th Street to 23rd Street, SW
- Constitution Avenue from 7th Street to 12th Street, NW (westbound traffic will be restricted)
- Constitution Avenue from 12th Street to 23rd Street, NW
- Virginia Avenue from 20th Street to 18th Street, NW
- 19th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to New York Avenue, NW
- 15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- Madison Drive from 7th Street to 14th Street, NW
Police said all street closures and listed times are subject to change.
“Freedom 250 is lighting up the Washington Monument as the world’s tallest birthday candle to kick off the nation’s 250th birthday year,” Keith Krach, CEO of Freedom 250, said ahead of the New Year’s Eve event.
Freedom 250 is the presidentially appointed committee planning the year-long celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday. It was created by the second Trump administration as part of the Department of the Interior, and is a separate organization from America250, which was created by Congress.
The event will “be looking at America’s past, present and what’s to come over the next 250 years,” Krach said.
“Primarily it will focus on the four pillars of Freedom 250, which is innovation; it’s also community and faith; it’s also on the beauty of our country as well,” Krach said. “And, you know, the other thing that’s great about that is that it’ll be something that will kind of be an animation and I think everybody’s going to enjoy it. So from adults to kids and everything.”
The event is free to the public, can be viewed from anywhere on the National Mall, and does not require tickets.
WASHINGTON (7News) — On Saturday evening, Metropolitan Police Department’s Seventh District officers responded to a fatal crash on I-295 northbound near Exit 1 for Laboratory Road, Southwest.
The incident occurred around 7:50 p.m. when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle, police said.
READ MORE | Notorious 295 speed camera rakes in $26M, while DC residents question its legitimacy
Prince George’s County police officers were already on the scene when the MPD officers arrived.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released the victim’s age or gender.
ALSO SEE | Woman killed after pedestrian-vehicle crash in Fairfax County
The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision remained at the scene.
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Police urge anyone with information about the incident to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
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