Washington, D.C
‘Joy inside of struggle’: Line dancing seeing resurgence in DC area and beyond
As the sun sets on a chilly Thursday night in Morningside, Maryland, dancers are making their way into the VFW.
“You’re not worried about the light bill that’s due. You’re not worrying about work tomorrow, because you’re dealing with today,” line dance instructor Deirdre Seabrook said.
Line dancers from around the D.C. area come together to learn the latest routines and revisit favorite dances. Some come to dance despite great adversity.
“We have a lot of people, government workers, who have lost their jobs. But one thing about the line dance community, it’s truly a community, and we look out for one another,” Seabrook said.
Others love the camaraderie.
“Line dancing to me is like freedom,” dancer Jeanette Cherry said.
Urban line dance is more than well-choreographed expression; for many, it’s a form of Black joy, a call to community and alliance and an expression of unity in the face of an oppressive environment for many people of color.
On this night, the oldest dancer was 87. The youngest was 28-year-old Alexia Jones.
“It don’t matter who you are, where you are, what your level of dance level is. If you come, you will definitely be embraced,” she said.
With the growth of online platforms such as TikTok, videos of urban line dances often go viral, with millions of people quickly learning and creating new steps to older R&B classics, creating a recent resurgence in urban line dance.
‘How do we create community in this moment?’
News4 visited Howard University’s College of Fine Arts to get a better understanding of the origin of urban line dance in America, which some historians trace back to enslavement and African and Caribbean influence.
“It’s always represented unity. It’s always represented unified movement and thinking about keeping the community in line, keeping the community moving together as one,” said Dr. Raquel Monroe, dean of the fine arts college. She has written about line dancing.
“When we think about it in terms of social justice, it refers back to the idea of: How do we create community in this moment?” she said.
Line dancing has been seen at protests.
“It is a way to demonstrate community. It’s a way to keep spirits high. It’s a way to demonstrate joy inside of struggle,” Monroe said.
Line dancing is just one example of Black joy as a form of resistance and self-preservation. Community organizers have also stressed the importance of investing in forms of self-care, social gatherings, supporting Black businesses and reading Black authors.
In December, the singer 803Fresh released “Boots on the Ground.” The song’s accompanying line dance spread quickly, with millions of views on TikTok.
As a newly elected president worked to quickly dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs and end federal careers that helped sustain many Black families in the D.C. region, the idea of “Boots on the Ground” took on a new meaning for many dancers, as if passionately popping their fans was political.
“Line dancing is a democratic form because it provides access to folks with different capacities and interests and ages, races,” Monroe said. “It, in and of itself, is a demonstration of democracy in motion.”
News4 worked on learning “Boots on the Ground” with some help from the VFW’s line dancers.
Jones reflected on the purpose of dancing.
“Regardless of what is happening and who is in office and what things they are doing or not doing, God is always in control. He’s number one,” she said. “There’s a time to cry, there’s a time to dance. We’re coming to dance.”
1,300 swimmers from 38 states came to D.C. for the Black History Invitational Swim Meet, founded by former Mayor Marion Barry to tackle swimming disparities in the Black community. News4’s Jessica Albert reports.
Washington, D.C
Could DC see one last blast of winter? Polar vortex could potentially bring late March chill
After chilly week, warmup ahead for DC region
It’s the last day of winter tomorrow and it sure felt like it on Wednesday, though a timely warmup is expected as we prepare to start spring! FOX 5’s Mike Thomas has the outlook for the rest of the week.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Don’t pack the winter coat away just yet. Forecasters say a potential polar vortex split could send colder air into the Washington, D.C. region before the end of March, bringing one last reminder of winter as spring begins to take hold.
What we know about the potential cold blast
Long-range forecast models suggest the polar vortex — a mass of cold air typically locked near the North Pole — could split by the end of March.
If that happens, colder air may shift into parts of the northern U.S., including the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Forecasters with FOX Weather say this setup could bring below-average temperatures to areas like Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia late in the month.
Polar Vortex (FOX Weather)
What local meteorologists are saying
While long-range models point to a possible late-month cooldown, FOX 5 DC meteorologists say a warmup is expected in the near term.
“It’s the last day of winter tomorrow and it sure felt like it on Wednesday, though a timely warmup is expected as we prepare to start spring!” FOX 5’s Mike Thomas said while outlining the forecast for the rest of the week.
That outlook underscores the uncertainty in longer-range projections, with warmer spring conditions expected before any potential shift later in the month.
What we don’t know yet
It remains uncertain exactly where the coldest air will settle.
That uncertainty will determine whether the D.C. region sees a noticeable cooldown or only a slight dip in temperatures.
How this could impact the D.C. region
The D.C. area may see a return to cooler conditions just as spring begins, though impacts could be less intense if the coldest air stays farther north.
While widespread snow is not currently expected, temperatures could still dip enough to bring a brief reminder of winter.
Polar Vortex (FOX Weather)
Is this winter’s final blast?
The polar vortex has been a key driver of cold outbreaks this winter.
Forecasters say this could be the last time it plays a significant role this season as warmer spring patterns take over.
What’s next in the forecast
Meteorologists will continue to refine the forecast in the coming days as models better determine how far south the cold air will travel.
Even if a cooldown arrives, temperatures are expected to trend warmer into April.
Polar Vortex (FOX Weather)
The Source: This article was written using information from FOX Weather and FOX 5 DC meteorologists.
Washington, D.C
Man who coordinated series of 7 robberies of Chinatown Walgreens sentenced to over 10 years – WTOP News
The man prosecutors say planned and coordinated a series of seven inside-job robberies of the Walgreens in D.C.’s Chinatown was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years and six months in prison.
The man prosecutors say planned and coordinated a series of seven inside-job robberies of a Walgreens in D.C.’s Chinatown was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years and six months in prison.
Gianni Robinson, 28, of D.C., conspired with two store managers — one of them his uncle — and another man who posed as a masked gunman, 26-year-old Kamanye Williams, to carry out the string of robberies between July 2023 and February 2024.
All four pleaded guilty in early 2025 to charges related to their roles in the robberies, which culminated in a special police officer shooting Williams during the final job.
“After police posted surveillance footage of his co-conspirator robbing the Walgreens, Gianni Robinson sent the YouTube link to the gunman with a laughing emoji. He thought the crimes he conspired on were funny,” U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said in a release. “Now, after seven robberies, countless traumatized employees and one man shot in the chest, Robinson isn’t laughing anymore.”
Robinson, prosecutors said, served as the “operational hub” for the robberies, funneling information from the conspiring store managers to Williams so he could access the manager’s office where a safe was located.
According to prosecutors, Robinson also coordinated getaway arrangements and dividing the stolen money. In their plea agreements, prosecutors said the group of four admitted to stealing and splitting at least $28,983 from the string of robberies.
Robinson’s uncle, Michael Robinson, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Williams was sentenced to more than 16 years behind bars. The other store manager, London Teeter, is scheduled for sentencing April 23.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
WASHINGTON – The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday is considering a proposal that would eliminate Washington, D.C.’s traffic camera program.
What we know:
Supporters call it an effort to curb what they describe as a revenue‑driven system, and opponents argue it would undermine road safety.
The markup is expected to be debated and likely advanced out of committee under the Republican majority.
The District operates more than 500 automated enforcement cameras, generating more than $267 million in revenue. Mayor Muriel Bowser says the program contributed to a 52% drop in traffic fatalities last year.
Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, who introduced the measure, has labeled the system a “revenue trap” and seeks to end both speed cameras and the city’s no‑right‑turn‑on‑red rule.
Federal transportation agencies consider speed cameras a proven safety tool, and nearly half of U.S. states allow some form of automated enforcement.
If approved by the committee, the bill would need to be scheduled for a House vote before heading to the Senate.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Office of the Mayor of DC and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Crypto Asset Recovery in 2026: How MiCA Regulation and Global Crypto Laws Are Changing Cross‑Border Cryptocurrency Fraud Investigations – FinTech Weekly
Markets keep the faith – but oil staying above $100 could test that optimism | Nils Pratley
Varying your exercise routine could add years to your life | CNN
Review: ‘Project Hail Mary’ borders on miraculous
New study challenges a site that’s key to how humans got to the Americas
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
4 House Dems vote against Women’s History Museum bill over biological women-only amendment, Republican claims
Iran attacks cut 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to 5 years: QatarEnergy
Cursive is back. But should students be learning the skill?
State Department to ask for bonds of up to $15,000 for visa applications from a dozen more countries
Russian tanker drifting in the Mediterranean Sea may explode
-
Oklahoma5 days agoFamily rallies around Oklahoma father after head-on crash
-
Michigan1 week agoOperation BBQ Relief helping with Southwest Michigan tornado recovery
-
Nebraska6 days agoWildfire forces immediate evacuation order for Farnam residents
-
Southeast1 week ago‘90 Day Fiancé’ alum’s boyfriend on trial for attempted murder over wild ‘Boca Bash’ accusations
-
Detroit, MI18 hours agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Georgia3 days agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Connecticut1 week agoExclusive | Ex-CBS anchor Josh Elliott back on Connecticut dating scene after ugly Liz Cho split
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts community colleges to launch apprenticeship degree programs – The Boston Globe