Washington, D.C
Leaders in DC, Maryland, Virginia prepare for Trump transition
DMV prepares for Trump administration with mixed anticipation
Maryland and Virginia are gearing up to welcome in a new administration to Washington. While Virginia’s Republican governor hopes to benefit, Maryland’s governor is facing questions about a move to hire an outside contractor to deal with the president-elect. It comes as the state faces a budget crisis.
WASHINGTON – Leaders in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are gearing up to welcome the Trump administration back into Washington.
While Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin hopes to benefit, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is facing questions about a move to hire an outside contractor to deal with the president-elect. It comes as the state faces a budget crisis.
That contract pays the consulting company Accenture $190,000 to provide the Moore administration with “risk management and scenario planning,” which may mean possible legal challenges to the Trump White House.
In an email to FOX 5, a spokesperson for Gov. Moore’s office defended the move, saying hiring outside consultant help is a standard part of any organization and that the state needs to prepare for any challenges it may face.
But Maryland’s House Republican leader tells FOX 5 that with the state facing a possible billion-dollar budget gap, there are better uses for taxpayer dollars.
“I think we’d be better off to sort of have a bipartisan approach. Stop the partisanship, stop the constant 24/7 politics and work for things that make Maryland better,” said House GOP leader Rep. Jason Buckel.
DMV Democrats have been warning the incoming Trump administration could have a big impact on issues like the number of federal jobs in this area, from immigration enforcement to healthcare and policing.
“Locally, we must prepare to address the potential impacts of the new administration. The president-elect has recommitted to his goal of “dismantling government bureaucracy,” said Fairfax Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, a Democrat.
Tuesday night, the Democratic Board of Supervisors Chair warned that the Trump administration poses a “risk” but Gov. Youngkin, a long-time supporter of Trump, says the new administration will benefit Virginia.
“We’ll now have someone in the White House who believes in all of that so I look forward to having the wind at our backs as opposed to in our faces about everything that we’re doing because we’ve gone the bottom of job growth to near the top of the country,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also requested a meeting with President-elect Trump.
Bowser previously met with Trump during his first term. A spokesman for the mayor tells FOX 5 they’ve been in touch with the Trump team and don’t have a timeline on when or where that meeting will happen.
HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Hillsborough High School Debate Club, led by teacher Bob Fenster and co-advisor Louis DiGirolamo, traveled to Washington DC this past weekend to compete in the prestigious Princeton Model Congress.
While in the nation’s capital, the students had the opportunity to engage with alumni working in government and public policy.
The visit included a panel discussion featuring three of Mr. Fenster’s accomplished former students, representing diverse political perspectives:
Find out what’s happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- Daria Grastara (Class of 2013): CEO of Direct Persuasion, a full-service marketing agency serving political candidates, committees, and public affairs groups. Ms. Grastara has held senior roles in Republican political campaigns, developing and executing digital strategies.
- Yuval Levin (Class of 1995): Founding editor of National Affairs and director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. A prominent conservative thinker, Mr. Levin is a respected author and commentator on politics, culture, and public policy. He also served in the legislative branch early in his career.
- Zach Volpe (Class of 2019): Staff Assistant on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a Juris Doctor candidate at Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Volpe, who has worked for both Republican and Democrat senators, specializes in national security law and has contributed to research and commentary on a range of defense and foreign policy issues.
The panel discussion, showcasing a breadth of ideological viewpoints, provided current debate club members with valuable insights into careers in public service and the impact of policy decisions.
Fenster, a long-time educator at Hillsborough High School, has a remarkable track record of fostering student interest in civic engagement. Many of his former students have gone on to pursue successful careers in government, law, and policy.
Find out what’s happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“This trip was an incredible experience for our students,” said Fenster. “Hearing from our alumni who are making a real difference in Washington underscores the importance of critical thinking, debate, and public service. I’m incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.”
In addition to the panel discussion, the students also had the opportunity to connect with Aman Thakker (Class of 2013), Associate Vice President at The Asia Group and an Adjunct Fellow with the Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Hillsborough High School Debate Club celebrated a successful trip to the Princeton Model Congress competition, where several students received recognition for their outstanding performance:
- Sam Strauss (11) and Nirav Banerjee (12) earned Best Delegate awards
- Lohith Venkatesh (10), Annika Lambert-Smith (10), Aditi Polamuri (10), Sanjana Bhatta (12), and Fred Gordon (12) received Honorable Mentions
This trip highlights the lasting impact of dedicated educators and the potential of young people to shape the future.
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Washington, D.C
3 suspects armed with machine gun at large after morning robbery in Southeast DC: police
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three to four suspects committed an armed robbery in Southeast, D.C. and at least one was armed with a machine gun, according to police.
Police responded to the 4400 block of H Street for the report of an armed robbery on Wednesday morning.
The suspects are described as Black men, potentially teenagers, all wearing dark clothes with ski masks. Police say the suspects fled the scene in a 2017 Grey Hyundai Elantra with D.C. tags, license plate #GF8789.
According to police, the suspects were seen headed east on H Street towards Benning Road.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact police.
Friends, family and members of the D.C. boating community are mourning the loss of one of their own.
Loved ones say Tracy Simpson fell off of his boat and into the Anacostia River Monday evening and never resurfaced. He was 62 years old.
“He enjoyed being down here, being on the water,” said Tyrone Tolson, a friend of Simpson’s. “And as long as he was here, I guess that was his happy place.”
Less than 24 hours after his tragic death, his good friend and dock mate, James Holley, showed News4 where the two of them spent most of the last decade at the District Yacht Club.
“He’s always on my boat or I’m always on his boat because we were always here,” Holley said. “We were avid boaters. When people are not here in the winter, we’re here in the winter.”
Loved ones described Simpson as a devoted father and grandfather known for his generous spirit and eagerness to lend a hand on and off the water.
“He’s one of the first people that I met when I first started boating, and he gave me a lot of pointers,” said Simpson’s friend, Cindy Pearson. “He taught me a lot of ins and outs of boating.”
Family members said the certified captain was born and raised in Prince George’s County and was an army veteran who spent the last 30 plus years doing what he loved. They also said he was one of the first Black captains to do charters along the Anacostia River.
“He loved the water and he loved his family,” Holley said.
Friends described Simpson as a fixture in the boating community, a familiar face at many marinas, mentor and the life of the party.
“Tracy was such a big personality and such a big spirit and just so much fun,” Pearson said. “He was very creative in how he did his charters, and he was also a chef so we always had good food whenever Tracy was around.”
There is still no word on what caused Simpson to go overboard, and while they wait for more answers, friends say they will do everything they can to keep his memory alive.
“Pray for the family and God give them strength,” Tolson said. “He will definitely be missed.”
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