JACK AYLMER:  As the NFL’s Washington Commanders look to build a new stadium, they’re exploring a different type of trade negotiation. One that involves the state of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the federal government.

The team is looking for a new venue to replace their aging stadium in the DC suburb of Landover, Maryland.

DC has been trying for years to get the Commanders back into the District, using the prospect of re-developing the site of the team’s former home of RFK Stadium. The venue closed in 2019 and has been gradually deconstructed since then. And although demolition isn’t complete yet, the building itself is in disrepair, with the site around it largely empty.

But DC doesn’t own the stadium or the land. The *federal government* does. And the stadium fight found itself at an intersection with Congress’s annual must-pass bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

Now, the Washington Post is reporting Maryland’s senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin are offering DC’s government and the Commanders a trade of sorts.

They’ll allow DC to control the RFK Stadium site, But want DC to hand over one of its two Air National Guard squadrons… specifically the one with F-16 fighter jets… to Maryland. The Senators also want the Commanders to put out a statement, making clear where they want their next stadium to be and committing to help re-develop the site of the existing stadium in Maryland.

Maryland wants a National Guard flying mission, because the Air Force plans to convert Maryland’s into a ground-based mission.

DC leaders are wary. DC’s congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton released a statement saying, “D.C. rightly deserves to benefit from the land where RFK Stadium sits falling into disrepair and the exchange for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over the campus to D.C. should not come at the expense of the DCNG’s aviation resources.”

The Post reports NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders owner Josh Harris met with congressional leaders and Maryland’s senators this week. Congress will likely decide in the next few weeks whether to include the stadium’s status in the NDAA bill.

And while getting the RFK Stadium land would give DC a leg up in stadium talks, DC and the Commanders would still need to negotiate a deal before construction starts on a new stadium.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Jack Aylmer.

And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app.

WASHINGTON – D.C. police are asking the public for help tracking down those suspects responsible for the string of early morning robberies in the nation’s capital.

The seven attacks happened in just under two hours on Monday morning. FOX 5’s Sierra Fox spoke with some of the victims by phone who say they’re still processing those terrifying encounters. 

The thieves got away with eight iPhones, an iPad a Macbook, several wallets with hundreds of dollars worth of cash inside and even credit cards.

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“Definitely very, very concerning. I hate to hear that in the city in which I live for sure,” one DC resident said. 

The first robbery happened just after 6 a.m. on 10th Street in Northeast. In that instance, three suspects threatened a family.

The next attempt at 3rd and K Street in Northeast happened at 6:30 a.m. The robbery was unsuccessful because the victim fought back.

Just 25 minutes later at 6:55 a.m., one of the suspects held up someone at gunpoint and demanded their personal belongings on East Capitol Street in Northeast.

At 7 a.m., the thieves approached a victim on Burke Street in Southeast and did the same thing.

Thirty minutes later, the suspects assaulted a man and took off with his technology and money. Then at 7:46 a.m., a person was robbed at gunpoint on Constitution Avenue in Northeast.

MORE FROM FOX 5: Woman shaken, confused after man randomly punches her in Northeast DC

“When you get any density of people together, I think it’s going to be difficult. People are going to have difficulties and try to take advantage of each other,” another D.C. resident said. 

Investigators believe the suspects used this white getaway vehicle caught on surveillance cameras. In addition, they say these individuals allegedly used the stolen credit cards from a robbery to purchase items.

The victims tell FOX 5 that the persons of interest appeared to be teenagers.

One person who lives nearby the incidents said, “I would definitely discourage any young people from doing that kind of activity. I don’t think it’s helpful for their futures or helpful for people now. If you’re doing it for selfish reasons, it’s not going to be good for you, it’s not going to look good for you and it’s harming others and that’s really never a good thing.”

D.C. police are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest. If you recognize the suspects, contact authorities right away.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) is proud to announce the awarding of 18 new scholarships with the support of the United Health Foundation (up to $20,000) to graduate students from the Western United States on their journeys to become doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and physician assistants in our communities.

“We are deeply grateful to our leaders and sponsors whose support strengthens the path toward a more diverse and equitable health sector,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President of NHHF.

The Washington DC Awards Gala will be held on December 4th from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Hilton Washington DC, National Mall, The Wharf.

The National Hispanic Health Foundation thanks the following health leaders for their work in transforming government programs, academic institutions, private sector organizations, and local communities to increase access to health care. Washington DC Hispanic Health Leadership Honorees include: Congresswoman Nanette Barragán; Congressman Adriano Espaillat; Congressman Joaquin Castro; Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez; David J. Skorton, MD (President & CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges); Cristina Antelo (CEO of Feroz Strategies); and Sindy Escobar Alvarez, PhD, (Medical Research Program Director at the Doris Duke Foundation).

With immense gratitude, NHHF thanks all our scholarship gala sponsors across sectors for their generosity and dedication to supporting our mission to empower and diversify the next generation of health professionals. Platinum Sponsors include: United Health Foundation. Gold Sponsors include: Centene Corporation. Silver Sponsors include: Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance, Eli Lilly, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Media Partners include: El Tiempo Latino, Latina Publishers, Latina Style Magazine, Latino Leaders, and Rolli.

It is with great pleasure that the National Hispanic Health Foundation announces the following 2024 scholarship award recipients for the Eastern United States:

Natalia Perez Baez 
University of Illinois College of Medicine

Jhoely Duque-Jimenez
Weill Cornell Medical College

Angela Teresa Perez Villalobos
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Elyse Manzo Martin 
Tufts University School of Medicine

Yanilka Rodriguez 
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College

Devin Barzallo 
Case Western Reserve University of Medicine

Dariana Gil Hernandez 
Yale University School of Medicine

Ronald Arguete 
Howard University College of Medicine

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Jessica Schlaen 
Nova Southern University College of Dental Medicine

Margarita Nino
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine

Adele Shepin 
Saint Elizabeth University Physician Associate School

Maria C Arevalo 
City of University of New York School of Medicine Physician Associate

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Melanie Kapelson 
Rivier University School of Nursing and Health Professions

Eliam Aguilar Rollero
University of Puerto Rico- Medical Sciences Campus

Angela Gates 
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy

Megan Rebollar 
Mercer University College of Pharmacy

Bernardo Lopez Samayoa 
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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Sebastian Cota 
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Visit nhhfx.org for additional information about the gala and NHHF

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SOURCE National Hispanic Health Foundation