Washington, D.C
Police identify woman killed in Fort Dupont Park
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it has identified the woman who died after being shot in Fort Dupont Park Saturday afternoon.
MPD said that on July 13 at around 2:30 p.m., police were dispatched to the 3300 block of Fort DuPont Drive in Southeast for reports of an unconscious person in the park area.
Police then located 21-year-old Ambria Farmer, of District Heights Md, suffering from a gunshot wound. Farmer died at the scene.
Anyone with information should contact police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
MPD currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Washington, D.C
DC officials hold meeting over fallen Garfield Park tree that killed woman
WASHINGTON (7News) — On Monday night, D.C. officials held a meeting to discuss their response after a tree fell and killed a woman at Garfield Park last week.
The Urban Forestry Division under the District Department of Transportation cares for the more than 170,000 public trees in the District.
A department official said every tree in Garfield Park has been inspected no fewer than three times since 2016.
The tree that killed 35-year-old Sarah Noah of Southeast D.C. was inspected a couple of times in recent years over public requests for pruning.
READ MORE | Witnesses describe loud noises prior to deadly tree fall in Southeast DC park
One request was in December 2018. Officials said it was inspected that day and pruned four months later.
Another request was made in May 2022. It was inspected that day and pruned two months later.
Inspections showed the tree was listed in good condition with no indication of internal decay.
In fact, in October 2023 the North American Tree Climbing Championships was held in Garfield Park, and that tree was heavily used. Before the competition, experts inspected and assessed the tree and found no issues.
DDOT said this past April an independent consultant reviewed the trees for an upcoming playground renovation and found no issues with this tree.
DDOT did not provide any explanation as to what caused this accident.
READ MORE | Deadly tree branch incident in DC prompts safety assessment
“Even with that tree having fallen apart, there was no single defect or characteristic that made us go, ah, of course. This is, you may have heard me describe this earlier in the week as unforeseeable,” said DDOT Associate Director for Urban Forestry Division Earl Eutsler.
Attendees expressed concerns about the irrigation system at the park and asked whether the North American Tree Climbing Championships contributed to this accident, but Eutsler said those were not connected to this accident.
DDOT has reviewed all 261 trees in the park. 215 are in good or excellent condition. 6 are in poor condition and scheduled to be removed. All those trees are rather small.
The median diameter of the trees at Garfield Park is 14 inches. Very few trees are 45 inches or larger in diameter.
Washington, D.C
The scene of D.C.’s heat wave: Cooling centers, free water, canceled events
The D.C. area on Monday hit record temperatures for the second day in a row, with another high of 101. The weather forced officials to shutter outdoor day camps and sporting events and prompted Prince George’s County to push trash pickup an hour earlier through September.
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang forecasts the earlier half of this week is expected to reach the upper 90s and 100s through Wednesday. Elected leaders from across the region are warning residents to be careful.
“Reminder: we are in an Extended Heat Emergency through Wednesday, July 17,” D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) posted on X Monday morning. “Please stay cool and check on seniors and neighbors.”
The District has opened up nearly 120 cooling stations across the city for residents at community pools, community centers, and shelters for anyone in need of relief as the city braces for another week of triple-digit weather.
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and the company’s Doctors Community Medical Center have seen increased numbers of patients reporting to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat exhaustion, including employees who work outdoors, according to Sunil Madan, chief medical officer at the Lanham site.
Physical conditions can deteriorate over hours if people don’t take the proper precautions to replenish fluids and to rest frequently, in cool environments if possible, Madan said.
More severe heat illnesses can result in organ failure, especially for people who suffer from co-morbidity conditions, Madan said.
“Hydrate. Take breaks. Wear sunscreen. Wear a hat,” Madan said. “The information is out there, the warnings. But I do think the public needs to be more aware and heed. It’s a serious thing.”
D.C. Fire and EMS Captain Renaldo Bell said medics have responded to treat patients dealing with cramping, heat exhaustion and, in rare cases, heat stroke. Many calls result from people who get overheated while exercising in extreme heat and children who play in pools and lie out in the sun but fail to continually hydrate.
“The pool will keep you cool, but you’re actually sweating with the energy and playing and you’re losing a lot of sodium and electrolytes,” Bell said.
The city’s pools and cooling centers help lessen the number and severity of calls, Bell said, but responders still have concerns about elderly residents who may not venture outside.
“A lot of the time the elderly don’t like a lot of air, and then it gets hotter than they expect,” Bell said. “At this point you’re dealing with the heat stroke type of environments.”
Mild heat-related symptoms include cramping from a lack of replenishment of fluids. But as conditions worsen, heat exhausted patients may feel faint, sweat profusely and deal with nausea symptoms or vomiting, Bell said. People suffering from heat stroke may have headaches, dry skin, vomiting or fall unconscious.
Maryland’s most populated county — Montgomery — has opted to not open cooling centers, but is urging residents seeking relief to head to public buildings such as libraries and community centers this week.
“We don’t specifically set up specific buildings for cooling centers because historically we believe the majority of residents have access to air conditions,” said Mary Anderson, a county spokesperson. “That said, at the drop of the hat, we are ready to set up cooling stations if, for example, we knew all of Wheaton was without power.”
Free water will be available on Montgomery County Ride On buses.
In Prince George’s County, outdoor programs have been canceled while cooling stations remain open. The county has also opted to move trash removal one hour earlier due to conditions outside. Outdoor recreational programs in Prince George’s have been canceled for Monday.
Fairfax County in Virginia has also opened cooling stations. The county school district announced all activities such as team practices and other outdoor extracurriculars have been canceled.
As of Monday afternoon, the county had not closed any camps or parks. “We continue to encourage all parents — particularly those parents of participants in outdoor camps — to make sure their child comes prepared with appropriate clothing, water bottle and sun protection,” said county spokesperson Ben Boxer.
The city of Alexandria has suspended all outdoor programming until 8 p.m. Monday. This includes organized sports and camps, according to Ebony Fleming, the chief spokesperson. The parks are still open.
Loudoun County has also not yet closed parks or community facilities, according to Kraig Troxell, a spokesperson for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Cooling centers are open for residents.
Washington, D.C
13-year-old charged with armed carjacking at Northwest DC gas station
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Police in D.C. said officers arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection to an armed carjacking that took place at an Exxon gas station in Northwest.
Around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the teen approached the victim with a gun in the 3500 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest, and demanded the keys to the car. The victim complied and the teen drove away.
Police said shortly after, officers located the vehicle and the 13-year-old in Southeast.
Police arrested and charged him with armed carjacking.
According to data from the MPD, carjackings are down across the District by nearly 50%.
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Film Review: The Bikeriders – Soundsphere magazine
-
World1 week ago
After Moscow, Hungary's Orbán makes surprise visit to Beijing
-
Fitness1 week ago
Exercise with Purpose: Bar Talk with Eric Bartosz – Saucon Source
-
World1 week ago
Australia appoints special envoy to combat anti-Semitism
-
California1 week ago
Two arrested in connection to separate California wildfires
-
News1 week ago
Biden tells Hill Democrats he is staying in the race | CNN Politics
-
News1 week ago
How to fight shrinkflation? Pay attention to unit prices at grocery stores
-
World1 week ago
India’s Modi makes first Russia visit since Ukraine invasion