Washington, D.C

Reno High Students prepare for national debate in Washington D.C

Published

9 months ago

March 14, 2025

Reno High Students prepare for national debate in Washington D.C

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Textualism, judicial restraint, originalism were all words thrown about inside one second floor classroom at Reno High.

The words may seem foreign and not easily understood.

At least those were the initial impressions of Asha Marryout. As a junior last year, she came to a class to see just what “We the People” was all about.

“I went in and sat in on the practices and honestly had no idea what anyone was talking about,” says Marryout. “So, my expectations were, it was going to be very hard. It was going to be stuff that was hard for me to understand.”

She applied any way and is in this year’s class which combines government studies and debate competition.

Students are engulfed in the U.S Constitution and then take that knowledge and plug it into U.S. Government, state governments, the courts, and other aspects of the law.

“You have to put in so much work, over breaks I’ll be staying at the university for like five hours a day five days a week,” says Spiros Anastassatos, a “We the People” student. “Though it may be a little stressful at times, it’s all worth it.”

An example of that: Winning the state “We the People” competition just two months ago.

The 26 kids are now preparing for the national competition in Washington D.C. in April.

“You get to argue with them all the time,” says Martin Peralta on the preparation with his classmates. “So, it’s a very good relationship I have with these people in this class. I think that allows for more in-depth learning.”

“I think however we are going to do… we will be awesome,” says Cruz Smith another “We the People” student. “And do the best we can do.”

And although they may not truly appreciate it yet, there will be life-long friendships made here, and memories of a class that was tough but made them better citizens.

But those thoughts are for another time.

The 26 students are hunkering down and preparing for that trip to the nation’s capital. They’ll represent their school and the state of Nevada. They are asking for the community’s help to pay for the trip.

For anyone who needs a reason to contribute, their teacher Richard Clark has many of them.

“These are kids that are curious,” says Clark. “These are kids that want a different experience. These are kids that are nerds. These are kids that are active in everything, and they are everything in between. They are competitive, they are well spoken. They are kind.”

To Contribute to Reno High, “We the People” students and their trip to Washington D.C. for national competition go to Qgiv, a unified fundraising platform for nonprofits. 2025 We the People Nationals – Reno High School

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Washington, D.C

DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium

Published

9 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium

The Commanders are set to build a new stadium in D.C., and the debate over how fans will get to and from games is happening right now. On Wednesday, city leaders will join Metro and the Washington Commanders to talk stadium transit.

Posted December 17, 2025 2:05am EST

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Washington, D.C

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

TNND — A new report from the House Oversight Committee alleges former D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to manipulate crime data. The committee released the report on Sunday, less than a week after Smith announced she was stepping down.

You’re lulling people into this false sense of security. They might go places they wouldn’t ordinarily go. They might do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association.

Included in the report were transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and the former commander currently on suspended leave. One was asked, “Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?” Their response, “Yes, I mean extremethere’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration.”

Every single person who lives, works, or visits the District of Columbia deserves a safe city, yet it’s now clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in our nation’s capital,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement.

“They are going to have to regain the public trust. Again, this is a huge integrity issue,” Brantner Smith said.

Among the reports findings, Smith’s alleged pressured campaign against staff led to inaccurate crime data. Smith punished or removed officers for reporting accurate crime numbers. Smith fostered a toxic culture and President Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. is working.

While Smith has not yet publicly responded to the report, she’s previously denied allegations of manipulating crime data, saying the investigation did not play a factor into her decision to step down at the end of the year.

My decision was not factored into anything with respect to, other than the fact that it’s time. I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family,” Smith said earlier this month.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement Monday, writing in part that “the interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release.”

According to crime stats from the Metropolitan Police Department, since the federal law enforcement surge started in August, total violent crime is down 26%. Homicides are down 12% and carjackings 37%.

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Washington, D.C

National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

Published

2 days ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

The first candle lit on the National Menorah near the White House in Washington, D.C., marked the first night of Hanukkah — and solemnly honored victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

The National Menorah Lighting was held Sunday night, hours after gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, and over three dozen others were being treated at hospitals.

Authorities in Australia said it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.

Organizers behind the National Menorah Lighting said the news from Australia, along with the bitter cold, forced them to consider whether or not to hold the annual event.

After consulting with local law enforcement, National Menorah Lighting organizers decided to hold the event and honor the victims.

Several D.C.-area police departments issued statements confirming there are no known threats to local communities, but are monitoring just in case.

Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich condemned the attack and said community safety is a priority.

“Acts of antisemitism, especially those meant to intimidate families and communities during moments of gathering and celebration, must be called out clearly and condemned without hesitation,” Elrich said. “I have heard directly from members of Montgomery County’s Jewish community who are shaken and concerned, and I want them to know that their safety is a priority.”

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