Washington, D.C

Shooting hoops, changing perceptions: D.C. students face off vs. FBI

Published

2 years ago

January 28, 2024

Shooting hoops, changing perceptions: D.C. students face off vs. FBI

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray stood on the sidelines, cheering each time the announcer called out a player’s name on the high school basketball team.

No. 11, Brendan Grant. No. 1, James Johnson. No. 10, Sean Hall.

Then, it was Team FBI’s turn.

“Our players want to see how it goes before they decide if they’re announced,” Wray quipped on the sidelines right before the agency’s roster was introduced.

U.S. officials pick Greenbelt, Md., for new FBI national headquarters

The FBI basketball team faced off Friday afternoon against a group of high-schoolers from across D.C. on an indoor basketball court at the agency’s downtown headquarters. The FBI employees scrambled for loose balls against their faster opponents, groaned at what they viewed as referees’ bad foul calls, and used their bodies to block the shots of the still-lanky teenagers half their size.

The agents took an early lead in the competitive 30-minute game.

“The longer the game goes on, the more youth is likely to triumph,” Wray quietly commented to the FBI workers standing with him on the sidelines.

The basketball game was a few years in the making and part of top FBI officials’ efforts to build relationships between the powerful law enforcement agency and young people in the D.C. region.

FBI agents and leaders typically don’t wear uniforms and aren’t visible in communities like local police departments are. The idea was to find ways to show students FBI facilities, explain to them the scope of the agency’s work — and introduce them to different FBI career paths, informing them of the education decisions they would need to make for various jobs.

The dozen-plus teenage boys in Friday’s game were members of the basketball team at Roosevelt High School, a public campus in Northwest Washington where the majority of students are Black and Hispanic and come from low-income families.

The event was organized with the city’s Department of Park and Recreation. The Roosevelt players also participate in that agency’s Roving Leaders program, which connects youths with mentors and outreach workers to help them develop skills to nonviolently defuse conflicts.

D.C. Public Schools was closed for a staff work day Friday, and the students arrived to the FBI headquarters in the early afternoon. They first heard speeches from FBI employees, then took a tour through an interactive museum in the building, learning about hidden cameras, the FBI’s 10 most wanted list, and how a case moves from its early investigative stages to a trial. FBI employees took the tour with them, chatting with the students and answering questions along the way.

The students said in interviews that they hadn’t thought much before Friday about what the FBI actually does on a day-to-day basis. Some said they had a negative perception of the agency’s work. They were aware the agency had a particularly fraught past with Black communities, with the FBI historically devoting resources to covertly surveil Black activists, including Martin Luther King Jr.

FBI officials acknowledged that history and said that part of building a stronger agency relies on recruiting agents from diverse backgrounds who can bring different ideas and experiences to investigations.

“I’m surprised by how many African American people work at the FBI,” said 17-year-old Brendan Grant. “I didn’t expect so many people who look like me and my teammates.”

Fifteen-year-old James Johnson, who spent part of the day carefully reading details of the FBI’s most famous cases, said he was considering applying for the FBI’s summer program for high-schoolers after learning about the different careers the agency offered.

“I just knew the FBI seemed harsh and violent,” Johnson said. “I definitely have new ideas now. They said there’s more than 2,000 different job roles.”

D.C. and FBI officials at Friday’s event stressed to the teenagers that community relationships were critical to the success of the FBI’s solving crimes. They said, whatever career path the students choose, building relationship with leaders and neighbors in their communities would be key to making positive decisions.

Robert J. Contee III — the FBI’s assistant director of the Office of Partner Engagement who was the D.C. police chief until 2023 — stopped by in the afternoon to speak with the students. As he entered the room, he spotted the students’ basketball coach, Rob Nickens, and tapped his shoulder and greeted him as Coach Rob. While growing up, the two men played on the same basketball team at the now-closed Spingarn High School in Northeast Washington. They didn’t know they would run into each other Friday.

“Some people don’t think too highly of the FBI,” Contee said. “These men and women come here every day and work hard just for you guys.”

Nickens jumped in and said his friendship with Contee underscores the importance of maintaining positive relationships throughout life — even if they are with people in law enforcement. Nickens said that he once called Contee directly when he was police chief to talk about two fighting teenagers whose dispute he feared could turn deadly. Contee provided resources for the involved families and helped them resolve the conflict before anyone was hurt.

He said that relationship saved the lives of those children.

After the tour and speeches, it was time for the basketball game.

David Sundberg, who heads the FBI’s Washington Field Office, showed up and watched the entire game. Wray’s top deputies, including his deputy director and chief of staff, also took a break from work to catch the action.

They said they hope to turn the experience into a regular event, with children from schools across the D.C. region traveling to FBI headquarters to play volleyball and basketball games against agents.

“The FBI looks more opaque in the communities we are in than local police departments,” Sundberg said. “This puts a human face to it.”

The FBI employees were far more skilled and competitive than the teens had expected. They didn’t seem to know that the FBI hosts its own basketball league among staff.

But in the end, Wray’s prediction was right: The high-schoolers triumphed and beat the agents 35 to 31.

“It was a competitive game,” said 15-year-old Sean Hall. “They were better than I thought.”

“I was shocked. I thought they were going to be a little slower,” Johnson said. “But they were balling.”

Wray briefly addressed the students. He said he hopes to seem them again — either at another basketball game, or through one of the agency’s high school and college programs.

“Or maybe at Quantico,” he said, referring to the FBI’s training headquarters in Virginia. “receiving your FBI credentials.”

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Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Chance of severe storms before cooler Monday

Published

8 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Storm Team4 Forecast: Chance of severe storms before cooler Monday

4 things to know about the weather:

Storms overnight, severe chance
Cooler Monday
Clouds to start, then sunshine tomorrow
Cold next few mornings

After a very warm afternoon, there is a cold front that is approaching. The front will move through the area tonight, sparking showers and storms, then delivering colder air for the start of the new workweek.

There is a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for our counties to the far northwest, including Maryland counties Washington, Allegany and Garrett, and a portion of Morgan county in West Virginia. The watch is until 10 p.m. Sunday.

There is a chance for storms to be severe tonight, including the risk of damaging winds and hail. The risk decreases through the night as the storms move south and east with the front. The storms may be noisy tonight with thunder, heavy rain, and hail. Expect drier conditions after sunrise tomorrow.

Do not forget your jacket Monday. The cooler air behind the front keeps the area in the 50s all day. Lows will drop into the 30s Monday night.

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

QuickCast

TONIGHT:
Storms, severe possible
Wind: N 5-10 mph
Low: Mid 50s

MONDAY:
Showers before sunrise
AM clouds, afternoon sun
Wind: NNW 10-15 mph
Gusts @ 25 mph
High: Mid-Upper 50s

TUESDAY:
Mostly sunny
Wind: N light
High: Low 50s

WEDNESDAY:
Sun & Clouds
Wind: SW 5-10 mph
High: Lower 60s

SUNRISE: 7:06 AM SUNSET: 7:22 PM
AVERAGE HIGH: 58 AVERAGE LOW: 40

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

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Washington, D.C

DC weather: Taste of summer turns to storms Sunday night into Monday morning

Published

20 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

DC weather: Taste of summer turns to storms Sunday night into Monday morning

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Forecasters are calling for a near-perfect spring setup on Sunday, with plenty of sunshine, blooming cherry blossoms, and temperatures soaring into the low to mid-80s across much of the region.

However, the warm, quiet weather won’t last long.

By the numbers:

After a cool start in the upper 40s and low 50s, temperatures are rising quickly under sunny skies. Many areas are expected to climb into the 80s this afternoon, with some spots pushing the mid to upper 80s.

It’s a brief but welcome preview of summer, and conditions couldn’t be better for getting outside.

With cherry blossoms nearing peak bloom, it’s an ideal day to head to the Tidal Basin, take a walk, or spend time outdoors with family and friends.

What we know:

A strong cold front moving in from Pennsylvania will bring increasing clouds later on Sunday, followed by a chance for showers and thunderstorms late Sunday night into early Monday.

Some storms could produce damaging winds or even small hail, especially to the north.

By Monday, the cold front pushes through, bringing a noticeable change.

Gusty winds up to 30+ mph develop in the afternoon
Temperatures fall back to more typical early spring levels
Morning showers taper off, with improving conditions later in the day

What’s next:

Looking ahead, the pattern stays active.

After a brief warm-up into the 60s midweek, another strong cold front is expected Thursday into Friday, bringing the next chance for unsettled weather.

The Source: Information from this article was provided by the FOX 5 Weather Team.

Washington, D.C.Weather

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Washington, D.C

Military deployment in D.C. could get extended until end or President Trump’s term

Published

1 day ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Military deployment in D.C. could get extended until end or President Trump’s term

WASHINGTON (7News) — The District is reacting to the Pentagon’s alleged plan to keep National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C. until 2029, the end of President Trump’s term, and his mission to make D.C. safe and beautiful.

At least 2,500 National Guard members have patrolled D.C. streets since last August.

ALSO READ | Judge rules National Guard deployment into DC was illegal; ruling faces appeal

Their deployment was initially scheduled to end in 2025. Then it was extended until the end of 2026. But now this could be home base for another three years.

Two U.S. officials told ABC News that the agency is planning to maintain a presence in the city through early 2029.

“We don’t need to have theater on our streets,” said Tropper Sanders, who has lived in the District for nearly 30 years.

The president first deployed the National Guard last summer, even as the District was already seeing historically low crime rates.

“There are crime and safety issues, but that should be handled with law enforcement and government,” said Sanders. “I think at a time when we are at war, we are expecting so much of our service members. We should not use their time in ways that are not essential.”

Some residents and city leaders said the military has helped clean up the city, but not with crime. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said he does not see the point of keeping the National Guard in D.C.

“I know that the President said it was all about law and order,” he said. “The National Guard does not do law enforcement. What I see is them walking around, during the snow, creating a path they were very good at, shoveling snow.”

Residents like Shanti Israni told 7News their presence is noticeable.

“They open people’s doors,” said Israni. “If there are people who need help with groceries, they’ve helped the people with groceries. They’re helping. But also, my hope is that people in the community can also fill that role.”

Mendelson said the deployment is costing taxpayers significantly.

“It could be $1.6 million a day,” said Mendelson. “That’s like between almost $400 million and $600 million a year. I don’t get the point.”

If they are ordered to stay, community members told 7News they want the city to put the services to good use.

“The mayor or the next mayor should really look at where the true hotspots or issues are where we can make the most of these servicemembers’ time,” said Tropper. “That does not necessarily have to be about crime. There are a lot of things that we can deploy these talented people to deal with. If we have to do this, then let’s at least figure out how the District can be so much better in 2029.”

“I also realize that the people making these decisions probably know a lot that we don’t,” said Israni. “If our country’s at war, I wonder if risks in D.C. will increase. If D.C. will become more of a target, maybe in that way it might be helpful to have people, but, if again, if the mission is keeping D.C. safe and beautiful, D.C.’s saving people already.”

A Pentagon spokesperson told ABC News, “The Department of War is committed to supporting the president’s mission to address the epidemic of crime in the nation’s capital. There are no announcements to make at this time.”

The District has been pushing back on the president’s deployment, with expectations of continuing to do so.

SEE ALSO | Legal questions grow over National Guard’s long-term presence in DC

“There’s pending litigation now,” said Mendelson. “The attorney general won preliminarily, and then it went up to the court of appeals, where there was a stay. It’s all pending. There’s further legal argument.”

Officials told ABC News the deployment plan was finalized last year and is awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature.

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