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Washington, D.C

Smithsonian Institute celebrates Earth Day in the community

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Smithsonian Institute celebrates Earth Day in the community


WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. went out into the community Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day holiday.

The Anacostia Community Museum and Smithsonian Institute’s second annual earth day celebration worked to engage the surrounding community with the earth.

Museum acting director Shanita Brackett said Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to highlight how communities can help the earth.

“It’s an opportunity for people to reflect back and in this particular neighborhood really thinking about how historic this place is to the Washington DC environment,” Brackett said. “Here on site today we’re handing out seeds, [there’s a stand for] Freshfarm where you can pick up produce, learning about recipes that you can actually create from what you might grow in your own backyard or from a farm nearby.”

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Anacostia is a community that faces a disproportionately high level of food insecurity. Freshfarm stand manager Price Holman said Freshfarm is one organization working to fix that.

“East of the [Potomac] River we have not as many grocery stores in some of these wards around here, so its really important that fresh food gets here and that our community has options,” Holman said.

Freshfarm values sustainability, making Earth Day a good opportunity for the organization to focus on the future.

“It really just takes us back to what are we going to need in the future, how are we going to continue to make sure what we’re putting in our bodies is nutritious, what we’re breathing in is still safe,” Holman said.

One highlight of the Earth Day celebration was a 3-D chalk mural of flowers and ducks from the artist group Chalk Riot.

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The mural’s designer said she wanted to highlight the nature of the surrounding Anacostia area.

“Earth Day is important because the residents love the nature and the community, and they always interact with it, and it brings them joy and peace,” Ann Gill said. “It just brings a recognition to people to take care of the earth that they live in.”

Earth Day started in 1970 and is celebrated every year on April 22.



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Washington, D.C

2 shootings in Northeast DC leave 3, including teen boy, hurt – WTOP News

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2 shootings in Northeast DC leave 3, including teen boy, hurt – WTOP News


Three people were injured Saturday afternoon in Northeast D.C. in two separate shootings.

Three people were injured Saturday afternoon in Northeast D.C. in two separate shootings.

D.C. police were first called around 1:20 p.m. to the 3600 block of Hayes St. NE.

Officers found two men when they arrived. Both were suffering from gunshot wounds. The men were taken to area hospitals, conscious and breathing.

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Police were then called about another shooting around 3:40 p.m.

When officers arrived at the 1200 block of 47th Place NE, they found a 14-year-old boy with a gunshot wound.

He was conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital.

Police do not have a suspect in custody for either case.

The investigations are ongoing.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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Washington, D.C

A brilliant afternoon in D.C. on Saturday was bookended by clouds

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A brilliant afternoon in D.C. on Saturday was bookended by clouds


Friday’s clouds lingered late, and may have hidden the Northern Lights from the D.C. area, but Saturday afternoon was bright and airplane wingtips sparkled in the sunshine during an aircraft flyby.

Mid-May weather in Washington possesses such potential for pleasure that even Saturday’s cooler-than-average temperatures seemed warm and welcoming, especially given the strength of mid-May sunshine.



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Washington, D.C

Northern lights forecast for DC, MD, VA: Will we see the aurora again Saturday?

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Northern lights forecast for DC, MD, VA: Will we see the aurora again Saturday?


The northern lights are visible to millions in the U.S. this weekend – including some near the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia regions.

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Several individuals across the region said they witnessed purple and green skies early Saturday morning. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch beginning Friday and lasting all weekend. It was later upgraded to an Extreme (G5) Geomagnetic Storm as it reached Earth. The watch was the first of its kind issued in nearly 20 years.

The effects of the storm were expected to possibly disrupt power stations, electrical lines, state spacecraft operations and various areas of communication. It poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids. So far, according to the Associated Press, there have been no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications.

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Could we see the aurora again Saturday?:

Northern lights aurora borealis forecast for DC, MD & VA for tonight and tomorrow night; G4 Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch issued (NOAA)

FOX 5’s Gwen Tolbart says as far as seeing the lights in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, we are expecting clouds, rain and possibly a rumble of thunder early this evening. 

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After the clouds and rain clear out, we could have a chance of seeing something, but it would more than likely be early Sunday morning, but all depending on how much clearing we actually get. It seems more likely towards the Pennsylvania and Maryland border, according to NOAA’s forecast for tonight and tomorrow.

The D.C., Maryland and Virginia Metro areas now have 73% – 67% cloud coverage forecast from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., more than 60% from 3 a.m. – 4 a.m., and an average of 56% to 57% from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. All of these periods also have the chance of some showers.

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NOAA suggests if the skies are clear, use the camera on your cell phone, as the newer cameras are more sensitive and able to capture more than the naked eye.

Northern lights forecast:

According to NOAA, a large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday. NOAA says the extreme geomagnetic storm continues and will remain in effect through at least Sunday.

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There is currently a threat of additional strong flares and CMEs will remain until the large and magnetically complex sunspot cluster rotates out of view, according to NOAA.

FOX 5’s Tucker Barnes says their forecast, in addition to the likelihood of rain and clouds in the area through the weekend, will lower the chances of seeing the northern lights in our region.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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