Washington, D.C
Usher rocks Washington DC stage after neck injury, Baltimore next
Usher had successful two nights in Washington DC after finally launching his long-awaited Past Present Future Tour following a brief delay.
The singer previously was supposed to start his tour in Atlanta on August 15 before he injured his neck during rehearsals last month. This pushed him to cancel his first three shows.
“My hope was that with physical therapy and medical treatment, I would be able to overcome the injury and be ready for opening night,” he explained in his August 15 statement. “Unfortunately, the injury has not healed yet, and my doctors have instructed me not to perform any shows this week.”
On Tuesday night, the R&B legend, 45, finally kicked off his two-hour opening night at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, in a dazzling black coat and hat, Variety reported.
He sported an all-red ensemble for the second night where he was joined by DC native musicians Wale, Raheem DeVaughn and E.U.’s Sugar Bear.
The eight-time Grammy winner also serenaded the crowd with songs from his ninth album, Coming Home, which was released in February.
Usher’s next tour stop is Baltimore, where he will perform at the CFG Bank Arena on August 23 and 24.
The North American leg of the tour will conclude with a three-night stand in Atlanta in December.
The European portion of the Past Present Future tour will kick off on March 29 at London’s The O2 Arena for an eight-night stand.
He also has performances lined up in Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin, followed by a finale in London in May.
The musician announced he would go on the career-spanning tour in December 2023, just weeks after ending his My Way: The Las Vegas Residency run.
Usher also has a concert film USHER: RENDEZVOUS IN PARIS hitting roughly 2,000 theaters worldwide between September 12 and 15.
Washington, D.C
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.
Washington, D.C
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%.
Washington, D.C
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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