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Washington, DC to Offer Fare-Free Buses in 2023

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Washington, DC to Offer Fare-Free Buses in 2023


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Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais (AP)

In the course of the peak of the pandemic, cities throughout the nation experimented with free public transit. Whereas lots of these had been merely momentary experiments, one metropolis goes to make one aspect of its public transit free. The Related Press experiences that Washington, DC, will introduce free bus rides beginning in the summertime.

Below the plan, bus rides, which normally price $2, will likely be free to residents and guests inside metropolis limits beginning July 1st. As well as, 12 downtown routes may have 24-hour service, which might be a giant assist to the town’s nightlife (simply kidding, there is no such thing as a nightlife in DC). DC metropolis council member Charles Allen stated the transfer makes the town a frontrunner in public transit.

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From the AP:

Roughly 85% of bus riders are D.C. residents. The Metro system additionally serves neighboring suburbs in Maryland and Virginia.

About 68% of D.C. residents who take the bus have family incomes under $50,000, and riders are disproportionately Black and Latino in contrast with Metrorail passengers, in keeping with the council’s funds evaluation.

[…]

In D.C., the place bus fares quantity to a modest 7% of whole transit working revenues, the transit company could possibly extra simply soak up losses from zero fares, stated Artwork Guzzetti, the American Public Transportation Affiliation’s vice chairman of mobility initiatives and public coverage. He famous financial savings for metropolis taxpayers from rushing up boarding, which might enable for extra routes and stops, in addition to decreasing site visitors congestion and eliminating the necessity for transit enforcement towards fare evaders.

Presently, D.C. bus ridership stands at about 74% of pre-pandemic ranges on weekdays in comparison with 40% for Metrorail.

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One probably shocking individual voicing concern over the concept is DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Whereas she helps free fares, her concern is the estimated $42 million annual invoice. “District residents and taxpayers should pay for this program. Our neighbors, Virginia and Maryland, ought to soak up a few of these prices as their residents will profit from this program as properly,” Mayor Bowser stated in a letter to the town council.

Because the AP notes, DC is certainly one of many cities across the nation which are experimenting with free buses, together with Kansas Metropolis and Los Angeles. If nothing else, DC’s plan will likely be an attention-grabbing take a look at of an concept that has been debated for years.



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Washington, D.C

Donald Trump To Rename Washington DC To 'District Of America'? Fact Checking Viral Claims

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Donald Trump To Rename Washington DC To 'District Of America'? Fact Checking Viral Claims


A video recording of President Donald Trump allegedly suggesting renaming Washington, DC, has gone viral on social media. The clip only features the voice of the 47th President and claims to capture him in a “hot mic” moment. In it, Trump proposes changing the name of the US Capital from Washington, DC, to Washington, DA. The 78-year-old takes issues with the presence of the word Columbia in the name of the national capital and wants to change it to “America.”

“No more Washington, DC. I hate it. It makes no sense. They call it the District of Columbia. It’s got nothing to do with Columbia. It’s nowhere near Colombia. From now on, it will be Washington, DA. District of America. No more of this Columbia nonsense,” the President is heard.

The clip sparked curiosity on social media, with many questioning its authenticity. According to Grok, the video is a deepfake. A post by the AI chatbot stated that, “No evidence supports the claim that Trump wants to rename Washington, D.C., to “District of America” (DA). Research shows he’s focused on federal control of DC, not renaming it. The idea may stem from a mix-up over “Columbia,” but it’s likely misinformation. Trump has suggested renaming other places, like the Gulf of Mexico, but not DC.”

President Trump has changed the names of several places and landmarks in and around the US since taking over the Oval Office in January. He has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reverted Mt. Denali in Alaska to its original name, Mt. McKinley.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.





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Washington DC’s economy is headed for a recession as Trump slashes federal workforce | CNN Business

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Washington DC’s economy is headed for a recession as Trump slashes federal workforce | CNN Business



Washington
CNN
 — 

Tyler Wolf was laid off last week from his job as an employment attorney at the US Department of Health and Human Services. The 32-year-old had been saving up to buy a home and planned to move in with his girlfriend this year.

Wolf is now planning to move out of his apartment near The Wharf, a trendy waterfront business district in the city, by early April to live with his parents in Virginia. He has also cut back on his spending.

The Trump administration’s overhaul of the federal government, carried out in large part by Elon Musk’s government efficiency team, has left tens of thousands in Washington without a job. That’s threatening a key economic engine of America’s capital city — consumer spending.

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And with signs of strain already showing, economists at Moody’s say DC could slip into a recession as soon as this year.

Wolf has already adjusted his behavior accordingly as he looks for a new position in a competitive job market.

“I’m lucky that I don’t have children or a mortgage because it gives me a bit more flexibility, but this is definitely going to set me back quite a bit,” Wolf said. “Now I’ve been cooking at home, I try not to go out for drinks, and it’s been a bit disheartening seeing most open attorney positions here asking for a lot more experience than I have.”

There are about 2.4 million federal workers in the United States, excluding those employed by the military and the Postal Service — 17% of whom live in the DC metropolitan area, according to government data. So far, the Trump administration has fired at least 103,452 workers across the federal government nationwide (though some of those cuts are being challenged in the courts).

First-time applications for unemployment benefits in Washington spiked throughout February, likely reflecting contractor job losses, according to economists. That might just be tip of the iceberg: Forecasters at Oxford Economists project 33,700 federal job losses in the DC metro in 2025. And this year’s job market likely won’t be able to absorb all of those federal workers who are expected to be out of work, said Allison Shrivastava, an economist at jobs site Indeed.

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The job cuts Oxford Economics forecasts for the DC metro would amount to $4.9 billion in lost wages this year; federal workers’ paychecks account for 1.6% of the total wages earned in the metropolitan area, according to the group’s analysis. Contractors and others who indirectly depend on the government add more, as well.

People tend to pull back on spending when they no longer have steady income, and nonessential goods and services typically get hit first — ultimately generate a ripple effect throughout the economy.

Alexandra Reid, who lives in Washington with her husband and dog, was laid off last month from her program specialist job at the National Institutes of Health. The 30-year-old said losing her job halved her household’s income; the couple will likely need to dip into their savings just to get by.

“I have stopped pretty much all spending on nonessentials since I received the termination notice, only making food, grocery, and transportation purchases as a protective measure,” Reid said. “And this is just a terrible job market right now to be in.”

On Thursday, a second federal judge ruled that that thousands of probationary employees who were laid off by the Trump administration must get their jobs back temporarily. Reid told CNN that the ruling would apply to her and is hopeful she’ll get her job back soon.

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The impact on businesses and housing

Miloud Benzerga, owner of Timgad Café in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, told CNN that he estimates foot traffic to his shop is down about 25% to 30% compared to January, before the Trump administration began to fire workers.

He said his café, which employs nine people, managed to survive the Covid-19 pandemic, but he’s not so sure that will be case this time around.

“It make me sad that a lot of people are losing their jobs, and of course, that has something to do with my business, too,” Benzerga said. “If it gets worse, we’ll have to close, and I am not the only one. I’ve talked with other business inside food court.”

Commuters cross Pennsylvania Avenue near the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2025.

“We’re hearing concerns from businesses about the overall reduction in local business activity but also about the federal cuts,” Chinyere Hubbard, president of the DC Chamber of Commerce, told CNN.

She said the chamber has started to see “a lot of interest” from businesses in its resources and events, such as an upcoming small-business expo.

Adam Kamins, director of regional economics at Moody’s, said that the impact of President Donald Trump’s layoffs will be immediately felt by consumer-facing industries, such as retail and hospitality, and that the economic pain is expected to be more widespread later in the year.

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“The recession in DC will be noticeable during the second half of this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually started in March because we’ve already seen little indications of weakness,” Kamins said, adding that “there’s always a lag between when things are happening in the economy and when the data reflect those events.”

The metro’s housing market also suggests more people might be leaving the metro area amid Trump’s layoffs: Homes listed for sale began to pick up in late January, according to Realtor.com data, and were 56.2% higher in the week of March 8 compared to the same week a year earlier. That reflects a sharp acceleration from the second half of last year, when inventory growth hovered between 20% and 30%.

“So far, we’re seeing more homes on the market, and modestly lower asking prices, but the situation continues to evolve,” Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said in a statement. “While I expect many households will choose to stay in the area and pivot to find new job opportunities, some will likely choose to leave and retire or find a job elsewhere.”

“I’m more upset than anything because of the arbitrary nature of all this, but I do feel confident that I’ll get back on my feet — with time,” said Wolf.

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‘Degraded cable' contributed to apparent electrocution deaths of 2 DC dogs, Pepco says

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‘Degraded cable' contributed to apparent electrocution deaths of 2 DC dogs, Pepco says


After two dogs appeared to be fatally electrocuted while walking in Northwest D.C., Pepco said in a statement on Friday its investigation found there was “a fault in a degraded secondary cable.”

In early January, The Humane Rescue Alliance told News4 it received calls about two dogs dying after being apparently electrocuted at the same spot in front of 1140 19th St. NW, a few blocks south of Dupont Circle.

The first dog, King, suddenly collapsed while on a walk in the area. King’s owner, Neko Williams, told News4 he could feel mild electrical shocks coming from the ground. A stray dog was later found dead in the same spot, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance.

“After thoroughly investigating the area, Pepco identified the presence of voltage and promptly made the necessary repairs to ensure safety,” the energy company said. “Our thoughts remain with the pet owners affected by this situation.”

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While a degraded cable alone would not lead to the electrocutions, certain conditions created “a highly conductive environment,” Pepco said, citing melting snow, de-icing salt and debris in a manhole.

“This condition resulted in the sidewalk and nearby objects becoming energized,” Pepco said.

Pepco added that contact voltage is rare, but contact voltage and stray voltage can still be transmitted through metal objects including grates, traffic signals, streetlights and manhole covers when there are “faulty conditions.”

“Pepco inspects manholes and other infrastructure regularly for stray and contact voltage,” the energy company said. “Inspections are conducted by a third-party contractor and as part of their entry procedure they test the cover and/or grate for voltage. If voltage is ever identified on a Pepco manhole cover, it is prioritized for immediate resolution.”

Pepco said that because of the incident, they worked with Osmose — a company that specializes in detecting stray and contact voltage — to do a 131 linear mile voltage detection sweep of Downtown D.C., which showed no contact or stray voltage.

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“Pepco will continue to proactively review and enhance its response procedures to prevent voltage incidents,” the energy company said. “We are updating our reporting systems and training programs to continue to build on established practices for inspecting, detecting, and addressing stray and contact voltage issues.”



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