The D.C. government’s website is getting a complete revamp, a step city leaders hope will make it easier for residents, visitors and business owners to access the help they need.

The District unveiled a beta version of the new DC.gov — beta.dc.gov — and plans to have the redesigned site ready to launch before the end of the year.

The website’s overhaul is the first in more than a decade. It comes in response to feedback that it’s hard to find information on the current site without being efficient at using Google or other search tools.

“This website, it’s really going to eliminate the alphabet soup that you have to remember every day,” said Stephen Miller, the District’s chief technology officer. “So, do you need to know that it’s DPW that’s picking up your trash, or you just need to know that it’s dc.gov?”

The site is built on Drupal 11, which the city said has stronger built-in security features. It includes an integrated calendar and sections for seasonal government services.

Popular searches, based on site traffic data, will also be featured prominently on the main page.

“It’s going to show you, here’s popular services today, based on being a resident, based on being a new resident, based on being a job seeker, based on being a business owner, or based on just being a general resident of the city,” Miller said.

The project cost about $500,000 in dedicated funds.

“We’re setting this up so that you can just go in, say, ‘My trash was missed,’ and it’s going to tell you exactly how to fix that problem,” Miller said.

D.C.’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer is collecting feedback. Residents can leave comments on the beta site and at events at Haynes Senior Wellness Center and Eastern Market, among others, in the coming weeks.

An artificial intelligence-powered search tool, built using Google’s AI technology, will be included on the new DC.gov site after its official launch.

The District, Miller said, is “trying to clean up our content, because what we want to make sure is when we put AI into this site, it’s giving you the right information.”

“We see a lot of future use with AI,” Miller said. “I’d love to get to a point where it’s, ‘Hey Siri, renew my driver’s license,’ and we’ve laid out the foundation for something like that to happen in the future.”

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A 16-day state fair is among the biggest attractions of the country’s 250th celebration in Washington DC. The Great American State Fair, which features attractions from each of the 50 states, runs from 25 June to 10 July across the National Mall from the US Capitol to the Washington Monument.

The BBC asked visitors why it was important for them to attend the fair.

Video by Meiying Wu

Produced by Madeline Gerber

The Great American State Fair, celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday, opens Thursday, bringing a Ferris wheel, special exhibits and road closures to the National Mall.

D.C. residents and visitors may have seen a Ferris wheel towering 110 feet over the fairgrounds. It’s free to ride, and it’s the first-ever Ferris wheel to be on the National Mall, a Talley Amusements spokesperson said on social media.

Visitors will also find exhibits representing all 56 states and territories, fair organizers Freedom 250 said, although some states decided not to sponsor programming, several media outlets reported. Metro will showcase its newest and oldest railcars at the fair.

Expect road closures and Metrobus detours into July.

Great American State Fair hours

The Great American State Fair is free and opens to the public at 10 a.m. Thursday. It runs daily through July 10. Each day has a theme, including Make America Health Again (MAHA) Mondays and Military & Veterans Appreciation Day on Sunday, June 28.

Fair hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.

Fairgrounds will be open 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4, when President Donald Trump promised “the largest pyrotechnics display in the history of the world.”

Great American State Fair security: bag policy and prohibited items

Visitors must go through security at the gates on either 12th or 7th street.

“To enhance security screening and expedite entry into the event venue, all attendees will be required to follow the Clear Bag Policy,” the event’s website says. Bags are subject to inspection.

Bag policy: Each guest may bring one clear, see-through bag that does not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″. A small clutch purse not exceeding 10″ x 6″ x 2″ is also permitted. Anyone accompanying a child 6 or under can bring one diaper bag.

Prohibited items: Aerosols (including bug spray and sunscreen), animals, backpacks, food, water bottles, umbrellas, balls, drink tumblers, drones, glass and metal containers, packages, selfie sticks, sign supports, toy guns and weapons of any kind, including firearms, are among prohibited items. See a full list on the event’s website.

Driving and walking anywhere near the National Mall is drastically different as it’s being transformed for the state fair. News4’s Mauricio Casillas reports.

How to get to the Great American State Fair

Organizers recommend you take public transit or ride share. Nearby Metro stations include Federal Triangle and Smithsonian on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines; Archives on the Green and Yellow Lines; and Gallery Places on the Green, Yellow and Red lines.

You can use Metro’s Trip Planner tool or apps like Google Maps to get directions.

“All ride-share services (Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc.) must use the designated Ride-Share Pick-Up & Drop-Off areas. Locations will be updated and communicated at a later time,” the event’s website said on Thursday morning.

President Trump kicked off fair after artists dropped out

Trump formally kicked off the celebrations on Wednesday night with a rally that included a series of flyovers by stealth bombers, military bands and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA.”

“There has never been anything like the United States of America, and together we are making it bigger and better and stronger and far more exceptional than ever before,” Trump said.

Trump announced he would headline the event after several musicians pulled out of the event’s concert series. Some artists have said they were misled about the event’s theme and want to avoid political controversy.

The event is organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump that labels itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, NBC News reported.

The fair is just the latest event drawing crowds downtown, prompting extra security and road closures. It follows the UFC fight, problems with the Reflecting Pool and the debut of a FIFA World Cup fan zone.

In August, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will send cars speeding at 190 mph through D.C.

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