Washington, D.C
WATCH: Lyft driver assaults rabbi moments after picking him up in Dupont Circle
Rabbi assaulted by rideshare driver in Dupont Circle
D.C. police are searching for this Lyft driver, who was caught on camera assaulting a rabbi in Dupont Circle in broad daylight.
WASHINGTON – D.C. police are searching for a Lyft driver who was caught on camera assaulting a rabbi in Dupont Circle in broad daylight.
Rabbi Menachem Shemtov says it was just after morning prayers around 10 a.m. Sunday when the rideshare driver pulled up to him on Leroy Place, Northwest, just north of Dupont Circle.
Shemtov got in the car and the driver made a right turn before suddenly pulling off the road just a block away and telling Shemtov to get out because he didn’t like his “energy.” Then it turned violent.
Shemtov is the rabbi at Chabad Georgetown where he teaches students to be proud of their Judaism.
He says when he got out of the car, the driver called him “weird” and started hitting him. He tried to get a picture of the license plate when the driver knocked the car door into him and started hitting him with his keys – cutting Shemtov’s face above and below his right eye.
“I did not think it would happen in our nation’s capital and through an authorized rideshare of all places,” Shemtov said. “I hope that it won’t happen again. This is a time when we have to be careful and look at our surroundings and make sure that no one’s out to get us. Just continue being who we are and not let this intimidate us in any way and I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Lyft says they unequivocally condemn the behavior. They have deactivated the driver and encouraged riders and drivers to report safety concerns.
Police say the case is still open and the driver remains at large. Anyone with information is asked to contact MPD.
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Washington, D.C
Rockport Elementary students chosen to help decorate National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC
ROCKPORT, Ind. (WFIE) – Officials with Rockport Elementary say the school has been selected to be part of the 2025 America Celebrates display at the National Tree Lighting in Washington, DC.
They say it’s part of a national program in collaboration with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and the US Department of Education.
Officials say 59 schools created original ornament designs that reflect the culture and landmarks of their home state or territory.
Rockport Elementary’s contributions are now featured in the State Ornaments collection for Indiana.
Officials say each ornament was designed by a student to tell a story of our community and state and celebrate our heritage.
Eighteen ornaments were created to be displayed on the Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, DC, surrounding the National Christmas Tree during the 2025 lighting ceremony.
“It is a tremendous honor for our students to represent Rockport Elementary on a national stage. Being selected is an experience our students and our whole school community will always remember. We were thrilled to learn that our designs were chosen to represent not only Rockport Elementary and Spencer County, but the entire state of Indiana. The opportunity shines a spotlight on the creativity, hard work, and pride that our students bring to everything they do. I’m so excited to see their art showcased at the national level, said Art teacher, Veralyn Neal.
The public is invited to view the America Celebrates display during the December viewing season, December 6 through January 1, 2026.
Copyright 2025 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Washington, D.C
More Trouble In D.C. At The BBC: Washington News Editor Exits After Complaints Over Management Style
EXCLUSIVE: The BBC News channel’s Washington D.C.-based executive producer has left abruptly after complaints were made about the way he spoke to colleagues in the newsroom.
Deadline understands that concerns were raised about Adam Levy‘s management style, with a recent incident proving to be the final straw. Two sources alleged that he spoke to a young producer in a way that was considered to be aggressive after a mistake was made during a news shift.
Levy, who left earlier this month, declined to comment when contacted by Deadline. A BBC spokesman said the broadcaster does not comment on individual HR matters.
Levy’s swift exit comes at a tumultuous time for the BBC’s Washington bureau, with the UK broadcaster facing a $1B lawsuit from Donald Trump after a bungled Panorama edit of the U.S. president’s January 6 speech. Although the mistake was not made by U.S.-based journalists, they are at the frontline of now tense relations with the White House.
Paul Royall, the executive news editor of the BBC News channel, visited Washington this month to help steady the ship. His trip was planned before Levy’s exit, but sources noted that Royall was in the city in an effort to boost morale.
Levy was appointed as the BBC News channel’s news editor and executive producer in March 2023, playing a key role in building live programming out of Washington. Levy previously worked at CNN, where he was a producer on shows including State of the Union with Jake Tapper.
Sources close to Levy pointed to his career before the BBC as a team player without issue. These people said he was known for his passion and diligence in tough circumstances. One former CNN colleague said Levy was a respected colleague at the network, working with people at every level of the newsroom.
Levy’s exit comes at a time when the BBC is cracking down on alleged abuses of power following a workplace culture review earlier this year. In September, BBC chair Samir Shah said “very serious disciplinary actions, including dismissals,” have taken place since the review.
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