Washington
U. Of Washington & Villanova Given Historic Multimillion-Dollar Gifts
Villanova University has received a $40 million anonymous gift to help launch its new $1.25 billion … [+]
October has shaped up to be a very good month for higher education philanthropy. This past week, Villanova University and the University of Washington have received private gifts of $40 million and $45 million, respectively, adding to a lengthy list of historic donations given to colleges and universities this month.
Villanova University
Villanova University received a gift of $40 million from an anonymous donor as part of Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University, which was launched on October 5. The donation is the second largest individual gift in Villanova’s history and helps kick off its new capital campaign, which has a fundraising goal of $1.25 billion.
“This generous gift will strengthen our ability to advance Villanova’s educational mission and play a part in achieving our bold plans for the Villanova community set out in our Strategic Plan, Rooted. Restless.,” said University President Peter M. Donohue, in a news release. “I could not be more grateful for the continued belief and investment in the Villanova experience.”
The gift will be used to support the president’s strategic initiative fund, through which the president of the university can direct funding for priorities that include new academic programs, capital improvements and enhancements to student support.
University of Washington
At the University of Washington, a $45 million bequest from the estate of Stan and Alta Barer was received by the UW School of Law. The gift, described by the university as one of the largest bequests in its history, will be used to expand the Barer Institute for Leadership in Law & Global Development, which the couple helped establish originally as the Barer Institute for Law & Global Human Services with a donation of $4 million in 2008.
The gift will be used to support several priorities, including recruitment of additional international fellows, addition of more scholarships for students, creation of an endowed faculty chair to lead the institute, and enhancement of the institute’s global impact.
According to the university, the gift will allow the Barer Institute “to expand its work with mid-career attorneys from developing countries, enabling them to come to Washington state and then return to their homes to improve health outcomes, advocate for law and justice, boost education and spur economic development.”
“We are honored to extend Stan and Alta’s inspiring legacy of global leadership development with the help of this transformative investment,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce, in a news release. “The work of the Barer Institute to cultivate talented mid-career attorneys for the benefit of their home countries and the world is one of our law school’s most innovative and effective programs, and we are delighted to be able to expand its reach.”
Stanley H. Barer was a University of Washington alum, earning both his undergraduate and law degree there. A well-recognized attorney nationally, he helped write the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
He served as a UW regent from 2004 to 2012 and was also a member of the university’s foundation board. Barer was given the 2021 Gates Volunteer Service Award, the university’s highest honor for volunteer service, prior to his passing in 2021. His wife, Alta, who preceded him in death in 2019, was also active in advocating and fundraising for the university.
Washington
Deputies shoot armed suspect in Leesburg Walmart parking lot
Deputies shot an armed suspect in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Leesburg, Virginia, late Tuesday morning, authorities say.
Detectives, deputies and special agents from the FBI had tracked the suspect down after he tried to rob the Bank of America at Dulles Crossing on Monday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said. The suspect, who still hasn’t been named, didn’t get any money before taking off from the bank.
Authorities found the suspect was parked at the back of the Walmart parking lot just before noon Tuesday.
Deputies pulled up behind the suspect’s blue sedan at the back of the Walmart parking lot about 11:40 a.m. Tuesday. As they approached, the suspect got out with a gun, Sheriff Mike Chapman said.
Deputies then fired their guns at the suspect, hitting him. Chapman did not say how many times the suspect was shot or give specific information about his injuries.
Medics took the suspect to a hospital.
No deputies were injured, the sheriff’s office said.
Chapman said it was too early in the investigation to say if the suspect fired his gun or how many officers were involved in the shooting.
Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.
Washington
The American story projected on the Washington Monument came from North Texas
Steve Deitz walks with the energy of a coach; however, he does not hide that he and his team are digital nerds and storytellers who specialize in large-scale visual content and software development. More specifically, the 48-year-old makes a living creating the wow factor at his agency, “900lbs.”
“We started the company working for the Dallas Mavericks, telling large-scale visual content on the Jumbotron, and next thing you know, Activision, Blizzard calls,” he said. “We get to work in the Perot Museum on the biggest exhibit in the museum, and then fast-forward another 12 years, and here we are now.”
His current project is wrapping up in the nation’s capital — sorta. Since Dec.31, projections of America’s story have been given to his agency.
“We’re telling the story of the 250-year birthday of America in the biggest way possible on the facade of the Washington Monument on all four sides,” Deitz said.
He said they started testing out the results a couple of nights before New Year’s Eve. Scenes from Thomas Edison’s light bulb, the Empire State Building, the Model T Ford, and the Industrial Revolution, to name a few, are projected onto the Washington Monument.
Deitz gives his team a ton of credit from the moment he received the call about the project. He also thinks back to the times when he was an athlete who loved to draw in Merkel, Texas. The kid who dared to dream beyond the city limits and outside of the box. The CEO is giving advice to that child who may need a little inspiration.
“Hard work, perseverance, dedication, surround yourself with a team of brilliant people that are way smarter than you, and do the best you possibly can,” he said.
Deitz said there is a likelihood his team’s creations will return to the nation’s capital this year.
Washington
Tracking crime in the DMV: Some areas see drop in violent crime, homicide
It is not the way any homicide squad wants to start an already busy new year.
Prince George’s County police Sunday were trying to figure out who was found dead in a car behind a strip center overnight and why. Police, who responded after a call about gun shots, told News4 they’re still searching for the most basic details.
It comes just a day after three people were shot and killed at a Temple Hills banquet hall early Saturday morning. Police told News4 that investigation is active and showing signs of promise.
But the busy start somewhat hides the bigger picture about crime in the area.
Despite the tough start to 2026, homicide in Prince George’s County was down 40% in 2025 percent compared to 2024, and violent crime on a whole was down 19%, both through mid-December according to Prince George’s County police.
In D.C. is a similar story.
“Now we have no crime in Washington, DC. We have no killing,” said President Donald Trump Saturday during a news conference about action in Venezuela.
While the crime rate is not nearly as good as Trump has repeatedly said, the District recorded five homicides in December and 126 in all of 2025. That’s down 32% over 2024. Violent crime is down 29%, according to D.C .police crime statistics.
In Fairfax, homicide is down 14% — but the county only had 12 total — and violent crime dropped 4%, according to the county’s online reporting.
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