An eaglet died Saturday, just a day after it hatched at the U.S. National Arboretum. Its sibling egg started to “pip” shortly after and is expected to fully hatch in the next 24 to 36 hours, the Post reports.

The cause of death is unknown for DC8, as the deceased eaglet is known because it is the eighth bald eagle egg to hatch at the nest at the Arboretum. The American Eagle Foundation said on Twitter that “oftentimes the first clutch of a newly mated pair is not viable.” The parents, Mr. President and Lotus, took turns incubating and eating fish this past weekend.

In Other News …

Hundreds of Ukrainian Americans in the DMV gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for three hours yesterday to call for the U.S. and its allies to establish a no-fly zone, ship more efficient weapons, and provide more aid to refugees, WTOP reports. Concerned about potential escalation into a world war, the Biden administration is still against a U.S.- or NATO-led no-fly zone. But local advocates cried out “Close the skies for Ukraine!” in between reels of war footage and a video titled “Close the Sky Lullaby.”

“President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that truth is our weapon, our brave armed forces are dedicated and will defend every inch of our territory. But we need all the support we can get, with weapons, with financial and humanitarian assistance,” Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, said at the rally. 

The focus was in contrast to a previous emphasis in late February, during the last major D.C. demonstration to support Ukraine, on sanctions and weapons aid in hopes of preventing a war that began about a month ago, WUSA9 pointed out. But back then, some demonstrators City Paper spoke with already sensed a war wasn’t preventable. Griffin Bouwens of Capitol Hill emphasized the need for air defense. Laura Daniel of Southeast D.C. also said that a war had already started in 2014, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and backing separatist forces to battle Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine.

Yesterday, President Biden returned to Washington after a three-day trip to rally NATO allies in Europe. Local efforts to help those facing the war also continued this weekend, including a community event in Bethesda to make first aid kits for Ukrainians abroad. At Westland Middle School, residents packed bandages, rubbing alcohol, gloves, and gauze. It was an effort from the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization to connect DMV residents with a means to help those fighting in Ukraine and those fleeing to safety, NBC4 reports. More civilians might now be able to flee via two humanitarian routes that opened up on Sunday from hard-hit areas like the city of Mariupol, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

—Ambar Castillo (tips? acastillo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• To see today’s COVID-19 data, visit our coronavirus tracker.
• Juan Carlos Amaya, an Uber driver who was shot in Southeast on Friday, says the carjackers shot him after he handed over the car keys. He is recovering from injuries. [WUSA9]
• The Republican National Committee is trying to smear Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her affiliation with the Cosmos Club. Here’s the deal on the exclusive D.C. social club near Dupont Circle. [Post]
• On Saturday, a vehicle crash sent a parked truck into Casabella Nail Salon on the 1400 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown. No injuries were reported, and the salon reopened Sunday after boarding up the windows and door. [WUSA9]
• The National Zoo came to the rescue with an initial dose of anti-venom after a man was bitten by his pet African pit viper. This snake is considered one of the most venomous in the world. [NBC Washington]

By Ambar Castillo (tips? acastillo@washingtoncitypaper.com)