It’s still hot. The Nationals are still hanging on to the worst record in baseball (and tickets to their remaining games this season are very cheap). But how about some new information? Here’s what you may have missed while you attempted to stay cool this weekend.
The Circulator Bus Goes Crash Crash Crash
A car being pursued by police crashed into a DC Circulator bus on Sunday morning at the intersection of Stanton Road and Alabama Avenue SE. According to Prince George’s County Police, the incident began with a carjacking in Oxon Hill; officers followed the stolen sedan into the District, where the crash involving the stolen vehicle, the bus, and a police cruiser occurred. The bus driver and four juvenile occupants of the stolen vehicle were injured and are being treated at a local hospital; they are expected to fully recover. Police officials say multiple guns were recovered at the scene and that they expect to arrest the juveniles.
Lightening the Load
More information about the lightning strike in Lafayette Park that killed three individuals and seriously wounded another person came out over the weekend. Amber Escudero-Kontostathis, the surviving victim, remains hospitalized but continues to make progress, her family tells the Post. Before seeking shelter in Lafayette Park, she was seeking donations for refugees in Ukraine near the White House. Relatives are encouraging those who want to offer support to donate to the International Rescue Committee.
Passersby are leaving condolence notes and gifts at the tree to honor Brooks Lambertson, Donna Mueller, and James Mueller, the three individuals who died. This is the first time multiple people have died in a lightning strike since 2004, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
No Guns in Libraries
Loved ones gathered over the weekend to remember Maurica Manyan, the special police officer who was shot and killed during a training at Anacostia Library last week. During the somber celebration, family members spoke to the media and questioned why Jesse Porter, the retired police officer who led the training, brought a loaded gun to the library in the first place.
According to charging documents, witnesses say Porter said he thought he had his training gun and asked “Why did I do this?” The whole proceeding generates more questions than answers. Porter will next appear in court on Aug. 24.
—Caroline Jones (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- To see today’s COVID-19 data, visit our coronavirus tracker.
- With a lead of 42 votes, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has declared victory over his closest primary challenger, business executive David Blair. Blair is asking for a recount; the AP considers the race too close to call. [Bethesda Beat, NBC Washington]
- Pandemic home buying has pushed property prices higher in Maryland and Delaware coastal communities. [WTOP]
- The DC DMV is now offering bicycle awareness license plates. Let’s hope they fix the major spelling error on the sample tag. [Twitter]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Mayor Muriel Bowser says she’ll keep pushing to call up the D.C. National Guard to manage the flow of migrants into the city from Texas and Arizona, even after the Department of Defense rejected her request. She wants to “assure that any political considerations are not a part of their decision.” [DCist]
- Plans to build a new protected bike lane on I Street SW in Navy Yard have attracted fierce neighborhood opposition. [HillRag]
- The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs will soon split into two new agencies, but could Bowser appoint the agency’s current director, Ernest Chrappah, to lead both of them? Chairman Phil Mendelson says he’d fight it. [Twitter]
By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Good Taste: Boogy & Peel’s Unconventional, Irresistible Pizzas Deliver Zhuzh-ed Up Nostalgia
Sandwich toppings and pizza crust meet at Boogy and Peel, a new spot on Dupont […]
With Bayti Pop-Up, Jinan Deena Shares Palestinian Hospitality With D.C. Diners
Jinan Deena, creator of the pop-up dinner series Bayti, is one of several local […]
- Sommelier Nadine Brown is launching a series of tasting events that match wine with cuisine from across Asia and the Caribbean. Her first event is next Monday at Bammy’s. [Washingtonian]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- If selling out the Anthem doesn’t make you a household name, what does? Pondering Charlie XCX’s Aug. 6 and the return to her pop-rave roots. [Post]
- Hamilton actor Conroe Brooks on coming to the Kennedy Center and what makes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical so popular. [WTOP]
- Third times the charm? A third corpse flower is going to bloom in D.C. this summer, this time at the Enid A. Haupt Garden on the north terrace of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. (It’s on loan from the U.S. Botanic Garden, of course.) [PoPville, Instagram]
By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- New Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz’s accuracy has alarmed some fans who attended the team’s open practice at FedEx Field on Saturday. [NBC Washington]
- Nick Kyrgios won the men’s singles and doubles title at the Citi Open and Liudmila Samsonova picked up the women’s singles title. (City Paper owner Mark Ein is also chairman of the Citi Open.) [Post]
- WNBA athletes shouldn’t have to sleep on airport floors, regardless of flight delays! [Twitter]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
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