WAMU: Local News

If you missed this spring’s porchfest in Adams Morgan or the one just over the city’s border in Takoma Park, you're not out of luck - you've got a chance to catch another one this weekend in Petworth. 

Hau Chu, Prince George's County food and culture reporter for The Baltimore Banner, speaks to WAMU about why there are so few independent sit-down restaurants in Prince George's County and how residents are hoping that changes.

This week on Get Out There, we hit the road for quirky, short summer day trips!

WAMU speaks to the Antidefamation League's Tali Cohen on the anniversary of the shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum about the current state of antisemitism in the D.C. region.

City lawmakers have been debating whether to implement more stringent youth curfews in D.C., following so-called “teen takeovers” that have prompted concerns about public safety. Some young people feel proponents are missing the bigger picture. 

Virginia recorded one of the steepest declines in overdose deaths nationwide over the past year. But spending reductions in Medicaid, one of the largest payers for addiction and mental health treatment in the U.S., could significantly disrupt substance use treatment programs nationwide.

Montgomery County Delegate Marc Korman speaks to WAMU about a recent milestone for the construction of the Purple Line and how a soon-to-be law in Maryland will help spur development around the light rail's stations.

WAMU arts and culture reporter Darryl C. Murphy tried five of the year's new restaurants - ones that are helping to keep D.C.'s dining scene alive. 

Researcher Crystal Foretia joins WAMU to discuss her work looking into the abuse at the House of Reformation and Instruction in Prince George's County and shares thoughts on how the state can work through this dark legacy.

ICE arrests in the D.C. region have quadrupled since the Biden administration. For families with children, that surge is raising urgent questions about what happens when a parent gets picked up.

This week for Get Out There, we're exploring D.C.'s best spots for kids with Austin Graff.

The Mystics start 2026 with a crop of fresh players, two of whom are current NCAA champions. But the team is also without a permanent GM.

Weekend Edition host Scott Simon is a lover of all pets. In his new book, "Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I've Known" Simon shares the stories and lessons learned from his pet friends.

Maryland Secretary of Health Meena Seshamani explains changes to Maryland's vaccine policies under the recently adopted Vax Act.

This week WAMU will be checking in on the state of a couple of primary elections in the D.C.-region: The race for Mayor in D.C. and the push to succeed retiring Congressman Steny Hoyer in Maryland's fifth District. Plus we look ahead at the opening weekend for the Washington Mystics.

A new exhibition in Southeast D.C. features artwork made with found objects. Plastic bags, buried debris, or almost any discarded item is fair game for creativity at Finders Keepers, currently on display at the Eye Street Gallery. 

Just blocks away from Howard University, Oscar-award winning filmmaker Spike Lee will screen his 1988 HBCU inspired film School Daze at the Lincoln Theatre this Friday. He spoke to WAMU about the film's relevance, and his ties to the District.

The Trump administration is seeking unprecedented access to the health records of federal workers — including their prescriptions, diagnoses, and doctor visits — raising alarms among legal experts and health executives about privacy and HIPAA compliance.

Mac N’ Toss, part of a new era of feminist punk known as riot grrrl (which has roots in D.C.) says they organized the festival to be a place for women and queer people to have the freedom to express their feelings about the trauma of sexual violence.

Southeast D.C. residents had long anticipated the opening of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, currently the only full-service hospital in Ward 8. But its reputation has suffered in its first year due to safety and staffing challenges.

Montgomery County Delegate Lorig Charkoudian joined WAMU to discuss a new bill to limit dynamic pricing in Maryland and how it fits into state Democrats' political concerns for the future.

Montgomery County-based record producer Zev Feldman, the "Jazz Detective," speaks to WAMU about his local roots in the record industry and some of the albums he is putting out for Record Store Day, 2026.

District Sounds is a family friendly event where students perform with established recording artists from multiple music genres. 

The quarterly publication is back after a brief hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December, the Trump administration terminated the 50-year lease with the nonprofit National Links Trust to run D.C.'s three public golf courses. No one knows for sure what they are planning to do next.