Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana celebrates after winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) By Ben Nuckols The Associated Press Zaila Avant-garde understood the significance of what she was doing as she stood on the Scripps National […]
Author Archives: Ben Nuckols
Associated Press
Posted inInstantArticles
Lawsuit: Terrence Sterling, Fatally Shot by DC Police, Posed No Threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — An unarmed Black motorcyclist posed no threat to the District of Columbia police officer who fired two fatal shots from the passenger seat of his police car, the man’s parents said in a $50 million wrongful-death lawsuit filed Thursday. 31-year-old Terrence Sterling (Courtesy Photo) According to the lawsuit, 31-year-old Terrence Sterling sideswiped […]
Posted inInstantArticles, National News
Standing Ovation for Obama at His Last Kennedy Center Honors
WASHINGTON (AP) — The longest, loudest standing ovation of the Kennedy Center Honors gala wasn’t reserved for Al Pacino, Mavis Staples or the Eagles. Instead, it went to the man sitting to their left, attending his eighth and most likely his last honors presentation: President Barack Obama. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, […]
Posted inNational News
Baltimore’s Carla Hayden Breaks New Ground as 14th Librarian of Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — Carla Hayden, a career librarian who grew up in Chicago and kept Baltimore’s libraries open during last year’s civic unrest, was sworn in Wednesday as the 14th Librarian of Congress, becoming the first woman and the first African-American to lead the national library. Chief Justice John Roberts, left, administers the oath of office to […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC Police Chief Stepping Down to Head Security for NFL
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington police chief Cathy Lanier, the first woman to lead the department and one of the nation’s longest-serving and most popular big-city police chiefs, announced Tuesday that she is stepping down to become head of security for the National Football League. In this Oct. 3, 2013 file photo, Washington Police Chief Cathy […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC Council Votes to Put Statehood Referendum on Ballot
WASHINGTON (AP) — District of Columbia lawmakers have voted to put a statehood referendum on the ballot in November. Tuesday’s unanimous vote by the D.C. Council is part of Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser’s strategy to pursue the “Tennessee model” for statehood. Tennessee became a state after it crafted its own constitution and then was admitted […]
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Smokey Robinson Honored with National Pop Music Prize
In this June 28, 2015, file photo, Smokey Robinson performs at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Robinson has been honored by the Library of Congress with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The national library announced Tuesday, July 5, 2016, that Robinson will receive the award this year. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) WASHINGTON […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
For D.C. Statehood Hearing– Change Unlikely
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is dusting off the notion of statehood for the District of Columbia for the first time in 21 years, but that doesn’t mean residents of the nation’s capital are any closer to gaining representation on Capitol Hill. Residents of the nation’s capital may not be any closer to gaining representation on […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Report Issued on Relisha Rudd’s Disappearance
Relisha Rudd was last seen on March 1. WASHINGTON (AP) — A review of interactions between the District of Columbia government and the family of a missing 8-year-old girl has recommended more than two dozen policy changes but concluded that none of those reforms would have prevented her disappearance. Relisha Rudd was last seen on […]
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Chris Brown Pleads Guilty to Assault in Washington
Singer Chris Brown leaves District of Columbia Superior Court in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, after pleading guilty on a misdemeanor assault. Brown pleaded guilty on Tuesday to hitting a man outside a Washington hotel, an assault that occurred while the singer was on probation for attacking his then-girlfriend Rihanna. Brown pleaded guilty to misdemeanor […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC to Suspend Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations
WASHINGTON (AP) — The District of Columbia public school system, one of the first in the country to evaluate teachers using student test scores, announced Thursday that it would suspend the practice while students adjust to new tests based on Common Core standards. Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced the decision, saying officials are concerned it wouldn’t […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC Mayoral Nominee Muriel Bowser Leads in Fundraising
WASHINGTON (AP) — Muriel Bowser has built a big fundraising lead over her biggest rival as she seeks to become the District of Columbia’s next mayor. Bowser’s latest financial report shows that she raised $858,000 over a three-month period. Her campaign says she brought in $740,000 of that after April 1, when she defeated Mayor […]