This week WAMU will be checking in on the legality of a slate of bills to try and rein in ICE operatings in Maryland, the latest allegations of abuse and dysfunction at PIW, and we’ll go along with photographer Tyrone Turner to a bike racing championship held in a parking garage.

We are now joined by Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti. He says it will be difficult to avoid a tax hike in this year’s budget. Chair de Ferranti says residents value great schools and services, and county officials are looking to preserve those.

At-Large D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson is proposing a 15% tax on flushable wipes. “It may say flushable on your package, and it may get down the drain, but we know it’s causing backups in people's homes and apartment buildings.”

Rep. Vindman says President Trump initiated a war in Iran “without a clear plan” and says he’s worried it will become a quagmire, much like Iraq two decades ago.

We are now live on the Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi! We are now joined by U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman. Later, At-Large D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson and Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti will get behind the mic! buff.ly/qGLMA5R

Early voting begins today for a referendum that would allow Virginia to redraw its congressional districts. But the effort still faces possible legal hurdles. Plus, what's the latest on Maryland’s long-stalled effort to redraw their state’s map?

Former D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is trying to ramp up his campaign for mayor, amid growing concern from his supporters that he hasn't been visible enough in his first weeks in the race. buff.ly/BdbLdZs

It’s almost time for D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms to bloom!  And now we know when to look out for peak bloom, when at least 70% of the trees along the Tidal basin are in bloom. The National Park Service announced that this year's peak bloom will fall between March 29 and April 1.

Millions of Americans will see higher health insurance premiums. KFF Health News has tips for saving money on your plan and finding less expensive prescription options. buff.ly/AovMKPs

Soaring electricity bills have left many Maryland residents demanding answers and relief. Experts cite a range of factors driving up energy prices. buff.ly/sPXj6FA

2025 was a historic year for job losses in the D.C. region, with more than 70 thousand federal workers laid off. Tens of thousands of positions were also cut in the private sector.

Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha says the council is considering legislation banning the county from issuing permits to a new Hyattsville ICE facility. "It’s our responsibility to fight & use every leverage point. We know [we] may end up in court, but that's what we need to do."

Alex Koma said it’s possible half a dozen candidates will make the ballot in the race to replace At-Large D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds. The new ranked choice voting system will have a huge impact on that race, he says.

Virginia State Senator Jennifer Boysko is frustrated over legislation pushing for a casino in Fairfax County in the General Assembly. She says Fairfax residents don't want it. "It’s a lot of energy focusing on something that doesn’t have any legs," she says.

We’re talking the DC tax mess and local elections on Politics Hour this week. Join us!

“We may not have the book you want, but we will have a book you need,” says one of the founders of Bol bookstore in Brookland. buff.ly/0Tgc4I6

We are live on the Politics Hour. First up, we have VA State Sen. Jennifer Boysko talking about eliminating data center tax breaks. Then, we will be joined by WAMU's Alex Koma & Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha. Call in with your questions - 800-433-8850. buff.ly/Ma6wNGq

The race to replace At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds could be the city's most unpredictable. Contenders are struggling to break out amid a huge field, and ranked choice voting could scramble the results.

For this month’s Voices of Wards 7 and 8, we spoke with Black D.C. residents who work, live, and play in Southeast D.C. on the importance of honoring Black History Month and the city’s history through self-care, self-education, and storytelling. buff.ly/jG1SEH7

This week on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, Prince George's County leaders are trying to block an ICE detention center in Hyattsviille. Council Chair Krystal Oriadha joins to discuss.

A sewage spill has contaminated the Potomac River. Each year, nearly three times as much wastewater flows into the river from D.C.’s pipes. buff.ly/laUnhx6

In an email about student audition registration obtained by NOTUS, the ballet did not allude to the changing politics of the venue.

In 2014, former Marines Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez opened the first Compass Coffee cafe. In the years that followed, the coffee shops popped up all around D.C. and the surrounding suburbs.

VA House Del. Adele McClure of Arlington says she supports redistricting. She believes a recent court ruling halting a referendum on the issue won't stand. “I’m confident this will be overturned, and voters will get to decide this at the end of the day.”

Council Vice President Balcomb says Montgomery County is focused on attracting industries such as biotech and health care, which rely heavily on data. “We can not put the genie back in the bottle in terms of the amount of data we use.”

On The Politics Hour, Montgomery County Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe says her data center proposal would restrict them to industrial-zoned areas. "Data centers are nowhere in our county code. There are no restrictions or guidelines."

We are now live on the Politics Hour with Montgomery County Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe. Later, we talk with VA House Delegate Adele McClure and NBC 4 reporter Mark Segraves. Tune in now to WAMU 88.5!

This week on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, NBC Washington's Mark Segraves explains why D.C. officials are asking for federal help to clean up the Potomac River sewage spill.

DC Maryland and Virginia got a pretty mixed report card, including a handful of F’s, in the American lung association’s annual state of tobacco control report. buff.ly/ZcY6bOk

Congress has once again caused budget chaos in D.C., blocking a set of tax reforms and blowing a $600 million hole in the city's budget. Here's what local leaders are doing to respond.

Across the region, today may just be a regular Tuesday, but in New Orleans it’s Mardi Gras! Otherwise known as “Fat Tuesday”, the annual celebration marks the last day before Lent on the Catholic calendar.

In the latest installment of the WAMU series Hidden City, we play a round of putt-putt and discover what’s next for the country’s oldest continuously operated mini golf course.

D.C.'s mayoral race is shaping up to be a bruising battle between Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and former At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie. A fourth-month sprint to the primary will decide the city's first open-seat race in decades. buff.ly/RNXZYtW

Three elected seats in Prince George’s County just changed hands, without an election. Here’s what happened and why it matters to you.

On the Politics Hour, Rep. April McClain Delaney says she’s fighting against DHS opening an ICE detention facility in her MD district. “It’s not about immigration and safety... It’s about chaos, terror, and bending to the will of this administration.”

Councilmember Parker said the Council was not necessarily opposed to adopting new federal tax policies, such as eliminating the tax on tips. "We were hoping to revisit in the budget process."

On the Politics Hour, Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker says the U.S. Senate voting to block the District's tax code changes is “yet again this Congress working to undermine our local autonomy.”

VPM's Jahd Khalil is giving us the latest update on redistricting: The Virginia Supreme Court ruled this morning that the statewide referendum can move forward on April 21... though it's possible the Supreme Court's eventual ruling could render the referendum moot.

We are now live on The Politics Hour with VPM News State Politics reporter Jahd Khalil with the latest on Virginia redistricting. Then, we speak with Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker and MD Rep. April McClain Delaney

This week on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, a U.S. Senate vote this week could change DC’s tax code and create tax season chaos for District residents. Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker explains.

Weeks after a major winter storm hit D.C., layers of snow and ice are still covering sidewalks and roads. That's made it especially challenging and unsafe for residents with disabilities to move around the city. buff.ly/Y7KrjMx

Large crowds gathered today in DC today to welcome a group of Buddhist monks as they ended their 15-week long walk for peace.The monks. along with their dog Aloka, started their journey in October. Today they stopped for a public event at American University before walking to the National Cathedral.

The Washington Post cut nearly all of its sports writers last week. Steven Goff spent over 30 years covering soccer for the Post. He joined WAMU the day after the layoffs to explain what they mean for coverage of local sports teams in D.C. and the future of sports journalism buff.ly/axsd63M

In Wards 7 and 8, most students go to public school – but a small number have the opportunity to attend the Washington School for Girls, an independent catholic school that offers full scholarships to its students. This year, with a new campus, the girls are looking forward to a new chapter.

Figure skater Ilia Malinin is more than an athlete. The two-time reigning world champion also says he’s an artist. He gained the nickname “the Quad God” after he became the first person to land a quadruple axel in competition - and now he's chasing a gold medal for Team USA at the Winter Olympics.

Asked abt state bill to ban local cooperation w/ fed. immigration agents, Prince George's County Executive Braveboy described county's relationship w/ ICE "If there are individuals who have ICE detainers in our county jails, we notify ICE because people who commit crimes don't deserve to be here."

Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen, now on the Politics Hour, says he’s devastated by the huge staff cuts at the Washington Post. “The reporters there hold me accountable and our city government accountable... they might as well take off ‘Democracy Dies in the Darkness’ off the masthead.”

We are now live on the Politics Hour with Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy. Later, we will be joined by Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen. Call in with your questions to 800-433-8850! buff.ly/P98VZbJ

Friday on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy talks redistricting, winter storm clean-up, the Sphere coming to National Harbor, and the upheaval in the county council.

Hundreds of people rallied in support of Washington Post workers today and to protest sweeping layoffs at the paper. The Post fired more than 300 employees Wednesday, equal to about 30 percent of the entire newsroom.