Last week, I wrote about the DC Court of Appeals' ruling that tossed out the approval of the latest Pepco rate hikes. On Friday, a motion was filed to the DC Public Service Commission's (PSC) to restore rates to what they were before this rate hike, & issue a refund to customers.

Here's one of the more ridiculous ICE incidents I've run across: A Mexican man was arrested by agents while waiting at a NE bus stop. He told them he'd serve them carne asada if he was deported there and they visited...but they claim he threatened to *turn them* into carne asada

Last summer, I wrote about how DC utility watchdogs were suing the District over approving a $190 million Pepco rate hike. This week, courts agreed with watchdogs and vacated the rate hike approval. Read all the details @wcp.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7808...

"The AG’s case confirms much of City Paper’s previous reporting, including accounts from tenants in multiple Razjooyan-managed buildings who endured months without heat, repeated flooding, inhumane conditions, and threats of eviction." washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7794...

The 51st has produced so much valuable reporting in just a single year, with only one full-time reporter. Can you imagine what a second year could look like if this newsroom had triple the reporting capacity? The good news is that we don't have to imagine — we can make it happen. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

6/ The Post has lost over 375,000 subscribers in just over a year. If 10% of those readers subscribed to The 51st instead, we could hire 10 reporters and five editors, dramatically scaling our coverage of the city at this critical time. 51st.news/signup

All That’s Left of You is a moving multi-generational saga about a Palestinian family under Israeli occupation. Writer-director Cherien Dabis nearly gets into sanctimonious territory, writes critic Alan Zilberman, but “relents by finally following the nature of her characters.” buff.ly/BefBi4S

The more info we get about this raid, the worse it becomes. ICE had NO valid warrant (administrative warrants do not authorize forceful entry into a home), the guy's sole prior conviction was a since-dismissed drug charge from 2008, AND he had checked in with ICE just days earlier.

According to @rcfp.org, 24 donors gave a total of $1,094.95 in honor of my reporting and lawsuit against MPD! Let’s keep it going! www.rcfp.org/donate/

“The team also found that displacement increased a homeless person’s likelihood of dying prematurely… as much as a 25% increase over 10 years.” “We know more housing is what’s going to solve this problem,” Radu said. “That is the root-cause intervention.”

This year, our newsroom showed up when it counted. We broke stories, uplifted local voices, and held power to account. Every dollar brings us closer to our $36,260 goal. Give today:

We’re excited to announce the latest SpotlightDC-funded project: Dream City, a new independent podcast that will explore the inner workings of D.C.’s political and business worlds.

🚨ALERTA: Gran presencia de agentes federales/ICE y de la policía local (MPD) entra la cuadra 1800 de Columbia Rd en Adams Morgan. Según informes, los agentes están deteniendo a personas, entrando en edificios y confiscando patinetes. Recomendamos evitar esta zona. 1/

So excited to drop @wcp.bsky.social's 2025 People Issue. These Washingtonians represent the best of D.C. and I was so honored to interview graffiti artist Luis Del Valle, King Molasses, & author Carolivia Herron. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7737...

I've received some medical news that is not good and need some time to tackle it. So apologies if I owe you an email, I will get back to you asap

Sean Charles Dunn’s moment of culinary resistance — he wouldn't be subservient, one could say — has become a symbol of D.C.’s refusal to accept the federal occupation quietly. Earlier today, D.C.'s own "sandwich guy" was found not guilty of the charges against him.

News: Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has started telling people she’s running for mayor, per several sources, confirming months of speculation about her political future. She’d be the first major candidate to declare for 2026. Now the question: what will Bowser do?

TIL that the AI software my health insurance company (Cigna) uses to scan the documents hallucinated a medical code ahout eye glasses into my claim for my custom finger braces. This AI hallucination caused Cigna to deny my request they reimburse the $1,196 I spent & that's covered per my policy.

Everyone please wish a v happy 4th bday to my favorite spooky ghost 👻

several people have emailed us to say that the sudden shut down of a giant book distributor is making public libraries scramble for books www.404media.co/libraries-sc...

"Our residents are afraid and they are angry. They want the executive to be forthcoming about current policies," says @brianneknadeau.bsky.social opening a hearing on human rights violations during the federal takeover of D.C. and the local government's cooperation with federal agents.

If benefits aren't restored, 141,000 DC residents won't be able to put food on their tables to feed their families. There is no scenario where this ends well, and the federal government has the tools to avoid such a clear and cruel outcome.

Four weeks into the federal shutdown, rent is about to be due and next month’s SNAP benefits are at risk. We previously made this list of ways to give and receive help locally — but need your help: Where else can our neighbors find food? Share any meal or grocery distributions you know of ⬇️

“We need to fight back,” Carballo said. “We need to be resilient. We need to stand up for our rights and, of course, right now, it’s very difficult. But we know that we will overcome.” https://wtop.com/dc/2025/10/dc-area-immigrants-face-challenges-under-trump-administration/

Happy 1st bday @51st.news! Great party with local artists and bakers and cocktails at KBird - a lovely way to reconnect with so many of you in person after all these years and meet new folks 🥰

It's true! We're powered by readers and need 18 more to join today to keep our fundraising on track: 51st.news/signup

D.C. has one of the lowest rates of uninsured residents across the U.S. Looming cuts to a city-funded healthcare program could change that — with disastrous consequences, advocates say. What’s behind the decision, and what are the alternatives?

I don't think you understand how much I love this city. Shakers welcomed my friend with her rollator, and @930club.bsky.social escorted us to our ADA accessible chairs tonight to see @kingfishrofficial.bsky.social and even labeled the chairs to ensure we could enjoy the show. DC forever & always.

Thanks @citycastdc.bsky.social for interviewing me about my story @wcp.bsky.social about illegal trashing dumping and secret streams in one DC neighborhood! Spotlight has a transcript, too, for anyone listening in who is hearing impaired. open.spotify.com/episode/2PMB...

It's Thursday! In your inbox today: Raising trans kids in Trump's D.C. (our first story in partnership with @19thnews.org), a beloved D.C. ice rink faces an uncertain future, the Commanders get their stadium, and how the Federal Bureau of Prisons is failing D.C. residents:

Why are there just thousands of lantern flies all over K Street NW near the Farragust West Metro station. I'm here all the time and have never seen so many!

"Here legally, engaged in a sanctioned process to determine their eligibility for asylum, they have committed no crime. They are arrested anyway, and the lives they’ve risked to come to the United States are thrown into chaos."

South Park getting real local

I think I'm gonna file a FOIA to see how much taxpayer money it's been costing to take over MPD and deploy the National Guard in DC. As a treat to myself.

TIL that La*ra Lo*mer is only 1 year older than me? 👀

Just returned from a trip to Ireland, NI, and UK and was really moved by the pro-palestinian support everywhere.

The number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for at least a week rose to the highest level since late 2021, according to Labor Department data.

Check out my @spotlightdc.bsky.social -funded investigation @wcp.bsky.social into allegations Pepco misspent $94 million promised for infrastructure upgrades the company collected from hiking your bill -- following by DC awarding them another bill hike washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7686...

Just heard two big explosion noises in Arlington tonight from the Pentagon City area. Second one was a few minutes ago and *massive* sounding. Didn't sound like fireworks to me, so called it into 911. Hope everyone is ok 😬

Shout out to @730dc.bsky.social for featuring my latest story today @wcp.bsky.social about chronic trash and flooding in one DC neighborhood - plus my essay for 730DC last year on the Kennedy Center rainbow lights! buff.ly/N76d3hH

Read my latest here! 👇

Hundreds turned out today for @hillfamilybiking.org 2nd Anniversary Ride. Began with a powerful reminder of those we’ve lost at Dave Salovesh’s ghost bike; then celebrated the joy of hundreds biking around Ward 6 on safer streets for riders of all ages & abilities! Happy Anniversary!

Congress still hasn't fixed the local D.C. budget shortfall it caused in the first place. Now, the mayor is instituting a spending freeze and warning furloughs might be necessary. Latest from @maustermuhle.bsky.social 51st.news/bowser-freez...

My favorite local DC tiktoks www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj8BkUeh/

Thanks @730dc.bsky.social for sharing my latest story @wcp.bsky.social about staft abuse of DC youth in detention. I feel lucky to live in the District where we can keep supporting local reporting even when national news is so demanding, too, esp rn. washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7616...

Federal cuts to Medicaid could leave thouands of D.C.'s residents without health care. “Our patients are really nervous and really scared, and rightly so."

Our spring fundraising campaign starts now! We need to raise $18,250 by April 20, and every dollar (even just $1!) fuels our work. Can we count on you? Donate here: buff.ly/jqHNQ3S

Really disturbing stuff about youth justice for my latest @wcp.bsky.social: a legal watchdog found video footage of DYRS staff beating, choking more than one teen in a DC detention center washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7616...

"After the state banned abortion, dozens more pregnant and postpartum women died in Texas hospitals than had in pre-pandemic years... As the maternal mortality rate dropped nationally, ProPublica found, it rose substantially in Texas." www.propublica.org/article/texa...