Thousands of visitors to Washington D.C.'s cherry blossoms faced hours of standstill traffic around Southwest D.C., the Tidal Basin, the Wharf, Hains Point, and the National Mall. The closure of Buckeye Drive and congested roads contributed to the bottleneck. U.S. Park Police warned of dense traffic, and WTOP traffic reporters provided updates and suggestions for alternative transportation methods.

The Virginia Department of Health is alerting travelers who were at Dulles Airport on January 3 and Reagan National Airport on January 4 to monitor for measles symptoms if unvaccinated, due to a confirmed case in those locations. The VDH is contacting passengers from the affected flights and advising healthcare providers to be vigilant for measles, which is highly contagious and reportable. Most Virginians are vaccinated, but infants under 12 months cannot receive the vaccine.

As winter approaches, DC gyms and fitness studios are adapting to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cut Seven, owned by Chris and Alex Perrin, has moved classes outside and is searching for a new studio. Reggie Smith of BOOMBOX has taken workouts to outdoor venues and hopes clients will return indoors with safety measures. Candice Geller's Election Cycle has introduced individual workout pods for indoor spinning classes. However, Betsy Poos and Alyson Shade's Realignment Studio will close due to the pandemic's restrictions. While some studios are optimistic about surviving the winter, others are concerned about the impact of the pandemic and the reluctance of landlords to make rent concessions.

Polls closed in the special election to replace Patrick Wojahn as mayor of College Park, Maryland, following his resignation and arrest on charges of child pornography. The election, mandated by the city's charter to occur within 65 days, featured candidates Bryan Haddad, S.M. Fazlul Kabir, Catherine Hope Kennedy, and Denise C. Mitchell, three of whom have experience on the College Park City Council.

Sidwell Friends School's point guard Kiki Rice was named Gatorade’s National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The announcement was made by WNBA’s Seattle Storm player Sue Bird during a surprise Zoom call. Rice, who has been a standout athlete since her freshman year, plans to attend UCLA for college. Gatorade praised her for her on-the-court skills and off-the-court influence.

Anthony Shaw, 48, of southeast D.C., died in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday morning after his Hyundai Accent was struck by a Chevrolet Malibu on Southern Ave. on the border of the District and Capitol Heights, Maryland. Shaw had previously collided with a parked car and was stationary in the travel lane when the Chevrolet hit his car at high speed, causing it to spin and hit another parked car. The Chevrolet driver then hit three more cars and fled the scene with a passenger. D.C. Fire and EMS pronounced Shaw dead at the scene, and D.C. police are seeking information from the public.

The James Webb Space Telescope was successfully launched on Christmas Day from Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex near Kourou, French Guiana. It will embark on a 29-day journey, traveling 1 million miles before unfurling to its full size. The telescope will then undergo a six-month cooling period to reach its operating temperature before commencing work. The Associated Press has lauded it as the world's biggest, most powerful space telescope.

A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania man named Peter Custer was arrested on Christmas Eve for burning holiday wreaths at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Hagerstown, Maryland. Charged with second-degree malicious burning, destruction of property, and trespassing, Custer claimed he was trying to save the Earth from nonbiodegradable plastic wreaths. Despite his release after a court appearance, Maryland Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci emphasized that disturbing final resting places is a serious offense.

Prince George’s County held a pep rally in College Park to support hometown Olympians Frances Tiafoe, Kevin Durant, and Jerami Grant. The Junior Tennis Champions Center, where Tiafoe trains, hosted the event. Tiafoe had a notable win at Wimbledon, Durant is competing in his third Olympics after a successful NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets, and Grant finished the NBA season with the Detroit Pistons. Team USA is set to begin their Olympic basketball tournament against France.

One man has died and another was injured in a double shooting at the Enclave apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, and Montgomery County police responded to reports of gunshots. The victims were provided medical assistance and transported to the hospital, where one succumbed to his injuries. The Major Crimes division is investigating the shooting, and no suspects have been detained. Detectives are seeking information from the public.

Marc Christopher Brown, Jr. faces up to 107 years in prison following a Charles County jury conviction for home invasion, burglary, kidnapping, assault, and other charges. The incident occurred on December 11, 2019, when Brown attacked Uchenna Okezie in her Waldorf home, tied her up, and used her car and bank cards before abandoning her and crashing the car into a bowling alley. Brown was arrested the next day, and sentencing is set for August 26.

The 2021 inauguration will be a significantly scaled-down event with about 1,000 attendees, emulating the virtual format of the Democratic National Committee. Security measures have been intensified following the Capitol riot on January 6, with armed protests expected at all 50 state capitals. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is overseeing the planning, and the theme is 'America United.' Enhanced security includes thousands of National Guard troops and 'unscalable' fences. Metro service and traffic will be heavily affected, with numerous street closures and station shutdowns. The weather forecast for the inauguration is expected to be partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid-30s.

The 2021 inauguration will be a significantly scaled-down event with about 1,000 attendees compared to the usual 200,000 due to the Capitol riot and pandemic. It will likely include virtual elements similar to the Democratic National Committee's event. Security measures have been intensified, with armed protests expected at all 50 state capitals. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is overseeing the planning, and the theme will be 'America United'. Enhanced security includes thousands of National Guard troops and 'unscalable' fences. Metro service is adjusted with station closures and bus detours. The weather forecast for the inauguration day is expected to be in the mid-30s with partly cloudy skies.

Starting January 1, 2021, new laws and regulations take effect in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Virginia will see a ban on holding cellphones while driving, a stop to searches based on marijuana scent, a minimum wage increase, changes to concealed carry permit requirements, a cap on insulin costs, and a phaseout of skill games. Maryland's minimum wage will rise, Baltimore will implement a plastic bag fee, and there will be changes to prostate cancer screening costs, impounded vehicle retrieval, in vitro fertilization coverage, and scooter contact information requirements. In D.C., the estate tax exemption will decrease, an extended foam ban will be in place, new energy efficiency standards for large buildings will be introduced, and telemedicine record rules will be updated.

Anne Arundel County's proposed indoor dining ban's decision by Judge William Mulford II is expected on Wednesday after a day of testimony concluded without a verdict. County Executive Steuart Pittman testified that the ban aims to protect public health and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed, acknowledging the lack of certainty on the exact impact. The ban, which exceeds state restrictions, has been postponed due to an injunction pending the hearing's outcome. Restaurant owners from Annapolis and Severna Park are challenging the emergency order, with similar bans in other Maryland counties being upheld by judges.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for counties around Washington D.C., including northern Maryland, western Virginia, and the West Virginia panhandle, starting Wednesday. Significant snowfall is expected, with projections starting at eight inches west of Charlottesville, Virginia, and potentially up to 12 inches west of Dulles International Airport. The forecast marks a change from recent spring-like conditions, with Tuesday offering clear skies for preparations. Meteorologists Chuck Bell and Somara Theodore from Storm Team4 provide insights on the weather systems involved. Local agencies are preparing residents for the event, with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service tweeting updates. The storm is expected to subside by Thursday.

Cotey Wynn, a violence interrupter for D.C.'s Office of the Attorney General, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the 2017 killing of Eric Linnair Wright. Wynn, who has a history of serious criminal charges, worked for the Cure the Streets program aimed at reducing gun violence. The attorney general's office acknowledged the arrest, noting it occurred before Wynn's employment with the program, which will continue without him. The case will proceed through the criminal justice system, with Wynn presumed innocent until proven guilty.

During the pandemic, retailers like Target and Walmart are adapting their return policies to be more accommodating, such as allowing returns for items worn a few times due to closed fitting rooms. The Better Business Bureau in the D.C. area advises consumers to be prepared with receipts and knowledge of return policies, noting that while stores are not obligated to accept returns unless items are defective or misrepresented, many do so voluntarily.

The Arlington National Cemetery and Addison Road Metro stations, one in Arlington, Virginia, and the other in Prince George’s County, Maryland, will be closed from February 13, 2021, until May 23, 2021, for platform reconstruction. The Blue Line will also be closed due to the Arlington National Cemetery stop being the only station exclusively served by it. Metro will provide shuttle buses and advises riders to allow extra time for commutes or consider bus services, as additional Yellow Line trains will cover the gap during this period.

Andrew Hammond, historian and curator of the International Spy Museum in D.C., expresses a deep sense of loss over the passing of Sean Connery. As a fellow Scot, Hammond feels a connection to Connery, who is famed for his portrayal of James Bond. While acknowledging the fantastical elements of Bond films, Hammond contrasts Connery's depiction with the more realistic spies in John le Carre's works. WTOP's entertainment editor Jason Fraley also appreciates Connery's diverse roles under directors like Alfred Hitchcock and in films such as 'The Untouchables' and 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.

The City of Falls Church in Northern Virginia is seeking public feedback on its police department and sheriff’s office's use of force policies through a survey open until December 5. This initiative follows protests triggered by George Floyd's death and involves a Use of Force Review Committee formed in June with community volunteers. The survey aims to gather public perception and experiences, with the results to be made available online, assisting the committee in making policy recommendations.

A family in Chevy Chase, Maryland, was displaced after a large tree limb fell on their home on Leland Street. The incident occurred before noon and resulted in a significant tree removal effort involving a crane and a truck. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Pete Piringer confirmed that the family was inside at the time but no injuries were reported. The removal of the tree limb was still underway.

Tom Toles, the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, has retired from The Washington Post after 18 years. His final cartoon, reflecting on his 50-year career and liberal stance, included a prediction about artificial intelligence, a warning about climate change, and a political request regarding the upcoming election. Fred Hiatt, editorial page editor, praised Toles for his high standard of work. Toles looks forward to fulfilling a childhood promise to himself to focus on playing.

Montgomery County launched the FLASH bus rapid transit service to improve commutes along Columbia Pike/Route 29. The service, which features modern buses with Wi-Fi and USB ports, will run daily from 5:30 a.m. to midnight, connecting Silver Spring Transit Center with Burtonsville. Officials, including County Council Vice President Tom Hucker and County Executive Marc Elrich, highlighted the importance of the service for residents with limited transit options and long commutes. The FLASH buses are expected to reduce road congestion and are part of a broader transit network expansion plan.

The article discusses a viral video featuring a 5-year-old girl named Lylah from Colorado, who completed a home-made obstacle course inspired by the television show 'American Ninja Warrior.' Her father, Gavin MacCall, designed the course and provided commentary and crowd noises during her run. The video showcases Lylah navigating various challenges, including a zip line and a steep, curved wall, which she conquers with confidence. The video has gained significant attention, amassing over 60 million views. The article invites readers to share their thoughts on Lylah's obstacle course in the Comments Section or on Facebook.

The article discusses the phenomenal success of Pokemon GO, which has become the biggest mobile game in US history with over 100 million downloads. It explores the various perspectives on the game's impact, from those who see it as a source of legitimate business and educational opportunities to those who view it as a potential threat. Concerns include personal safety issues, data mining, and national security risks. The article delves into the widespread fascination with Pokemon GO and the reasons it has become a hot topic of conversation.