Meredith Somers
Articles by Meredith Somers
Obenshain concedes Virginia AG race to Herring, ending recount
Republican Mark D. Obenshain on Wednesday conceded the Virginia attorney general's race to Democrat Mark R. Herring, putting an end to one of the closet elections in the state's history. Published December 18, 2013
Obenshain to concede Virginia AG race
Republican Mark D. Obenshain has scheduled a 3 p.m. press conference in Richmond in which he will concede the Virginia attorney general's race as preliminary recount results suggest he is falling farther behind. Published December 18, 2013
Mega Millions players dream of a green Christmas with lottery jackpot at $636 million
Lottery officials on Tuesday raised the Mega Millions jackpot to $636 million — the fourth-largest jackpot of all time — but with a day of sales before the drawing and both lottery veterans and holiday hopefuls flocking to ticket counters, what happens next is anyone's guess. Published December 16, 2013
Obenshain raises ballot security issue in Va.
Virginia's largest voting jurisdiction is set to begin a recount Monday for the tightest race in state history, even as one candidate raises concerns about the conduct of the election. Published December 15, 2013
Washington honors an ‘African son’ at Mandela service at National Cathedral
Hundreds of people joined foreign dignitaries, civil-rights leaders and the vice president of the United States on Wednesday to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela. Published December 11, 2013
Maryland makes ‘top tier’ for its control of guns
Maryland's gun laws are the fourth most stringent in the country, according to a national gun control advocacy group, the result of new legislation requiring a handgun license and fingerprinting that supporters said will help keep firearms out of the wrong hands. Published December 10, 2013
Snow prompts closures in D.C. area, slippery conditions remain
A second round of winter weather blew through the D.C. area early Tuesday, prompting the closure of the federal government and local school systems and leaving a blanket of snow in advance of what could be a slippery evening commute. Published December 10, 2013
Troops forced to rely on welfare, holiday charity
Jamie Boling and her husband, Joseph, know that providing for a military family can be trying — waiting for orders, often living on a single income, and, in especially tough cases, supporting a spouse wounded in the line of duty. Published December 9, 2013
Early snowfall changes to sleet in D.C. area
Snow and sleet from a powerful winter storm wreaked havoc around the D.C. area on Sunday, prompting the early closure of the National Zoo, canceling holiday events and causing numerous car crashes on area roads. Published December 8, 2013
Alcohol a factor in fatal Montgomery County car crash: Police
Montgomery County Police said alcohol is a factor in a single car crash that killed a Rockville man Sunday morning. Published December 8, 2013
Blast of winter weather heads to D.C. area
The D.C. area is facing its first serious winter storm of the season this weekend, as sleet, snow and single-digit temperatures make their way into the area. Published December 5, 2013
Va. attorney general vote recount, some by hand, to get started Dec. 16
A recount of the votes in the Virginia attorney general's race will begin Dec. 16, but a number of jurisdictions, including Alexandria, are facing hand recounts thanks to voting machines considered outdated by the state's electoral board. Published December 4, 2013
Wal-Mart opening its doors in D.C.
Christmas lights, family-size frozen lasagna, gaming systems, and even Dallas Cowboys sweatshirts are just some of the items available to customers beginning Wednesday, when two Wal-Mart stores open their doors in the District and usher in a new era in urban big-box retail. Published December 3, 2013
Agreement in D.C. a tall order
The head of a powerful House committee told a roomful of planners and development watchdogs that he would not let a 103-old law limiting the heights of buildings in the District to go another century without addressing its impact, even as the law continues to divide city leaders. Published December 2, 2013
P.G. police ID man fatally shot after party
Prince George's County Police on Sunday identified a 23-year-old Hyattsville man fatally shot after a party. Published December 1, 2013
National Zoo’s female giant panda cub finally gets a name: Bao Bao
One of the District's youngest and most famous celebrities got a name Sunday, as hundreds of giant panda fans and local dignitaries gathered at the National Zoo for a ceremony that christened the 100-day-old panda Bao Bao. Published December 1, 2013
For zoos with pandas, getting bamboo presents unique challenge
Only four U.S. zoos house the endangered giant pandas native to China. And while all four are tasked with procuring bamboo for their pandas, each has a unique job to fulfill. Published November 28, 2013
The art of bamboo for pandas at the National Zoo
The National Zoo's giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang combined eat as much as 150 pounds of bamboo every day. To meet that daily quota of bamboo, a team of 10 nutritionists shares the responsibility of harvesting bamboo from one of the zoo's roughly 15 sites around the D.C. area. Published November 28, 2013
Ready to aim and fire with classes for Maryland gun licenses
Anyone looking to buy a handgun in Maryland must obtain a qualifying license, a process that includes four hours of training taught by a certified instructor and time spent firing at a range. Classes are finally beginning under the tutelage of instructors like Richard Chiapparoli, and gun buyers are getting an education. Published November 27, 2013
Obenshain files petition for recount in Virginia attorney general’s race
Republican Mark D. Obenshain on Wednesday filed a petition asking for a recount of the results in this month's attorney general's race — a contest separated by just 165 votes. Published November 27, 2013