Meredith Somers
Articles by Meredith Somers
Plow drivers at the ready should snow fall
Maneuvering a 30-ton snowplow with 12-foot shovels can be a daunting task — even when there's not a flake of snow on the ground. Published November 26, 2013
Obenshain to call for recount in Virginia attorney general’s race
Republican Mark D. Obenshain said Tuesday that he plans to formally ask for a recount of this month's Virginia attorney general's race that was decided by 165 votes. Published November 26, 2013
State certifies Herring as winner in Virginia attorney general’s race
The Virginia State Board of Elections on Monday declared Democrat Mark R. Herring the official winner of the state's attorney general race by 165 votes — the smallest margin for any statewide race in Virginia history. Published November 25, 2013
Aspects of Eisenhower Memorial trouble panel
Construction of a Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial is no closer after the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday expressed new criticism of the beleaguered project's designs and voiced concern for visitors' overall impressions. Published November 21, 2013
Slight dip expected in Thanksgiving travel
Thanksgiving travel is predicted to drop for the first time in five years, according to travel officials, the result of a still-recovering economy and overly-cautious consumers. Published November 20, 2013
Pollution down, fish recovering in Potomac River
The Potomac River earned an overall grade of C on its 2013 State of the Nation's River report card, a step in the right direction from its previous D, conservationists said, but a score that leaves much room for improvement. Published November 19, 2013
D.C. police propose requirements to re-register guns
The D.C. police department has released information about how to re-register firearms in the city — two years after the original deadline. Published November 18, 2013
Zebra attacks keeper at National Zoo; spooked gazelle breaks neck and dies amid panic
A chaotic scene unfolded at the Smithsonian National Zoo Monday after a zebra attack on a keeper set off a horrifying chain of events. Published November 18, 2013
School voucher group under fire for ‘untimely information’
The Government Accountability Office has criticized the group that administers the District's school voucher program, saying the agency provides "incomplete and untimely information" about schools to participating families, and calling for both internal improvements and a helping hand from outside agencies. Published November 17, 2013
Virginia’s attorney general race could end up in General Assembly
A razor-thin margin in the Virginia attorney general's race could ultimately put the decision about a winner before the General Assembly — but the rarely used strategy of contesting an election comes with its own political consequences, analysts say. Published November 14, 2013
Arlington bar codes examined for vote problems in Virginia
Elections officials in Arlington acknowledged Wednesday that the county's electoral board accepted more than a dozen provisional ballots in which a voter's name had been checked off mistakenly as already having voted, a discrepancy apparently chalked up to errors by poll workers. Published November 13, 2013
Democrat Herring declares victory in Virginia attorney general race
Democrat Mark R. Herring declared victory in the Virginia attorney general's race Tuesday, after opening a triple-digit lead in the final hours before localities certified their results and submitted them to the State Board of Elections. Published November 12, 2013
‘Lawn mower man’ returning for a thank you
How do you thank a man who took it upon himself to landscape the Lincoln Memorial during last month's federal government shutdown? Published November 11, 2013
Herring takes lead in Virginia attorney general’s race
Mark R. Herring took the lead in the Virginia attorney general's race, with the focus shifting back to uncounted provisional ballots in Fairfax County as the deadline loomed Tuesday for localities to certify their election results. Published November 11, 2013
Cold front could bring morning flurries to D.C. area
The D.C. area might see its first snowflakes Tuesday, weather officials said, as a cold front brings a sudden drop in temperatures Published November 11, 2013
Obenshain’s attorney general lead cut to 55
The race for attorney general in Virginia remains undecided nearly a week after Election Day, and as local elections officials neared the conclusion of an investigation into absentee ballots, the razor-thin lead of Republican Mark D. Obenshain narrowed. Published November 10, 2013
Is the Washington Monument sinking?
A team of surveyors is measuring the Washington Monument to determine whether the memorial still stands straight at 555 feet. Published November 7, 2013
National Zoo’s tiger cubs pass ‘swim test’ wet but no worse for wear
The National Zoo's twin Sumatran tiger cubs passed their swim test on Wednesday, leaving keepers proud, onlookers charmed and the two cubs soaked — but no worse for wear. Published November 6, 2013
Motivated Va. voters turn out
Turnout in Virginia's gubernatorial election appeared to be higher than some predictions, countering conventional wisdom that says negative campaigns depress voter participation. Published November 5, 2013
National Zoo announces possible names for giant panda cub
Voting has opened to name the National Zoo's giant panda cub. Published November 5, 2013