Meredith Somers
Articles by Meredith Somers
Mystery drone seen hovering over Virginia warehouse fire
It wasn't flying for long and it's unclear what it was doing, but at least one witness spotted a drone hovering over a six-alarm fire at a warehouse in Alexandria, just miles from the Pentagon. Published September 3, 2013
Other U.S. zoos share District’s panda adoration
Whether it's for their teddy-bear appearance, their unique color pattern or their lazy lifestyle, giant pandas for decades in the United States have enjoyed adoration unlike any other in the animal kingdom. Published September 3, 2013
P.G. woman charged with attempted murder of 8-year-old boy
A Landover woman has been arrested in connection with an attack on an 8-year-old boy, Prince George's County police said Tuesday. Published September 3, 2013
Montgomery County man pleads guilty to girlfriend’s murder
A man who jumped from a nine-story building to avoid arrest in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend pleaded guilty Tuesday to her murder. Published September 3, 2013
Firefighters battle 6-alarm blaze at Alexandria warehouse
Firefighters in Alexandria on Monday battled a massive six-alarm blaze at a construction warehouse. Published September 2, 2013
Secret Service gets an earful from Norton on checkpoint lines
D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton lambasted the Secret Service for its "massive failure" in managing the tens of thousands of people who attended Wednesday's 50th anniversary event of the March on Washington. Published August 29, 2013
Long waits cause frustration at security checkpoint for March on Washington event
The sole security checkpoint set up for the public to gain access to Wednesday's event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington was bottlenecked early, with frustrated crowds angrily chanting to be admitted and reports of people fainting from the heat. Published August 28, 2013
‘Let Freedom Ring’ march anniversary a global event designed for all
Security will be tight and city roads will be jammed as the District prepares for the commemoration Wednesday of the March on Washington, which will feature a morning march and afternoon speeches by President Obama and two former presidents. Published August 27, 2013
March on Washington created ‘an atmosphere of wonder’ in 1963
Barbara Blackburn was 22 years old when she hopped in a cab as the sun rose on Aug. 28, 1963, and headed toward the Lincoln Memorial. She was one of about 250,000 people on the Mall that historic day 50 years ago to hear the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous "I Have a Dream" speech and inspire a peaceful civil rights revolution. Published August 27, 2013
Organizers make commemorating ‘dream’ a reality
Fifty years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired the nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with his "I Have a Dream" speech, the District hosts a series of events this week commemorating the historic day for civil rights. Published August 25, 2013
March on Washington commemoration draws thousands to National Mall
Tens of thousands of people descended on the National Mall on Saturday to rally for a litany of civil rights issues in an event organizers billed as a continuation of the March on Washington 50 years ago. Published August 24, 2013
Organizers insist civil rights events in D.C. aren’t competing
A march promoted by Al Sharpton's National Action Network that is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday is billed as part of the official recognition of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Published August 22, 2013
Politicians’ candor can cause them grief when caught on tape
Politicians, often attempting to distinguish themselves from their opponents and galvanize their supporters, are increasingly getting tripped up over language or ideas at odds with the image they've created for the general public's consumption. Published August 20, 2013
Montgomery County school teacher facing rape, sex assault charges
A Montgomery County elementary school teacher has been arrested on charges related to the sexual abuse of more than a dozen of his students, the rape of a young girl and possession of child pornography, police said Tuesday. Published August 13, 2013
Creating a wall of art: D.C. artist starts his masterpiece with hope of deterring graffiti
A bare brick wall alongside a store in Shaw drew little attention from passers-by Monday, but by the end of the week a larger-than-life woman wielding a pencil-shaped gun amid swirling colors will be watching over the Northwest neighborhood. Published August 12, 2013
Rosie the Riveters of WWII honored
Dorothy May was six months pregnant when she went to learn how to rivet airplanes during World War II while her husband was building bridges in Europe. Published August 11, 2013
Sumatran tiger cubs born at National Zoo
Two Sumatran tiger cubs were born at the Smithsonian National Zoo, officials said Thursday. Published August 8, 2013
As Martin Luther King’s March on Washington anniversary approaches, Trayvon Martin case lingers
Organizers commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington say they expect the case of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin to figure prominently in their events, but they insist the controversy won't overshadow the tribute to a milestone in the civil rights movement. Published August 7, 2013
Just how have lottery jackpots risen so high?
The $400 million Powerball lottery drawing scheduled for Wednesday is on track to be the fourth largest jackpot in history and just the latest in a series of record-breaking prizes won in the last two years. Published August 5, 2013
Forgiveness preached at vandalized National Cathedral
Healing and forgiveness were the prevailing attitudes at the Washington National Cathedral a week after green paint was found splattered within two of its chapels and on three other well-known sites around the District. Published August 4, 2013
