Meredith Somers
Articles by Meredith Somers
Oxon Hill man killed in domestic dispute
A 22-year-old Oxon Hill man was fatally shot Sunday morning in what Prince George's County police are calling a domestic dispute. Published June 30, 2013
Cathedral dean: Voting Rights Act ruling a ‘filthy enactment’
The dean of the Washington National Cathedral on Sunday criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act as a "filthy enactment" and asked parishioners to work together to reverse the decision. Published June 30, 2013
Teen drowns after sneaking into Rockville pool
A 15-year-old Rockville boy drowned at a community pool after sneaking in when it was closed, Montgomery County police said. Published June 30, 2013
4 women attacked in D.C. with knife, shoes
Four women were attacked with a knife and shoes during a scuffle in the U Street area of Northwest early Sunday, D.C. police said. Published June 30, 2013
Norton: Michigan congressman drafting bill to outlaw D.C. speed, red-light cameras
A Michigan congressman is planning to introduce legislation to ban red light and speed cameras in the District — a move that's triggered the ire of D.C.'s delegate. Published June 27, 2013
Missing red panda returned safely to National Zoo
A red panda who escaped from the National Zoo wandered a mile through Northwest D.C. before he was found safe and sound Monday after a daylong disappearance that sparked a social media frenzy when zoo officials announced the search on Twitter and Facebook. Published June 24, 2013
Suitland man told police he killed 2-year-old because boy ‘disrespected’ him
A 26-year-old Suitland man killed his girlfriend's 2-year-old son by smashing him headfirst through a wall, prosecutors said in newly released court documents. Published June 20, 2013
Panel sticks with Gehry’s memorial to Ike
The commission handling the design and construction of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial on Wednesday largely ignored recent criticism of the memorial design, choosing instead to unanimously approve the plan despite concerns over cost and concept. Published June 19, 2013
D.C. Council works out ingredients of food truck compromise
The D.C. Council on Tuesday approved emergency legislation to address regulations for the city's food trucks, bringing a peaceful compromise to a three-year battle between brick-and-mortar restaurants and the popular mobile vendors. Published June 18, 2013
Virginia teen charged with reckless driving in fatal skateboarding accident
A 17-year-old Washington-Lee High School student was charged with reckless driving Tuesday in relation to a skateboarding accident that left his friend and fellow student dead, Arlington County police said. Published June 18, 2013
Trip to Baltimore ballpark leads to serious injuries after fans fight
Matthew Fortese should be ironing out a best-man speech for his brother's wedding, but instead the 25-year-old is relearning how to talk. Rather than making friends at the new job he was supposed to start two weeks ago, he is settling in at an inpatient rehabilitation center. Published June 17, 2013
For severely wounded dog, happiness is a warm home
Chloe the Shih Tzu sashays her way across the hardwood floor, a hot-pink vest secured around her small body. She stops at the feet of Abby Dunlap and waits to be scooped up. Not a bad deal for a dog who survived being stabbed seven times with a steak knife. Published June 16, 2013
Fast-moving storm fells trees, drops hail, disrupts travelers
A fast-moving storm system that affected much of the eastern United States buffeted the D.C. area with rain and wind Thursday, leaving behind downed trees, thousands of power outages and unofficial reports of at least three tornadoes touching down in Maryland. Published June 13, 2013
Tornado spotted in Montgomery County; outages in Md., Va. and D.C.
A tornado was reported in central Montgomery County amid fast-moving storms that buffeted the D.C. area Thursday with rain and wind, National Weather Service officials said. Published June 13, 2013
State, federal agencies taking storm precautions
State and federal agencies in the D.C. area began taking precautions early Thursday for the massive storm front barreling across the Midwest, which was leaving power outages, flooding and fallen trees in its wake. Published June 13, 2013
Eisenhower memorial do-over possible
The congressional committee tasked with overseeing the proposed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial on Wednesday will consider legislation that addresses financial and design issues that have plagued the process and would oversee a potential overhaul of the commission running the project and its plans. Published June 11, 2013
Child, 2 adults killed in Wheaton car crash
A 4-year-old Montgomery County girl was killed in a car crash that also killed her father and uncle and seriously injured her mother, police said Monday. Published June 10, 2013
Scaled-back Frager’s Hardware opens after fire
On Sunday, just days after a four-alarm fire destroyed the beloved store, Frager's was once again open for business — albeit a truncated version — selling plants, flowers, pots and any remaining "survivors" at a pop-up store at Eastern Market. Published June 9, 2013
‘Everybody went there’ and now Frager’s Hardware is gone
Customers, neighbors and employees Thursday struggled to come to terms with the fact that a beloved general hardware store was no more, the victim of a four-alarm fire that destroyed the 93-year-old Capitol Hill institution. Published June 6, 2013
Montgomery schools will receive grant from Azerbaijani foundation
Montgomery County Public Schools is set to receive a $65,000 education grant Thursday from a foundation based in the Republic of Azerbaijan, money that school officials say will buy technology for classrooms and an opportunity for seriously disabled students to more fully participate in their education. Published June 5, 2013