Meredith Somers

It’s no Pamplona, Spain, but the Great Bull Run will thunder into Virginia

You could shell out thousands of dollars for a flight to Spain and a hotel room in the historic city of Pamplona, fight your way through the maze of mid-July crowds and wait hours to sprint along the cobblestones for mere seconds of pounding adrenaline as 12 bulls gallop alongside you. Published May 14, 2013

Housewife-activist wants referendum on Md. gun law

A Montgomery County housewife and political activist has revived a stalled referendum effort against Maryland's recently passed gun-control bill, breaking from a plan favored by the National Rifle Association and leaving her the daunting task of producing thousands of signatures in about two weeks. Published May 13, 2013

Food fight heats up along D.C.’s streets

The long-simmering battle between traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants and the insurgent food truck industry is expected to come to a head Friday during a regulatory hearing before a D.C. Council committee. Published May 9, 2013

Nearly 200 D.C. food trucks offer choices for every day of every week

In the four years since Fojol Bros. started to feed the masses gathered for President Obama's first inauguration, the D.C. streets have welcomed close to 200 food trucks. Published May 9, 2013

Tourists spent $6.2 billion in D.C. in 2012

Tourists visiting the District spent $6.2 billion last year, up from 2011 and the seventh year in a row the city has surpassed $5.5 billion, officials said. Published May 7, 2013

D.C. food trucks’ protest leaves folks hungry

Instead of serving meals, the colorful food trucks that usually offer lobster rolls, piping-hot slices of pizza or spicy empanadas were closed on Monday — a demonstration of what the lunch hour could be like under new regulations proposed by city officials. Published May 6, 2013

Swaying to Hispanic beat on the Mall

Maru Montero left for the United States from her home in Oaxaca, Mexico, with just one pair of dance shoes. It was a sacrifice. But now she has her own dance company and directs the National Cinco de Mayo Festival, which took place on the Mall on Sunday. Published May 5, 2013

Muslim development plans meet resistance in rural Maryland

A Muslim group's effort to move its campus from College Park to Maryland's rural Howard County is being met with opposition from local residents, who say dense construction plans for the site would spoil the quiet character of the area. Published May 5, 2013

Would-be robber fatally shot in struggle over gun

A man attempting to rob two men in a car in Hillcrest Heights was fatally shot early Sunday after struggling with one of his victims over a gun, Prince George's County police said. Published May 5, 2013

Fairfax police investigate series of 10 burglaries in 24 hours

A series of 10 burglaries in one day are being investigated by Fairfax County police. Published May 5, 2013

4-year-old hit by car, killed in Alexandria

A 4-year-old Alexandria boy was killed Saturday when he ran into the street and was hit by a car, police said. Published May 5, 2013

Holocaust museum’s 20th anniversary draws survivors, veterans

Holocaust survivors and veterans gathered in the District to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum with what was expected to be one of the last gatherings of such a large group of survivors. Published April 29, 2013

UMd. students carry dreams of vertical flight

The prize for building a human-powered helicopter that can hover 10 feet in the air for one minute remains unclaimed. But a team of University of Maryland students is resolved that, one day, they'll be the ones to win it. Published April 28, 2013

Fairfax officer recovering from crash injuries

Friends, family and fellow officers are hosting a fundraiser Sunday to raise money for Fairfax County Police Officer Long Dinh Jr., who is recovering from injuries suffered during a head-on crash in February. Published April 26, 2013

D.C. murals serving as an artful alternative to graffiti on walls

The District sets aside about $406,000 annually to remove graffiti, but officials have dedicated a separate budget of $100,000 to a 5-year-old project encouraging constructive creations in areas often targeted by taggers. Published April 25, 2013

Deconstructing art: Cleanup crews tackle District’s graffiti epidemic

Everybody knows springtime in the District means blossoms and baseball. But it also means an increasingly busy schedule for the city's graffiti-removal crews, which have seen a quadrupling of cleanup orders since 2010. Published April 25, 2013

Emotional connection to repairs on National Cathedral

Stone carver Andy Uhl has had his hands on some of Washington, D.C.'s most famous buildings — the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Folger Theater, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — but he got his start as an apprentice at the Washington National Cathedral. Published April 23, 2013

Resistance grows to lawsuit to overturn Maryland gun law

A Maryland delegate says a plan by the nation's leading gun rights group to file a lawsuit to overturn the state's recently passed firearms bill is meeting some resistance among activists. Published April 22, 2013

Keeping alive the joys of ‘nerd-dom’ at comics convention

In a city ruled by suits, ties and tight schedules, there exists a burgeoning community unbound by daily monotony and black-and-white rules comic book fans. Published April 21, 2013

Maryland gun rights activists drop referendum effort

Recently passed laws in Maryland that restrict the number and type of weapons residents can own and that require people purchasing guns to obtain licenses are unconstitutional and will not survive a court challenge planned for October, the National Rifle Association said Thursday. Published April 17, 2013