Meredith Somers
Articles by Meredith Somers
Md. driver admits slingshot attack on speed camera was ‘very stupid’ act
Standing in a brown suit, his shaggy hair combed back from his dark-rimmed glasses, Bruce May quietly told a Howard County District courtroom that he "wasn't thinking, just acting," when he shot marbles at a mobile speed camera. Published August 29, 2012
Washingtonians lead U.S. in vacations taken
While tourists worldwide flock to the District for their vacations, D.C. residents are flocking elsewhere for their time off, according to a new survey. Published August 27, 2012
Gadgets more likely to be on than off in D.C.-area schools
D.C.-area students are swapping their bathing suits for books as they head back to school. But unlike some toys and games left at home after helping to pass the lazy days, a growing number of electronic gadgets are being allowed in the classroom. Published August 26, 2012
D.C. area still recovering from last year’s quake
The most powerful earthquake in Virginia recorded history rattled the area one year ago, but geology analysts and emergency officials Thursday warned that the city still is far from being fully restored or ready for a future disaster. Published August 23, 2012
A year after earthquake, the shocks linger in Virginia town
For every resident, there's been an aftershock. A year after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook the ground from North Carolina to New Jersey, the 471-person town of Mineral at the quake's epicenter continues to tremble. Published August 22, 2012
Man who fled country on sex charges 12 years ago is back in Va. jail
A Franconia man wanted for 12 years on a variety of charges related to sexual acts with minors is behind bars in Virginia after being arrested in Mexico. Published August 19, 2012
Man shot in back in Southeast
A 20-year-old man was shot in the back early Sunday, D.C. police said. Published August 19, 2012
Man stabbed in back in Southeast
A man was stabbed in the back in Southeast early Sunday morning, D.C. police said. Published August 19, 2012
Trooper recovering after being rear-ended near Tysons Corner
A Virginia State Police trooper injured by a drunk driver was recovering Sunday, a trooper spokeswoman said. Published August 19, 2012
Woodbridge teen charged with DUI in fatal hit-and-run
A Woodbridge teenager is behind bars on charges related to a drunken hit-and-run crash that left a man dead. Published August 19, 2012
Beaten man found on Eastern Market doorstep in a coma
A man found severely beaten on the doorstep of an Eastern Market home on Saturday is in a coma, friends said. Published August 19, 2012
Family Research Council, Southern Poverty Law Center have war of words over shooting
The president of a conservative Christian-based family organization said Thursday that the blame for the shooting of a colleague was shared between the man with the gun and groups that practice "reckless use of terminology." Published August 16, 2012
Teenager charged with bringing marijuana into U.S.
An American teenager was caught at a D.C.-area airport attempting to smuggle four grams of marijuana in a cereal box, officials said Wednesday. Published August 15, 2012
Gunman shoots guard inside Family Research Council’s D.C. offices
A man with a gun walked into the D.C. offices of the Family Research Council on Wednesday morning and fired on a security guard who confronted him in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime or act of domestic terrorism, authorities said. Published August 15, 2012
Maryland governor backs farmland over soccer
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has sided with citizens' groups against a Montgomery County project to transform a 20-acre organic farm in a Potomac neighborhood into soccer fields, but county officials say they plan to go forward with the project anyway. Published August 14, 2012
Metro door problem delays trains
A door problem on a Red Line train caused minor delays during the Tuesday morning rush hour, Metro officials said. Published August 14, 2012
$320M Powerball jackpot sparks return of lottery fever
A $320 million Powerball jackpot is scheduled for Wednesday night, and officials are hoping the multimillion-dollar mania that seized the area earlier this year could turn the drawing into a record-breaking win. Published August 14, 2012
Five injured by broken Metro escalator
A broken piece of Metro escalator injured five people Tuesday, sending several commuters to the hospital and setting off conflicting stories between transit officials and witnesses about what caused the early morning mayhem. Published August 7, 2012
Curious follow Curiosity at the Smithsonian
The rover Curiosity's safe landing on Martian soil sparked a wave of interest Monday from space enthusiasts and casual observers who stopped for project updates at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Published August 6, 2012
Former Olympians look back with pride
Tom Dolan inspired young athletes to dream in gold. Cara Heads pushed herself to look beyond a medal. Derek Brown wondered what was next. Published August 6, 2012