What happened during DC Council member Trayon White's first court appearance - Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - Top News from WTOP

TOP NEWS | August 20, 2024 [Web version](   [DC Council member Trayon White was arrested on bribery charge]( Court documents filed in U.S. District Court accuse the Ward 8 council member of accepting $156,000 in kickbacks related to violence interruption contracts. [READ MORE](   [Biden gets a rousing ovation from Democrats as he gives Harris an enthusiastic endorsement]( President Joe Biden delivered his valedictory address to the Democratic National Convention and basked in a long ovation that reflected the energy released by his decision to cede the stage to Kamala Harris. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [Explore the Future of Financial Markets at the 2024 FMQ Conference]( Join the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy on September 17 at Georgetown University for the Financial Markets Quality Conference, featuring policymakers, industry leaders, and scholars discussing timely global financial issues.   [New school year begins for thousands of students in Northern Virginia, teachers in DC]( Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia's largest school district, was one of the jurisdictions that celebrated the first day of classes. Meanwhile, teachers in D.C. were greeted with go-go music and pep talks from the chancellor and mayor. [READ MORE](   [DC man says he was beaten up after kissing partner at Dupont Circle Shake Shack]( Video captured by those inside the D.C. restaurant shows employees wearing Shake Shack uniforms hitting the man and others pulling him away as customers looked on. [READ MORE](   Event [Federal News Network Workplace Reimagined 2024 | Register Now]( How will agencies transform and prepare for the workforce of the future? Learn strategies your agency can take to build a team that's inclusive, agile and engaged - plus has the right skills to enable mission delivery.   [Aging technology, IT failures largely to blame for DC 911 breakdowns, city says]( D.C. leaders are finally saying more about the problems they've been dealing with at the Office of Unified Communications, which handles the city's 911 call center. [READ MORE](   [Winter to bring slush, but not a lot of snow to the DC area, Farmers' Almanac says]( If you want to see a snowy winter across the D.C. area, The Farmer's Almanac suggests not getting your hopes up. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [The Office of the People's Counsel is here to help]( The DC Office of the People's Counsel is the consumer advocate for District of Columbia utility ratepayers. Learn more about how they can help and start saving today!   [FBI wants you to ‘Take A Beat' as cases of fraud and scams grow]( The FBI's "Take A Beat" campaign encourages the public to stop and think things over when confronted with suspicious offers or requests before taking any action. [READ MORE](   [Antisemitic graffiti and other vandalism found at more Montgomery Co. schools]( The graffiti found at four schools included swastikas and hateful messages about Israel regarding its ongoing war with Hamas. Police are investigating the incidents. [READ MORE](   Insight by Amazon [Amazon launches big expansion of program to provide affordable housing in Northern Virginia]( Amazon has deepened its commitment to affordable housing in Northern Virginia, where new projects are providing homes for workers in the region who often find costs are out of reach.   [DC-area friends launch ‘Dad Strength Brewing' - for IPA lovers who want less of a buzz]( Two D.C.-area friends and entrepreneurs who share a love for craft-brewed beers, but feel they're aging out of the high-octane punch many craft beers pack, have launched a brewery to bridge the gap. [READ MORE](   [Fairfax Co. restaurant owners line up against possible food tax]( “I think it's crazy at this time when inflation is already high, and people are barely making ends meet, and now you hit them with this tax? I don't think it's right time.” [READ MORE](   INSIGHT BY PEPCO [Pepco is readying its grid, preparing for a more sustainable and equitable future]( As the realities of climate change become increasingly apparent, utility companies such as Pepco face the critical task of readying the grid to respond to new challenges.   [Investigation into Potomac Yard PetSmart facility finds concerning staff trends, but no criminal wrongdoing]( The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, which launched its investigation, said there's "insufficient evidence" to charge either the facility or its staff members with a crime. [READ MORE](   [‘Opera in the Outfield' brings Puccini to Nats Park punctuated by Grammy winner, ‘Succession' scribe]( The Washington National Opera's "Turandot" was sold out at the Kennedy Center in the spring. On Saturday, you can see it on a jumbotron inside a baseball stadium. [READ MORE](   Event - Webinar [Federal News Network's Cyber Leaders Exchange 2024]( Join Federal News Network for our third annual cyber exchange Oct. 1 and 2 at 1 p.m. ET each day. During this exclusive two-day virtual event, discover how agencies are leading the way as the government “fundamentally re-imagines America's cyber social construct”.   PARTNERSHIP [Listen live for news, traffic and weather from WTOP News on our FREE App!]( Download the app today - sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union - to stay up to date on all the latest news in the DMV.   [Check out the latest weather forecast]( [Click here for the latest traffic updates]( [Visit WTOP's Podcast Center]( Download and listen to podcasts created by WTOP and our partners CONNECT WITH WTOP [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( [instagram]( EVERYTHING YOU NEED EVERY TIME YOU LISTEN [DOWNLOAD THE WTOP APP]( [Click here to manage your newsletter preferences.]( This email and the accompanying website are not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. [Unsubscribe](  | [Contact us.](