Will the cherry blossoms bloom early this year? - Friday, February 17, 2023 - Top News from WTOP

TOP NEWS | February 17, 2023 [Web version](   [Early cherry blossom bloom likely as ‘indicator tree' buds on Tidal Basin]( “Everything at this point certainly leads us to believe that it's going to be an earlier than average peak bloom,” said Mike Litterst with the National Park Service on the bloom status for D.C. cherry blossoms. [READ MORE](   [Decapitated body found in Northeast DC backyard, man turns himself in]( LaVaughn Barnes, 32, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder while armed, according to police, after dismembered human remains were found in outside a Northwest home. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [FVCbank. Success Has a Bank.]( FVCbank has been serving Virginia and Maryland residents business banking and personal banking services since 2007. Open an account with us today!   [‘Makiyah was an angel': Trial begins in 2018 killing of girl gunned down getting ice cream]( Six men are being tried in the shooting. In addition to opening statements from more than half a dozen attorneys, mother Donnetta Wilson testified as the trial's first witness. [READ MORE](   [Presidents Day 2023: What's open, what's closed in the DC area]( Like other federal holidays, Feb. 20 is a day off for many people in the D.C. region. There are also cancellations and schedule changes due to the holiday. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente [Does your business ensure psychological well-being in the workplace?]( Discover what psychological health is and why it matters to your business. We sit down with Kaiser Permanente's Angela Beaudry, vice president of HR, to talk about how organizations can create healthy environments for their employees.   [Family of man dragged, killed by metro train demanding answers]( “We have a lot of questions,” Amanda Greenwood said after her father, Harold Riley, was killed after being drafted by a Metro train at the Dunn Loring Station. [READ MORE](   [Maryland's Howard Co. African American culture center reopens after 3 years]( Following setbacks such as the pandemic and flooding, the Howard County Center of African American Culture will host a grand opening on Tuesday, Feb. 28. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [Be the steward of your own heart health]( Although some risk factors might make medication necessary, there's much that you can do to prevent heart and blood vessel disease without medical intervention. MedStar's Dr. Allen Taylor shares new research and must-know advice.   [At DC's Dupont Circle, Michigan State University alumni grieve after shooting]( Alums living in the D.C. area supported each other at the candlelight vigil following Monday's shooting, leaving three students dead and five injured. [READ MORE](   [Mardi Gras in DC: Series of events across the District through Fat Tuesday]( D.C. residents can experience a taste of New Orleans this weekend: A series of NOLA-inspired events will bring Mardi Gras fun to the District. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Data Center Coalition [Data centers do more with less (energy)]( Data centers like those operated by Amazon Web Services aggregate computing resources and leverage innovations to maximize energy efficiency. We talk with AWS' Shannon Kellogg about the company's commitment to sustainability and efforts to make Northern Virginia's energy grid greener.   [Skydome, DC area's only rotating restaurant, reopens]( The Crystal City-based restaurant has also undergone renovations since it closed, and now, it has a new menu and head chef. [READ MORE](   [Young's 20 help Maryland surge past No. 3 Purdue 68-54]( Students stormed the Xfinity Center court - and one even climbed onto a basket - after Maryland earned its fourth victory of the season over a ranked team. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [AWS, data center industry innovate to increase sustainability, energy efficiency]( Data centers like those operated by Amazon Web Services aggregate computing resources and leverage innovations to maximize energy efficiency. We talk with AWS' Shannon Kellogg about the company's commitment to sustainability and efforts to make Northern Virginia's energy grid greener.   [DC Sports Huddle: The Commanders' ongoing OC search and Strasburg's future with the Nats]( The WTOP Sports team discusses Eric Bieniemy's potential fit as offensive coordinator of the Commanders and the latest Stephen Strasburg injury setback at Nats Spring Training. [READ MORE](   [‘The Other Fellow' documentary explores the curse of real people named James Bond]( “The Other Fellow” is the title of an intriguing new documentary by Australian filmmaker Matthew Bauer, who follows real-life people -- from an ornithologist to the son of a Nazi -- with the name of James Bond. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Noblis [How DTRA keeps tabs on potential threats worldwide]( Besides operational capability in the face of CBRN threats, DTRA bring two other assets to the fight: people and research.   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.](