'This could have all been prevented' - Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - Top News from WTOP

TOP NEWS | August 16, 2023 [Web version](   [DC pet owner opens up about tragic loss in District Dogs flash flooding]( For D.C. resident Jocelyn Lobos-Segura, Monday's severe weather took an unimaginably tragic toll. Her one-year-old Labrador-Border Collie dog, Mona, was one of 10 dogs who died when a pet day care facility flooded. [READ MORE](   [DC Council member wants to remedy ‘city failure' in flood-prone areas]( The devastating flash flooding has caused a resounding demand for answers to a problem that has plagued Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast for years. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [Reach your audience with the right message at the right time]( Is your marketing hitting a dead end? Are you unable to tie business goals to advertising revenue? Not sure if your digital outreach is hitting ROI? Connect with 2060 Digital to discover how you can reach the right audience with the right message.   [2 Virginia school systems diverge on model policies for treatment of transgender students]( While Fairfax County schools plan to stick with its current transgender policies, Spotsylvania County's school board voted to conform with new rules laid out by the Virginia Department of Education. [READ MORE](   [Montgomery Co. Public Schools hires law firm to investigate sexual harassment, bullying allegations involving principal]( Montgomery County's school system hired a Baltimore-based law firm to investigate numerous allegations of bullying and sexual harassment involving recently promoted principal Joel Beidleman. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by PenFed Credit Union, federally insured by NCUA. [High-yield savings: How it can help you on your next summer vacation]( As you start planning next year's getaway, you may want to consider opening a high-yield savings account to maximize your dollar.   [Alligators in Beltsville? Apartment residents warned to be careful while walking pets]( People who live in Maryland don't often have to worry about alligators in the area, but residents of a Beltsville apartment complex recently received an alarming email warning them of a reptile "on the loose" on the property. [READ MORE](   [Howard U. ramps up security after random mob attack on students]( Videos posted on social media showed a melee in which Howard students were injured outside a residence hall - two victims managed to escape the violent mob of about 15 or more teenagers. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [Hear why captive insurance in DC is the right choice for your business]( Dana Sheppard, the associate commissioner of the risk finance bureau within the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, discusses how DC empowers companies and saves them money.   [Ravens, Commanders scuffle a bit but give each other high marks after a joint practice]( “To me, this is actually almost better than preseason. It's much harder to tackle without going to the ground, and then you're covering elite guys every single play.” [READ MORE](   [GOP bill would eliminate DC Home Rule, giving Congress operational power]( The legislation would take away District powers that are included in the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973, which gives D.C. residents the ability to govern their local affairs. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by MedStar Washington Hospital Center [Reconstructive urology: How doctors use it to improve sexual and urinary concerns]( After cancer treatment or traumatic injuries, many patients may think they're stuck with life-changing symptoms like painful urination, erectile dysfunction, or urinary leaking. However, reconstructive urologists at MedStar Washington Hospital Center work to treat these symptoms using the latest techniques and technologies.   [To help deter crime, a DC nonprofit wants to keep the lights on]( After a grisly triple homicide in the D.C. neighborhood of Adams Morgan earlier this month, a nonprofit is pointing to a simple solution that may deter some crime in the area: fixing broken street lights. [READ MORE](   [Wolf Trap honors 50th anniversary of hip-hop with ‘Masters of the Mic: Hip-Hop 50 Tour']( Thursday's show welcomes the “original human beatbox” Doug E. Fresh along with Slick Rick from The Get Fresh Crew, who changed hip-hop forever when they dropped the hits “La Di Da Di” and “The Show” (1985). [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [Microchipping your pets: How does it work?]( Your pet is lost and you have no clue where to start. Thousands of pets go missing every year. Did you know there is a way to help increase the chance that your pet will be returned to you?   [Cast your votes in WTOP's Top 10 Contest!]( Let your tastebuds do the talking and help 10 local restaurants earn a total of $10,000 by casting your votes now through Friday, August 18 at 5 p.m. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Shulman Rogers [DMV entertainment lawyer looks to future while celebrating 50 years of hip hop]( Lita Rosario-Richardson, a Washington, D.C., entertainment lawyer who has counseled numerous Black musical artists, offers her take on the impact of hip hop and what's possible in the next 50 years from an American music culture that has spread worldwide.   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. 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