DC area business owners speak out on retail theft uptick - Thursday, December 7, 2023 - Top News from WTOP

TOP NEWS | December 07, 2023 [Web version](   [DC area experiencing increase in retail theft. For small stores, it's not just business - it's personal]( "As the economy gets a little worse, I think people are just feeling hopeless." D.C.-area small businesses are seeing an uptick in theft. For store owners, someone stealing from them isn't just business; it's also personal. [READ MORE](   [Prince George's Co. police officer found not guilty of murder in 2020 shooting]( It took the jury less than two hours of deliberations to deliver the not guilty verdict, which came after hours of closing arguments earlier in the day. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [Views from the frontlines: Maryland's mental health crisis]( Maryland is in crisis, with roughly 838,000 Marylanders aged 12 and up struggling with a mental health condition.   [Expert explains ‘labor-intensive' process of investigating Arlington home explosion]( Fire investigators in Arlington said there was no timeline as to when they might have concrete answers about what caused a home explosion earlier this week. [READ MORE](   [DC mayor, police chief meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to address city's rising crime]( "I do think it was a good-faith discussion," Mayor Muriel Bowser said about the closed-door meeting with congressional committee members, adding that it was helpful. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Noblis [Applying digital twins to your business processes]( With a process digital twin, you can feed data from an actual process to the twin to model what-if scenarios in real time. Learn how this works and potential uses during the latest Tackling Government Challenges Through Science and Technology podcast.   [Things to do in the DC area: 15 holiday-themed bars and restaurants … and more!]( For those in search of festive D.C.-area spaces to enjoy holiday drinks in, WTOP has put together a guide for the jolliest imbibing with friends and family. [READ MORE](   [WTOP's favorite books to read in 2023]( From memoirs to coming-of-age novels to a graphic novel, check out what WTOP's staff read and loved. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [Every edge device has a story to tell - here's how AI can help you parse the data and read between the lines]( Now, artificial intelligence can help agencies parse that data and read between the lines of each story to solve complex mission challenges in real time.   [‘Country Boy' store in Montgomery Co. hangs up its boots after 68 years]( "It was very difficult to decide to close because I grew up in the business." A Montgomery County institution that's been the quick-stop shop for local produce and beer will soon shut its doors. [READ MORE](   [Judge still undecided if DC should be held in contempt over lack of beds for detained youth]( The accusations of inadequate shelter for teens who are allowed to stay in a less "jail-like" setting come as D.C. battles a surge of cases in which children are being arrested for committing crimes. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by AARP [The role of family caregivers in the healthcare system]( A growing number of Americans are facing an issue with major health and financial implications: providing care for aging family members. WTOP.com, in cooperation with AARP, convened a special panel to explore "The Role of Family Caregiving in the Healthcare System."   [Why DC parents are rushing to get their kids vaccinated]( D.C. Public Schools recently kept some students out of classes over their vaccination status, causing parents to take their children to a clinic to get vaccinated. [READ MORE](   [Maryland 10-year-old shows off her skills in the kitchen on MasterChef Junior]( "I just hope everything turned out good." Zarah Spriggs from Upper Marlboro will be bringing comfort food with a twist for her TV debut. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [How suppressing inflammation can lower your risk for serious disease]( Whether it's through medication or nutraceuticals, decreasing inflammation in our bodies can have significant benefits.   [PHOTOS: Washington Nationals reveal 2024 bobbleheads, giveaways]( Opening Day is months away, but Nationals fans can start planning what days to go to the ballpark as the team revealed its giveaway and bobblehead schedule for the 2024 season. [READ MORE](   [Washington Chorus prepares for ‘A Candlelight Christmas' at Strathmore, Kennedy Center]( Get ready for goosebumps as a holiday tradition returns to the nation's capital starting on Dec. 15 under the magical glow of candlelight. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Four Inc. and IBM [At NASA, ‘data fuels everything we do' - like a return to the moon]( As NASA prepares for a return trip to the moon, the agency is modernizing its approach to capturing and using data to keep pace with its evolving mission.   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.](