Post Local

In 2023, crime surged in D.C. as homicides reached levels not seen in a generation. In 2024, violent crime receded. But young people here are still living with their guard up and making decisions to keep themselves, their friends and their siblings safe. wapo.st/448q6rR

Kink N’ Draw is part of a proliferating practice around D.C. where people can shell out a few bucks to draw live, naked models at a bar. No different, really, for these artists from attending a pub trivia night. wapo.st/3Qn24oO

The Nationals’ bullpen didn’t perform as expected during the first two weeks of the season, and Clayton Beeter knew just what could fix it: an evening of fine dining. Since then, they’ve lowered their ERA to 4.93 ERA and 3.50 walks per nine. wapo.st/41RHob1

Review: Tracy Letts’s “The Minutes” excels at skewering institutional power. Centered on a city council meeting in the indistinct town of Big Cherry, USA, “The Minutes” at times feels ripped from D.C. headlines. wapo.st/4u2yXp0

Alleged members of a car-theft ring suspected of nabbing more than 100 vehicles from the D.C. area have been indicted in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy, in which the stolen cars were shipped to Africa to be resold, officials said. wapo.st/4tCnwET

Courtney Marie Andrews, who performs at the Atlantis in D.C. on Friday, saw herself as a songwriter — not a vocalist — earlier in her career. Her understanding of her voice changed only after touring with a gospel act. wapo.st/3QBm6fa

A federal judge stopped plans to remove popular bike lanes near the National Mall in D.C., saying the Trump administration’s effort to take them out in advance of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations was “arbitrary and capricious.” wapo.st/4mLhtv6

The partial federal government shutdown threatened the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial event in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Families and friends lobbied lawmakers for a deal or at least some kind of exception — that effort paid off. wapo.st/3QkRP4h

Nothing says “summer is coming” like a sweet, juicy strawberry. Strawberry festivals will be in full swing this May, with farms offering treats and family-friendly activities like wagon rides, pick-your-own fields and ziplines. wapo.st/4tps81a

Ahead of the May 1 reopening of Ben’s Chili Bowl, the Ali family is talking about the refurbished diner as a “gift back to Mom.” The nearly 10-month closure is the longest in the restaurant's 68-year history. wapo.st/3QRlbY0

D.C. residents who bought an event ticket, with fees, from entertainment giant Live Nation or its Ticketmaster subsidiary in the past decade could soon submit a claim to get money back. wapo.st/4tXUK15

Seven people were killed in D.C. over a recent span of five days in the deadliest stretch the District has seen so far this year. Among the victims were two boys, ages 12 and 14. wapo.st/48WUSpz

After a dirt bike driver hit two children, D.C. community members are pushing for changes in how the city addresses dirt bikes and four-wheelers, such as creating designated spaces for the riders. wapo.st/4tWSIOW

A former head of the D.C. police union was arrested in Maryland this week after allegedly exchanging sexual messages and explicit images with an undercover detective posing as a teenage boy. wapo.st/4cO0Yem

A federal appeals court ruled that a Fairfax County police officer who shot a suspected drug dealer may have violated the man’s constitutional rights, calling into question the department’s tactics use of force during undercover operations. wapo.st/4chB2rh

D.C. Mayor Bowser (D) has issued a temporary juvenile curfew. This comes more than two weeks after the D.C. Council delayed a vote that would have kept a previous curfew policy from expiring. It sets a daily 11 p.m. curfew for people under the age of 18.wapo.st/4tSkgVM

Lebanese Taverna’s patriarch, Tanios Abi-Najm, fled war-ravaged Beirut before starting the restaurant in 1979. He died last week at 94. He leaves behind one of the most recognizable brand names in Washington-area dining. wapo.st/4c9o7HW

The race to succeed D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton in Congress took a bitter turn when a Democratic candidate posted a 67-page dossier of opposition research on one of her main rivals that included his address and personal information about his family. wapo.st/4cpPgp0

Residents in Maryland are pleading with leaders to hold off on the construction of two massive data centers, including one on land intended for a public park, joining others around the country worried about the harm the projects may bring. wapo.st/4cgBs1j

The Nationals’ new coaching staff has made “preparation” a keyword this season. While this is typical for a lot of teams across the league, the Nationals didn’t have the same focus on pregame work under the previous staff. wapo.st/3Q11exL

D.C.’s leading Democratic candidates for mayor are vowing to build thousands of new housing units in a bid to increase supply and bring down high costs squeezing renters. The only problem: Developers and investors aren’t interested in building housing. wapo.st/3NWtT6z