The 51st — Washington, DC local news

Vaughn Bennett leans over a chess board, teaching kids at a table how to play the game.

DCish

Meet D.C.'s most dedicated chess teacher

Vaughn Bennett is fighting to give young Black students an equal shot at competitive chess.

Two people hold a marriage license issued by the District of Columbia.

News

State of the unions: The shutdown made it harder to say ‘I do’ in D.C.

The congressional spending fight shuttered the office that issues marriage licenses in the city.

Three people sit in chairs on stage, with one speaking into a microphone.

Building The 51st

This moment isn’t normal, but here’s our glimmer of hope

Lessons from a cooperative businesses conference, and being a part of a larger movement

Leaves have fallen to the sidewalk in the autumn.

Weekend Events

13 things to do around D.C. this weekend

The next few days are full of ways to celebrate local culture in the crisp air, including several fall festivals.

Featured

immigrant rights protestors holding signs at a columbia heights action

Opinion: ICE enforcement terrorizes school communities

School district action plans should include protective measures for students, and schools must train all staff on these measures.

Photo of row houses and a mural on a brick wall that says 'Facing the future together'

Opinion: Trump is stoking fears about D.C.'s crime but the city is safer than it's been in decades.

In the past, fears about crime have produced regressive and punitive policies. Now is the time for D.C. to invest in preventative solutions.

A photograph of the inside of a police car, with an agent in the background and accessories in the foreground.

How to defend your neighbors (or yourself) from ICE enforcement in D.C.

Trump has threatened mass deportations, but D.C. residents still have rights. We've rounded up strategies to protect yourself and your community.

A photo of someone getting arrested, as seen through the rear window of a police vehicle.

What to know if you're arrested in D.C.

Understanding your rights is crucial to protecting yourself and your neighbors.

A guide to giving and receiving help in D.C.

A guide to giving and receiving help in D.C.

Where to find all kinds of assistance, from legal aid to food donations to political organizing.

The 51st

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A uniformed D.C. police officer standing in front of a protest, with his back to the camera.

Coffee contest and copaganda: Your weekly Civics Roundup

Plus, a chance to question D.C.'s Attorney General.

A woman leans on her kitchen counter with paper

D.C. renters face record eviction levels amid dwindling aid and rising housing costs

New data shows evictions have surged past pre-pandemic levels, fueled by shrinking aid, high rents, and weakened tenant protections.

A group of protests hold American flags and signs calling on President Trump to intervene.

Is the long saga of the ride-hailing app Empower finally over?

The company, which claims to provide a better service than Uber or Lyft, has been defying regulators for five years.

A man in a Right Proper Brewer jumpsuit and hat looks down at a can of beer on a table.

D.C. breweries fear a new bottle-deposit bill could sink their businesses

Lawmakers are considering the measure to help clean up the Anacostia River.

Photo illustration depicting all of the D.C. Council members behind a pair of closing doors, except for Janeese Lewis-George and Trayon White Sr.

Wilson Building Bulletin: Curfews and closed doors

The D.C. Council rejected a bill extending the youth curfew. Until it didn't.

A person stands on the median of a busy street, next to a board propped up against coolers and a shopping cart, as cars pass by

For 1,250 days, Alan has given out free water at a busy Brightwood intersection

He’s built a community that stood up for him when the threat of eviction loomed.

14 things to do around D.C. this weekend

14 things to do around D.C. this weekend

The shutdown continues — but our local arts and culture scene is going strong.

A person walking with a blue umbrella that reads We Are All DC, next to a person with a DC flag.

Pupusa party: Your weekly Civics Roundup

Plus, another visit to Capitol Hill.

Opinion: Locking kids up isn't working. Here's what we should do instead.

Opinion: Locking kids up isn't working. Here's what we should do instead.

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker introduced a policy package this week that he says is aimed at addressing the root causes of violence.

Why real D.C. news is so important right now

Why real D.C. news is so important right now

With powerful people spreading misinformation about our city, The 51st’s work is more vital than ever.

International teachers face uncertainty as DCPS backtracks on green card help

International teachers face uncertainty as DCPS backtracks on green card help

More than 200 teachers may soon have to leave the country because of what they say are broken promises from the city's school system.

A person holds up a sign in front of the Supreme Court that reads "I oppose the death penalty. Don't kill for me!"

Capital punishment: What it means that Trump reinstated the death penalty in D.C.

D.C. did away with the death penalty 44 years ago, but the president is bringing it back.

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