Meredith Somers
Articles by Meredith Somers
‘Occupy D.C.’ takes up Wall Street protesters’ cause
Lacy MacAuley of Adams Morgan signed on after hearing of the movement by word-of-mouth. Eric Sponaugle of Olney joined after seeing images of what he called police brutality. "Joe" from Frederick, Md., saw the handmade signs and wondered what all the fuss was about. Published October 5, 2011
Assault-gun ban stands in D.C.; some registration rules upheld
D.C. laws prohibiting assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition-feeding devices do not violate the Second Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. Published October 4, 2011
Number of deer-vehicle accidents rises in Maryland, falls in Virginia
The number of accidents in which deer were struck by vehicles has increased by 2 percent in Maryland, while such crashes decreased by 7 percent nationwide, according to a 12-month report released Monday by the State Farm insurance company. Published October 3, 2011
High-climbing engineers focus on tip of damaged Washington Monument
High-climbing engineers rappelling the Washington Monument looking for earthquake damage are focusing on the tip of the 555-foot-tall obelisk, the National Park Service said Thursday. Published September 29, 2011
Rescue workers test disaster plans in drill
The first 36 hours after mock-Hurricane Zoe pummeled the District were the hardest for the city. Evacuation attempts were blocked in Southeast. Thousands of residents were sleeping on cots underneath gymnasium roofs and officials were struggling to move 37 bodies from a flooded morgue. Published September 28, 2011
Engineers begin dramatic exterior inspection of Washington Monument
A four-member team of engineer climbers began a dramatic exterior inspection Wednesday afternoon of the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument, examining the landmark for earthquake damage in an operation delayed by the threat of thunderstorms. Published September 28, 2011
Washington Monument damage assessment stymied by storm threat
An engineering firm tasked with rappelling down the Washington Monument to inspect the structure for earthquake damage postponed its 555-foot descent Tuesday because of looming thunderstorms. Published September 27, 2011
Washington Monument to remain closed ‘indefinitely’
The National Park Service says it has no time frame for reopening the Washington Monument. Published September 26, 2011
Damage report on Washington Monument due today
Engineers will provide an updated assessment today on earthquake damage to the Washington Monument. The 555-foot structure has been closed to the public since cracks appeared after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the city Aug. 23. Published September 26, 2011
Census reveals offbeat data in single-year survey
Last year there were 290,508 kitchens in the District, more than 74,000 Maryland children spoke Spanish Creole and only 130 Virginians chose to heat their homes with solar power. Published September 22, 2011
Dinosaur fossil, found in Laurel, made plain by rain
Years of scraping away stones and sifting through loose dirt taught Dave Hacker some valuable lessons on fossil finding. So when the recent storms dumped nearly 10 inches of rain on the area, the Silver Spring resident grabbed his trowel and headed to the Dinosaur Park in Laurel to see what he could find. Published September 21, 2011
Secret Service nabs man who jumped White House fence
A man jumped the north fence of the White House Tuesday evening, prompting an evacuation of Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Park. Published September 20, 2011
P.G. toddler finds gun, fatally shoots himself
Prince George's County police are investigating how a toddler got hold of the gun he used to fatally shoot himself in his family's apartment Monday night. Published September 20, 2011
McKinley’s Fishman is D.C.’s top teacher
A former mechanical engineer who realized that her true calling was education is the 2011 D.C. Public Schools' Teacher of the Year. Published September 19, 2011
Man killed in P.G. hit and run
A unidentified male was killed early Sunday morning in a hit-and-run accident in College Park, according to Prince George's County police. Published September 18, 2011
Salahi leaves husband, at least temporarily
The woman who made headlines for crashing a White House party was reported missing Tuesday night by her husband, but a police report Wednesday afternoon states she is safe and just needs time away from home. Published September 14, 2011
Lululemon defendant may not plead insanity
An insanity plea appears to be off the table for the woman charged with killing a co-worker in a Lululemon yoga store in Bethesda. Published September 13, 2011
Arrest made in D.C. transgender shooting
A Northeast D.C. man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the shooting of a transgender woman, Metropolitan Police Department officials said. Published September 13, 2011
Region scrambles to make repairs to storm-damaged roads, structures
The damage from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee is being assessed across the region, as officials prepare to repair and pay for washed-out roads, collapsed bridges and a government building that was soaked in 3 feet of water. Published September 12, 2011
At Pentagon, smiles mix with tears for 9/11 victims
The ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon began long before the more than 1,000 survivors, family members and others would arrive, when organizers in the early dawn unfurled a U.S. flag next to the spot where the hijacked plane hit the building. Published September 11, 2011
