WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio

10/21/2025

Bright Center offers community, companionship, stimulation, and support to disabled adults in the Manassas Virginia.

Like many home and community care providers, the Bright Center is facing significant headwinds. Attendance never fully rebounded from before the pandemic, and it’s increasingly difficult to cover basic costs. And as the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid begin to take effect in the next several years, disability advocates are bracing for more challenges as federal funding dries up.

“Honestly, I don’t even know how we’re staying open,” says Sidikie Kamara, the president of Bright Center. “Sometimes I think it’s God, or I think it’s my late wife, just watching over this place, but it’s just difficult to sustain with the bills.”https://wamu.org/story/25/10/20/va-medicaid-cuts-adult-day-program-bright-center/

10/21/2025

For more than seven years, Geri Mitchell has been a familiar voice on WAMU 88.5. She guided listeners through midday news, talk, and special coverage, and in the process helped shape the station’s community sound with series like Lift Every Voice.

This month, Mitchell signs off for the last time before moving back to her native St. Louis to be closer to family.

Geri Mitchell joined Morning Edition host Esther Ciammachilli for one last host to host chat.

WAMU thanks her for her years of service and wishes her the best as she begins the next chapter of her journey. https://wamu.org/story/25/10/20/wamus-midday-host-geri-mitchell-says-farewell/

10/20/2025

Amid the federal cuts, there are surprising signs of resilience in D.C.'s economy, and a possible bright spot in Northern Virginia's defense contracting sector.

The D.C. region has been preparing for an economic slowdown. But surprisingly, the outlook isn't all bad, and there may even be some bright spots, including for defense contractors in Northern…

10/18/2025

Thousands participate in the No Kings rally in downtown D.C. protesting the policies of the Trump administration.

10/16/2025

This Friday on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks joins the show to discuss what she's doing to end the shutdown. Metropolitan Washington Council of Government Executive Director Clark Mercer explains what a prolonged shutdown might mean for the local economy.

You can join the conversation by commenting your questions below or calling in during the live show at (800)-433-8850.

10/15/2025

The federal shutdown continues... Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks joins us tell us when and how it might end. Clark Mercer heads up an organization addressing regional challenges. He explains how the federal shutdown and cuts are straining the local economy.

Tune in Friday at noon at wamu.org

10/14/2025

As the stigma around ma*****na continues to dissolve, D.C. has opened its doors to a burgeoning cannabis market, opening over 50 new dispensaries across all eight wards in the last year.

But newcomers and veterans of the industry are wondering how sustainable the cannabis business is moving forward?

For most of the last decade, D.C. appeared content to let most gifting shops operate as long as they maintained the pretense of gifting safely. Then in 2023, the D.C. Council passed the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act, expanding who was eligible to run a medical dispensary, lifting limits on how many dispensaries are allowed to operate in the city.

Once legislation was finalized, the city effectively closed the Initiative 71 loophole, fully legitimizing the cannabis market in D.C.

Gifting shop owners now had a choice: convert their businesses to meet the new medical cannabis criteria…or cease all operations by March 31st of 2025.

Despite record sales in 2025, many business owners worry the influx of new dispensaries could exacerbate already existing infrastructure issues, and saturate the w**d market. https://wamu.org/story/25/10/13/dc-ma*****na-new-w**d-economy-sustainable/

10/14/2025

D.C. Muriel Bowser might not run for a fourth term in office next year, despite months of speculation she was planning another bid.

Bowser has been discussing the possibility with her allies and close advisers, according to several sources familiar with the matter. She may yet choose to run anyway, these sources say, but this the most seriously she’s considered stepping aside since she first became mayor a decade ago. Several have described it as 50-50 whether she runs or not.

Should Bowser choose not to run, it would completely upend next June’s primary. There are still no declared candidates in the race, as few would consider challenging a three-term incumbent. https://wamu.org/story/25/10/14/bowser-considering-not-running-for-reelection-that-could-scramble-d-c-s-2026-mayoral-race/

10/14/2025

As the stigma around ma*****na continues to dissolve, D.C. has opened its doors to a burgeoning cannabis market, opening over 50 new dispensaries across all eight wards in the last year.

But newcomers and veterans of the industry are wondering how sustainable the cannabis business is moving forward?

For most of the last decade, D.C. appeared content to let most gifting shops operate as long as they maintained the pretense of gifting safely. But in 2023, the D.C. Council passed the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act, expanding who was eligible to run a medical dispensary, lifting limits on how many dispensaries are allowed to operate in the city.

Once legislation was finalized, the city effectively shuttered gifting shops, aiming to fully legitimizing the cannabis market in D.C.

Gifting shop owners now had a choice: convert their businesses to meet the new medical cannabis criteria…or cease all operations by March 31st of 2025.

Despite record sales in 2025, many business owners worry the influx of new dispensaries could exacerbate already existing infrastructure issues, and saturate the w**d market. https://wamu.org/story/25/10/13/dc-ma*****na-new-w**d-economy-sustainable/

10/13/2025

The Smithsonian's 21 museums and the National Zoo are now closed temporarily due to the government shutdown. Smithsonian research centers in the region are also closed.

The institute was able to keep the zoo and museums open during the first two weeks of the shutdown thanks to a reserve of funding that ran out over the weekend. The closures threaten to cancel the widely popular Boo at the Zoo Halloween tradition.

The Smithsonian says it will not post updates during the shutdown except for news on operating status.

10/11/2025

During its federal takeover of the District, the Trump administration ordered sweeping, abrupt clearings of homeless encampments throughout the city. The clearings forced people to find new places to live in a matter of days. Nearly two months later, many of them are still in the D.C. region, sleeping outside.

For many of those affected by the clearings, getting stably housed in the District is a distant possibility.

The city has not funded any new Permanent Supportive Housing vouchers this fiscal year for people sleeping outside. Getting off the streets into housing is already a lengthy process, though the city’s Department of Human Services (DHS) says there’s been improvement from previous years. Scott Schenkelberg, chief executive officer of homeless services organization Miriam’s Kitchen says it can take years for someone to get a voucher. After that, it can take months – typically about seven in the last fiscal year, according to DHS – to get housed.https://wamu.org/story/25/10/09/dc-unhoused-homeless-encampment-clearings-trump-administration/

10/11/2025

What a week! 🎉 Thanks to you, WAMU’s Fall Fundraiser was a huge success. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or made your very first gift, we’re so grateful. Haven’t given yet? You can still be part of this community at donate.wamu.org/page/88557/donate/1.