Good news for travelers -- WTOP reports that JetBlue has won landing rights at National Airport. more ›

During a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Vince Gray rescinded his support for an underground Metro station at Dulles International Airport, choosing to endorse a plan supported by Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and other politicians to build the station above-ground. more ›

Currently, motorists pay up to two dollars, each way, to use the Dulles Toll Road. But the one-way toll along the highway could climb to as high as $19.25 by 2040, reports Kytja Weir. more ›

As the region's largest international airport, it's no surprise when travelers are caught trying to smuggle drugs in and out of Dulles International Airport in creative ways. (People trying to get cocaine past inspectors inside dried soup packets and fully-cooked chickens come to mind.) But there are still those who attempt to get around the watchdogs via more conventional methods. more ›

Of all the things required to operate an airport safely and efficiency, a competent air traffic controller ranks right up there with a high concentration of Cinnabons inside each terminal. (After all, when you're charging so much for checked luggage, it's vital that irate passengers be satiated with melty frosting and cinnamon, lest an uprising take place.) But having someone to tell pilots when and where they can land planes is very important indeed. That's why Reagan National Airport will install a second controller during overnight hours, after the first one apparently went missing from the post early Wednesday morning. more ›

I don't know about you, but every time I drive a car somewhere and use the trunk, I always double check that I have the keys in my hand before I slam the door. That kind of cautious checking probably would have served one baggage handler well yesterday, as he closed the cargo hold door with another handler inside at National Airport. more ›

A crazy story from the roads of Northern Virginia: a 25-year-old Alexandria man, driving a SuperShuttle van carrying no passengers, apparently snapped and went on a hit-and-run rampage Monday morning. more ›

Airport customs inspector has to be one of the worst jobs out there, right? After all, there's so little glory in it: you're at the front of the line when threats pops up, and an inconvenience to people when things are calmer. Not only that, but the most "exciting" part about the job is likely dealing with bizarre situations like this, which happened at Dulles International Airport this month. more ›

Jorida Davidson, the 30-year-old Maryland resident who was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter after allegedly striking and killing a woman with her SUV on Connecticut Avenue on October 7, reportedly violated the terms of her court-ordered supervision. Dave Jamieson reports that Davidson -- who was ordered under "intense" supervision inside her Chevy Chase home after being arraigned -- took a ninety-minute trip to a local airport (a "family tradition") which carried her beyond established curfew. more ›

A power outage at Reagan National Airport had been affecting some flights this morning, as airliners couldn't refuel and jetways could not be pulled back. We can now confirm that power to the entire airport has been restored. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority told DCist that electricity went out in some terminals around 10 a.m. this morning, but that "power was restored within an hour." Some of the pre-security lines were affected by the outage, so anyone heading to National this morning may want to prepare for a little bit longer of a wait than usual as lines work through delays. Most departures appear to be unaffected by the power outage at this time. more ›

The Post's Martin Weil reported late last night that a Brussels-bound United Airlines flight had to return to Dulles after one of its tires blew during takeoff. A missing section of runway pavement was deemed the culprit, after debris -- whatever was left of the tire, one assumes -- was found on the ground after the plane had gotten into the air around 6 p.m. According to The Aviation Herald, the plane burned fuel to reduce its weight before turning back to land at IAD, two and half hours after takeoff. (The flight was canceled, which I'm sure went over well in the terminal.) Airport officials closed the troublesome runway to fix it today. With this weekend's gusty weather, it sounds like takeoffs and landings at Dulles and other airports have been a real adventure; now if you'll excuse me, I have to go reassure myself all over again that air travel is totally safe. more ›

>> Both the White House Christmas Tree and the Capitol Christmas Tree arrived in Washington today. >> D.C. fire officials are warning people not to overload electrical circuits in their homes this holiday season in the wake of a fatal garage fire over the weekend. [WTOP] >> Vice President Dick Cheney experienced an irregular heartbeat Monday and will be heading to George Washington University Hospital to have it checked out -- in case you... more ›

The rush to get out of D.C. to family Thanksgiving celebrations has already begun, but if you're still reading DCist, you're probably still at work and planning on leaving within the next 72 hours. Whether opening up that military airspace will really make a difference at Washington area airports remains to be seen, but WMATA has announced a special Thanksgiving weekend schedule that could stand to help out many of you trying to take public... more ›

The Washington Business Journal reported yesterday that the Washington Convention Center will be officially renamed to honor D.C.'s first elected mayor, Walter E. Washington. Apparently the D.C. Council approved the name change last year, though we can't recall having heard about it at the time. The idea is a fine one though, and Washington is certainly worthy of having his legacy honored. So what's the problem? As of Nov. 5, the building will officially become... more ›

The new record for the longest amount of consecutive days without measurable rainfall at Washington National Airport is scheduled to end later today, as showers and possibly a pretty heavy thunderstorm are predicted for this afternoon. But CapitalWeather.com says this rain event won't be enough to make a dent in the area's drought, as the rain will be short-lived and the amounts modest for the most part. Still, it's been a while since you had... more ›

It's finally over; summer's soon to be actually gone. As we slumber this evening, the season that wouldn't end will at last lift its hot, wet blanket from our area, and autumn will descend with her cool nights and humidity-free days. Summer hung on like a trooper, though, lasting nearly three weeks past the autumnal equinox, and presenting us with--as our friends at CapitalWeather.com noted--three straight days of 90 degree temperature. This has happened only... more ›

Now this is a "Wow" photo. Flickr user chapulin colorado woke up at some ridiculous hour to take this early morning shot of a plane taking off from Washington National Airport. The dramatic 8 second exposure from Gravelly Point Park leaves us only with the light trails as they arch up into the air. EXIF.
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Here's a story we missed from earlier this week: Via the Boston Globe, D.C. taxicab driver Ermiyas A. Asfaw was arraigned on Monday in Boston on charges of joking that he was a member of Al Qaeda and that he planned to "blow things up" at Logan International Airport. Asfaw was checking in for a flight on AirTran on Saturday night when an agent asked him why he had stickers on his luggage from Dubai.... more ›

Seattlest watches as a S.L.U.T. is born and Seattle Flickr users go nuts over a local art installation. A restaurant critic demands a Diner's Bill of Rights over a gnat next to her drink, and, in lieu of a Portlandist, Seattlest debates with itself over the identity of the Northwest's crown jewel. Seattlest also joins the guys from Fantagraphics for an ill-fated gun party in the woods. LAist saw national headlines soar this week with... more ›

Today tens of thousands of District children return to school, leaving behind the late-morning starts, extended curfews and breaks at the public swimming pool that summer afforded them. And though the year will proceed as it usually does, they will be part of a school system that has seen drastic changes over the last few months. Now under mayoral control and led by new chancellor Michelle Rhee, the District's public schools have entered a new... more ›

Some details are now available regarding the alleged scuffle involving Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), who represents San Diego, at Dulles Airport on Sunday night. It seems that Filner got a little frustrated while trying to find his bag in a United Airlines baggage claim office, and according to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police statement, then "attempted to enter an area authorized for airline employees only," and "pushed aside the employee's outstretched arm and refused... more ›

>> "Michael Vick agreed Monday to plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, a deal that leaves the Atlanta Falcons quarterback facing up to 18 months in prison and puts his NFL career in jeopardy." [AP via WTOP] >> Rep. Robert Filner (D-Calif.) was charged with assault and battery following an incident at Dulles International Airport Sunday night. [WJLA] >> Taxi GPS doesn't eliminate fare zone confusion. [Free Ride] >> "Four years after a... more ›

If you're heading to any Yellow line destinations this weekend, including National Airport, you should make alternate plans. Metro is shutting down the Yellow line rail bridge over the Potomac River this weekend to do track maintenance and conduct an annual bridge inspection. The closure begins tonight at 10 p.m. and lasts through Sunday at midnight. Directions from WMATA: When a Yellow Line train arrives at the King Street Metrorail station, passengers must transfer to... more ›

In case you missed the news yesterday, the Washington Post has devoted an extraordinary amount of front page column inches to the record breaking temperatures D.C. saw yesterday. At 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday, the temperature hit 102 degrees at Reagan National Airport, according to the National Weather Service, breaking the previous all time high record for Aug. 8, of 101 degrees, set in 1930. The oppressive heat also had a number of other newsworthy... more ›

>> The Red Line has resumed normal service after a suspicious package closed the Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, and Cleveland Park stations for several hours. >> Temperatures hit 102 at Reagan National Airport at 1 p.m., breaking a nearly 80-year-old record by one degree. [WaPo] >> The Adams Morgan Safeway closed briefly Sunday evening due to a bomb scare. [City Desk] >> Damage from the Capitol Lounge/Trover Shop fire is estimated at about $100,000... more ›

>> "The Smithsonian Institution today replaced Gary M. Beer as chief executive of the museum complex's embattled business unit after an inspector general's report found that he had abused his institution-issued credit card and billed $95,000 in expenditures that were unauthorized or lacked evidence of a business purpose." [WaPo] >> Video of Marion Barry getting measured for his wax statue at the new Madame Tussauds wax museum. [Reliable Source] >> Some Orange Red line... more ›

Hey look, someone who writes for Gawker doesn't know where to go out in D.C., and thinks that everyone who lives here works for the government and never changes out of their work clothes! How adorable.Yesterday, I was trying to get home from Miami, but the weather had other plans, and the plane I was on got diverted to Washington, D.C. To Dulles Airport, to be exact, which is way farther outside of the city... more ›

Welcome back to work, Washington. This week promises not only to feel longer than normal thanks to its coming on the heels of a holiday, but also hot enough that you might want to consider setting up an ad-hoc shower in your office, as there's little chance you'll get there without breaking into a sweat first. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has issued a Code Orange alert because of the heat wave, and... more ›