District Timeshttps://districtimes.com/District Times reports on local news, neighborhoods, and politics and government in Washington, D.C.en-usNew AI voting tool promises guidance, but key questions remain about transparencyhttps://districtimes.com/politics/nubi-ai-voting-tool-transparency/https://districtimes.com/politics/nubi-ai-voting-tool-transparency/Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:30:00 -0400District Times StaffMi Familia en Acción's bilingual assistant, Nubi, offers localized answers about registering and voting. The group has not disclosed the AI model behind it, its full list of sources or any independent accuracy testing.Early voting opens Monday as D.C. uses ranked-choice ballots in a general election for the first timehttps://districtimes.com/politics/early-voting-ranked-choice-general/https://districtimes.com/politics/early-voting-ranked-choice-general/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:00 -0400District Times StaffEarly vote centers open Oct. 26 for an election with an open mayor's seat, an open delegate seat, Council races and Initiative 86. Ranked-choice rules apply in races with three or more candidates, including a two-seat at-large Council contest where how ballots are counted has drawn debate.Federal prosecutors say they will retry Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White on bribery chargeshttps://districtimes.com/politics/trayon-white-retrial/https://districtimes.com/politics/trayon-white-retrial/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:50:00 -0400District Times StaffAt an Oct. 22 hearing, the U.S. Attorney's Office said it will seek a new indictment after September's mistrial. White's lawyer called the decision unfair and racially motivated; U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro rejected that claim.D.C. finalizes fines for scooter and e-bike operators as police push rider safetyhttps://districtimes.com/local-news/ddot-scooter-ebike-rules/https://districtimes.com/local-news/ddot-scooter-ebike-rules/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:40:00 -0400District Times StaffThe District Department of Transportation on Friday issued final rules that let it fine shared scooter and e-bike companies for parking and fleet violations, a week after police began a citywide rider-safety campaign.D.C. Council approves up to $305 million for Metro and bus work tied to new stadiumhttps://districtimes.com/politics/council-stadium-transit-funding/https://districtimes.com/politics/council-stadium-transit-funding/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:30:00 -0400District Times StaffLawmakers voted Oct. 6 to send up to $300 million to Metro for an expanded Stadium-Armory station and $5 million to plan a bus rapid transit line serving the future Commanders stadium at the former RFK site.Revada Arts Center opens in Southwest with theater, film and opera under one roofhttps://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/revada-arts-center-opens-southwest/https://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/revada-arts-center-opens-southwest/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:20:00 -0400District Times StaffTheater Alliance, IN Series and 4EYE Film Center open a shared arts building at 340 Maple Drive SW. A launch week of events runs from Friday, Oct. 23, through Tuesday, Oct. 27.Metro floats 11% fare increase and free rides for regional youthhttps://districtimes.com/local-news/metro-fare-increase-proposal/https://districtimes.com/local-news/metro-fare-increase-proposal/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:10:00 -0400District Times StaffMetro staff have proposed raising rail, bus and MetroAccess fares by about 11% for the budget year that starts in July 2027, while letting riders ages 5 to 18 from D.C., Maryland and Virginia ride free.Ward 8 residents split over proposed Therme spa at Poplar Point ahead of Oct. 28 hearinghttps://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/poplar-point-therme-spa-hearing/https://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/poplar-point-therme-spa-hearing/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0400District Times StaffA plan to lease 15 riverfront acres at Poplar Point to wellness company Therme drew both support and skepticism at a Ward 8 ANC meeting. A council committee hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 28.D.C. Council weighs tax increase proposals ahead of a tight fiscal 2028 budgethttps://districtimes.com/politics/council-tax-hearing-fy2028/https://districtimes.com/politics/council-tax-hearing-fy2028/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:50:00 -0400District Times StaffAt a daylong Oct. 16 hearing, lawmakers, the chief financial officer's office and witnesses debated a business activity tax, an investment income surcharge, a tax on high-value second homes and other options. No votes are expected this year.Justice Department opens civil rights investigation into D.C. jail conditionshttps://districtimes.com/local-news/doj-dc-jail-investigation/https://districtimes.com/local-news/doj-dc-jail-investigation/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:40:00 -0400District Times StaffFederal officials said Oct. 19 they will examine whether the D.C. Department of Corrections has a pattern of violating detainees' constitutional rights, citing allegations of excessive force, poor medical care and unsanitary conditions.Fire guts Georgetown bistro La Bonne Vache; owners say they will rebuildhttps://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/la-bonne-vache-georgetown-fire/https://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/la-bonne-vache-georgetown-fire/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:30:00 -0400District Times StaffA fire Sunday night, Oct. 18, wrecked the first floor of the Prospect Street restaurant and forced two upstairs residents out of their apartment. No one was hurt.D.C. Council gives final approval to changes in the ballot initiative processhttps://districtimes.com/politics/council-ballot-initiative-overhaul/https://districtimes.com/politics/council-ballot-initiative-overhaul/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:20:00 -0400District Times StaffThe bill, sponsored by At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, would require separable proposals to be split into separate initiatives and give officials more time to review measures. Supporters call it a needed fix; opponents say it makes direct democracy harder.Expanded testing finds Potomac River back to normal after January sewage spill, DC Water sayshttps://districtimes.com/local-news/potomac-river-testing-normal/https://districtimes.com/local-news/potomac-river-testing-normal/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:10:00 -0400District Times StaffDC Water said Oct. 7 that broader tests of oxygen, nutrients and metals found no lasting harm to the Potomac from the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, which sent hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage into the river.Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant will close on U Street Nov. 7 after nearly 30 yearshttps://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/dukem-u-street-closing/https://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/dukem-u-street-closing/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:00:00 -0400District Times StaffThe family-owned restaurant opened as a carryout and market in 1997. Its owners say it will serve its last customers on Saturday, Nov. 7.Demolition underway at fire-damaged Benning Road trash transfer stationhttps://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/benning-road-transfer-station-demolition/https://districtimes.com/neighborhoods/benning-road-transfer-station-demolition/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:50:00 -0400District Times StaffThe District is tearing down the closed Benning Road transfer station at 3200 Benning Road NE. Officials plan a $100 million replacement, with construction expected to run from 2027 to 2029.D.C. snow crews run winter drill as leaf collection season nearshttps://districtimes.com/local-news/dc-snow-team-winter-readiness/https://districtimes.com/local-news/dc-snow-team-winter-readiness/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:40:00 -0400District Times StaffThe District's Department of Public Works tested plows, routes and new tracking technology in a five-day exercise that ended Oct. 16, months after a January storm left streets buried in hardened snow. Leaf collection starts Nov. 2.