City Cast DC

It’s official: the city is moving ahead with changing the name of Good Hope Road in Southeast to Marion Barry Avenue SE, to honor D.C.’s Mayor for Life. But is this a good idea? Performative nonsense? Both? Cohosts Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer spent some time breaking it down. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

City officials are considering redrawing school boundaries for the first time in a decade, and it’s a big deal, even if you’re not a DCPS parent, because it could significantly improve the city’s equity. Abigail Higgins has written a ton about why the current system is so unequal (racism, real shocker) and how redistricting could change that.Definitely sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC for more local news, events, and fun facts.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee “shocked” many with the surprise announcement of his retirement on Wednesday. We’re talking about that, plus Metro head Randy Clarke’s push to crackdown on fare evasion on Metro, and Arlington’s battle over “missing middle” housing.As always, we’re grateful to our local news colleagues across the city for helping bolster this episode. Check out:  DCist’s look at Contee’s career and what might be ahead for MPD The Washington Post’s piece about Arlington residents suing over the housing zoning changes The DMV Download episode where Randy Clarke talked about the need to rein in fare evasion. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pat Collins was a staple of local TV news at a time when local TV reporters were celebrities. But after decades over covering snow days and street crime, he retired a few months ago. We sat down with him to talk about his rollicking on-camera past and local TV news’ uncertain future. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like most things in the District, D.C.'s criminal justice system is all tied up in the federal government. That means D.C. residents convicted of committing local crimes can end up all over the country. We sat down with Rob Barton, a Washingtonian behind bars who's been campaigning for a D.C. prison, and a local researcher who's been looking into why it's so hard to make that happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From arcade bars, to kickball leagues and adult mini golf, D.C. has a lot of pastimes geared toward our inner child. But does that make D.C. a city for adult kids? Mike Schaffer and Bridget Todd discuss why D.C. sometimes feels like a playground for big kids. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday, the Anacostia Community Museum opened a new Center for Environmental Justice. It draws on the neighborhood’s long legacy of fighting for change along the Anacostia River, sets up impressive programming for both kids and adults, and spotlights marginalized voices who are often left out of conversations about the environment. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dcAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's roundup, friend of City Cast Hannah Denham, from the Washington Business Journal, is here to talk about everyone’s favorite subject: How screwed is Metro? Their funding is running out, and they know it. How do they fix it? Plus we talk about how many cops D.C. needs, and a summer of bountiful music festivals. Our Friday roundups wouldn’t be possible without all the great local reporting going on: Read Hannah Denham’s piece on Metro’s lack of funding. Peter Hermann from the Washington Post has all the info you need on DC police and their hiring problems. So. Many. Concerts. All Things Go, Re:SET, you name it, it’s happening. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The D.C. rats are already scurrying around this spring, and it’s only going to get worse as this warm year gets warmer. We sat down with Gerard Brown, who runs D.C. Health’s Rodent Control Department, and Bomani Mtume, whose dog hunts rats in Adams Morgan, about how to stop the rats before they get out of control.For more information on getting rid of rats in your neighborhood, check out DC Health’s rodent control page. And our morning newsletter Hey DC is all over this too, with tips from listeners and readers alike. Subscribe here. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’ve got another classic co-host debate: Which season is best in D.C.? Spring’s got deadly allergies. Summer, its mugginess. Fall, shortening days, and winter, dreariness. Mike and Bridget make the case that their favorites’ pros outweigh the cons.What season do you love - or hate - in DC? Let us know after you listen by leaving us a voicemail at 202-642-2654. For more fun debates like this, plus news and events, sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices