Meanwhile, Republicans are holding out hope that the Virginia Supreme Court will rule against the redistricting efforts. The court had postponed arguments on redistricting until after the special election.

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin has argued the proposed map is unfair and would disenfranchise voters in red, rural counties by lumping them in with urban, blue parts of the state.

Thank you to all the voters who turned out to vote against this egregious power grab. The race was much closer than the left expected because Virginians know a 10-1 map is not Virginia. I urge the Virginia Supreme Court to rule against this unconstitutional process that will…

— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin)

Spanberger joined ������Ƶapp anchor Nick Iannelli to defend the amendment, which many Democrats have said is a necessary check on President Donald Trump’s efforts to rigg the maps in his favor in other states.

Read and listen to the interview below:

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

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Voters have voted ‘yes’ on proposed amendment to Virginia’s constitution that clears a path for a Democratic-led redistricting effort, aimed at gaining the party seats in the U.S. House amid a nationwide gerrymandering showdown.

The proposed amendment to the state constitution authorizes the General Assembly to move forward with a plan spearheaded by Virginia Democrats.

Outside of the special election, Republicans have challenged the redistricting effort’s legality. The Virginia State Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments after the results are in.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. for in-person voting.

See live results as they come in.

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Tuesday’s special election in Virginia has drawn national attention as both parties look for any edge in the battle for control of the U.S. House.

The statewide referendum asks voters whether the General Assembly should redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of this fall’s midterms.

Democrats argue they’re simply responding to similar mid-decade redistricting efforts in several Republican led states.

If the proposed amendment passes and survives legal challenges, Democrats could gain an advantage in as many as 10 of the state’s 11 seats in the House.

Republicans have called it an unconstitutional and unfair power grab. Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the amendment’s wording “misleading” in a recent interview with ������Ƶapp.

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has joined fellow Democrats in pressing voters to support the newly redrawn maps.

������Ƶapp anchor Nick Iannelli spoke with Jeffries ahead of Tuesday’s special election.

Read and listen to the interview below:

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

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Temps reached 90 degrees at Reagan National Airport, topping the record of 89 set in 1941. Dulles saw a high of 91, breaking the record of 87 from 1967. BWI hit 91, surpassing the high of 88 from 1941.

Those temperatures are 20 to 25 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, said 7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan.

“Temperatures will be slow to fall out of the 80s this evening and then will bottom out in the upper 60s tonight,” Whelan said.

The hot weather will continue, with the possibility for record highs again Thursday.

Thursday evening into Friday there may be isolated showers or a storm. But the warmer weather will stick around with highs in the mid-80s.

Expect the heat to finally cool down Sunday, as a cold front is set to move in. Whelan said it will be like a “washout day,” and cooler temperatures will lead into a more breezy Monday.

The District is just one of the major cities on the East Coast experiencing a heat wave with hot air blowing through the region, causing record high temperatures.

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FORECAST      

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Partly Cloudy
Lows:��65-72
Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph
It will be an exceptionally mild night for the middle of April, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures only slipping to the mid 60s and lower 70s early Thursday morning. That is more typical of late spring or even early summer than mid April. The warmth will likely put record warm low temperatures in serious danger. For April 16, the record warm low at Reagan National is 65, and at Dulles it is 63, both set in 2017. If temperatures stay as warm as forecast through daybreak, those records could easily be tied or broken. A light southwest breeze continues overnight, which should help keep the air mixed enough to prevent much cooling.

THURSDAY:
Partly Cloudy, Hot
Evening Showers, Storm Chances
Highs: 90-95
Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph
Record: DCA: 92 | IAD: 91
Another day of record challenging heat is on the way. Highs once again reach the lower 90s under partly sunny skies. Southwest winds pick up, occasionally gusting to around 20 miles per hour. At Reagan National, the record high for April 16 is 92, and this forecast is right there. Dulles has a record of 91, so that will be close as well. It stays dry through most of the day, with very warm and somewhat dry air in place. Thursday night also stays quite mild, with lows around 70, and that is above the record warm lows for April 17 at both sites. Reagan National’s record warm low for April 17 is 65, while Dulles is 59.��

FRIDAY:
Partly Cloudy, Stray Thunderstorms and Showers
Highs:��80-86
�¾��Ի��:��Northwest 10-20 mph
Still warm, but not quite as extreme as the previous days. Highs ease back into the mid 80s with a mix of sun and clouds. There is a chance of stay thundershowers developing, especially after 2 in the afternoon, as a front gets closer. Even with the slight cooldown, temperatures remain above normal. Winds shift to the northwest and can gust up to around 20 miles per hour.

SATURDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Highs:��85-90
Winds: Southwest: 10-15 mph
Saturday stays very warm and well above normal, with highs reaching the upper 80s under mostly sunny skies. It will still feel more like late May than the middle of April. In fact, this looks like one more day of unusually warm weather before the pattern finally begins to shift. Most of the daylight hours appear dry, so much of Saturday should be good for outdoor plans. As the day goes on, though, clouds will start to increase and the atmosphere becomes a bit more unsettled heading into Saturday night. A chance of showers develops later Saturday night as a stronger cold front approaches, setting the stage for a much bigger change to wrap up the weekend.

SUNDAY:
Areas of Rain, Breezy
Highs:��65-70
Winds: Northwest 10-15, Gusts to 25 mph
Sunday brings a much different feel across the DMV. Skies turn cloudy, showers become more likely, and temperatures take a noticeable step down from the warmth of the past several days. Highs only reach the 60s to lower 70s. The front moving through will knock temperatures back in a hurry, and by the end of the day it will start to feel much more like a typical April pattern again. Showers remain possible into Sunday night before the system pulls away, and cooler air really settles in by late night with lows dropping into the 40s.

Current conditions

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One boy, 14-year-old Tyale Coates, was pronounced dead at the scene and a second boy, 12-year-old Mhilo Young, later died at the hospital, police told ������Ƶapp on Wednesday.

“Anytime you have children who lose their lives at the other end of a gun, it’s senseless,” Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters Wednesday. “We believe at this time that it was a targeted shooting.”

The shooting happened around 3:27 p.m. Tuesday at the Circle Seven Express convenience store in the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue, just off D.C. Route 295.

When officers got there, they found the two boys suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators said the two boys were part of a group approached by two suspects who began shooting.

Interim D.C. Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said he believes the shooting appeared to be “interpersonal violence between groups of individuals.”

“Obviously, this is a very tragic situation. Our hearts go out to the families involved in this,” Carroll said. “These young people were just out … here in the neighborhood.”

He added that police are looking for surveillance camera footage to help figure out what happened.

‘Enough is enough’

������Ƶapp’s Scott Gelman spoke with a resident in the Mayfair neighborhood, who voiced her concern about the troubling trend of shooting among young people in the past week, during schools’ spring break vacation.

“We got four total during the spring break. Enough is enough. Fund our children! Invest in them,” Terra Martin said.

“Mayfair has been shut out for so many years. How many more kids have to die over here before we get it?”

Bowser was asked about how the District is addressing youth crime Wednesday.

“Any crime is too much crime,” she said. “You’ve heard me say a number of times that we have to hold our youthful offenders accountable from the what some people think are small crimes like stealing cars to more serious, violent crimes.”

Police are still investigating the shooting and are asking those with any additional information to contact them at 202-727-9099. D.C. Police are currently offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the shooting.

Several roads in the area were closed as police investigated. All southbound lanes of D.C. 295 were closed at Burroughs Avenue.

Below is a map of where the shooting happened:

������Ƶapp’s Thomas Robertson, Jessica Kronzer, Tadiwos Abedje, Ciara Wells and Scott Gelman contributed to this report.

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He said he inherited a $2 billion structural deficit and has worked to significantly reduce it. Moore also criticized the Trump administration over election-related moves.

Moore joined ������Ƶapp’s Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer to break down his position and what the state could see in the future.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

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The WNBA draft is equal parts certainty and suspense. Front offices have spent months scouting, debating and recalibrating. But when the commissioner steps to the podium, one question still looms: Who will hear her name called first?

Two D.C. area natives were selected in the first round of Monday’s draft, while the Washington Mystics looked west to continue rebuilding their young roster.

The night began with UConn guard and Arlington, Virginia, native Azzi Fudd going No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings. She became the first player from the D.C. region to be selected first overall in the WNBA draft.

Fudd was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 NCAA Final Four, where UConn defeated South Carolina to win its 12th national title. She rejoins former Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers, who was picked No. 1 overall in 2025 draft, in Texas.

Fudd walks away with a $500,000 paycheck under a new collective bargaining agreement that runs through 2032.

Mystics draft day

As teams look to reshape their futures, draft night offers the league’s clearest glimpse at which players are poised to make the leap from college to the pros, and which franchises believe they’ve found their next cornerstone.

The Washington Mystics entered Monday’s draft with six total picks: three in the first round, two in the second, and one in the third round. Washington leaned on the West Coast for several selections to bolster its young roster.

The Mystics used the No. 4 overall pick to select UCLA center Lauren Betts. Born in Spain, Betts became known as a solid outside shooter during her time with the Bruins, hitting over 60% from the field during last year’s NCAA tournament.

Betts, who was the first of two UCLA players taken by Washington, will reunite with her former teammate Michaela Onyenwere, who signed a multiyear deal, with the Mystics over the weekend.

Washington then added to its roster with No. 9 pick, selecting UCLA forward Angela Dugalić. The Serbian American reunites with Betts in D.C., adding defense and height to the team at 6 feet 4 inches.

With the No. 11 pick, the Mystics selected Ole Miss forward Cotie McMahon. The Ohio native achieved career highs in points and assists last season and was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year.

In the second round, the Mystics tapped Notre Dame guard Cassandre Prosper for the No. 14 overall pick. The 20-year-old Montreal native was named the ACC’s most improved player last season and represented Team Canada in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Also in the second round, Washington picked Baylor’s Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. The 6-foot-1 guard-forward averaged 10.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while starting all 34 games with the Bears.

With the No. 34 pick, the Mystics selected Texas guard Rori Harmon. The 23-year-old finished her college career with 1,616 points, 977 assists, 659 rebounds and 388 steals, becoming the only player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball to reach those marks in all four categories.

Other draft notes

Montgomery County, Maryland, native Kiki Rice was selected No. 6 overall by expansion team Toronto Tempo, becoming the franchise’s first-ever pick. The former Sidwell Friends School star was part of UCLA’s national championship team and lad the Bruins in assists with 170 and assists per game at five.

Other notable first-round picks included 19-year-old French forward Nell Angloma to the Connecticut Sun, South Carolina forward Madina Okot to the Atlanta Dream at No. 13, and Duke guard Taina Mair to the Seattle Storm at No. 14.

To close out the first round, the Connecticut Sun picked UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens. The Bruins finished the draft with six players selected from its national championship winning team, setting a WNBA record for in a single WNBA draft.

������Ƶapp’s Steve Dresner and Ciara Wells contributed to this report.

AP Photo/Pamela Smith

AP Photo/Pamela Smith

AP Photo/Pamela Smith

AP Photo/Pamela Smith

Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images

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The Capitals took on the Pittsburgh Penguins in Washington’s regular-season home finale, winning 3-0 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The 40-year-old Ovechkin said before Sunday’s game that he will wait until after the season is over to decide whether he’s retiring or playing for another year with the Capitals.

He has played in the National Hockey League for 21 seasons, all with the Capitals. His current contract expires on June 30.

‘Kind of gives me chills’

From the opening faceoff to the celebratory postgame skate, during which he waved gratefully to adoring fans, Ovechkin enjoyed one heck of a day. Best of all, the Capitals remained in the playoff hunt with Sunday’s win.

������Ƶapp talked with fans at Sunday’s game about what Ovechkin means to the Caps and how they’re feeling about the possibility of him leaving the team.

“I’ve been a season-ticket holder for 45 years, and so had Ovi the whole time. So, I’m excited and had to be here for today’s game, just in case,” Jim Buchanan told ������Ƶapp outside Capital One Arena.

“He’s one of the biggest sports stars in a time when the football team has been down and the Wizards are down and the Nats have been up and down. He’s been the one constant, and it’s been really exciting to watch him game in and game out.”

Caps fans, especially those dedicated to Ovechkin, hope it’s not his last time on the ice in D.C. They do, however, acknowledge the chance that it could be.

“I mean, I hope not,” Luke Marrone told ������Ƶapp.

“Seems like it might be trending that way, especially with his contract being up, but, for him to not announce it — I know he’s kind of a quiet guy. He wanted to go out privately. So, maybe he’ll come back for one more, but this could be it. So, we’re out here to support it, to see if it is or not.”

“It’s cool, it’s kind of sad. It also kind of gives me chills. My whole childhood was growing up, watching him play and coming here to see him play,” he added.

Ovechkin played in front of an appreciative sellout crowd, with fans weighing in early during the game about his future, chanting, “One more year!”

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

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AP Photo/Nick Wass

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

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‘DC’s greatest athlete ever’

Others, however, are pretty certain it is Ovechkin’s final home game.

“I have been to a lot of games this season, and he’s amazing. It’s amazing to watch,” Hannah Low told ������Ƶapp.

“I think it would be very cool if he kept going. He has an over 30-point season, but he definitely is slowing down. I think it’s nice to kind of leave when you’re on top.”

One thing is for sure for some fans: “He’s D.C.’s greatest athlete ever, and we’ve had some good ones in the city,” Greg Schleifman told ������Ƶapp.

“He embodies all things that make D.C. what it is, and he’s a warrior, and I’ve come to love him over my entire life growing up here.”

After Sunday’s game, surrounded by his two young sons, Ovechkin said there was “no decision yet.” on this future.

In response to crowd chants for “one more year,” Ovechkin said, with a smile: “I’ll think about it.”

“No decision yet”…

— Dave Preston (@davpresto)

Sunday also marked the 100th career matchup between Ovechkin and Penguins player Sidney Crosby, two star athletes who have redefined the league and their respective franchises over the years.

The two did not share ice time during the fame. Crosby remained on the bench after the Penguins secured a playoff berth.

“He came in with such high expectations, and he passed them,” Crosby said. “To be the greatest goal scorer of all time and to do what he’s done, its impressive.”

Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929 last year, and he isn’t exactly limping to the end of his brilliant career. He leads the Capitals with 32 goals and 63 points, and picked up an assist on the empty-net goal that clinched Sunday’s pivotal win.

If he retires, he told the Capitals Radio Network that age is a big factor in his decision.

“I’m going to be 41 years old in September,” he said. “So you just have to be smart about it.”

������Ƶapp’s Grace Newton, Valerie Bonk, Will Vitka, Dave Preston and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation in Islamabad, said talks came to a close after Iranian counterparts refused to agree to terms that stipulated Iran would cease its nuclear development efforts.

After the talks, Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, issued a statement saying the talks were not a one-off event, but the beginning of a “process.”

Not long after news broke of the stalemate, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy would stop any vessel that attempts to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz.

������Ƶapp National Security correspondent J.J. Green joined Sandy Kozel to discuss the latest development, and what it could mean for future negotiations.

The interview was lightly edited for clarity.

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Japanese Street Festival closures

The parade was Saturday. The Japanese festival takes place Saturday and Sunday.

The brings multiday restrictions, but the closures are far less widespread. D.C. police said the following streets will be closed and posted as Emergency No Parking from Friday at 7 p.m. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m.:

• Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street NW
• Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street NW
• 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
• 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue NW

The streets below may be closed to vehicle traffic for public safety from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, according to D.C. police.

• Pennsylvania Avenue from 7th Street to 9th Street NW
• 7th Street from D Street to Constitution Avenue NW

Cherry Blossom race closures

The 5k wrapped up on Saturday and the ten-Miler is happening this morning.

Runners are set to start at the Washington Monument at 7:30 a.m., making their way past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks during peak blossom season.

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6:30 a.m. to noon, according to D.C. police:

• 1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW
• Maine Avenue from I-395 westbound to Independence Avenue SW
• Theodore Roosevelt Bridge Ramp to Ohio Drive, NW
• 9th Street Tunnel ramp to Maine Avenue, SW
• Virginia Avenue from 27th Street to Rock Creek Parkway, NW
• I Street from 27th Street to Rock Creek Parkway, NW
• Ohio Drive from 23rd Street to East Basin Drive, SW
• Independence Avenue from 14th Street to 23rd Street, SW
• Rock Creek Parkway from Ohio Drive to Virginia Avenue, NW
• East and West Potomac Parks
• East Basin Drive, SW
• Raoul Wallenberg Place from 15th Street to Maine Avenue, SW
• Ramp from Memorial Circle to Ohio Drive, SW
• Homefront Drive, SW
• Daniel Chester French Drive from Independence Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, SW
• Maine Avenue at the ramp from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue SW
• 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue SW
• Parkway Drive, NW from Lincoln Memorial Circle to Rock Creek Parkway
• 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue SW
• Madison Dr. from 14th Street to 15th Street NW
• Jefferson Dr. from 14th Street to 15th Street, SW

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Both parties have been trying to make the case to Virginians that they’re on the side of “fairness” ahead of the April 21 special election.��

Major players in the Democratic Party have thrown their support behind plans to redraw Virginia’s congressional lines to favor Democrats in this year’s midterm elections. Former President Barack Obama has asked voters to support the referendum and Gov. Abigail Spanberger has encouraged Virginians to vote yes.

Supporters say the redrawn map maintains balance in the U.S. House, as some Republican-led states have shifted boundaries to favor GOP representatives. Should Virginia move forward with the redrawn map, it could shift enough seats for Democrats to overturn the GOP’s majority.

Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is among the Republicans who have said the initiative goes against Virginians’ support for bipartisan maps in a 2020 election and the proposed amendment’s language is misleading.

Youngkin talked with ������Ƶapp’s Nick Iannelli about why he’s against the redrawn map, which would require approval from voters and the state Supreme Court to be implemented.

Read and listen to the interview below.

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

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Nakita Walker, 46, drove away from a traffic stop by the Kennedy Center during the early morning hours of March 15, 2023, and crashed soon after into a rideshare vehicle carrying Lyft driver Mohamed Kamara and passengers Olvin Torres Velasquez and Jonathan Cabrera Mendez.

All three died in the head-on collision near the P Street NW exit on the Rock Creek Parkway.

The jury did find Walker guilty of three counts of involuntary manslaughter. She’s scheduled for sentencing June 5.

Walker also has multiple previous DUI convictions and in 2023, had unpaid traffic tickets totaling $14,300.

Earlier in the trial, a key witness for the prosecution, Donnell Thomas, contradicted his earlier testimony.

Thomas, who is Walker’s ex-boyfriend and was riding in the car the morning of the crash, said in court Walker had not been drinking or smoking marijuana earlier in the evening, after saying she did in previous grand jury testimony.

Thomas said since the crash, he has had memory issues.

������Ƶapp’s Thomas Robertson and Dan Ronan contributed to this report.

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