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At the National Mall this holiday? Get real time public safety alerts

By Kristi King

WASHINGTON — As many plan to make their way to the National Mall for Independence Day celebrations, U.S. Park Police wants to remind the public that they may opt-in for public safety alerts via text messages.

“This is a great way to communicate with us. Get us information, and we can get you information to keep everyone safe,” U.S. Park Police Sgt. Anna Rose said. “What’s really great about it is that it’s anonymous.”

[related_gallery align=”right”]Park police send out NIXLE alerts for numbers of reasons: alerting the public of missing children, security checkpoints opening or closing, extreme weather and other emergencies.

“We would notify the public via NIXLE, police officers would have the information and we would be directing the public on where to go and what to do,” Rose said. “If there’s any police activity that someone may want to avoid, we can share that.”

To respond to the alerts, someone who has opted into the system need only type the word “reply” with the information to be shared, such as the location of a child who has been reported missing.

“And then we can [communicate] back and forth and get all information we need from you,” Rose said.

See something, say something

“We can’t do it alone. The Fourth of July is a great celebration of our nation’s birthday, but I would encourage the public — if you see something, say something,” Rose implored. “We’re all there for the same reason — to enjoy the day. Let’s work together to make it a safe and happy event.”

Sign up for NIXLE public safety alerts by texting “july4dc” to 888-777.

National Museum of the American Latino to be housed in historic Smithsonian building

By Neal Augenstein
The Smithsonian Institution has decided to put the National Museum of the American Latino into an existing, historic building, rather than constructing a new one. The Smithsonian Board of Regents on Monday designated the Arts and Industries Building, a 145-year-old redbrick Victorian structure located between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum, as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino, which Congress authorized in 2020. In 2022, the Smithsonian narrowed its survey for permanent locations for the National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women's History Museum to four locations near the National Mall on land owned by the National Park Service. The Arts and Industries Building, located at 900 Jefferson St. SW, was one of the four sites. New construction on National Park Service land would require congressional approval. However, since the Smithsonian already owns the Arts and Industries Building, the institution can place the National Museum of the American Latino in the existing building without additional legislation.
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