DC Metro ridership soars during Saturday protests

By Valerie Bonk
June 7, 2020 | 10:18 AM

Metro ridership was up significantly on Saturday as massive crowds of demonstrators made their way to protests in D.C. throughout the day.

WMATA said they had about 69,500 riders compared to about 24,000 on the previous Saturday, May 30.

Metro increased the number of trains that were running during the day to accommodate for an increase in riders.

Additionally, Metro opened up the first and last cars on each train to riders to help with social distancing.

Kennedy Center renews call for Trump-backed shutdown after part of a ceiling collapses

By The Associated Press
September 5, 2026 | 1:54 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — A chunk of ceiling fell inside a main hallway of the Kennedy Center, according to a spokesperson who said the damage underscores the need to shut down the historic arts venue for renovations sought by President Donald Trump. No one was injured when a piece of the ceiling inside the Kennedy Center's grand foyer collapsed Friday evening, said Roma Daravi, the center's vice president for public relations. Photos provided by the center showed a large hole in the high ceiling and debris littering the red carpet in part of the hallway that connects the Kennedy Center's three main performance auditoriums. The damage occurred during stormy weather in Washington. The Kennedy Center's Trump-aligned board is fighting in court to move forward with plans to add Trump's name to the building's facade and to close the center for two years as it undergoes $250 million in renovations.

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