The District has one of the highest rates of the virus in the country and we know from the spread of COVID, that it doesn’t take long for a virus to cross state lines. In response, the D.C. Department of Health is shifting its strategy in addressing the outbreak. The department is now prioritizing giving out one dose of the limited monkeypox vaccines, instead of offering eligible residents a two dose regimen. We talk to the Senior Deputy Director at D.C. Health Patrick Ashley about the strategy and the virus itself.

The heat index reached triple digits again on Monday after a week straight of temperatures in the 90-degree range. What is up with this extreme heat in the DMV? I talk to NBC4’s Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer about what this spate of hot temperatures means for our region. And I ask Doug whether climate change is to blame for this sweltering heat.

Local leaders from across the D.C. region met today regarding migrants arriving in the area. D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau chaired the meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Region Forward Coalition as local aid groups struggle with dwindling resources to assist migrants bused into the District under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s direction. Abel Nuñez – Executive Director of local non-profit CARECEN – attended the meeting and tells us what the reality is like on the ground for these immigrants and the local organizations struggling to serve them.

Metro’s Silver Line Pt. 2 received another $250 million in funding this week in order to complete the extension project once and for all. NBC Washington’s Transportation Reporter Adam Tuss covers the beleaguered project and tells us why this extra money is needed and why the project is 4 years behind schedule. And we also go beyond the challenges and talk about how this extension – once complete – will benefit the region. Adam tells us the story of a Dulles Airport worker who lives in Maryland.

What happens to that bottle you toss in the blue bin at home or at the coffee shop? Are our efforts to reduce waste in the D.C. area actually doing anything? For answers I talk to a local recycling guru and sustainability manager for the American Institute of Architects Charlotte Dreizen. We talk about why recycling matters to us here in the D.C. region and what’s at stake if we don’t get waste management under wraps.

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows D.C. leads the nation in the number of monkeypox cases per capita. Today, we hear from Dr. Tara Palmore – professor of infectious diseases at George Washington University – about the disease’s symptoms and spread, the local response, and the harmful stigma attached to monkeypox. And, as the District’s health system works to vaccinate at-risk communities and keep the disease at bay, we hear from one D.C. resident about why he got the shot.

Maryland’s primary election is upon us and the race for the governor’s mansion is neck and neck for both Democratic and Republican candidates vying to make it to the general election. WTOP’s Kate Ryan has covered the campaign for months. She tells us who the contenders are and where the governor’s race stands. And in Howard County, a teenager made it on the ballot before being able to buy a cigarette or a lottery ticket. WTOP Digital Reporter Ivy Lyons talks about 17-year-old Dhruvak Mirani’s story.

Days after a destructive storm swept through our region, the damage to property and infrastructure remains in some neighborhoods. In College Park, there are still residents without power. On today’s episode, we talk to College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn about the city’s path to recovery and its options to mitigate damage from future storms. We also hear from the DC Preservation League’s Rebecca Miller about the recent designation of Cleveland Park’s Uptown Theatre as a historical landmark. She shares details of the history and architecture of the iconic Northwest, DC building.

Your child’s favorite teacher may not be there when she returns from summer break. Our area is hemorrhaging educators as hundreds have turned in their notice saying they won’t be teaching in the fall and many are in the middle of their careers. Data from the National Education Association shows that 55 percent of educators across the country are considering leaving the field and jurisdictions nearby are reporting an uptick in resignations. We talk with WTOP’s Scott Gelman about his extensive reporting on educator resignations as some schools in our area approach a staffing breaking point. Plus, a return of the DMV Dates segment with our guest, Rosie Hughes.

A DC woman spent her first of 30 nights in jail in Alexandria, Va., after she was convicted with another activist for trespassing inside an abortion clinic. She is the same woman who DC Police say had five fetuses inside her apartment near Capitol Hill when they raided it in March 2022. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein provides an update on the cases against Lauren Handy and what’s next after her federal indictment.