NATION

Powerball frenzy whips into high gear

Less than 10 months after three tickets split a world-record lottery prize, the jackpot for Saturday's Powerball drawing was nearing historic territory once again.

• Are some numbers luckier than others?
• No one won Wednesday lottery drawing

CRIME

Virginia serial arson suspects competent to stand trial

Two people suspected of setting a massive string of fires - 77 in total - on Virginia's Eastern Shore have been found competent to stand trial.

SPORTS

Michael Phelps mum on comeback rumors

A report out of Florida indicated that Olympic swimming legend and Baltimore native Michael Phelps might come out of retirement for the 2016 Summer Games, but he was cryptic about any such announcement on Twitter.  

D.C.

Tommy Wells set to kick off 2014 campaign

The Ward 6 councilman will become the second challenger to D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray in 2014 when he announces his candidacy on Saturday in Northeast Washington.

• Bowser announced candidacy in March

Commute

Metro shuts five stations for weekend track work

Five Metro stations on the Green and Orange lines are closed for the weekend for track work.

• Track work upsets U.Md. grads, Arlington visitors

WEATHER

Washington D.C. forecast: Gray, wet weekend in store

Mostly cloudy skies and scattered showers will make for a cooler than average start to the weekend. Highs Saturday will be only around 70.

• Stay ahead of the rain with our Doppler Radar

SPORTS

Tracy's pinch-hit dinger sends Nats to victory

Pinch-hitter Chad Tracy slammed a game-winning home run in the 10th inning to give the Washington Nationals a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Commute

Taxicab commission refutes reports of Uber's demise

In a blog posted Friday, Uber officials said that new D.C. Taxicab Commission regulations would force it to stop operating on June 1. A taxi spokesman, though, says that it's not true.

ENTERTAINMENT

Georgetown student wins Jeopardy! College Championship

On the episode that airs Friday night, Georgetown University student Jim Coury wins the Jeopardy! College Championship tournament.

• Jim Coury competes in Jeopardy! College Championship

CRIME

Waldorf neighbors dispute leaves one dead, one injured

Jessica Nicole Stith, 25, was found suffering from wounds to her upper body inside a home on Oak Manor Drive in Waldorf Thursday night. She died at an area hospital.

CRIME

ATF lab in Beltsville helps solve most complicated arson cases

At the ATF Fire Research Lab in Beltsville a team of agents and engineers recreate, examine and tape high-profile blazes, helping solve cases nationwide and around the world. They bring science to what used to be largely anecdotal research.

MARYLAND

Obama urges Bowie State grads to become role models

  Speaking to about 600 graduates at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center in College Park. Obama spoke of the importance of a good education and their responsibility after graduation.  

• Watch the First Lady's entire commencement address

CRIME

Wheaton carjacker gets 60 years in prison

Henry Sanders, the Landover man who was convicted in 2011 of carjacking and robbing three elderly people in Wheaton, was sentenced Friday to six decades behind bars.

• Prosecutors call Sanders 'ultimate predator'
• Committed three carjackings in one week

EDUCATION

Dozens of Arlington students sickened with presumed norovirus

A nasty strain of norovirus is making its way through Nottingham Elementary School in Arlington,  keeping a large number of students home on Friday.

VIRGINIA

Study: Are mothers smarter than non-mothers?

There are many differences between women who choose to be mothers and those who choose not to be, but a new study is pinpointing a difference that some people may not believe.

CRIME

Twins accused of robbing Va. Best Buy

A pair of Hyattsville, Md. twins are accused of shoplifting from a Virginia Best Buy.

CRIME

MPD patrol car torched near Logan Circle

An MPD patrol car was torched in a Northwest D.C. neighborhood. Neighbors say there is no doubt the fire was intentional.

D.C.

WATCH: Scaffolding at the Monument in two minutes

The Department of the Interior has released a time-lapse video that condenses several months of scaffolding work at the Washington Monument down to a tidy two minutes.  

POLITICS

IRS commissioner apologizes for agency's mistakes

"I want to apologize on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service for the mistakes that we made and the poor service we provided," Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller told the committee.

• Obama forces out acting IRS commissioner
• IRS scandal: Holder says FBI probing potential civil rights violations at IRS

VIRGINIA

Stafford mom says daughter assaulted on bus

"He grabbed her breast and told her he was going to raper her," the 13-year-old victim's mother says. She's incensed that Stafford County school administrators haven't done more.

NATION

Dozens injured in Connecticut train crash

More than 70 Metro-North train riders were hospitalized when two commuter trains collided near Fairfield, Conn. Friday night. At least three of those victims are in critical condition.

NATION

William, Sophia, Mason are D.C. area's most common baby names

Every baby born is unique in his or her own special way, but that doesn't mean their name necessarily stands out.

WORLD

French president signs off on same-sex marriage

The legalization order signed by French president Francois Hollande means the first gay marriages may be celebrated in France within about 10 days.

Commute

I-95 HOV lanes to close through Sunday morning

The HOV lanes that run down the middle of Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia will be closed through Sunday morning while crews work on the 95 Express Lanes project

NATION

Thankful teen patron pays back 15-year debt

Fifteen years after a New Mexico restauranteur picked up a $40 tab for a teen who was a little short, that patron, now fully grown, came back last week to finally pay off his debt

POLITICS

Obama tries to shift focus back to jobs in weekly address

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says the U.S. should focus on attracting good jobs, educating workers and ensuring workers get paid a decent living.

SPORTS

Pimlico increases security for Preakness weekend

After the Boston Marathon bombing, Preakness organizers decided to crack down on security, so for the first time in the race's 138-year history, fans will have to pass through strict security, including bag checks and metal detecting wands.

• Orb looks to take second step toward Triple Crown
• Lt. Gov. Brown to present Preakness trophy

CRIME

Two more sentenced to prison in Frazier's murder

Two people have been sentenced to prison in the kidnapping and slaying of Latisha Frazier, a young mother.

• Latisha Frazier: Johnnie Sweet convicted of killing Latisha Frazier
• Latisha Frazier murder: Brian Gaither sentenced to 32 years

BUSINESS

Casino Wars: Maryland Live! vs. Hollywood Casino

The casino business is no game! Maryland Live and West Virginia's Hollywood Casino are both betting on table games and unique experiences to win over gamblers.  

• Maryland casinos pulled in $59M in April
• Table games introduced in early April

CRIME

Lawsuit allegations of child sexual abuse at Md. church dismissed

A judge has dismissed most of a lawsuit alleging child sexual abuse and conspiracy to cover up at a large church in Maryland, ruling that the plaintiffs had to sue within three years of turning 18.

CRIME

Student maced at Ballou High School

MPD officials say a group of students got into a fight at the 4th Street Southeast campus, during which one student pulled out a can of mace and began spraying.

D.C.

D.C. firefighters union says scheduling shift could risk lives

D.C.'s firefighters union and Chief Kenneth Ellerbe are at odds over a scheduling shift for ambulance crews in the District. Ed Smith, president of the union, says the changes could jeopardize lives.

ENTERTAINMENT

Report: Beyoncé, Jay-Z expecting second child

As first reported by E!, Beyoncé is pregnant with her second child with husband Jay-Z. They had their first daughter, one-year-old Blue Ivy, last January.

VIRGINIA

Arlington residents petition for, against field lights

Surging growth for an Arlington school is prompting concerns among its neighbors.

SPONSOR GENERATED CONTENT

Dealer forced to discount cars after storm

Damage caused by two storms is forcing a car dealer in Fredericksburg to cut prices on some vehicles by up to 40%.

CRIME

Prince George's police bust Edwards ring

Prince George’s County police busted what they call a burglary ring responsible for 54 crimes in one neighborhood just this year.

D.C.

D.C. cabbies suspended after assaulting man at gas station

MPD officials say that Ephream Esheterom and Sharanjit Singh, both licensed taxi drivers in the District of Columbia, got into a fight with a third person at a gas station, which led to both of their arrests.

Health

Study: Most public pools contain fecal matter

A majority of public pools tested the Centers for Disease Control tested last summer tested positive for E. coli bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control says.