NATION

Senators optimistic about bipartisan immigration reform

White House-backed immigration legislation is gaining momentum in the Senate, where key lawmakers say they are closing in on a bipartisan compromise to stiffen the bill's border security requirements without delaying legalization for millions living in the country unlawfully.

• Graham: Immigration overhaul will be factor in 2016 election
• Activists hope for landmark immigration bill

CRIME

Serial stabber attacking women in NW D.C.

D.C. police are searching for a serial stabber who attacked at least four women in Northwest D.C. in May and June. Two of the victims are now speaking about their attacks.

VIRGINIA

'It hurts not to have him home today'

Bennett Rill, a 14-year-old, was electrocuted and three others were injured after they climbed onto a Herndon elementary school roof Tuesday, Fairfax police say. His family and friends are trying to cope through the tragedy.

VIRGINIA

Fauquier Times-Democrat changes its name, nixes 'Democrat'

In an editorial the newspaper said it would become known as the Fauquier Times. The editorial said having the word "Democrat" in its name in such partisan political times "is no longer a very astute business decision."

NATION

Obama plans to boost renewable energy and energy efficiency

President Barack Obama is planning a major push against the pollution blamed for global warming in an effort to follow promises he made at the start of his second term.

• Bloomberg prompts global warming discussion with plans for NYC
• Global warming causing less snow, more blizzards?

Commute

Metro identifies problem with emergency intercoms

Work is underway to fix a potentially dangerous malfunction onboard some Metro trains – faulty intercoms. Lives could be put at stake if passengers and the driver can’t communicate in an emergency.

SPORTS

Woods to sit out AT&T National at Congressional

Tiger Woods' sore left elbow will keep him out of competition until the British Open, meaning he wont play next week at the AT&T National at Congressional in Maryland.

D.C.

Architect Frank Gehry to design Eisenhower memorial

Architect Frank Gehry has been approved to design a national memorial honoring President Eisenhower near the National Mall.

• Eisenhower family wants new Ike memorial design
• Eisenhower Memorial: Architects oppose bill to alter Ike's D.C. memorial

Commute

Report: Driving time holds steady as population increases

The D.C. region is growing by leaps and bounds, but when it comes to driving, it is actually holding steady with the same amount of drive time.

BUSINESS

Report: Congress spent millions to pay down staffer student loans

The House of Representatives and U.S. Senate combined to spent more than $20 million to help pay down student loans for the staffers of congressmen, Federal Times reports.

Commute

Pedestrians hurt in Mass. Ave. crash; 2 critical

Police say three pedestrians were hurt in a crash near Union Station in northwest Washington Wednesday.

MARYLAND

CSX sues truck driver in Baltimore-area derailment

CSX is suing a garbage truck driver and his company for negligence in the explosive derailment of a freight train near Baltimore.

• Baltimore train derailment 911 calls
• Baltimore explosion caused by train derailment
• Huge explosion after train derails near Baltimore (photos)

Health

AMA qualifies obesity as a disease

One-third of adults in the United States are obese, so it is clear that the problem is an epidemic. But now, a major medical group has decided to classify obesity as a disease.

NATION

NSA surveillance saved lives, President Obama says

President Barack Obama says lives have been saved by sweeping surveillance programs run by the National Security Agency.

• NSA director says N.Y. Stock Exchange terror plot foiled
• Snowden slams Cheney, other critics in online Q&A

WORLD

David Beckham China visit leads to stampede

Fans eager to see football superstar David Beckham stormed a police cordon Thursday in a stampede at a Shanghai university that injured seven people including five security personnel.

NATION

DAYBREAK DAILY: Virginia looks to overhaul deficient bridges

VDOT plans to spend nearly $2.3 billion on the project.

POLITICS

IRS to pay $70 million in bonuses, despite administration directive

The Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts enacted this year, according to a GOP senator.

D.C.

Flooded Bloomingdale neighborhood to see changes

Bloomingdale residents proactively make changes to neighborhood restrictions after flooding that has plagued the area for years threatens to eliminate their streets.  

• Repairs to Bloomingdale flooding problems upset neighbors
• D.C. storm Wednesday: Bloomingdale residents prepare for storm

Commute

Study: Hundreds of D.C.-area bridges need major repairs

About 11 percent of bridges and overpasses nationwide are badly in need of repair or replacement, according to a new study, and several major bridges in the D.C. area are on that list.

NATION

Paula Deen: Of course I've used the N-word

Celebrity cook extraordinaire Paula Deen admitted to using the N-word while answering questions in a discrimination lawsuit, reports the Washington Post.

Commute

VIDEO: Irate Dulles passenger taken down after slapping staff

An irate passenger at Dulles who was caught on video yelling obscenities and striking another person was arrested Tuesday evening and charged with simple assault and public intoxication.

CRIME

Woman robbed of iPad in College Park

Police say Johnny Alejandro Turcios, 18, approached a woman on Guilford Road near Wake Forest Road around 11:10 a.m. and assaulted her.

D.C.

Naval academy midshipmen charged with sexual misconduct

Three midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy are facing charges of sexual misconduct and making false statements in connection with the sexual assault of a third-year midshipman who says she was passed out when the men assaulted her.

• Naval Academy football sexual assault victim speaks out
• Naval Academy sexual abuse case: Superintendent to move on case

D.C.

'Audit the IRS' rally draws thousands to Capitol grounds

Thousands of protesters staged a large rally on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday to broadcast their grievances against the Internal Revenue Service and what they described as an intrusive federal government.

BUSINESS

Delaware plans $8 million bailout for casinos

At a time when Maryland's casinos are pulling in record revenues with plans in the works to add a sixth gambling facility, Delaware is busy planning to bail out the three operating there.

CRIME

Italian court convicts Dolce, Gabanna on tax evasion

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the famed Italian fashion designers, were convicted Wednesday of withholding more than $1 billion in income tax.

WIN A NEXUS 7!

Want a Nexus 7? Follow @ABC7News

Getting your hands on a brand new Nexus 7 is now just as easy as following ABC 7 News on Twitter and keeping a sharp eye on your timeline.