NATION

U.S. admits killing Americans in drone strikes

On the eve of a major national security speech by President Obama, his administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen since 2009.

POLITICS

Democrats take aim at GOP pick Jackson's 'extreme agenda'

Virginia Democrats continued focusing their fire in November's bellwether statewide elections not at the top of the Republican ticket but in the middle, at E.W. Jackson, the outspoken conservative black minister nominated by GOP delegates for lieutenant governor.

D.C.

D.C. 911 center employees to be retrained after ABC7 story

ABC7 has uncovered a potential major safety issue when it comes to cell phones and D.C.’s 911 call system.

• D.C. 911: Woman says 911 hung up on her three times

D.C.

Bozie, National Zoo's new elephant, arrives from Baton Rouge

A new Asian elephant has arrived at the National Zoo, reuniting her with another elephant she once lived with in Sri Lanka. Bozie, 37 years old,  traveled by truck more than 1,100 miles from her old home at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana.

VIRGINIA

Police: Off-duty Arlington deputy shoots, kills man

Alexandria Police are still trying to figure out what led to an altercation between a 17-year veteran of the Arlington County Sheriff's Office and 22-year-old Julian Dawkins, which ended with the deputy shooting Dawkins to death.

VIRGINIA

Spotsylvania school employee accused of dating student

Police say Keith Bradley Pendleton, a Spotsylvania County, Va. school employee, had dated a 17-year-old student for several months. He's being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

WEATHER

Thunderstorms possible later tonight

A cold front is approaching from the West will trigger a few thunderstorms late today. A few could produce damaging winds in Western Maryland.

• Check out our interactive radar
• Check out our Doppler radar

Health

Alison Starling's baby: Putting DNA to the test

ABC7’s Alison Starling decided to dig into her past to learn about the future of her unborn baby girl. It’s all about new research and the surprises of DNA.

• Alison Starling's baby: 31 weeks in and inching closer
• Alison Starling's Baby: A hothouse cucumber?
• Alison Starling's baby: Week 24

NATION

Man with possible Tsarnaev ties shot, killed during FBI questioning

A Chechen immigrant who was being questioned about his ties to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects was shot to death early Wednesday after he lunged at an FBI agent with a knife, officials said.

• Boston lawyers to get bombing suspect prison files
• Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left note inside boat where he was hiding
• Tamerlan Tsarnaev body buried in Virginia Muslim cemetery

WORLD

British terrorism fears raised by butcher knife killing

Two men with butcher knives hacked another to death Wednesday near a London military barracks and one then went on video to explain the crime. Soon after, arriving police shot and wounded the unidentified assailants and took them into custody.

NATION

Mayor: Up to 13,000 homes destroyed by Moore tornado

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says 12,000 to 13,000 homes were affected by the tornado that tore through a city suburb. President Obama will see the wreckage first hand on Sunday when he travels to Moore.

• Search for survivors, victims close to done
• Tornado reaches highest EF-5 status
• How you can help the victims

ENTERTAINMENT

Cicada snapshots from your backyard!

29 Photos

Welcome back! The cicadas are emerging again for the first time in years and they're popping up just about everywhere. ABC7 viewers sent us these cicada snapshots for your creepy-crawly viewing pleasure.

NATION

Shriver's 'Save the Children' helps young tornado survivors

Mark Shriver of "Save the Children" says the damage left from Monday's vast tornado is worse than what he saw after hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. His thoughts quickly turned to the children.

• Oklahoma tornado destroyed 12,000 homes, President Obama to visit

HARRIS' HEROES

AALead helps low income Asian American students

AALead targets under-served and low-income Asian American students in D.C. and Montgomery County, from kindergarten thru 12th grade.  

NATION

Doctors delivered baby while mom's heart was stopped

A Houston mother was technically dead when doctors delivered her infant daughter three months ago, but doctors were able to revive her after giving birth. Both are on their way to full recoveries.  

VIRGINIA

Cuccinelli's anti-abortion views could shape Virginia election

Says Virginia Tech political science professor Chuck Walcott: “Compared to Cuccinelli, Mitt Romney is a feminist.”

VIRGINIA

Fairfax County movie theaters to show ads to curb drunk driving

There's a big push to put the brakes on drunk driving this holiday weekend. And it's coming to a movie theater near you. Two short ads from the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County will reach moviegoers starting Friday.

WEATHER

Bob Ryan: A lifetime of weather

Bob Ryan was a simple kid who loved the weather. Now, after 45 years as a broadcast meteorologist, he's stepping down.

D.C.

Repairs to Bloomingdale flooding problems upset neighbors

In D.C.'s Bloomingdale neighborhood, neighbors have faced a chronic flooding problem for years. Now, as the city is trying to fix the problem with an improved drainage system, they're upsetting other residents nearby.

CRIME

Jurors can't reach decision in penalty phase for Jodi Arias

Jurors in the Jodi Arias murder trial said Wednesday they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether she should be sentenced to life in prison or death for killing her one-time boyfriend, prompting the judge to instruct them to keep on trying.

• Jodi Arias begs for life in prison
• Jodi Arias trial: Arias expected to speak to jurors Tuesday

CRIME

Appeals court allows new trial in Justin Wolfe case

A federal appeals court will allow Virginia to pursue a capital murder case against an alleged drug kingpin from northern Virginia.

• Justin Wolfe: Appeals court considering Va. inmate's release
• Justin Wolfe's release halted after appeals court intervenes
• Justin Wolfe retrial: Special prosecutor can stay on case

MARYLAND

Heroes for the Homeland plans to send volunteers to Moore

As soon as the twister hit Moore Monday, one local organization, Heroes for the Homeland, knew it had to go and help.

• Oklahoma tornado destroyed 12,000 homes, President Obama to visit

SPONSOR GENERATED CONTENT

Cirque Du Soleil’s Quidam coming to Patriot Center

Cirque Du Soleil is bringing their critically acclaimed production Quidam to the Patriot Center for seven performances starting July 17th through July 21st.

D.C.

More than 100 D.C. teachers, staff must reapply for jobs

More than 100 teachers and staff at two District of Columbia public schools will have to reapply for their jobs.

MARYLAND

Rocky Gap Casino Resort opens in western Maryland

The new Rocky Gap Casino Resort in western Maryland opened its doors Wednesday after receiving approval from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.

POLITICS

IRS official pleads the Fifth: 'I have done nothing wrong'

The IRS official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups has told Congress she did nothing wrong. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.

SPORTS

Garcia's Tiger Woods 'fried chicken' comment causes major stir

Sergio Garcia found himself in the rough Tuesday night after telling a reporter he'd invite Woods over and serve "fried chicken."

CRIME

Man guilty in triple fatal Oxon Hill crash

Harry Easter was convicted Wednesday of vehicular manslaughter in connection to the June 2011 crash that killed three people in Oxon Hill, including a man and his wife.

• June 2011 crash killed three people
• Family members enraged by 'preventable' crash

NATION

Amid immigration reform, calls to change asylums

Immigration advocates are pushing plans they say will open the asylum process for thousands of more people who flee persecution in their home countries.

• Immigration bill approved by Senate panel
• Immigration bill survives early tests

ANIMALS

Video of man jumping on manatee investigated

The video shows a man doing a cannonball on top of what appears to be a manatee and a young calf swimming near a dock in a residential area somewhere in Florida. A voice is heard saying, "Should I do it? Let's do it. Jump, jump, jump."

VIRGINIA

Prosecutor investigating McDonnell gifts

Richmond's top prosecutor is looking into gifts to Gov. Bob McDonnell in an investigation requested by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

• Gov. Bob McDonnell, wife focus on FBI inquiry over Star Scientific

Commute

Six Metro stations closed for Memorial Day weekend

The Shady Grove, Rockville, Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations will all be closed for the extended Memorial Day weekend.