DMV Spotlight shines a light on 3-8-2026 on Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a bipartisan alliance of organizations and health professionals dedicated to aligning marijuana policies with the scientific understanding of marijuana’s harms and preventing a ‘big tobacco' approach to the sale of marijuana. Guest, Jordan Davidson, Director of Government Affairs for SAM or Smart Approaches to Marijuana says the primary focus is to educate the public about the proven dangers of pot use amid legalization, noting that Virginia most recently established a legal cannabis market in the Commonwealth with no opt-out option for any locality. Davison warns this could mean pot stores on community street corners and insists the marijuana of today is not like Woodstock pot. Today, the THC levels are exponentially higher. Davidson also pointing to new studies that connect teen pot use with developing psychotic behavior according to the CDC. Learn More: https://learnaboutsam.org/about/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight on March 1st, 2026 shines a light on the often hidden crime of human sex and labor trafficking. Ambassador Susan Esserman, Founder and CEO of the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors says human trafficking is very prevalent in the DC Metro area because of the 95 corridor and access to three international airports. Esserman says victims are offered comprehensive services and often get trapped in trafficking via romantic outreaches that initially provide for the victims needs but soon becomes a trap. Esserman also noting the unique trafficking that takes place within diplomatic households in the DC area where diplomats bring residents from their native land and essentially  make them work for free, often in harsh conditions. The SAFE Center provides comprehensive legal, emotional, health and job placement services to help free victims. Esserman also notes two new laws in Prince George’s and Montgomery County aimed at banning companies tied to trafficking from doing business with local government. Learn More: https://umdsafecenter.org/ Read More: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/16/labor-sex-traffcking-crime/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight shines a light on a regional disaster following  a massive spill of raw sewage into the Potomac River that impacts DC, Maryland and Virginia on January 19th, 2026. Guest, Hedrick Belin, President of Potomac Conservancy notes more than 5 million people in the DC area rely on the Potomac for drinking water and while this sewage line break happened downstream from the water intake pipes there is growing concern over the long term impacts on the environment and for those who use the Potomac for recreation. Potomac Conservancy sent a letter to DC Water, which Belin says has done yeoman’s work in the clean up effort, to request a regional response going forward. He also wants more transparency from officials on the safety of the Potomac River for those who recreate in, along and on the river. The Potomac Conservancy is a 501-c3 and the region’s leading clean water advocate. Learn More: https://potomac.org/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight shines a light on the  Northern Virginia Food Rescue non-profit in Prince William County, Virginia where Executive Director Dr. Megan Franco reports 43 percent of residents, more than one in three are “ food insecure”. Dr. Franco says the Northern Virginia Food Rescue is a middle man of sorts, rescuing otherwise useable food from being thrown away with a  team that can collect food from grocery stores or restaurants or farmers market and bring it to a warehouse for distribution to local organizations that serve communities in need. Dr. Franco says each year they are able to rescue 2 to three million pounds of food that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills. She also notes that food insecurity is growing due to both job instability and inflation. Learn More: https://nova-fr.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight on 2-8-2026 shines a light on the events at Mount Vernon in honor of America’s 250 celebration. Guest, Julie Almacy with Mount Vernon Communications explains visitors will be welcomed into the newly renovated historic mansion of General Washington. Almacy outlines the various events ranging from the new Patriots Path, a Revolutionary War Encampment to new dining options to free online education resources for teachers and parents. Almacy also explains the Virginia 250 Passport that allows guests special access to dozens of historic sites across the Commonwealth. Learn More: https://www.mountvernon.org/250See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight on Jan, 25th, 2026 shines a light on the final 630 page report by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established by the Maryland House of Delegates back in 2019. The Commission spent six years working to  “investigate, document and reckon with the history of racial terror lynching”  of as many as 38 Black men in Maryland. Guest, Commission Chair, Dr. David O. Fakunle of Morgan State University and Co Chair, Dr. Charles Chavis of George Mason University explained many of the lynchings took place in both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Dr. Fakunle says the report includes dozens of recommendations. Governor Wes Moore in May, vetoed a bill that would have launched a two year study into whether the state should provide reparations to Marylanders impacted. The report was finalized December 9th. Learn More: https://msa.maryland.gov/lynching-truth-reconciliation/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight on January 18, 2026 shines a light on the spread of the ‘flu’ or influenza across the Commonwealth. Guest, Lisa Sollet, Respiratory Disease Program Manager with the Virginia Department of Health explains the common causes for the spread of respiratory viruses for this years “flu season” noting unusual surges and and trends this winter. Sollet also highlights the VDH  Respiratory Disease Data dashboard that tracks not only flu but also Covid-19 and RSV. Sollet explains the genesis of the dashboard as well as reminders on how best to prevent the spread of the flu and protect yourself from respiratory illness. Sollet also advocates for the annual flu shot and explains how it is tracked and developed each season. Learn More: Respiratory Disease Data – Epidemiology  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight shines a light on Community Connection on January 11, 2026. Guest Zara Brunner, a Montgomery County resident and found of “Soup Moms” explains the now nearly 12 year tradition began with her desire to connect with other moms from her children’s elementary school. Brunner says what began as a simple gathering for moms to trade soup instead of cookies in a swap has grown into not only a yearly connective point but also a generational example to their children. Brunner also uses the annual night for the Soup Moms to donate to Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg. Brunner explains what began as  her small effort to connect neighbors has grown beyond what she ever expected: into an annual event to help others with donations and deepen connections within the community. Learn More: https://www.mannafood.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight shines a light on the nation’s 250th birthday celebration in 2026. Maryland 250 Commissioner Director, Michele Johnson, explains each state has its own commission and its own theme for the Nation’s Semi Quincentennial and even offers a tutorial on how to say: Semi Quincentennial! In addition to state events from the Chesapeake Bay to the western Maryland Mountains, Johnson highlight events including a national initiative America’s PotLuck on July 5th to encourage communities to gather while on July 8th there is a national initiative to share the spirit of  America by reading simultaneously coast to coast the Declaration of Independence. Johnson adds the existing annual Maryland Day will become a statewide celebration on March 25th instead of merely regional. Learn More: https://mdtwofifty.maryland.gov/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DMV Spotlight on 12-28-25 shines a light on the Real Estate outlook for the region heading into 2026. Bright MLS Chief Real Estate Economist Lisa Sturtevant expects a slowing in the pace of home sale transactions as well as slower home growth. Sturtevant expects a modest decline, even in the region’s median home price pointing to on-going uncertainty around the federal government that she says suggests weaker demand in the larger DC Metro area. She also notes a continued drop in mortgage interest rates that may give buyers a needed boost. Learn More: https://www.brightmls.com/article/2026-mid-atlantic-housing-market-outlookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.