This weekend, Maryland enters the retail weed business - Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - Top News from WTOP

TOP NEWS | June 28, 2023 [Web version](   [4 things you need to know about marijuana retail sales in Maryland]( Maryland's move this weekend will make it the first jurisdiction in the region to introduce a legal retail market for adults 21 and over. WTOP breaks down what you can expect - and what the change means for Maryland and the region. [READ MORE](   [‘Code Orange' air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires returns to DC area]( Where there's smoke, there's Canadian wildfires, and the smog is drifting back to the D.C. area on Wednesday. Here's what you need to know. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [FVCbank. Success Has a Bank.]( FVCbank has been serving Virginia and Maryland residents business banking and personal banking services since 2007. Open an account with us today!   [What is a Therme? Massive spa resort considering DC site aims to be ‘antithesis to the metaverse']( D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a deal with an Austrian-based company that hopes to build a $500 million indoor wellness center somewhere in the District. But what exactly will it look like? And who will foot the bill? [READ MORE](   [These heroes can't save you from DC traffic. Marvel movie filming shuts down roads]( Road closures and parking restrictions are in place downtown near the White House through Thursday morning, according to D.C. police, due to filming rumored to be the latest addition to the Captain America franchise. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by LaunchDarkly [Cloud Exchange 2023: Should agencies reject Big Bang IT approach in favor of feature management?]( Agencies say they're done with all-or-nothing IT modernizations. But what does iterative development and production look like? LaunchDarkly's Sara Mazer says it's about user testing, trial and error, and making sure users have the best experience possible.   [Motorcade ‘on the loose, on the move' causes delays on Capital Beltway's Inner Loop]( The Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway at the Georgetown Pike exit is now open and traffic is moving, but earlier Tuesday, a motorcade caused delays as long as four miles. [READ MORE](   [‘We will never surrender our children!': Groups protest Montgomery Co. schools' opt-out provision]( As protesters chanted outside Montgomery County's Board of Education office, speakers on both sides expressed their concerns to school board members over using LGBTQ+ books for some students. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [High-yield checking: How it can pay you back]( Checking accounts allow you to have quick access to your money for things like bills, entertainment, and other costs associated with daily life. However, you can optimize your checking account even further through a high-yield checking account.   [Will a DC ambulance arrive quickly, or is it tied up dropping the last patient at the hospital?]( While they are improving, the wait time for ambulances to leave hospitals in D.C. and get back on the streets for more calls still needs work, according to new data. [READ MORE](   [Tough times for DC-area homebuyers - but great for sellers]( “With inventory so low and many homeowners reluctant to give up their extremely low mortgage rates, everyone is wondering where new listings are going to come from.” [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Shulman Rogers [As IRS ramps up taxpayer scrutiny, these 5 tips can help you avoid an audit]( While the IRS plans to increase efforts to identify tax fraud and underpayments by people and businesses bringing in more than $400,000 annually, Shulman Rogers tax lawyer Nancy Ortmeyer Kuhn points out the agency won't be reducing audits of those making less.   [‘I have had a patient lose their entire hand': Local doctor warns of risks with fireworks]( Every year around the Fourth of July, the public is warned about the dangers of handling fireworks irresponsibly or illegally. But that doesn't stop everyone from doing it, sometimes leading to severe injuries. [READ MORE](   [Where to watch fireworks in the DC area this Fourth of July]( This Fourth of July, WTOP is mapping out where you can see dazzling shows around the D.C. region. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [What to expect if your pet visits the emergency room]( A pet emergency can be a scary experience. To help prepare pet parents for the possible event, here's what to expect and how your local emergency room veterinarians will care for your furry friend.   [Alfonso Ribeiro can't wait to chill with Elmo at ‘A Capitol Fourth']( He's known for “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “America's Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars.” This Fourth of July, Alfonso Ribeiro hosts “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Ingram Micro and IBM [Can agencies achieve trustworthy AI?]( With the right approach to models, boundaries and governance, it's possible to develop trusted artificial intelligence disciplines, say IBM's Mark Johnson and Ingram Micro's Tony Celeste. They share how for The Power of Technology series.   PARTNERSHIP [Listen live for news, traffic and weather from WTOP News on our FREE App!]( Download the app today - sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union - to stay up to date on all the latest news in the DMV.   [Check out the latest weather forecast]( [Click here for the latest traffic updates]( [Visit WTOP's Podcast Center]( Download and listen to podcasts created by WTOP and our partners CONNECT WITH WTOP [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( [instagram]( EVERYTHING YOU NEED EVERY TIME YOU LISTEN [DOWNLOAD THE WTOP APP]( [Click here to manage your newsletter preferences.]( This email and the accompanying website are not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. [Unsubscribe](  | [Contact us.](