Prince William County Schools’ $1 Billion Capital Improvement Plan

For Virginians who spend hundreds of dollars on tolls each month, relief could be on the horizon — if lawmakers can stomach the price tag, reports the Virginia Mercury.

A proposal to ease toll burdens for frequent drivers and low-income residents cleared a key hurdle in the state legislature this week, as a House Transportation subcommittee advanced the measure for further review. 

A mid-air collision near Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night claimed the lives of more than 60 individuals, including passengers and crew members from an American Airlines flight and military personnel. T

The crash occurred at 8:48 p.m. as American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was descending into the airport, colliding with a military helicopter on a standard training mission.

Authorities have confirmed that there are no survivors from the accident. The flight, which had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard, was on its final approach to DCA when it collided with the helicopter, which was also in a routine flight pattern along the Potomac River.

A mid-air collision occurred Wednesday evening over the Potomac River involving a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, and a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter. At least 30 bodies have been recovered so far.

The crash occurred around 9 p.m. local time while the Bombardier CRJ700 approached Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on its flight from Wichita, Kansas. The collision prompted a large-scale rescue operation, with more than 300 first responders deployed.

The crash site, located in the Potomac River, is surrounded by icy and dark waters, complicating efforts to recover survivors. D.C. Fire and EMS, along with local and regional fire departments, police, and the U.S. Coast Guard, have been working tirelessly to locate and retrieve victims from the wreckage. Chief John Donnelly of D.C. Fire and EMS highlighted the dangers of the situation, saying, “The water we’re operating in is about eight feet deep. There is wind and pieces of ice, making it extremely dangerous and difficult to work.”

Mike Berryman vividly recalls freezing nights in his prison cell, where the cold was so intense he could sometimes see his breath. On humid nights, he said, ice would form on the walls. By summer, the opposite was true — his cell became stifling, leaving him drenched in sweat, reports The Virginia Mercury.