Good morning. This is the NOTUS Metro newsletter for Aug. 26, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!
THE LATEST
If you raised a child in D.C. over the past decade, you may have a closer connection to Dolly Parton than you think.
The beloved country music star, who died Tuesday, was the driving force behind D.C.’s Books from Birth program, which sends free books to District kids every month through their fifth birthday. The program is part of Parton’s Imagination Library, which she created in 1995 to spur interest in reading and has mailed out more than 300 million books.
Trending
More than 4 million books have been sent to almost 100,000 kids in D.C. over the past decade. Roughly 77% of kids under the age of 5 in D.C. have enrolled in the city’s program — among the highest rates of all the areas that Imagination Library serves.
“We are profoundly indebted to her,” Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the executive director of the D.C. Public Library, said in a statement posted to social media, “not only for her timeless music and cultural influence, but for her unwavering belief that every child deserves access to books and the opportunities they create. … We will always love Dolly Parton.”
Parton’s Imagination Library is also available in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, and there are efforts to bring it to Northern Virginia.
FROM THE DISTRICT
Kennedy Center demolition? The conflict between preservationists and the Trump administration over the fate of the iconic performing arts center is heating up, with administration lawyers telling a federal judge that the venue may have to be demolished if President Donald Trump’s renovation plans — and the proposed two-year closure to complete them — are blocked, NOTUS’ Jenna Monnin reports. Were that to happen, the attorneys added, the Kennedy Center could be replaced by an outdoor amphitheater.
D.C.’s housing market could use a little fuel, but maybe not this literally. The Washington Business Journal reports that a former Sunoco gas station at 15th and U streets Northwest is likely to become just another gas station, after plans to convert the site to housing fell through. A developer worried that they couldn’t make the economics work, a stark indicator of the headwinds the city’s housing market is facing due to a slowing economy and complaints about local regulations and bureaucracy.
The long-awaited, $92 million 11th Street Bridge Park project may soon accept contractor bids, City Cast D.C. reports. The park’s director expects to break ground by the end of the year.
FROM VIRGINIA
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors member Juli Briskman told WTOP that she’s running for chair next year with a focus on “stopping data centers.”
Amtrak will have a nine-day service outage in October affecting routes south of D.C.’s Union Station, NBC4 reports. A key rail part that helps trains switch tracks needs to be replaced. During the disruption, buses will help commuters get to or from places like Alexandria, Richmond and Roanoke.
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
For cat lovers: CatVideoFest 2026 at AFI Silver, Thursday.
For folksy folks: Summer Square Dance at Peirce Mill, Saturday.
For old friends: “Merrily We Roll Along” at Signature Theatre, ongoing.
For more info on this weekend’s events, read our weekly culture calendar here.
SPORTS
Is this training camp or Training Day? NOTUS’ Martenzie Johnson reports that new Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has turned to a unique source of inspiration this summer: Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington. Jones, a big Denzel fan, often tells his defensive players to put their “Denzel Washington caps on,” meaning they need to disguise their intentions before a play.
“We want to make every [coverage] look the same,” Jones said. “That requires putting on our best acting hat.”
The Big Ten will pass a rule prohibiting its members from using the much-discussed eligibility loopholes that have allowed some football players to move from the professional game back down to college, according to ESPN. Sorry, Terps — no boomerang additions for you.
What to Watch Today
MLB: Nationals vs. Rockies, 6:45 p.m. (MLB.TV)
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The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Photo courtesy of Bill Mills. One last thing: that $1.5 million house we showed you yesterday is located in Virginia.
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