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Sunday, dec 22
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News
ChatGPT Goes Down, X Users Coming In Hot With Memes
Hours after a Meta outage left Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users in the dark, ChatGPT seems to be following suit. Users of the AI website began experiencing technical difficulties sometime around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11. A message on the website as of 9:20 p.m. reads: "ChatGPT is currently unavailable. Status: Identified - We have identified the issue and are working to roll out a fix." Naturally, X users had a field day. #ChatGPT is down. Looks like everyone will have to finish their assignments the old fashioned way. pic.twitter.com/68xVq9DNf8 — Xon Kurama (@XonKurama) Decemb…
Business
Meta Outages: Thousands Experiencing Issues With Facebook, Instagram, Other Platforms
Tens of thousands of Meta users are experiencing outages across its platforms. Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, there were numerous reports of outages on Downdetector.com, including 69,000 on Instagram, over 1,000 on Facebook, and 10,000 on WhatsApp. Meta issued a statement on the outages on X at around 1:45 p.m. "We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps," the statement said. "We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience." We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some use…
Business
Moderation Mess: Meta Admits Harmless Content Often Gets Taken Down
Meta is admitting that harmless content gets taken down amid criticism for its handling of moderation. “Too often, harmless content gets taken down, or restricted, and too many people get penalized unfairly,” the company's president of global affairs, Nick Glegg, told reporters on Monday, Dec. 2, according to a report in The Verge. Meta's platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. Despite advancements in AI moderation, Clegg acknowledged there is still “work to do” in ensuring fair and accurate enforcement, the report said. Meta has promised to refine its…
News
Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…
Police & Fire
High-Fiving Man Who Assaulted Commanders Fans After Ravens Game Surrenders: Police
For a man who "can't lose," John Callis is really racking up the losses after going viral for viciously assaulting a pair of Washington Commanders fans following a Baltimore Ravens game. More than a week after becoming infamous for an attack that left two with injuries, Callis, 24, surrendered to police and was taken into custody for multiple assault charges, investigators say in connection to the unprovoked attack of two 23-year-olds. The Ravens topped the Commanders 30-23 in a hotly contested game, but it was the fireworks after the game that went viral after Callis, sporting a Lamar Jack…
Sports
DMV Athletes Starring At Paris Games May Earn Most Money Through Instagram Posts: New Report
Some athletes hailing from the DMV are among the social media stars who stand to gain the most followers - and potential new earnings - on Instagram, according to a new report. Bethesda's Katie Ledecky, who set multiple Olympic records already during the Paris Games, and DC native Kevin Durant, who starred in a standout performance against South Sudan, stand to gain a new following, ActionNetwork found. The organization collected info on the Instagram accounts of more than 500 athletes representing the Red, White, and Blue to find out "who has the largest following and who could potentially…
Business
Gordon Ramsay Hands Out Slices, High-Fives To DC Residents At New Pizza Joint (
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Superstar chef Gordon Ramsay made an unexpected stop at his latest DC restaurant to dish out some free pies at his Street Pizza location in Northwest. Known both for his dishes and demeanor in the kitchen, the chef was all smiles while handing out slices, even giving one young fan a high-five after she requested one. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza USA (@streetpizzausa) In a video posted on social media by the restaurant's team, the esteemed chef and TV personality carefully crafted the pie before …
News
Bear Cub Killed On I-395 In Arlington (
Video
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Arlington County Animal Control was called to I-395 to remove a dead bear from the roadway over the weekend, authorities said. The bear was spotted near Exit 8C around 2:10 p.m. Saturday, June 15, Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein said. At 5:48 p.m., a passing motorist said he'd struck the bear but did not stop because he was feeling ill. He was not injured. Meanwhile, a video shared by Angela Chin and posted to WashingtonianProbs on Instagram shows a young bear scampering along the highway. It was not immediately clear if this was the same bear that was struck. …
Police & Fire
12-Year-Old Girl's Bomb Threat Clears Virginia Mall, Police Say
A 12-year-old girl was found responsible for a bomb threat that evacuated a mall in northern Virginia last week, authorities said. The threat against the Manassas Mall on Sudley Road was shared to Instagram on May 22. The mall was evacuated just after 8:50 a.m. as a precaution and officers determined there was no active threat to the mall, police said. The girl was identified on Tuesday, May 28, the PWCPD said. "After consultation with Juvenile Court Services, the case resulted in an informal action and will be handled through the juvenile diversion process," police said in a statemen…
News
Smash-Grab Robber Admits To Bringing Stolen Gucci Merch From Massachusetts To DC Area: Feds
A Maryland man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from a high-end outlet store in Massachusetts and then attempting to take the haul back to the DC area, federal authorities announced. Baltimore native Nathaniel Owens, 33, admitted to his role in a smash and grab at the Gucci store in the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham with two others, according to officials. Owens, cohorts Linworth Hayes Crawford III and Ronald Patterson, Jr. were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023 following their arrests.…
News
'Father-Figure' Who Repeatedly Raped, Abused Girl In His Care Gets Life In Prison: DC Feds
A man who repeatedly raped and sexually abused a young girl he helped raise in Maryland has been sentenced to life in prison, federal authorities in DC announced on Wednesday. Waldorf resident Charles Clark, 67, was sentenced on April 3 for sexually abusing a child who was entrusted to his care hundreds of times over the course of several years. According to court documents, beginning in June 2017, Clark targeted a child under the age of 17, subjecting the girl to repeated rape and sexual abuse for five years. Despite being a “father-figure” to this girl, and despite having helped ra…
Business
Beloved H Street Mediterranean Eatery Closing In Northeast DC After Seven Years
A beloved Northeast DC Mediterranean eatery will be shuttering its doors next week, much to many customers' dismay. Sospeso, which can be found on one of the busiest blocks in the H Street Corridor in Northeast DC will serve its final meal on Sunday, April 7 as the owners prepare to shut down its operations. The announcement was made on social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sospeso (@sospesodc) "It is with mixed emotions that we share this news: after seven incredible years, we’re preparing to CLOSE our doors in just two…
News
Predator Posing As Teen To Target 14-Year-Old Girl Admits To Sexually Abusing Her In VA Hotel
A North Carolina man who posed as a teen boy to coerce a 14-year-old girl he met on Instagram admitted to traveling to a Virginia hotel to have sex with her, federal authorities announced. Raleigh native Rayvon Birden, 26, pleaded guilty this week to preying on the minor through social media while representing himself as a 16-year-old named "Nolan." According to court documents, Birden contacted the girl through a Direct Message on Instagram, and the pair exchanged phone numbers, communicating regularly through texts and FaceTime calls. During those conversations, prosecutors say tha…
News
Man Who Used Instagram To Traffic Illegal Guns To Felons In DMV Gets Prison Time
A Colorado man who took to social media to traffic weapons throughout the DMV region without a license will spend years in prison after admitting to gun charges last year, federal authorities announced. Demarco Diggs, 26, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after using Instagram and other means to intentionally sell illegal guns online - largely to convicted felons who were prohibited from purchasing weapons through any other means. Prosecutors say that between September 2021 and September 2023, police recovered six guns in the region that were later determined to have been purc…
News
DC Rapper Who Bragged On Social Media Gets 10 Years For Drug, Weapon Charges
A braggadocios DC rapper who advertised drugs and boasted about his weapons on Instagram will spend a decade behind bars, federal authorities announced. Daniel Jahleel Thomas - also known as "DanDue" - was sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug distribution and weapon charges after pleading guilty in April last year. According to court documents, Thomas, who posted rap videos under his "DanDue" alias on YouTube, advertised marijuana and oxycodone for sale on his social media accounts, while posting pictures of himself holding weapons, including fully-automatic machine guns. On Feb. 25, M…
News
Facebook, Instagram Issues Resolved After Widespread Outage: Meta
Facebook and Instagram users were locked out of their accounts Tuesday morning, March 5 in what appeared to have been a widespread outage. Hundreds and thousands of both Facebook and Instagram users had reported problems on DownDetector as of 11 a.m. The issue was resolved at approximately 11:45 a.m. Meta spokesman Andy Stone addressed the outage on Twitter: Earlier today, a technical issue caused people to have difficulty accessing some of our services. We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience. https://t.co/ybyy…
News
Active-Duty Airman 'Routinely' Traveled Back To Virginia To Meet With Minors For Sex, Feds Say
More than two dozen underage girls were targeted by an active-duty servicemember on social media who preyed upon and sought to bring them to his hometown in Virginia, federal officials say. Brandon Tyler Lindsey, 27, now of Goldsboro, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for targeting minors in the Hampton Roads are and caused at least 29 victims to produce sexually explicit videos and photos. According to court documents, Lindsey, an active-duty servicemember attached to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base would "routinely travel to his hometown of Chesapeake…
News
Grand Juror Who Shared Privileged Proceedings On Social Media Gets Prison Time In DC: Feds
Alexander Hamilton - nope, not that one - is making headlines in Washington, DC again. Hamilton, 29, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting in federal court to contempt and obstruction of justice for illegally recording and publishing grand jury proceedings to seemingly bolster his social media following, federal authorities announced. The District resident was ultimately brought down by that social media presence. According to court documents, Hamilton, a former special police officer who worked as an armed guard at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space…
Sports
Bachelor Alum To Follow Beau To Baltimore After Signing With Ravens
Maryland native Jake Funk is coming home — and he's bringing his fiance, Hannah Ann Sluss. Funk, 25, was a standout member of the Damascus High School in Montgomery County, scoring a record seven touchdowns in 2017. The running back led the team to a state championship, and went on to play five seasons for the Terps. After playing for the Rams, Saints, Colts, and Dolphins, Funk is returning home to play for the Ravens' practice squad. While it's unclear if Funk will be taking a page out of NY Giants QB Tommy DeVito's book and moving back in with his parents, according to his fi…
Business
Popular Christmas Pop-Up Bar Returns To Alexandria
The Christmas festivities have begun. Joy on the Avenue, a popular Christmas-themed pop-up bar, has opened for the season in Alexandria. It all began as Project 2312 in Fall 2011, when HomeGrown Restaurant Grown began transforming the former sushi restaurant space into themed evenings for adults. Located at 2312 Mount Vernon Ave., Joy on the Avenue opens every day at 5 p.m. Follow them on Instagram for details.
Events
YouTuber's Ill-Gotten Car Collection, Jewelry To Be Auctioned Off In Maryland
The beloved car collection of a YouTube star who made his living while showcasing his hot rods is up for grabs following his conviction for an elaborate piracy scheme. Baltimore will be the place to be for gearheads and car collectors on Friday, Oct. 13, when the US Marshals auction off the multi-million dollar car collection of "influencer" Bill Omar Carrasquillo - also known as "Omi In A Hell Cat - after he was sentenced to more than five years in prison. Earlier story - Feds Bust NJ YouTuber In Multi-Million-Dollar TV Pirating Ring Carrasquillo, a New Jersey native, was sentenced earlie…
Police & Fire
Tipsters Lead Police To Armed Man At Virginia Church Following Instagram Threats
Sunday services were less than holy on Sunday morning as police in Virginia and Maryland investigated threats of violence, authorities say. Falls Church resident Rui Jiang, 35, is facing charges after a joint investigation into alleged threats at the Park Valley Church in Haymarket on Sunday, Sept. 24. Investigators say that the Fairfax County Police Department alerted authorities in Prince William County about a tipster in Anne Arundel County about a man in Laurel who posted "suspicious and concerning" posts that were made on Instagram made by Jiang. The threats included "vague threats of…
News
'Dislike:' District Man Who Killed Cousin Over Instagram Beef Gets Time, Feds Say
A social media spat between cousins led to the death of one and a near decade-long sentence for the other, federal officials say. Despite prosecutors seeking a longer term, District resident Lewkus Turner, 29, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison after shooting and killing his cousin in Southeast DC after the pair got into an argument over Instagram posts. According to court documents, on Dec. 11, 2020, Vincent Gyamfi drove to the 1600 block of 29th STreet SE to speak to Turner regarding an Instagram post his cousin had made earlier in the week. After arriving at the meeting spot, an argum…
Business
If You Love French Fries Wait 'Til You See New Arlington Takeout Spot
What started as dinner for his girlfriend has become the cornerstone of one man's fast-growing restaurant. And the next stops for For Your Fries Only are in Arlington and Baltimore. The Arlington location has already opened with takeout options in Clarendon (click link above), while four Baltimore locations are coming soon with locations below: 7 S Eden St, Baltimore, MD 3901 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 5636 The Alameda, Baltimore, MD 2030 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD FYFO began as loaded fries for dinner with his girlfriend in his Cleveland, OH apartment in 2020. Each time he made the dis…
Events
Olivia Rodrigo's World Tour: Will Getting Tickets Be Repeat Of Eras Tour Chaos?
Are you still disappointed you didn't get tickets to The Eras Tour? Well it's about to be deja vu. Olivia Rodrigo announced her Guts tour on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Rodrigo will be playing two shows at Madison Square Garden on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, in Philadelphia on Friday, July 19, and in Washington DC on July 20. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Olivia Rodrigo (@oliviarodrigo) And just like with Taylor Swift, fans must register at Ticketmaster in the hopes they get access to the sale. Ticketmaster claims this h…
News
'I'm About To Lie:' Alexander Hamilton Admits To Readily Recording Grand Jury Proceedings In DC
Alexander Hamilton - nope, not that one - is making headlines in Washington, DC again. Hamilton, 28, admitted on Tuesday in federal court to contempt and obstruction of justice after he illegally recorded and published grand jury proceedings to seemingly bolster his social media following, federal authorities announced. The District resident was ultimately brought down by that social media presence. According to court documents, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department were tipped off to a public Instagram account that had more than 10,000 followers which had posted multiple …
Sports
Orioles Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Rutschman's Show-Stopping Little Sis
Josie Rutschman just about stole the show during brother Adley's performance at the Home Run Derby. The 25-year-old Orioles' switch-hitter's little sister was seen dancing in T-Mobile Park stands with the rest of the family. The 23-year-old dancing queen allegedly gained thousands of Instagram followers in the seconds that it took her big bro to kick off the Home Run Derby. Adley Rutschman puts his switch-hitting skills on full display. ⚾️💣💣 #HomeRunDerby pic.twitter.com/kkhWbmOeo5 — The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 11, 2023 As of Tuesday morning, Josie had 12K Instagram followers. …
Sports
Nats, O's Among Most Instagrammed Ballparks In MLB: Report
Whether it's a stadium selfie or shots of peanuts and Cracker Jack, some MLB stadiums have become decidedly more "Instagrammable" than others, according to a newly released report. A new report from agamble.com, an online casino and betting promo site, highlighted the ballparks that have seen the most play on Instagram and other social media sites, with both the Orioles and Nationals ranking in the top half of the league. Despite their lowly record and standing in the NL East, as well as poor attendance, Nationals Park landed 12th on the list, with more than 40,000 Instagram hashtags repo…
Police & Fire
MD College Student Killed In DC
A 21-year-old Maryland college student was killed in Washington DC, those who knew the victim said. Alison Cienfuegos-Vasquez, of Temple Hills, MD, was shot around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, in the 1200 block of Valley Avenue, Southeast, DC Metro police said. She was later pronounced dead. Alison's mom tells NBC Washington that her daughter was planning to meet a man she met on Instagram at the Wheeler Terrace Apartments, but was in the "wrong place at the wrong time" when gunfire rang out. An arrest had not been made as of press time. A GoFundMe campaign was launched for Alis…
Police & Fire
Woman Pistol Whipped, Robbed Trying To Buy Car For Cash Off Instagram In Fairfax County: Police
Two men were in custody after Fairfax County police say they pistol whipped and robbed a woman who agreed to buy a car off Instagram in cash. Zaire Davis, 20, of Woodbridge, and Forootan Samiei, 23, of Oakton, arranged to sell the vehicle on Instagram, and met up with a potential "buyer" on Sunday, June 25 on Americana Drive in Annandale, police said. The victim was picked-up by a ride-share and driven to the location of the vehicle for the sale. When she arrived, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and repeatedly struck her in the head with it. The other suspect grabbed her …
Schools
Fight Clubs Complete With Brackets, Betting Organized By VA Middle Schoolers: Principal
Fight clubs hosted and filmed by students at one Loudoun County middle school have become the center of an investigation. Students at Lunsford Middle School in Chantilly have formed elaborate fight clubs some with brackets, betting, and challenges, Principal Carrie Simms said in a letter to parents. Further troubling is that some parents seem to be aware and are hosting the fights in their garages and basements, the principal said. "Violent behavior, fighting, and its promotion on social media have no place in our school community," Simms said. "We cannot tell you how to parent,…
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