DowntownerDC
By • January 13, 2026 0 224
LaMalfa Dies; GOP’s House Margin Reduced
Doug LaMalfa. Official portrait, 2013.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican, died on Jan. 6, aged 65. After suffering a medical emergency, he passed away during a surgical procedure. LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer who served seven terms in Congress, was a supporter of President Trump’s agenda. With his death, Republicans control the House by just five seats.
Holmes Norton Staffer to Run for Her Seat
Trent Holbrook, most recently senior legislative counsel for Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s delegate to the House of Representatives, has launched his campaign for her position. Norton, 88, has faced recent pressure to step down. Holbrook, 40, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, has stayed silent about Norton’s ability to do her job, but has hinted that her chances of winning another term — which would be her 19th — are remote.
D.C. Homicide Rate Down 2 Years in a Row
Continuing a decline in violent crime that started in 2024, fewer than 150 people were killed in the District for the first time since 2017. D.C. saw a drop of 32 percent in homicides for the second consecutive year, city data reported. The District logged 274 homicides in 2023, the most in over 20 years, followed by 187 in 2024 and 127 in 2025. Also down in 2025 were nonfatal shootings, robberies, carjackings and incidents of sexual abuse.
Traffic Deaths Decline to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Traffic deaths in the District fell about 18 percent in 2025, continuing a nationwide downward trend; fatalities had spiked during the pandemic. Last year in D.C., 25 people died in traffic accidents, compared with 52 in 2024. Deaths are still as high as a decade ago, when D.C. and other jurisdictions committed to a “Vision Zero” goal of zero traffic fatalities or serious injuries, a significant portion of which victimize pedestrians and cyclists.
‘Wicked’ Composer Schwartz Boycotts Ken Cen
Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Steven Schwartz, who was to host Washington National Opera’s May gala at the now-Trump-branded Kennedy Center, stated: “The Kennedy Center was founded to be an apolitical home for free expression for artists of all nationalities and ideologies. It is no longer apolitical, and appearing there now has become an ideological statement. As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there.”
Commanders Staffers Axed After Losing Season
Kliff Kingsbury. Instagram photo.
Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. have both departed the Washington Commanders after a 5-12 losing season. Kingsbury was the Commanders’ offensive coordinator and, until relieved of his duties last fall, Whitt was a defensive play caller. According to Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press: “No team in the NFL allowed opponents to gain more yards.” At press time, the Tennessee Titans were set to interview Kingsbury.
