D.C. renters face record eviction levels amid dwindling aid and rising housing costs
New data shows evictions have surged past pre-pandemic levels, fueled by shrinking aid, high rents, and weakened tenant protections.
Latest
Is the long saga of the ride-hailing app Empower finally over?
The company, which claims to provide a better service than Uber or Lyft, has been defying regulators for five years.
D.C. breweries fear a new bottle-deposit bill could sink their businesses
Lawmakers are considering the measure to help clean up the Anacostia River.
Wilson Building Bulletin: Curfews and closed doors
The D.C. Council rejected a bill extending the youth curfew. Until it didn't.
For 1,250 days, Alan has given out free water at a busy Brightwood intersection
He’s built a community that stood up for him when the threat of eviction loomed.
14 things to do around D.C. this weekend
The shutdown continues — but our local arts and culture scene is going strong.
Pupusa party: Your weekly Civics Roundup
Plus, another visit to Capitol Hill.
Opinion: Locking kids up isn't working. Here's what we should do instead.
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker introduced a policy package this week that he says is aimed at addressing the root causes of violence.
Why real D.C. news is so important right now
With powerful people spreading misinformation about our city, The 51st’s work is more vital than ever.
International teachers face uncertainty as DCPS backtracks on green card help
More than 200 teachers may soon have to leave the country because of what they say are broken promises from the city's school system.
Capital punishment: What it means that Trump reinstated the death penalty in D.C.
D.C. did away with the death penalty 44 years ago, but the president is bringing it back.
New documentary dives deep into gentrification in D.C.
We interview the filmmaker behind “Cracked Shells.”
News
This Anacostia nonprofit is fighting displacement east of the river
The Douglass Community Land Trust is creating permanent affordability and “pay-it-forward” homeownership to protect longtime D.C. residents.
Weekend Events
11 things to do around DC this weekend
On the agenda: An extremely local music festival, stargazing, and celebrating one of South Korea’s biggest holidays.
News
The federal government has shut down. Here’s what it means for D.C.
You can’t legally get married, for one, and the city’s economy will take a hit.
Building The 51st
One year of publishing The 51st
And what a year it's been!
Civics Roundup
Angry hour: Your weekly Civics Roundup
Plus, plenty of chances to plug into Free DC this week.
News
D.C. healthcare cuts set to impact thousands, hitting the undocumented hardest
Advocates say the elimination of DC Health Care Alliance, which insures 26,000 low-income residents, could have disastrous consequences.
As invasive vines threaten to strangle our trees, volunteers are fighting them back
How local residents are restoring D.C.’s green spaces — and combating the effects of climate change.
Wilson Building Bulletin
Wilson Building Bulletin: Over overspending
The end of D.C.’s growing budgets is ushering in new talks of fiscal discipline.
Community Connections
Connecting with the community, one scoop at a time
51st team members celebrated the end of summer with ice cream at the Benning Road library.
Weekend Events
12 things to do around D.C. this weekend
Gear up for a bike festival, a punk-themed dog fest, and a chance to check out some lowriders.
Civics Roundup
Paying senators a visit: Your weekly Civics Roundup
Lobby for D.C. on Capitol Hill, attend a workshop on economic justice, and more.
Trump Takeover
D.C. residents are deeply disquieted by masked feds
It is legal for ICE and other agents to obscure their identity, but it comes at a cost.