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From ABC News. I'm Sherry Preston. Oil prices dropping this morning after President Trump once again called off plans for a massive attack on Iran. The president says a deal with Iran is imminent. However, says ABC's Alex Prashe. There's no immediate sign of a breakthrough with Tehran. And also, we know that Israel remains on high alert. But over the weekend, President Trump posted that U.S. forces were ready for a full-scale attack on Iran. But he was going to hold off on that fire after the parameters of this deal. emerge with Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries that would include the opening of the Strait of Formuz and also an end to Iran's nuclear threat. New orders overnight from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, one of them formally ending the so-called anti-weaponization fund. The other limits the Trump family's immunity from IRS audits. Both were issues raised by Republican Senators blocking Todd Blanche's nomination. Devastating wildfires burning in and around Spokane, Washington. This is Washington Congressman Michael Barnes. We know that hundreds if not thousands are very sad and in scary place right now. ABC's Alex Stone is there. This is actually three separate fires now being run as one because they're all right here around Spokane. So they're being called a complex, which is they are three individual fires not connected, but now they're just being fought as one fire because they are so close. Two water dropping helicopters colliding in mid-air west of Athens, Greece over the weekend, killing true two crew members. Michael Dudley's father among the seven people wounded by... a gunman at an in-and-out burger in Twin Falls, Idaho. Definitely very worried about it and kind of, you know, trying to figure out what's going on and all of that. Police say the gunman killed three, wounded four, then took his own life. No motive yet. You're listening to ABC News. It's 702 on Monday, August 3rd. We are at 74 degrees. Mostly cloudy, a chance of rain going up to the mid-80s today.

Good morning. I'm John Aaron. Hi, everyone. I'm Kristen Dia. So glad you're with us at this hour. Maryland lawmakers are back in Annapolis today for a special session that could reshape the state's congressional map. Democrats are pushing a proposed constitutional amendment that would give lawmakers more flexibility to redraw Maryland's eight U.S. House districts ahead of the 2028 election. Supporters say it's a response to similar redistricting efforts in Republican-led states. Republicans call it a partisan power grab designed to eliminate the state's only Republican held congressional seat. If lawmakers approved a proposal, it would still have to be approved by Maryland voters before any new congressional map could be drawn. Virginians will head to the polls tomorrow for the Commonwealth's unusually timed primary election. WTOP Scott Gelman tells us some experts are not expecting big crowds to turn out. It's happening in August instead of June because state lawmakers pushed it back while redistricting played out. The fact that there is a primary, I think, is still... on people's, oh, I didn't know that was still happening list. Karen Holt, a political science professor at Virginia Tech, is expecting turnout to be relatively low. It will tend to be less than a general election and certainly less than a general election with a president at the top of the ballot. Issues like affordability or the war in Iran could motivate voters to show up. A Senate seat on the ballot could also increase turnout. But still, it is the absolute worst time to hold a primary. People are finishing up their vacations. Parents are waiting for the school year. Bob Holsworth is a political analyst based in Richmond. He says with just a couple of exceptions, I'm not sure any of those races are going to have a lot of money, a lot of television advertising. Scott Galman, WTOP News. Find more on our voter guide at WTOP.com. Well, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has restored the right to vote and other civil rights for more than 66,000 formerly imprisoned Virginians. They may now cast ballots, serve on juries, run for public office, and become notaries public. Virginia is one of the three states with the Constitution that disenfranchises citizens with past felony convictions, leaving the restoration of rights entirely to the governor. Governors of both parties streamline the process before former Governor Glenn Youngkin took office in 2022. He required people with felony convictions to apply individually to regain their rights. Virginia. Former state senator Janet Howell has died at the age of 82. She represented parts of Fairfax and Arlington counties for more than three decades before retiring in 2024. She also made history as the first woman, the chair of Virginia's Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. Lieutenant Governor Gazala Hashmi calls Howell a deeply committed public servant and mentor, while former governor Terry McAuliffe and Senator Tim Kaine praised her longtime work on public education, health care, and women's rights. Those heavy thunderstorms we had yesterday are not going on.

anywhere. That means the risk of flash flooding remains. WTOP's Neil Ogdenstein has the details. Flash flooding is a rapid rise in water that can be life-threatening. Whether you're out walking about or in your car, driving through, you know, there's roads that are flooded or streams and creeks rivers that flow out of their banks. It occurs when there's very heavy rainfall in a short period of time. Kevin Rodriguez is lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service Baltimore, Washington office. Urban areas and susceptible to flash flooding because the water does not have anywhere to go because there's concrete everywhere. He says those rainmaker's storms are still with us. They will not be as many as there were yesterday, but the ones that do develop, again, will be able to produce heavy rainfall. Neil Logenstein, WTOP News. The first black female cigar educator in the D.C. area wants to make those less intimidating for people who want to try them. WTOP's Luke's Luke, brings us the latest edition of our Working Capital series. where we profile the people whose jobs make the D.C. region run. It all started with a single question. Michelle Murkerson asked her father on her 23rd birthday. How do you enjoy cigars? I got into the cigar business from my dad teaching me how to enjoy cigars. And then from there, I noticed that there was kind of a lack of education. She immersed herself in learning about Stogeys and the culture behind them eventually, leading cigar mixers. She moved to Arlington in 2025 and now runs Cigars with M, a education business that offers up to two classes per month. They pair cigars with cocktails and chocolate. You should get into cigars if you want to relax. You should get into cigars if you want community. While she's the only cigar educator in this space, she welcomes company. Grateful to be in this space. I welcome so many other people to join the cigar education realm. Look at WTOP News. Money news on WTOP, cars from Chinese automakers could soon be coming to the U.S. Ford's CEO says the company is preparing for Chinese brands to enter the country within five to ten years. Automotive news reports the comment came during a recent town hall meeting attended by Ford employees. Chinese cars have drawn praise for their advanced tech and low cost, but there are currently numerous trade barriers keeping them out of the U.S. market. It's going to be a busy... few days for jobs news. WTOP business reporter John Wardock has a preview. Almost every day this week offers a different update on the job market. Tomorrow we get an update on job openings, then private sector hiring on Wednesday, followed by jobless claims Thursday. Then on Friday, it's the biggie. The July jobs report, the economy added only 57,000 jobs in June, so experts want to see if July was any better. John Werdock, WTOP News. Coming up on WTOP, a man pretending to be a police officer in Woodbridge has been nabbed by real police officers. With just one touch, you can listen live to WTOP on the free WTOP app. WTOP, news happens here. Brought to you by Navy Federal Credit Union. Our members are the mission. Visit NavyFederal.org, insured by NCUA.

It's now 715. Good morning. I'm Kristen Diaz here with John Aaron. Police say they have identified the man that they believe is behind a string of unusual incidents in Woodbridge. Here's WTOP's Anna Lisa Gale. Prince William County Police say 35-year-old James Restatter is facing multiple charges, including impersonating a police officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after multiple incidents reported in the county last month. They say at one point in July 19. the man in his 20s was driving on Dale Boulevard when Restatter approached him displayed a gun and claimed he was a police officer while asking the driver for a ride. The driver was able to get away and later called police. And then a day later, police say another person claimed Restatter displayed a gun in front of him also near Dale Boulevard. No injuries were reported in either incident. He's scheduled to appear in court in September and only Segal WTOP News. Two people are in custody. morning after an armed carjacking. DC police say a stolen vehicle was located near Quince Orchard Road in Route 28. Police tried a traffic stop, but the car took off. They chased it until it crashed. A gun was recovered at the scene. One suspect was taken to a hospital after being... Tased, we're told, no one else was injured. A Stafford County Sheriff's Sergeant has been fired after the FBI accused him of receiving child sexual abuse material online. Our partners at 7 News report that Justin Foreman was fired after federal investigator searched his Fredericksburg home last week and seized several electronic devices. The FBI says it found online messages showing an account linked to Foreman paid for and received images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of kids. Foreman is due in court today for preliminary hearing. Now 716. With reporting from around the world, here's today's Worldwide Travel Minute with Peter Greenberg. I finally remember my college days. When I traveled, I was cramped in the back of the plane in a middle seat. I just used the biggest headphones I could find and used the tray table to rest my head. Then I wore layers because the plane was always too cold. I could always strip them off. No pillow? I rolled up a sweater and wedged it behind my lower back, took the pressure off. And it made a real difference on long flights. And perhaps most importantly, I elevated my feet. I just propped them up on my carry-on bag below me. And given the current state of air travel, I'm still using these tactics today. For more information, visit petergreenberg.com. I'm Peter Greenberg, and this is today's worldwide travel minute. Snakes, zombies, public speaking, the list of fears is endless. But the real danger is in your hand when you're behind the wheel. Distracted driving is what's really scary and even deadly. Eyes forward. Don't drive distracted. Brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council. Here's a look at the top stories we're working on at WTOP. A major change tied to President Trump's Justice Department is clearing a political roadblock. Coming up why a controversial compensation fund is now being shut down. Could a breakthrough finally be taking shape in the Iran war? President Trump says a deal may be within reach and new U.S. strikes are on hold for now. With another government shutdown deadline looming, Congress is once again racing to keep...

the lights on in Washington. Keep it here. Full details on these stories coming up in the minutes ahead. WTOP News happens here. It's 722. No one hit the big Powerball prize over the weekend, meaning it's now up to $748 million. If you're wondering where you should shop for your ticket, Indiana historically, is the luckiest selling 39 jackpot winning tickets since Powerball began in 1992, which is more than any other state. However, with this current jackpot, which no one has won since May 2nd, California is starting to feel like the place to be the last. drawing made not one, not two, but three Californians match five winners. Each of them took home a million dollars. That's ABC's Will Gantz. The next drawing is tonight. Ariana Grande is stepping away from the spotlight after her current tour wraps up. People reports the singer plans to take a break from public appearances once her eternal sunshine tour ends in London. She is also no longer expected to appear in the upcoming West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George. The move comes as the singer has faced continued public scrutiny over her health and appearance. Her representative says Grande is looking forward to finishing the tour healthily and happily before taking a much-needed break. Nationals fans are saying goodbye to the longest tenured player in the organization. Here's the pitch. It's been a long drive, right field toward the corner. This one headed toward the chop house. It is long, long gone. roof for the chop house a tape measure home run for louise carcia junior Yeah, that guy, veteran infielder, Luis Garcia, Jr. was sent to the New York Yankees yesterday just ahead of today's MLB trading deadline. Joining us to go deeper on what might be next for the Nats is our morning sports anchor, Dave Preston. Dave, this comes as Garcia's having a career year leading the league and slugging percentage. Why would you get rid of someone like that? Combination of two things. You look big picture. I think the Nats recognized after getting swept by Atlanta that it's just not going to happen this year. They have four games this week against Philadelphia. And I think the smarter thing right now, they had exceeded expectations for two months. They've not been, even though they're under 500 right now, they've not been this good this late into the season since 2019. Another reason Garcia is having a ceiling season as opposed to, I think they feel that this is his peak year and he's not going to continue to have seasons like this. It's a bit of a gamble by the team, but this is peak value that they can get for the infielder. And he's.

not James Wood, he's not C.J. Abrams. He's not one of the guys who they are really depending on as a key cog in this organization in years to come. All right. So how good are the four prospects that are coming to Washington from the Yankees? They've yet to lose a game for the nationals. And that's a start. I mean, with this bullpen, I mean, gosh, you know. Yeah, we could use pitching. A tin can is better than some of what we've seen. Ben Grable, Jack Seabird, are prospects in AA and the Yankees organization draft picks last year. Each is 24 years old. And each have that major league ready with one more year or so of seasoning. So we will see both of those in spring training next year. up to them and the Nats coaching staff to kind of see where they are and maybe one of them pitches for the Nats next year. The other two guys veterans, Yovani Cruz, Jake Bird, have both appeared in big league games this year. Bird's 30, Cruz is 26. So I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them in or either of them in a nationals uniform in September. So we're going to get some early return. It's like to be great return, but we're going to see something for Luis Garcia Jr. this year. Deadlines not until 6 p.m., so could the Nats be scheming up some more moves? I see two more players who could potentially be moved by 6 p.m. Foster Griffin becomes a free agent after this year. He's in a weird place because he's a rookie, but he's also 30 years old, and he is setting career highs for just about every status. So I... Do you think that, again, is this a ceiling season for him or is this a springboard year? I think conventional wisdom, he's not going to have a better year than this. And you move on from him. You hate to lose him in his innings. Another one, Jacob Young, he's got a good glove. but his bat is lacking. But he's the kind of player that contenders look to get as maybe that fourth outfield or that defensive replacement, much like we see. I think Lane Thomas was that guy a few years ago for this team. You know, I hate it every time the Nationals sell off one of their star players. And it's worked out well for them pretty much every single time. Right. Juan Soto kind of worked out. McKenzie Gore kind of, you know. So. I guess it's not the worst thing, but it is kind of painful when you take the Band-Aid off. It's not ideal. And because this was such a fun season, too. I was calling this the summer of possibilities for far too long. And now it's not. It's August. I had a friend who once said that August is the Sunday of summer. And right now it's the Sunday evening of the national season. We got Monday morning on the horizon. And we've got more sports with Dave. It's brought to you by momentum, delivering advanced solutions for space and defense. What else is going on? Well, as mentioned, the Nats wrapped up a series in Atlanta. They got swept yesterday falling four, two. They take on Philadelphia this evening, first of four against the wild card contenders. The trade we talked about the Luis Garcia, Jr., going to the New York Yankees for four pitching prospects. Phillies, meanwhile, Red Hot, taking two of three from Baltimore at Camden Yards. They won the series finale yesterday, 8-0 and a range short.

in game. Tennis, weather the winner at the Mubadala D.C. Open women's top seat. Jessica Pagula will take on Alexandra Ayala this afternoon. Actually, it's a noon start. She trails the second set to one after taking the first six four. The men's final has Taylor Fritz facing Raphael Jodar, women's soccer, Washington spirit fall to San Diego. NFL commanders training camp resumes today. Dave Preston, WTOPP Sports.