Top News from WTOP - 7AM Update - July 29th, 2026

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Good morning. I'm John Aaron. Hi there. I'm Kristen Diaz. So glad you're with us today. So plans for a major redesign at Dallas Airport now expected to be announced later today. The president will unveil changes that he will talk about at a White House appearance with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. CBS News White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi broke the story and tells us the president is keen to get rid of one thing in particular. Those infamous people movers. And instead you're going to have an arrow train. It's going to be U-shaped, and it's going to take you to the new terminals. There's going to be four new terminals. There is a new terminal that is going to be opening up soon, likely later this year. That's going to be terminal E. But there will be a remake of those terminal C and D. Those are the makeshift terminals. If you ever go in them and the ceilings are kind of low and, you know, they were put there in the 80s and they were... supposed to be temporary, but somehow they've stuck around for about 40 years. Rinaldi says the iconic main terminal building will remain. A search resumes today for a man who went missing in the Potomac River. WTOP's Neil Ogdenstein is on the scene in Great Falls. This is the boat ramp near Old Anglers Inn. Rescue crews with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue are resuming their search this morning. A man in his mid-20s and a friend were in the Potomac yesterday south of Sandy Landing. One man was able to get out himself, but his friend was... Nine swift water boats were involved in yesterday afternoon search that included sonar underwater drones and sniffer dogs. The search was paused as the storm rolled in. Earlier this summer, a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old died in separate incidents. On the Potomac River, Neil Ogdenstein, WTOP News. And with that severe weather we saw yesterday, there's still some damage laying around this morning. One Gatorsburg woman says she was miraculously saved. After the high winds sent a tree crashing through a side of her home, Yolanda Frazier tells her partners at 7 News. She was at home alone, in bed, and all of a sudden those winds picked up. up and something somebody was watching over me and just told me to get up and move then I heard this big clap of thunder and then this big boom and I came back upstairs and the tree was in my bedroom she was able to get out safely though Red Cross now helping her to find a new place to stay that tree is still on the house as you can imagine but we're hoping to hear good news later today as there is a crane scheduled to be old scheduled to lift it off. D.C. police are again under the microscope over the accuracy of public safety data in the nation's capital. WTOP's Alan Etter has more. A new inspector general report has uncovered significant weaknesses in the Metropolitan Police Department's crime reporting system following an earlier internal affairs investigation that found some MPD supervisors downgraded offenses in ways that made crime trends appear less severe. I don't know if it's...

something that is criminal in nature. Josh Ederheimer is retired MPD assistant chief, now a professor at the University of Virginia. I think it shows, though, that there was a lack of attention to this issue. And I think that's a culture created by the chief and the leadership, that this crime data gathering accountability was not as important. One of the report's key findings was the elimination of MPD's independent crime review unit in 2013, leaving no dedicated team. to verify crime reports before they became part of the city's official statistics. The Inspector General made five recommendations, including restoring that unit, strengthening oversight of crime reports, updating policies, and conducting regular audits. Alan Etter, WTOP News. A new monument on the National Mall honors everyone who has served in the armed forces since our country's founding. WTOP's Jimmy Alexander tells us some veterans removed by the tribute. I'm humble. Roy Riedel was from Marshall, Illinois, served in Vietnam. I was in a slick helicopter. We just all did a duty over there. He's not one of those guys who really talks much about the war, and he also doesn't advertise that he was actually in it. Sarah is Roy's daughter, and she had a planned trip for her parents to visit Gettysburg and the Vietnam Wall. But she made sure they were in D.C. for the opening of the National Military Monument. We've been to Normandy. Got really emotional that was last year. And so I imagine this will bring some tears through his eyes. Located on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the monument features two towering limestone American flags with digital screens embedded into stripes displaying the names of the more than 41 million Americans who have honorably served. The installation will remain on display through August 23rd. Jimmy Alexander, WTOP News. Coming up. Another streaming service adding vertical video. I'm John Werdock. 707. Insurance isn't one size fits all. That's why customers have enjoyed progressives name your price tool for years now. With the name your price tool, you tell them what you want to pay and they'll show you options that fits your budget. So whether you're picking out your first policy or just looking for something that works better for you and your family, they make it easy to see your options. Visit progressive.com. Find a rate that works for you with the name your price tool. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, price and coverage match limited by state law. As a small business owner, sometimes it feels like no matter how much planning you do, there's always surprises, like an urgent, expensive repair. But here's a surprise you will like. With Progressive, small business owners save 13% on their commercial auto insurance when they pay in full. So enjoy a surprise for once. Get a quote in as little as eight minutes at progressivecommercial.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Discounts not available in all states or situations. Money news, believe it or not, home prices are actually falling in real terms. The S&P Cotality Case Schiller U.S. National Home Price Index posted a 1.1% annual gain in May. But May also saw a 4.2% annual inflation rate, meaning home prices effectively dropped by three percentage points in the past year. In the D.C. metro area, home prices rose only 0.8% year over year. Still, affordability remains a major issue for buyers, especially because of higher mortgage rates. if you love short form videos. A major platform has something for you. WTOP business reporter John Wardock explains Warner Brothers Discovery is adding new TikTok-like videos called HBO Max Shorts. The streaming service hopes the new vertical videos will help viewers find content faster. You'll be able to watch trailers, clips, and special content. HBO Max joins Netflix, Peacock, and Disney Plus in adding this kind of video.

John Werdock, WTLP News. Welcome back at 714. I'm Kristen Diaz. I'm John Aaron. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, an infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci clashed often during the worst of the pandemic. Paul has now released more than 1,000 pages of Anthony Fauci's journal entries and subpoenaed him as part of the Senate Homeland Security Committee's panel's investigation into the origins of the deadly coronavirus. Anthony Fauci is due to testify on Capitol Hill later next hour. Well, joining us live to go a little deeper on this ABC News national correspondent, Stephen Portnoy, good morning. Hey, good morning to you. All right, so Rand Paul and the FBI, they've claimed that the coronavirus was most likely. It came out of a lab incident in China, and it seems to be one of the biggest points of contention between the two of them. Let's just start there. Well, sure. I mean, look, the origins of the virus will be a central focus, I think, of Senator Paul's questions this morning as he, next hour, brings Dr. Anthony Fauci before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Rand Paul, himself a physician, has suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci should be prosecuted for lying to Congress about the origins of the virus. The doctor, through his attorney, has strenuously denied. any wrongdoing and challenges the idea that Dr. Anthony Fauci has lied to the public about the origins of the virus, insisting that the origins of the virus remain, well, frankly, uncertain. And while there was conversation, you remember six years ago about whether it emerged from a wet market or was the product of research done at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, perhaps funded by American taxpayers, all this, of course, is still the subject of... debate. And while Senator Paul says that debate has concluded for him that he believes that the virus leaked from the lab, Dr. Anthony Fauci's view, which he says is unchanged, is that it at some point jumped from animals to humans, exactly how's not clear. And what you see in this diary, the more than 1,000 pages of documents released by Senator Paul this week, is some early indication from Anthony Fauci about the idea that the market could have been an amplifier. But Anthony Fauci still wrote at the time in January of 2020 that there was some sort of leap from animals to humans. What else do we know, Stephen, about how these diary entries were obtained and how unusual is something like this? Well, it seems as though this is all the product of a subpoena and investigation on the part of the Senate Homeland Security Committee may involve digging into NIH servers, which of course are government property. But what's really remarkable as you read the... some 1,500 pages of Anthony Fauci's own notes taken contemporaneously, is that he was very much focused on his interactions with President Trump in the early days of COVID and also his interactions, frankly, with the media. In fact, he took detailed notes on his media appearances, his appearances on this WTOP radio station.

and interviews with other reporters, interviews with myself over the years. And you get a picture of a man who is focused on communicating to the public, but also taken with the idea that he himself had become a very public figure at that point, so much so that he talked about how he was uncomfortable with the interactions that he had with the public in part because of fear of contracting. COVID at that time, but also the idea that he himself had become so high profile that he was receiving threats. And Stephen, is it worth pointing out that Anthony Fauci has already been given a presidential pardon preemptively by President Biden? So it seems like his exposure here might be limited? Well, it's interesting because, you know, it's possible that the Republican senators today will ask Anthony Fauci whether he sought the pardon, something that I believe he has denied. But regardless, that pardon was issued in Joe Biden's waning days in office in early 2025. And one of the things that... Anthony Fauci's attorneys have warned of in a letter that Politico's reporting this morning is the idea that perhaps this may be some sort of a trap that's being set by senators today to get Anthony Fauci on the record under oath, perhaps contradicting something that he may have said or the record reflects in the past that could then be referred to prosecutors. I should point out Senator Paul has called for Anthony Fauci to be prosecuted. That has not happened. All right. We will look to see what happens today. ABC News, national correspondent, Stephen Portnoy. Thank you so much. You bet. And here are the top stories we're working on at WTOP. Cleanup efforts continue this morning after yesterday's severe weather. President Trump's expected to announce a major redesign of Dulles Airport. We'll tell you what might be changing. Iran launches another wave of missiles and now a key U.S. allies being drawn further into the conflict. Keep it here. Full details on these stories coming up in the minutes ahead. This is WTOP. News happens here. 723. A school shooting is leading to a campus safety overhaul. This comes after an attack at Virginia's Old Dominion University killed a lieutenant colonel and injured multiple students in March. Muhammad Jalo attacked members of the school's ROTC program. He had spent eight years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State Group before he enrolled at the Hampton Roads College. A new report says law enforcement did not inform Old Dominion of the terrorism-related conviction. The university now says it will make physical security updates, streamline campus alert system. expand background checks for readmitted students and enhance threat assessment staffing and resources. Jallo also died in the attack. Today's federal headlines report is brought to you by WAPA. See why more than 50,000 feds and their families choose WAPA. I'm Michelle Sandofford and hear your top headlines from Federal News Network. The Navy is turning to industry for ideas to help address temporary housing shortages impacting thousands of sailors nationwide.

The Navy is asking companies to propose a range of options for housing while it renovates aging barracks. It's estimated that they'll need approximately 4,200 temporary beds to house displaced sailors. And the National Science Foundation this week awarded funding to 14 universities under the Cyber AI Corps Scholarship for Service Program. The latest awards billed on the 26-year-old Cyber Corps program. which provides scholarships to students in return for a commitment to serve with the government. For more on these stories, visit federal newsnetwork.com. CBS News is making major changes at its iconic news magazine 60 Minutes. Now, the program announced several new correspondents ahead of its upcoming season, including veteran CBS journalist Nora O'Donnell and others with no television broadcast experience. It follows a significant shakeup, which saw several longtime correspondents and senior producers depart in recent months. Executive producer Nick Bilton says the new team will carry on the show's tradition of independent reporting. while helping it reach audiences across multiple platforms. Sports now brought to you by Amentum, delivering advanced solutions for space and defense. Win for the Nats, Dave Preston. Yes, they took on Toronto, and after a rain delay. The drizzle continued for the home team. Three-oh the count. Ruiz waiting. Bieber kicks and fires. Low ball four, the nationals lead, one-nothing. Kbert Ruiz draws a bases loaded walks scoring James Wood three walks in the inning for Bieber plus an infield hit And now a mound visit. Dave Jagler on 1,500 a.m. I wanted to say the home team started to pour it on, but you're really not pouring it on with these bases loaded walks. Nat's played three of their four runs in the first on bases loaded walks. They outscored the Blue Jays 8-6, Dylan Cruz. Luis Garcia, Jr. both hit home runs. Orioles pitcher Dean Kramer coughs up eight runs over four frames as the birds get blasted. 14-0 by Detroit. NFL commanders kicking off training camp this morning with the workout. Head coach Dan Quinn aiming for more spot. This summer. As much as we can to get game-like without it being in the game, you want to dig into that space. You'll see... Shot clocks. You're going to see us trying to fit into those space from officials to being here, the joint practices. So having as many of those unscripted as you can. Cohen speaks with the media this morning. WTOP's George Wallace will be in Ashburn today posting on X at G. Wallace, WTOP. WNBA Mystics get 22 points on 6 of 9 shooting from Sonia Citron in their 92 to 84 win over Connecticut. The team's third straight. Tennis move at all the D.C. Open. Venus Williams falls to Anastasia Potipo.

in straight sets. Men's second seat, Ben Shelton advances while Americans Lenore TN and Tommy Paul both come up short. Dave Preston, WTOPP Sports.