Organizers for the annual Rolling Thunder ride have announced that May 2019 will be the last year for the congregation of thousands of riders in D.C. to honor military veterans, those missing in action and prisoners of war. Issues with communication between riders and the Pentagon Police Department are among the reasons cited. After the May ride, Rolling Thunder rides will still take place through local- or state-run events.
(WTOP)
Heavy rain is in the forecast for most of the weekend across Northern Virginia. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the entire region starting at 6 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
(Arl Now)
The earliest known portrait of George Washington, painted by Charles Willson Peale, returned to Mount Vernon for the first time since 1802 on Thursday. The portrait depicts Washington in his 40s as a colonel in the British army. It is on loan from Washington and Lee University and will be at Mount Vernon for the next two years.
(The Washington Post)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Loudoun County led the nation in median household income in 2017. Loudoun’s average $136,000 household income is more than double the national average of $61,300.
(Loudoun Times-Mirror)
Vitamin Water wants to see if people can go a year without using their smartphones, announcing a contest that will award $100,000 to a selected individual. If chosen for the contest, the contestant will be given a phone from 1996 and must avoid using any smartphone or tablet (including other people’s) for the year—computers are OK. The deadline to enter is Jan. 8.
(CNBC)