• Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride 250 brings veterans to DC. Paralympic triathlete Kelly Elmlinger joined vets who rode from Norfolk, VA to the Lincoln Memorial. The event spotlights ongoing support for injured service members. See highlights from the ride
• A real rodeo hits Northern Virginia this weekend. Bulls, barrel racing, and cowboy action are coming just outside DC. It's a rare chance for locals to see a full-scale rodeo without leaving the metro area. Get the rodeo details

• DC-area malls scramble after anchor store closures. Department store shutdowns are forcing malls to rethink their futures. Expect more entertainment, food halls, and nontraditional tenants as they adapt. See which malls are changing

• House fire in Stafford County kills multiple pets. Five people escaped unharmed, but several pets died in the blaze. Incident details here
• Accidental fire displaces Round Hill family. Loudoun Fire & Rescue is offering fire prevention tips after the blaze forced a family out of their home. Fire department statement

• Two sihek chicks hatched at the Smithsonian's conservation campus in Front Royal. The species is extinct in the wild. More on the rare birth
• Five DMV BBQ spots just ranked among Yelp's top 100 in America, including a top-rated Japanese BBQ joint. See which local BBQ made the cut
• A fleet of historic tall ships will sail into Alexandria for America 250 celebrations next month. Event preview

NoVA heads into the week with a burst of energy. Underdogs are winning, veterans are rolling into town, and locals are ready for rodeo season. The region feels restless and ready for summer.

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