DMV Spotlight on January 18, 2026 shines a light on the spread of the ‘flu’ or influenza across the Commonwealth. Guest, Lisa Sollet, Respiratory Disease Program Manager with the Virginia Department of Health explains the common causes for the spread of respiratory viruses for this years “flu season” noting unusual surges and and trends this winter. Sollet also highlights the VDH  Respiratory Disease Data dashboard that tracks not only flu but also Covid-19 and RSV.

Sollet explains the genesis of the dashboard as well as reminders on how best to prevent the spread of the flu and protect yourself from respiratory illness. Sollet also advocates for the annual flu shot and explains how it is tracked and developed each season.

Learn More:Respiratory Disease Data – Epidemiology

 

DMV Spotlight on January 18, 2026 shines a light on the spread of the &lsquo;flu&rsquo; or influenza across the Commonwealth. Guest, Lisa Sollet, Respiratory Disease Program Manager with the Virginia Department of Health explains the common causes for the spread of respiratory viruses for this years &ldquo;flu season&rdquo; noting unusual surges and and trends this winter. Sollet also highlights the VDH &nbsp;Respiratory Disease Data dashboard that tracks not only flu but also Covid-19 and RSV.
Sollet explains the genesis of the dashboard as well as reminders on how best to prevent the spread of the flu and protect yourself from respiratory illness. Sollet also advocates for the annual flu shot and explains how it is tracked and developed each season.
Learn More: <a href="https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/respiratory-diseases-in-virginia/data/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Respiratory Disease Data &ndash; Epidemiology</a>
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DMV Spotlight shines a light on the issues impacting DC, Maryland and Virginia. The 15-minute interview program allows for in-depth discussion with area leaders and to highlight organizations that are making a difference across the DMV. Interviews include newsmakers, non-profits, local officials and special event coverage. WMAL’s Barbara Britt hosts the weekly program that is designed to provide needed information for listeners across the DC Metro area and beyond.

DMV Spotlight shines a light on the issues impacting DC, Maryland and Virginia. The 15-minute interview program allows for in-depth discussion with area leaders and to highlight organizations that are making a difference across the DMV. Interviews include newsmakers, non-profits, local officials and special event coverage. WMAL’s Barbara Britt hosts the weekly program that is designed to provide needed information for listeners across the DC Metro area and beyond.

DMV Spotlight with Barbara Britt

Influenza spread in Virginia | January 18, 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/a7b0bd27-d748-4fbe-ab3b-a6fa0049bcf6/clips/b0a3c8ba-0116-41e0-a112-b3e2010fb489/transcript

DMV Spotlight shines a light on 3-8-2026 on Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a bipartisan alliance of organizations and health professionals dedicated to aligning marijuana policies with the scientific understanding of marijuana’s harms and preventing a ‘big tobacco' approach to the sale of marijuana. Guest, Jordan Davidson, Director of Government Affairs for SAM or Smart Approaches to Marijuana says the primary focus is to educate the public about the proven dangers of pot use amid legalization, noting that Virginia most recently established a legal cannabis market in the Commonwealth with no opt-out option for any locality.

Davison warns this could mean pot stores on community street corners and insists the marijuana of today is not like Woodstock pot. Today, the THC levels are exponentially higher. Davidson also pointing to new studies that connect teen pot use with developing psychotic behavior according to the CDC.

Learn More:https://learnaboutsam.org/about/

DMV Spotlight shines a light on 3-8-2026 on Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a bipartisan alliance of organizations and health professionals dedicated to aligning marijuana policies with the scientific understanding of marijuana&rsquo;s harms and preventing a &lsquo;big tobacco' approach to the sale of marijuana. Guest, Jordan Davidson, Director of Government Affairs for SAM or Smart Approaches to Marijuana says the primary focus is to educate the public about the proven dangers of pot use amid legalization, noting that Virginia most recently established a legal cannabis market in the Commonwealth with no opt-out option for any locality.
Davison warns this could mean pot stores on community street corners and insists the marijuana of today is not like Woodstock pot. Today, the THC levels are exponentially higher. Davidson also pointing to new studies that connect teen pot use with developing psychotic behavior according to the CDC.
Learn More: <a href="https://learnaboutsam.org/about/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://learnaboutsam.org/about/</a>

Smart Approaches to Marijuana and Virginia's New Pot Bill | March 8, 2026

DMV Spotlight on March 1st, 2026 shines a light on the often hidden crime of human sex and labor trafficking. Ambassador Susan Esserman, Founder and CEO of the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors says human trafficking is very prevalent in the DC Metro area because of the 95 corridor and access to three international airports. Esserman says victims are offered comprehensive services and often get trapped in trafficking via romantic outreaches that initially provide for the victims needs but soon becomes a trap.

Esserman also noting the unique trafficking that takes place within diplomatic households in the DC area where diplomats bring residents from their native land and essentially  make them work for free, often in harsh conditions. The SAFE Center provides comprehensive legal, emotional, health and job placement services to help free victims. Esserman also notes two new laws in Prince George’s and Montgomery County aimed at banning companies tied to trafficking from doing business with local government.

Learn More: https://umdsafecenter.org/

Read More: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/16/labor-sex-traffcking-crime/

DMV Spotlight on March 1st, 2026 shines a light on the often hidden crime of human sex and labor trafficking. Ambassador Susan Esserman, Founder and CEO of the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors says human trafficking is very prevalent in the DC Metro area because of the 95 corridor and access to three international airports. Esserman says victims are offered comprehensive services and often get trapped in trafficking via romantic outreaches that initially provide for the victims needs but soon becomes a trap.
Esserman also noting the unique trafficking that takes place within diplomatic households in the DC area where diplomats bring residents from their native land and essentially &nbsp;make them work for free, often in harsh conditions. The SAFE Center provides comprehensive legal, emotional, health and job placement services to help free victims. Esserman also notes two new laws in Prince George&rsquo;s and Montgomery County aimed at banning companies tied to trafficking from doing business with local government.
Learn More:&nbsp;<a href="https://umdsafecenter.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://umdsafecenter.org/</a>
Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/16/labor-sex-traffcking-crime/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/16/labor-sex-traffcking-crime/</a>

Maryland Safe Center for Human Trafficking Survivors | March 1, 2026

DMV Spotlight shines a light on a regional disaster following  a massive spill of raw sewage into the Potomac River that impacts DC, Maryland and Virginia on January 19th, 2026. Guest, Hedrick Belin, President of Potomac Conservancy notes more than 5 million people in the DC area rely on the Potomac for drinking water and while this sewage line break happened downstream from the water intake pipes there is growing concern over the long term impacts on the environment and for those who use the Potomac for recreation.

Potomac Conservancy sent a letter to DC Water, which Belin says has done yeoman’s work in the clean up effort, to request a regional response going forward. He also wants more transparency from officials on the safety of the Potomac River for those who recreate in, along and on the river. The Potomac Conservancy is a 501-c3 and the region’s leading clean water advocate.

Learn More:https://potomac.org/

 

DMV Spotlight shines a light on a regional disaster following&nbsp; a massive spill of raw sewage into the Potomac River that impacts DC, Maryland and Virginia on January 19th, 2026. Guest, Hedrick Belin, President of Potomac Conservancy notes more than 5 million people in the DC area rely on the Potomac for drinking water and while this sewage line break happened downstream from the water intake pipes there is growing concern over the long term impacts on the environment and for those who use the Potomac for recreation.
Potomac Conservancy sent a letter to DC Water, which Belin says has done yeoman&rsquo;s work in the clean up effort, to request a regional response going forward. He also wants more transparency from officials on the safety of the Potomac River for those who recreate in, along and on the river. The Potomac Conservancy is a 501-c3 and the region&rsquo;s leading clean water advocate.
Learn More: <a href="https://potomac.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://potomac.org/</a>
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Influenza spread in Virginia | January 18, 2026

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