Cherry Blossom Festival 2017 Kick-Off | Patch PM

Stories to share this evening:

Woman’s Virginia Lottery Play a Hit in Fredericksburg

Merry Thomas's friend and co-worker, Julie, apparently had never played the Virginia Lottery, so Thomas volunteered to show her how to do it. In the process, she won $1 million.

DMV Roads Safer From Drunk Drivers Than Rest of Country: Study

A recent study of traffic fatality data shows that over a 20-year period, Virginia and the District of Columbia ranked among the places with the lowest rates of drunk driving fatalities in the U.S. The study found that the District had the lowest rate of drunk driving fatalities from 1994 to 2015, at 0.6 per 100,000 residents. Virginia ranked sixth lowest among all 50 states and the District, with 1.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents.

2017 Cherry Blossoms Update: The Opening Ceremony Kicks Off Saturday

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is now just a few days away, with the official kickoff set for Saturday, March 25. The Warner Theatre in downtown D.C. will host "traditional and contemporary performances" in honor of the festival on Saturday. Opening Ceremony performances include Shigeyama Kyogen, a spoken drama from Japan; EL Squad, a blend of contemporary dance and music; and May J, a famous J-pop artist in Japan.

More Virginia/DC news:

• Reagan Airport is Getting a Huge Makeover (Video)
• RTC, Herndon Metro Stations Surge Past Halfway Point
• Statewide Tornado Drill Snagged By Technical Issues: Report
• Another Fast-Casual Asian Eatery To Replace ShopHouse In Georgetown
• Missing Teen Last Seen at Inova Medical Campus: Police

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