Panda Baby Hopes, $40 Tolls, DC March Against Guns: News Nearby

There was plenty of news across Virginia and Washington, DC, on Friday. If you missed any of it on your local Patch, here's a roundup of some of the top stories from the past 24 hours.

• Protest March Over Gun Violence Could Draw 500K To D.C.
• Oakton Gas Station Robbery Tied To 18 Regional Crimes
• Man Shot At Hotel By Police Serving Warrant: Report

National Zoo Pandas About To Make A Baby: Report

Two pandas at the National Zoo in D.C. may be getting ready to make a baby, the zoo announced recently. The signs are all there, and voyeuristic zoo staff will be carefully monitoring their activities via video cameras trained on their habitat.

How Much Cash Virginia's Delegation Gets From Pro, Anti Gun Lobby

With debates over gun rights once again heating up, Patch went through financial filings to see how much money each member of the Virginia delegation takes in from groups seeking to influence their votes. Three members of the state's 13-person Congressional delegation have not taken any money from either side of the gun issue, while Republican Bob Goodlatte is the only representative to have accepted over $100,000 from the lobbyists.

D.C. Restaurant Wins AAA Five Diamond Rating

A Washington, D.C. restaurant was honored by AAA, earning the exclusive Five Diamond Rating, according to a press release from AAA. Pineapple and Pearls, one of the most expensive eateries in the capital, won the rating, which AAA considers its highest honor for restaurants.

'If You Hang Up, She Dies': Terrifying Scam Call To Del Ray Mom

What would you think if you answered the phone to hear a child crying that she's been kidnapped and a stranger demanding a ransom for her life. That was the scam call a Del Ray business owner and mom and is warning residents about.

Hundreds Paid $40 Or More In I-66 Tolls Last Month: Report

In January, 461 drivers paid tolls of $40 or more on Interstate 66, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation's report on the second month of tolling inside the Beltway. But that's a small group among the 594,381 total trips during tolling hours.

How Dirty Is Washington DC Compared To Other US Cities?

While it's not as bad as New York City, the crowds, air pollution, litter and pests prevalent on Washington, D.C., streets earned the city a place among the top metro areas in a recent survey of the dirtiest cities in the United States. The nation's capital landed at No. 12 among U.S. cities rated by cleaning-services company Busy Bee.

Area Restaurant Inspections

• Kingstowne Restaurant Violations: Pesticide Strip Over Prep Area
• Fairfax City Restaurant Inspections: Egg Shells Above Open Drink
• Leesburg, Ashburn Restaurant Inspections: Bad Food Storage
• Local Starbucks Risks A Shutdown | Reston/Herndon Inspections
• Burke Area Restaurant Violations: Strange Pink Mold In Ice Bin

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Also Worth a Look Today

• Officials Release Cause Of Death Of Centreville Teen
• DCist Resurrected After Radio Stations Rescue Gothamist: Report
• 2 Men Sentenced In Attempted Bank Robberies
• New Elementary School To Be Named After Ferdinand Day
• Toppers Pizza Opens Richmond Highway Location
• MITRE To Expand With New High Rises In Tysons
• Northern VA, D.C. Weekend Weather: Rain, Baby, Rain

Across America

• 10 Things Teachers Would Rather Have Than Guns
• Vet Shot In Combat Says Arming Teachers 'Asinine'
• Paralympian Encourages Teen Amputee To Persever
• Don't Fall For This IRS Tax Scam

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Image of Mei Xiang via National Zoo