Dogs Kill, Eat Owner; Cherry Blossoms; Amazon HQ2: News Nearby

There was plenty of news across Virginia and Washington, DC, on Wednesday. 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.

• Carjacking Goes Bad For Leesburg Man: Police
• Manassas Man Dies When SUV Swerves Off Street: Police
• Delivery Drivers Threatened With Knives In 3 Robberies

Dogs That Mauled Virginia Woman To Death Likely Starved: Sheriff

An autopsy report has confirmed a 22-year-old woman was mauled and killed by her American pit bull terriers in Goochland during December. The Goochland Sheriff's Office has indicated that the two dogs may have been underfed and distressed before the attack happened.

Huge Crowd Marches For Gun Control At Union Station In DC (Video)

Hundreds of students have descended on Union Station in D.C. Wednesday to demand action on gun control in the wake of the shooting of 17 students in Parkland, Fla. last week.

• Hundreds Of Reston Students Walk Out Of School (Video)
• Students Stay Home After Violent Threat At Stafford, Spotsylvania Schools: Report
• Lake Braddock Students Walk Out Of Classes For Gun Control
• Edison High School Students Stage Walk Out To Demand Gun Control
• Administrators Cut Off Walkout At Patriot High
• Wakefield High School Students Walk Out To Demand Gun Control

DC The Favorite For Amazon's 2nd HQ: Consultant

Now that Amazon has narrowed the list of contenders for its massive second headquarters, everyone is trying to figure out who the favorite is. According to one consulting group, D.C. is the frontrunner.

Early Cherry Blossom Bloom Possible: Report

The weather in the D.C. area is going to be absolutely insane on Wednesday, with temperatures soaring near 80 degrees despite being the middle of February. And that could have a big impact on the cherry blossoms, according to a report.

Hidden Torture: Virginia Abuse Cases Include Homeschooled Kids

From the fatal beatings of two Virginia youths at the hands of parents who homeschooled their children for religious reasons to cases where a Fairfax girl was forced to steal by her grandmother and an adoptive child was repeatedly beaten, all have something in common with other starvation and torture cases in the country: The victims' precarious situation may have gone unnoticed in part because they were homeschooled.

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Also Worth a Look Today

• Armed Robberies Surge In Reston Area
• Evacuation Near White House Due To Suspicious Vehicle: Report
• Woodbridge Woman, 73, Goes Missing Early Wednesday: Police
• Police Ask Public For Tips To ID Centreville Burglars
• Runoff From Patrick Elementary Site Non-Toxic: Report

Across America

• School Survivors Get Support From Students, Celebs
• Spring Tasks To Do While You Hibernate
• Alaska Doomsday Cabin Is Way Off The Grid

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Image via National Parks Service