ABC 7 to air Charlie Kirk tribute during Jimmy Kimmel timeslot Sept. 19

Local ABC affiliate WJLA Channel 7 will air a one-hour tribute to Charlie Kirk during what would ordinarily be Jimmy Kimmel's late night time slot in the Washington, D.C. market this Friday night, September 19, 2025. ABC 7 is owned by Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, which along with rival broadcast firm Nexstar Media Group, successfully pressured the Disney-owned ABC network to suspend Kimmel indefinitely yesterday. Kimmel was suspended for making false statements about the assassination of Kirk, who was fatally shot during a Turning Point USA college event in Utah last week.

Kimmel has long been a pugnacious and vitriolic critic of President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, devoting many minutes of his program to attacks on both nightly. But he has never faced any serious consequences until now, and parent company Disney seemed quite content with Kimmel's shift from a late night comedy show to a hardcore political broadcast that trashed half of his potential viewing audience. What changed? 

Nexstar hopes to successfully pull off a merger with Tysons-based Tegna, which would bring more local TV stations into its nationwide portfolio, including local CBS affiliate WUSA 9. Disney and Sinclair may also have potential tie-ups down the road, which would similarly need the approval of a Trump or future GOP administration. As a result, this time they had to show some action on Kimmel's controversial remarks. 

Whether Kimmel will actually be canceled by ABC remains to be seen, but his return would certainly risk the ire of Trump. Disney will have to decide if defending the declining career of Kimmel would be worth potentially-major financial consequences for the entertainment giant in the future. Kimmel's ratings have plunged 11% as of the last reporting period, dropping him to third place in his time slot.

The ABC 7 Kirk tribute will be only one of the local events remembering the slain TPUSA founder this weekend. A candlelight prayer vigil for Kirk in Montgomery County is set for this Saturday night in Rockville.

Photo courtesy Salem Media Group

Construction begins on Bartaco in White Flint

Construction has begun on Bartaco at 11886 Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose. Walls have been erected on both sides of the storefront, suggesting that the exterior configuration of the facades may be altered for the new restaurant. Yes, Bartaco is yet another taco joint opening in the Rockville area, replacing another taco joint in this same space. But the chain's focus on smaller soft tacos and hybrid coastal decor of Southern California and South America have been a big hit so far in new developments like Reston Town Center, the Mosaic District in Fairfax County, and The Wharf in Washington, D.C.

Bethesda construction update: Hampden House apartment tower (Photos)

The first residents are expected to move into the Hampden House apartment tower at 4915 Hampden Lane in Bethesda on October 1, 2025. Hampden House will provide 366 residential units, and 10,110-square-feet of restaurant and retail space. The latter currently includes designer lighting retailer Visual Comfort & Co., and restaurant The Food Market. One retail space facing Elm Street remains available for lease, and that's likely because the street in front of it is closed for construction of the absurdly-behind-schedule Purple Line, and the new south entrance of the Bethesda Metro station.

Charlie Kirk vigil to be held in Rockville on September 20

A vigil will be held for Charlie Kirk in Montgomery County this coming Saturday, September 20, 2025. The event will be held in Rockville at the Courthouse Square park, located at the corner of E. Jefferson Street and W. Montgomery Avenue in Rockville Town Center, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Saturday. There will be tributes to Kirk, prayers, and speakers. Kirk, the founder of the conservative political organization Turning Point USA, was assassinated on September 10 while speaking at the launch of TPUSA's latest college campus tour in Utah.

Nesfield Performance sets opening date in Bethesda

Nesfield Performance has set the opening date for its new downtown Bethesda facility. It will open on Saturday, September 27, 2025, according to a sandwich board sign placed outside its storefront. Nesfield Performance is located at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium in Bethesda. It is a fitness, physical therapy, massage, and movement therapy business that has previously been operating in Chevy Chase.

Westbard Square parking garage crime: Let's go to the videotape

Over two weeks have passed since the last [reported] theft inside the parking garage at Westbard Square in Bethesda, and we have yet to see any surveillance camera video or still images from that incident or any other. Property owner Regency Centers announced early this summer that it would be installing cameras in the garage, and that Montgomery County police would have direct access to the footage. So, one has to wonder...where is it? What is the point of having cameras if they are not utilized to deter crime? As Warner Wolf used to say, "Let's go to the videotape!"

Bethesda construction update: Cheltenham apartments (Photos)

The residential development at 4725 Cheltenham Drive in Bethesda now has a name: Cheltenham. A 102-unit apartment building, it replaces a former Midas auto repair facility. The new building will have no on-site parking; a public parking garage is located directly across the street. Drilling and piling rigs are now working at the site, likely to assist in construction of the building's foundation.

Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel refreshing exterior (Photos)

The Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel at 1 Bethesda Metro Center is getting an exterior refresh. A crew worked from left to right on scaffolding to brighten the building's facade in recent days. You can see the clear difference as the dirt and grime give way to a bright white. The 380-room hotel opened forty years ago, when the Bethesda Metro Center development was built atop the new Bethesda Metro station that opened on August 25, 1984.

Bethesda construction update: The Charles apartment tower (Photos)

The Charles may be the fastest-constructed apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. Located at 7340 Wisconsin Avenue, it has risen on a former gas station site that sat mired in years of delays. But once developer Greystar took charge, the project has moved forward like clockwork ever since, from groundbreaking to where we are now in September 2025. Obviously, construction contractor John Moriarty & Associates has to take the bulk of the credit for that. The first residents are expected to move in by Q4 2025, although the website is still just a static image, alongside a form to join the mailing list of potential tenants. It does not mention leasing or hard hat tours yet.

Ourisman Jeep closes in Bethesda

Ourisman Jeep has closed at 6700 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The dealership says that its franchise agreement with Stellantis has ended, and it will no longer sell new Jeep vehicles. However, the adjacent Ourisman Kia showroom will continue to sell pre-owned Jeep vehicles. Service will be offered for Jeeps, but the dealership will no longer be able to perform manufacturer warranty work on Jeep vehicles, now that it is no longer an authorized Jeep dealer. 

Agora Bethesda restaurant applies for liquor license

Agora Bethesda, the Eastern Mediterranean restaurant opening next spring in the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel at 1 Bethesda Metro Center, has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the request has been scheduled before the County Board of Liquor License Commissioners for October 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM. The kitchen at Agora Bethesda will be helmed by Executive Chef Ismet Sahin. It will feature a mezze-style menu inspired by the traditional cuisines of Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. Signature dishes will include flame-grilled kebabs, house-made künefe, and pistachio soufflé, alongside vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Yuki Pearls returns to Bethesda Row

Yuki Pearls has been a seasonal tenant at Bethesda Row for many years now. The modern-design pearl boutique is returning once again to a spot it has been in before, 4808 Bethesda Avenue. That is between Framebridge and Gorjana. This space was just recently vacated by Ladurée.

Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for its annual extended seasonal run. There's a chill in the air these nights, and this store's arrival every year reminds us that Black Friday and the holidays are just around the corner. That's the store's prime time, along with the frostier early months of the year - and believe it or not, we're less than two months from the start of the Christmas season at 12:00 AM on November 1. Look for Sheepskin Gifts and Alpaca Too on Level 1 of the mall, in the former Tesla space.