>>> the virginia railway express wants to raise the price of tickets. vre has scheduled public hearings to get feedback on the idea. ticket prices would go up 3% starting in july. officials say that would cover higher operational costs. if you want to know when and where the public hearings will be held, just search vre fares in the nbc washington app. >>> it's only been open five months but the national museum of african-american history and culture has already hit a big milestone. the smithsonian says more than 1 million people have now visited the museum. that includes president trump and first lady melania trump. the average visitor spends about six hours there on the weekends. >>> when we come back, giant panda cub bao bao lands in china. we'll show you how she got there and the long good-bye at the zoo. >>> plus who are you trusting to protect your kids when you send them to school? we'll tell you what some schools are not doing that could be putting them at risk. y29pgy y16fy >>> the national zoo's panda cub is now at a conservation and research

. >>> the virginia railway express wants to raise the price you pay for tickets. the vre has scheduled public hearings to gather feedback. ticket prices would go up 3% starting in july. if you want to know when and where those public hearings will be held, just search vre fares in our nbc washington app. >>> an arrest in a deadly stabbing in seat pleasant earlier this month. marlon marshall accused of stabbing jamal barnes. investigators believe barnes was arguing with and a second man. marshall is being held without bond, charged with murder. >>> a lawsuit tonight over that controversial painting that was removed from the u.s. capitol. missouri congressman william clay says removing its violates his constituents' first amendment right to freedom of expression. the painting depicts police officers as pigs holding guns. >> in america if you don't like a painting, you go to the next painting or you leave the gallery. we're saying let's go back to the freedom of speech. if not, we're going to have a serious problem if we have to litigate the offensiveness of every pi

brings some good news for those still using the transit system, more parking spaar and the virginia railway express may be benefitting because ridership on the bre is going up. >>> keep an eye on your mail. your cell phone carrier could be sending you a check. we're working for you as the company gets ready to give back millions. >>> we just got an update from the national zoo. what they say about ollie the >>> i clearly clear shadow of me. six more weeks of winter, it shall be. >> you heard it. according to everyone's favorite groundhog we're getting six more weeks of winter. this morning punxsutawney phil came out of his hole in pennsylvania and saw his shadow. if the groundhog had an opposition party, it would be meteorologists. and our own check bell is quickly becoming the face of the anti-groundhog movement. trump tweeted for the 103rd time, the groundhog saw his shadow. chuck wasn't done there. take a look at this. he also said, don't give the groundhog too much credit. he's missed the forecast two of the past three years. then chuck the fact that phil saw his shadow last year and we had a r

the virginia railway express could be getting some more stops. oming from wtop this morning, regional leaders are close to making a decision to expand vr resurface along the i-66 corridor. there is a possibility the service could extend to gainesville or haymarket. the prince william county board of supervisors trying to figure out if it makes economic sense. the move could reduce the number of cars along the already congested i-66. >>> the national zoo's beloved giant panda bao bao leaving for china this morning. it will be her forever home. >> reporter: bao bao has never left home, not once. but now the time has come, and some just aren't ready. >> come back to washington, d.c. >> reporter: but the giant panda has to go. she's leaving the national zoo for her new home in china in two days. >> the main just heartbreaking that our little girl is leaving us. >> reporter: lest llie johnson anne lane whit are almost in tears. >> when i was 3, my mom and dad bought me a stuffed panda here. >> reporter: bao bao has grown up before our eyes, from that s

the u.s. >>> virginia railway express could be getting some more stops. this is good for lots of folks who ride in the morning and in the evenings. our news partner wtop reports that regional leaders are close to making a decision to expand vre service along the i-66 corridor. there's a possibility the service could extend to gainesville or haymarket. the prince william county board of supervisors is trying to figure out if it makes economic sense. the move could reduce the number of cars that already commute along i-66. >>> deep breath as wet around here. the national zoo's beloved panda, bao bao, she's leaving for china this week. it will be her forever home. >> lots of tissues. bao bao's first home in d.c. is proud to have watched her grow. >> reporter: bao bao has never left home, not once. but now the time has come, and some just aren't ready. >> come back to washington, d.c. >> reporter: but the giant panda has to go. she's leaving the national zoo for her new home in china in two days. >> the main emotion right now is just heartbreaking that our lit