The Lincoln Memorial will be getting a $69 million upgrade.

According to the National Park Service, a 15,000 square feet exhibit will be created underneath the Lincoln Memorial to tell a "more complete story" of its history.

“The undercroft of the Lincoln Memorial, long hidden from public view, offers a fascinating setting to learn more about America’s 16^th president and the memorial that honors him,” Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, said. “Thanks to the National Park Foundation and its generous donors, visitors will be able to view this dramatic architectural feature, learn about the how the memorial was built and how its meaning has evolved over the last century.”

The National Parks Service says the exhibit will feature an immersive theater presentation with projected images of historic events onto the foundations.

“Improving the visitor experience at the Lincoln Memorial is vitally important to connecting Americans to the rich history of our country, the triumphs, the failures, and the lessons learned,” said David M. Rubenstein, who donated $18.5 million for the project.

The memorial will remain open during the construction. However, the basement area exhibits will close this spring.

The new exhibit is scheduled to open in March 2026.

WASHINGTON —

The Trump Organization has reached a deal with the investment fund CGI Merchant Group to purchase the lease for the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., for $375 million, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Miami group is expected to remove the Trump name from the ornate building located a short walk from the White House and is partnering with Hilton Worldwide Holdings to brand it a Waldorf Astoria, according to the person familiar. The deal is subject to approval by the General Services Administration (GSA), which will conduct a 60-day review, because the federal government owns the property.

Related video above: Trump Hotel was sued in 2020 for overcharging for events, throwing private parties using nonprofit funds

The Wall Street Journal first reported news of the deal.

The CGI Merchant Group declined to comment to CNN. CNN has reached out to the Trump Organization for comment.

Former President Donald Trump's company had been in advanced talks with CGI Merchant Group this fall to sell the lease of the hotel, CNN previously reported.

Last month, the House Oversight Committee released documents showing the D.C. property, which attracted conservative lobbyists throughout the Trump presidency, lost $70 million while he was in office. The former President had publicly claimed the hotel was making more than tens of millions of dollars.

The company has been trying to sell the property since 2019 but paused last year when the pandemic all but shuttered the hospitality industry.

The GSA, which manages federal buildings and land, awarded the lease for the Old Post Office building in 2012. Trump opened the hotel in 2016, when he was the Republican nominee for president.

Since then, the House Oversight Committee had been investigating conflicts of interest regarding GSA's management of the Trump hotel lease.

When he took office, Trump resigned from his companies but transferred his assets to a trust run by his sons, allowing him to still benefit financially from the D.C. hotel and his other businesses.

In 2019, the inspector general of the GSA said the agency "ignored the Constitution" when deciding to maintain the lease of the building to the hotel after Trump was elected to the White House.

The documents released by the Oversight Committee showed the hotel received millions from foreign governments in payments and loan deferral, which Trump did not disclose, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest during his presidency.

The disclosure marked the first time that congressional investigators had reviewed and released details of the former President's financial information, though the Trump Organization had challenged the committee's understanding of accounting and denied any wrongdoing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In Washington, DC, the buzz of the town is President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill. But one thing that’s not being talked about is something called SALT.

“The problem is, this policy is very, very expensive and regressive,” said Maya MacGuineas, the president of the non-partisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

MacGuineas has been very focused on SALT in recent weeks.

So, what is SALT? Clearly, we're not talking about the table seasoning, but "state and local taxes" and deductions you may or may not be able to take on your federal tax return. Before 2017, there was no limit on how much of the state and local taxes an individual paid that they could deduct from the federal tax return but in 2017, former President Donald Trump’s tax cuts changed that.

“You add all those state and local taxes together and they were capped at a deduction of $10,000,” said Sharon Lassar, the director of The School of Accountancy at the University of Denver.

She has been following the news around SALT and the bill. The most recent proposal would increase the SALT cap from $10,000 to more than $72,000, reducing the overall tax burden for some.

“In this package, 80% of the benefits go to people making over $200,000 per year,” said MacGuineas. “This is not the targeted low-income people that a lot of people expect in this bill.”

So, who exactly benefits from the SALT cap repeal? It’s individuals with high incomes in states with high-income taxes. So, think New York, New Jersey, and California.

“The average person probably doesn’t pay more than $10,000 in state and local taxes,” said MacGuineas. “About 50% of this is going to the very richest 1% and they, on average, would be getting an annual tax break of over $35,000.”

A big advocate for the removal of the SALT cap is Rep. Thomas Souzzi from New York. He recently said in a statement, “This fix will put money back in the pockets of hardworking, middle-class families in our districts,” but would not respond to our requests for an interview.

One thing to keep in mind: no text draft of this bill has been released to the public yet. So, we are only getting this from people working on the bill.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers have mobilized across Washington as thousands of supporters who refuse to accept President Donald Trump's election loss have flocked to the nation's capital to protest when Congress gathers Wednesday afternoon to put the final stamp on President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

By Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Capitol was placed on lockdown, a CNN reporter tweeted.

Thousands of protesters gathered around the Washington Monument Wednesday morning as the Elton John song "Tiny Dancer" played from loud speakers. The song was interrupted by an announcement telling people to leave behind backpacks, chairs and flagpoles so people could get through a security checkpoint. Hundreds of people carried flags. Some were American, some were Trump 2020 flags, among others.

As part of their preparations, police posted signs around the district warning of the illegality of gun possession during protests as Trump tweeted his support for the protesters, saying, "Our Country has had enough, they won't take it anymore!" and "We Hear you (and love you) from the Oval Office."

The Department of Homeland Security, which has staffed a "Virtual Situation Room" to help communication between different agencies, is "not currently tracking any active threats," spokesman Alexei Woltornist said.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Trump traveled a short distance from the White House to the rally Wednesday morning. About 20 aides were outside awaiting Trump's departure, audibly shouting "Save our country" as he boarded his SUV. Trump gave a fist bump and appeared to blow a kiss.

Trump addressed a large, tightly packed and largely maskless crowd of supporters on the Ellipse. His remarks got off to an inauspicious start as Trump's microphone appeared to be turned off as he began speaking.

"We can't hear you!" members of the audience were heard shouting on the video feed, though he appeared unaware and kept speaking.

Moments later, audio was restored, and Trump was railing against the media.

Trump's speech included calls for his vice president to step outside his constitutional bounds and overturn the results of the election.

"Hope Mike is going to do the right thing," Trump said at a rally on the Ellipse. "If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."

Pence released a letter he wrote to congress Wednesday just after noon, saying he wouldn't object to Biden's victory.

A large glass barrier shielded Trump from the crowd, similar to when he spoke in front of the Lincoln Memorial on the Fourth of July 2019.

Ahead of Trump's speech, Rudy Giuliani was addressing the rally on the Ellipse, baselessly repeating claims that voting machines were "crooked," and continuing to insist that Pence can do something today to change the election's outcome, which he does not have power to do. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

"Let's have trial by combat!" Giuliani told the enthusiastic crowd.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the District is "absolutely prepared" for protests and announced that that at least ten people were arrested overnight related to the protests. At least one person was arrested for carrying an unlicensed gun and six people were charged with assault, including one for assaulting a police officer.

"We had several arrests related to that activity, but not a single one of them was a D.C. resident," she said.

Authorities — a mix that includes local police, National Guard and federal uniformed officers — had already arrested several people ahead of demonstrations including the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right group that Trump directly addressed during an autumn debate to "stand back and stand by."

The Proud Boys' leader, Henry Tarrio, who goes by Enrique Tarrio, was released from police custody Tuesday on charges related to a protest last month and ordered by a local judge to stay out of DC as he awaits trial, including during this week's protests.

Above video: US Capitol transformed into fortress ahead of inaugurationOn Friday evening, U.S. Capitol Police arrested a Virginia man as he attempted to pass through a police checkpoint in downtown D.C. with fake inaugural credentials, a loaded handgun and over 500 rounds of ammunition, according to a police report and a law enforcement source briefed on the situation.The man, identified as Wesley Allen Beeler, pulled his pickup truck to a police checkpoint just north of the Capitol building, the source told CNN. Beeler, from Front Royal, Virginia, presented officers with what was described as an unauthorized inauguration credential.When police asked Beeler if he was carrying any weapons, he told them he had a Glock semiautomatic pistol in the center armrest, the source said. The Glock was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition and a round chamber ready to fire, according to the source.Police recovered the pistol, as well as 509 rounds of ammunition, shotgun shells and a magazine for the handgun, according to an incident report from the Metropolitan Police Department. Beeler was arrested and charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of unregistered ammunition, among other offenses, the report said.

WASHINGTON — The security in Washington, D.C. is only intensifying with just a few days to go before Inauguration Day.

WHAT IS BEING SHUT DOWN

The National Mall is closed until Thursday at the earliest.

Metro train stations near the Capitol, Pennsylvania Ave, the National Mall and the White House have been shut down already.

Roads near those same areas have been shut down for several days now. The Secret Service will also restrict even more access into the city in the days to come.

Around 25,000 National Guardsmen from all over the country have joined various police agencies to reinforce the security perimeter.

WHERE PROTESTERS CAN GO

Two "free speech zones" have been established for individuals to carry out their First Amendment rights.

John Marshall Park and the Navy Memorial are the two areas where protesters will be able to gather. Those protesters will only have access to the space if they go through metal detectors.

Areas remained mostly empty on Sunday. Plastic shields have been installed to keep the protesters contained.

ARRESTS

Multiple people have been arrested in D.C. over the weekend, mostly at security checkpoints.

One man was arrested Friday after attempting to bypass a security checkpoint with 500 rounds of ammunition and "unauthorized" credentials.

On Sunday, a woman was arrested for impersonating an officer.

FEELINGS FROM THOSE IN D.C.

"It’s tragic to see," Will Mulhern, a D.C. resident, said.

He, like many who live near the security perimeter, developing their own safety plans in case something goes wrong.

"I have talked to my partner about whose house is more secure," Mulhern said.

Meanwhile, those visiting the city remain stunned at the security, including Trump supporters.

"I voted for Trump both times," Andy Lewis from California said.

Lewis says you would have to be idiotic to try and repeat Jan. 6 again. Lewis says the vast majority of Trump supporters don't support violence.

"If you are going to do something do it right, the legal way, do it peacefully," Lewis said.

A man arrested Friday for attempting to pass through a security checkpoint near the U.S. Capitol with a gun and hundreds of rounds of ammo told local media outlets that he made an "honest mistake."

On Friday, Wesley Beeler of Front Royal, Virginia, was arrested at a security checkpoint in Washington after attempted to present "unauthorized" credentials to law enforcement. A search of Beeler's car later revealed he was in possession of a Glock handgun and an extended magazine that included 500 rounds of ammunition.

Beeler's car was also reportedly adorned with decals that read "Assault Life" and "If they come for your guns, give 'em your bullets first."

Beeler was reportedly charged with five crimes, including possessing a weapon and ammunition in Washington without proper registration.

The arrest came amid heightened security in D.C. following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol and ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration. Security officials fear more political violence could occur in D.C. in the days and weeks ahead.

However, in interviews with WRC-TV in Washington and the Washington Post, Beeler claimed his actions weren't motivated by politics, and that he had made an "honest mistake."

Beeler told WRC that he has been working as a security guard in D.C., but got lost on his way to work on Friday. According to local outlets, many roads surrounding the Capitol are shut down due to increased security.

When he ended up at the security checkpoint, he told WRC that he showed law enforcement the inauguration placard that had been given to him by his employer.

Law enforcement officials have not confirmed what credentials Beeler presented during the traffic stop and have only confirmed that his credentials were not issued by the government and were "unauthorized."

Beeler also told WRC that he forgot that his gun and the ammunition were in the car. While the gun wasn't registered in D.C., he claims he's licensed and registered to carry the gun in his home state of Virginia.

"I’m not a bad person. I'm not connected to any hate groups. I'm not there to harm anybody," Beeler told WRC.

According to WRC, Beeler was released from jail over the weekend and ordered to stay out of D.C. until his next court appearance in March.

WASHINGTON —

A North Carolina man who claimed to have a bomb in a pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol surrendered to law enforcement after an hourslong standoff Thursday that prompted a massive police response and the evacuations of government buildings in the area.

Authorities searched the truck in an effort to understand what led the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry, to drive onto the sidewalk outside the Library of Congress, make bomb threats to officers and profess a litany of antigovernment grievances as part of a bizarre episode that he live-streamed for a Facebook audience. Police said they did not find a bomb in the vehicle but possible bomb-making materials were collected from it.

The standoff was resolved peacefully after roughly five hours of negotiations, ending when Roseberry crawled out of the truck and was taken into police custody. But even in a city with a long history of dramatic law enforcement encounters outside federal landmarks, this episode was notable for its timing — Washington remains on edge eight months after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol — and for the way the suspect harnessed social media to draw attention in real time to his actions.

Authorities who spent hours negotiating with Roseberry — first using a dry erase board and then bringing him a telephone that he refused to use — were digging into his background Thursday afternoon. They did not reveal any details about a motive, and no charges were immediately announced.

Investigators had been speaking with members of Roseberry's family and learned that his mother had recently died, Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said. "There were other issues he was dealing with," the chief said, without providing specific details.

But social media appeared to offer its own clues.

As police continued negotiations, video surfaced of Roseberry on Facebook Live inside the truck, which was stuffed with coins and boxes. He threatened explosions, expressed hostility toward President Joe Biden, profanely warned of a "revolution" and laid bare a series of grievances related to U.S. positions on Afghanistan, health care and the military.

Roseberry's ex-wife, Crystal Roseberry, said she had seen images of the man in the standoff at the Capitol and confirmed to The Associated Press that it was her ex-husband. She said had never known him to have explosives, but he was an avid collector of firearms.

Videos posted to Facebook before the page was taken down appear to show Roseberry at the Nov. 14 Washington rally attended by thousands of Trump supporters to protest what they claimed was a stolen election. One video appears to be filmed by Roseberry as he's marching with a crowd of hundreds of people carrying American flags and Trump flags and shouting "stop the steal."

Thursday's incident began around 9:15 a.m. when a truck drove up the sidewalk outside the library. The driver told the responding officer he had a bomb, and he was holding what the officer believed to be a detonator. The truck had no license plates.

Kelsey Campbell, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison visiting Washington as part of a class trip, said she and another student encountered Roseberry around 9:20 a.m. outside the nearby Supreme Court building. Campbell said he was with his truck, which was parked next to the sidewalk, and was holding a large stack of dollar bills.

"He said, 'Hey, call the police, tell them to evacuate this street, and I'll give you all this money,'" Campbell recounted to The AP. "I said, 'No!' and he threw the money at us and we started running."

Campbell said she and the other student saw some police officers standing nearby. They told the officers what happened, and the officers then went to confront Roseberry.

The standoff brought the area surrounding the Capitol to a virtual standstill as police emptied buildings and cordoned off streets as a precaution. Congress is in recess this week, but staffers were seen calmly walking out of the area at the direction of authorities.

Police were still searching the vehicle Thursday afternoon and had identified some "concerning" items, like propane containers in the bed of the truck, Manger said. But it wasn't clear whether Roseberry had any explosives in the vehicle.

"We don't know if there are any explosives in the vehicle, it's still an active scene," Manger said.

The nation's capital has been tense since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

A day before thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol, pipe bombs were left at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington. No one has been arrested yet for placing the bombs.

The RNC, not far from where the truck was parked Thursday, was also evacuated over the threat. A spokesman for the DNC said its headquarters, which is located farther away from the truck's location, was put under lockdown, but that lockdown has been lifted.

Thursday's incident marked the third time in as many weeks that federal and military law enforcement authorities had to respond to attacks or possible threats. Officials are also jittery over a planned rally in September.

___

Long reported from New Buffalo, Michigan. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston, Tom Foreman Jr. in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Zeke Miller, Nathan Ellgren, Ashraf Khalil and Alex Brandon in Washington contributed to this report.

Members of the Kentucky National Guard will remain in the nation's Capitol through May.

Kentucky officials announced Monday that of the guardsmen who were deployed to Washington, D.C., 70 have had their mission extended.

Another 80 guardsmen are returning home.

Officials said the National Guard troops have been helping local law enforcement secure the U.S. Capitol in the weeks after the deadly January insurrection. The remaining troops will now be in D.C. until at least May 23.

The Kentucky guardsmen are part of the 2,300 National Guard troops from around the country who were sent to Washington, D.C. Officials said Monday that the goal of the remaining troops is to incrementally reduce the National Guard footprint as conditions allow.

Officials said the Kentucky guardsmen returning home come from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade based out of Richmond and the 123rd Airlift Wing out of Louisville.

The FBI has already released about 250 photos of people being sought for assaulting federal law enforcement officers during the riot. Some have already been arrested, and the Justice Department said about 300 people have been charged with federal offenses related to the riot.