The National Park Service said on Friday it was immediately closing the National Mall and iconic US landmarks in Washington to visitors through at least Jan. 21. The Mall includes landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Maryland, the other state bordering the nation's capital, declared a state of emergency related to the inauguration. US officials said they expect the number of National Guard troops to rise to 25,000 in Washington D.C., a number that could still increase even further. In downtown D.C., Metropolitan AME Church, a historic Black church that has hosted historical Black luminaries like educator Booker T. Washington and journalist Ida B.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 15, 2021 22:40 UTC