THE NEWS:

Eric Carter fatally shot his brother, Alphonzo, and then was immediately killed by police on Sept. 16. A few news outlets covered the tragedy, but it largely escaped the city’s consciousness—that is, with the exception of the Carter family. 

Renee Carter was left wondering why her otherwise caring brother would murder their sibling. Eric struggled with mental illness that spiraled out of control after he became addicted to pain medication. But he was getting better, at least that’s what Renee had thought. 

“If Eric was treated, he wouldn’t have shot his brother or got himself killed,” she tells City Desk. She questioned the care her brother sought roughly a week before the shooting, at a publicly funded mental health clinic in Northwest: Kinara Health and Home Care Services. 

The Carter family inspired a month-long City Paper investigation into Kinara, which has received over $1.1 million in taxpayer dollars this year alone.

City Desk came to learn over the course of many interviews that Renee wasn’t the only person in this city disgruntled with the provider. Eight former patients—all of whom were either experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental health problems—and two former workers describe troubling practices at Kinara. 

One such patient is Alex Antonio Robinson Sr.He alleges a case manager at Kinara, who was expected to help him obtain his medication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, laughed at him while he was having a manic episode. “You laughed at my misery and shame. Then you told my friend to take a picture … I need help and people like you are why I never ask or get it,” he texts her. Read more here. —Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? Email agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

CITY DESK, by Amanda Michelle Gomez:

  • Airline catering workers to stage airport sit-in at National on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Why? For better wages and health care. [Twitter]

  • In D.C., 1 in 3 have faced gun violence or know a victim. [Post]

  • More crime cameras. Moms Demand Action volunteers are pleased with the 70 percent increase in the District’s CCTV program. [DCist, Twitter]

  • Cautionary crowdsource fundraising story: Former Express distributors are still waiting for fundraising cash. [DCist]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Environmentalists were the largest single-issue donors in Virginia elections this year. [WAMU]

  • Mayor Muriel Bowser will sign a bill strengthening protections for sexual assault survivors. [EOM]

  • More bike lanes by 2022. [Post]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • ABC Pony opens soon in Navy Yard. Here is the menu from a trio of chefs. [WCP]

  • La Tasca closed in Chinatown with no notice to its employees. [WCP]

  • That Twitter thread about controversial food opinions turned sour. [Post]

  • How Queen’s English handled a stop-work order from DCRA. [PoPville]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Here are a few quirky entertainment leagues to join in D.C. [DCist]

  • At 1500 K St. NW, experience an architect and engineer gingerbread house competition. [Washingtonian]

  • Inside Enchant, the winter spectacle at Nats Park. [WAMU]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The Caps are reportedly in discussions to play a regular season game in Russia next season. [Russian Machine Never Breaks]

  • Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Rams so badly that Monday Night Football viewers got to see about of quarter’s worth of action from former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III in the Ravens’ 45-6 victory. [The Checkdown]

  • Maryland men’s basketball has moved up to No. 5 in the AP poll. [247Sports]

MAKE PLANS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full To Do This Week newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

Sign up: To get District Line Daily—or any of our other email newsletters—sent straight to your mailbox, click here. Send tips, ideas, and comments to newsletters@washingtoncitypaper.com.