A handful of laws take effect today, including a new tax on soda and sugary drinks.

THE NEWS: 

During yesterday’s Wizards media day, a reporter asked guard Bradley Beal about what he’s seen from the Mystics this season. 

“I know the Wizards gotta get rolling, man, because the Mystics are about to bring in that hardware,” Beal replied. “And before you know it, that’s two for Ted and he’s going to be sending us a few frowny faces.”

The “hardware” being the WNBA title and “Ted” being Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup last year and the Mystics are currently in the WNBA Finals against the Connecticut Sun. They will play Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Ward 8 after winning Game 1 of the best-of-five series, 95-86.

At the same time, just three miles away at Nationals Park, the Nats will host the Milwaukee Brewers in a single-elimination wild card game. After starting the season 19-31, the fun-loving Nats have the opportunity to join the Mystics as a D.C. pro team making a deep run in the playoffs. Even Metro is getting in on the action and offering to run late trains for the games.

Max Scherzer could be throwing strikes from the mound the same time that WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne is dominating on the court. It might be enough to make D.C. sports fans forget about that winless NFL team. —Kelyn Soong (tips? Email agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)

MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE:

  • Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Chief Peter Newsham are preparing to announce new initiatives today to address the city’s alarming homicide rate. [WUSA9]

  • Airbnbs are still technically illegal thanks to a zoning hiccup. [WAMU]

  • University of Maryland’s student newspaper, The Diamondback, will become a web-only publication starting in March. [The Diamondback]

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

  • How will Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans spend his legal defense cash after changes to the law go into effect today? [WCP]

  • D.C. is thinking about limiting scooters. [Curbed]

  • What will be lost if we lose Barry Farm, a historic, low income neighborhood in D.C. [YouTube, Post]

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

  • How restaurateur Aaron Silverman is asking diners to help pay for his employees’ generous benefits package starting today. [WCP]

  • Spotted on OpenTable: The House of Representatives. [DCist]

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

  • Mayor Bowser and her staff’s clash with the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities continues. [WCP]

  • Here’s where you can find that good, good jazz this month. [DCist]

  • A Maryland chemist concocts colorful fountain pen ink in the shed behind his home. [Post]

  • Washington Post reporter Christopher Ingraham chats about his new memoir, If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now: Why We Traded the Commuting Life for a Little House on the Prairie. [Kojo Nnamdi Show]

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

  • The Nats have offered Anthony Rendon a seven-year contract worth between $210 and $215 million, according to the Post. 

  • Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan, who narrowly missed being selected for the World Cup roster, will play for the U.S. Women’s National Team during two upcoming victory tour matches. [ussoccer.com]

  • Wizards coach Scott Brooks had trouble remembering all of his team’s injuries heading into training camp. [NBC Sports Washington]

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

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