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You may have noticed that the National Zoo closed its panda house. That’s because Mei Xiangmight be pregnant.

THE NEWS: 

The news can be terrible sometimes, especially when it’s about immigration. “Families ‘Are Scared To Death’ After A Massive ICE Operation Swept Up Hundreds Of People” reads one recent headline; “ACLU: Administration Is Still Separating Migrant Families Despite Court Order To Stop” reads another.

Some advice from Mister Rogers is helpful in this regard.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,’” says Rogers.

D.C. residents are flocking to the border to be helpers. Not enough people to help every person—far from it—but enough to reveal something about the character of people who want to act on disturbing news.

“In the town that largely created today’s immigration crisis—the Washington that wrote poor foreign policy, poor immigration policy, and is driving a white nationalism revival—regular people are scrambling to find ways to help incoming immigrants, who they see as fellow regular people deserving of a good life,” writes Alexa Mills in today’s cover story, in print and online. —Amanda Michelle Gomez (agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE:

  • “She had a brain aneurysm and lived to paint the tale.” Read the story of the Magnificent Toni Lane in the latest Mumble Sauce column. [WCP] (And check out the previous one, “Fat Is Not A Bad Word”.)  

  • Residents of the Park 7 Apartments on Minnesota Avenue NE have waited months for significant repairs to be made to their units. They’re calling on wealthy developer and political donor Chris Donatelli to make them. [WCP]

  • Three in 10 D.C. public school workers have expired background checks, per internal review. [WAMU]

  • D.C. closes three playgrounds because of high lead levels [DCist]

  • There’s a looming food crisis because of climate change, per United Nations report. [Times]

  • You can donate back-to-school supplies for homeless youth until Aug. 16. [Curbed]

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

  • A Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney in Virginia is putting white supremacists behind bars. [Post]

  • Ward 5 ANC donates to Trump [Twitter]

  • The Postpublished a “monster correction” on a story about heirs’ property rights. [Washingtonian]

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

  • Female food and drink entrepreneurs on how gender impacts access to capital. [WCP]

  • Smorgasburghasn’t been a huge hit in Navy Yard. [Eater]

  • A low-ABV beer from Greg Engert is coming to The Roost. [Washingtonian]

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

  • A ton of local rappers are featured on a British DJ’s krautrock project. [WCP]

  • Why did Metro ban and then un-ban ads for this exhibition? [WAMU]

  • Does NPS’ C&O Canal need a makeover? [Washingtonian]

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

  • A year after the heat stroke-related death of linebacker Jordan McNair, the Maryland football program is opening its training camp with a “more chill” atmosphere under D.C. native coach Michael Locksley. [WCP]

  • Preseason NFL is here and the local team takes on the Cleveland Browns tonight. [Hogs Haven]

  • Nationals prospect Steven Fuentes, who pitches for Double-A Harrisburg, has been suspended 50 games for violating the minor league’s drug prevention and treatment program. [MASN]

  • D.C. signed forward Ola Kamara from Chinese soccer club Shenzhen FC for a reported transfer fee of $2.5 million. [Black & Red United]

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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