District Line Daily: Finger Pointing in Virginia

Morning, D.C. Couple things: Expect highs in the 60s, and President Trump will give his State of the Union address. Street closures around the U.S. Capitol Building will began at 7 p.m.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

• Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam continues to weigh bipartisan calls for his resignation following news of a racist photo on his medical school yearbook page. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax would take over if Northam resigned and Monday was denying reports that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004. Fairfax suggested Northam could be behind the leak; or maybe it was potential political rival Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Northam and Stoney spokespeople have denied involvement.

• D.C. is debating whether its publicly funded charter schools be more transparent, the Post reports.

  • City Paper writer Rachel Cohen has been reporting on this issue for a year, but it’s OK, Post. Welcome to the party.

  • Here are some past articles that deal with this issue: The DC Public Charter School Board Knew One of D.C.’s Oldest Charters Was Financially Troubled and Didn’t Intervene; Behind the Consulting Firm Raking In Millions From D.C. Charter School; Who Gets Access to Data About D.C.’s Public Schools?; D.C.’s Master Facilities Plan Will Shape the City’s Balance Between Neighborhood Schools and Charters

  • Most recently: Charter school administrators are among the highest paid in town, yet they’re exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

  • Catch Rachel today on Kojo talking about the pay issue and transparency.

• Longtime go-go star Donnell Floyd will retire from go-go.

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

• Not everyone was impressed with the Washington Post’s $10 million Super Bowl commercial [Politico, USA Today]

• Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office is set to announce $100,000 in grant funds for immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship. [DCist]

• More firearm background checks in 2018 doesn’t necessarily mean more gun purchases. [WAMU]

• Throw crumbs on the ground and watch a (fake) Ivanka Trump vacuum them up. [DCist]

• Council Chairman Phil Mendelson(who took some control of D.C.’s education system) seems to think Bowser’s pick for school chancellor will be confirmed. [Twitter]

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

• Where to feast on barley tea ice cream, whole roast pig, and duck pizza for the Lunar New Year. [WCP]

• The sports bar replacing Ventnors now has a name. [Washingtonian]

• Ivy City will get another cocktail bar inside a distillery this year. [Eater]

• Maybe you’ve seen oat milk as a dairy alternative around town? [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Matt Cohen (tips? mcohen@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Not even nuclear war can stop Ex Hex in their latest music video. [Rolling Stone]

• Sneaks, by this account, slayed at her record release show. [Post]

• Here are the 2019 Helen Hayes Awards nominations. [Post]

• Probably the most adorable singing Valentine chorus you’ll see today. Maybe. [DCist]

HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, by Morgan Baskin (tips? mbaskin@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Nearly one in four D.C.-area homes sold above their asking prices last year. [Urban Turf]

• A bill in the Virginia Senate would raise Airbnb rental caps to 180 days. [Twitter]

• Long & Foster goes all in on Amazon’s HQ2. [WTOP]

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

• Attention bobblehead collectors: The Nats’ 2019 promotional schedule will include Juan Soto, Trea Turner, Max Scherzer, and Patrick Corbin bobblehead giveaways. [WTOP]

• The Mystics have re-signed center LaToya Sanders. [Bullets Forever]

• Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, the Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation, and the NHL have launched a fundraising page to help raise money to renovate Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Southeast. [NBC Sports Washington]

HAPPENING TODAY, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Australian country singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers performs at The Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. at 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. $39.50.

• Soprano Sarah Brightman performs at DAR Constitution Hall. 8 p.m. at 1776 D. St. NW. $50–$275.

• Folk singer Justin Nozuka performs at Jammin Java. 7:30 p.m. at 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. $20–$30.

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