For many federal employees this week marks the first missed paycheck. Happy Wednesday, D.C., and hang in there. Expect a gusty hump day with temperatures in the 40s.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Attention D.C. natives: Tell us your story. If you exited your mother’s womb and grew up in the District of Columbia, this is the essay contest for you.

  • The shutdown is a tragedy for thousands in the D.C. area. This is the government shutdown in hair salons, for taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers, and for a congregation in Landover, where a quarter of the 3,500 members work for Uncle Sam.

  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is pushing for back pay for furloughed federal contract workers like Tiara Logan, a Smithsonian security guard who worked for three days after her maternity leave before the museum closed. Now she is struggling to pay for the special milk her infant needs.

  • You can share your shutdown thoughts on Washington City Podcast’s Furlough Phone Line. Leave a voicemail at 202-681-9756.

  • The D.C. Council will hold off on a decision to award a sole source contract to operate the city’s new sports gambling system without public input.

  • D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine is suing the Washington Sports Club again after his office already settled with the health club and its parent company for deceptive billing practices.

  • Does Mayor Muriel Bowser want to D.C. to grow skyward? She tiptoes around an endorsement of upzoning. Follow our upzone watch.

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

  • Here is your comprehensive roundup of new D.C. Council committee chairpersonships and their budgets. Chairman Phil Mendelson has greater control over schools now, and others have new assignments. [WCP]

  • During the first legislative meeting of the year, councilmembers introduced, and reintroduced, a slew of bills:

  • Neighborhood level elected officials who each serve about 2,000 constituents through Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are not paid, but typically get a free parking pass. But more than 20 commissioners are rejecting their passes in the name of public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. [Their letter, DCist]

  • Mayor Bowser taps Andrew Trueblood to lead the Office of Planning. [Twitter]

  • You couldn’t get married in the District due to the federal government shutdown. But emergency legislation passed unanimously Tuesday allows Mayor Bowser to issue marriage licenses. [DCist]

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

  • Former Rasika employees partner to open a cocktail bar with Indian-inspired drinks and snacks. [WCP]

  • Compass Coffee has a leaky cup problem. [WBJ]

  • Oyster Oyster signs a lease in Shaw. [Washingtonian]

  • Ugh, dessert hummus has arrived. [Post]

  • Have a great breakfast for $6 or less. [Post]

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

  • In her new book, local writer Elizabeth White tackles myths of unemployment for the 55+ set. [WCP]

  • Anacostia Playhouse raises $22,000 from community donations following Christmas Day robbery. [WAMU]

  • Kokayi, Elise Perry, Tracy Hamlin, and others discuss the bustling creativity of D.C.’s music scene. [Grammy]

  • Listen to Northeast rapper Dell Fargo’s stunning debut full-length album, Mental Health. [WCP]

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

  • Anita Bonds, chair of the housing committee, doesn’t introduce anything during the Council’s first legislative meeting this year. [Twitter]

  • How the government shutdown will affect home loans. [Urban Turf]

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

  • The Wizards are debuting an alternative TV broadcast that focuses on in-game gambling on Friday. [Bleacher Report]

  • Washington football team’s former quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur will be the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers. [NFL.com]

  • The Washington Spirit has hired Liverpool-native Richie Burke as its next head coach. [soccerwire.com]

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

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