A morning roundup of news, opinion, and links from City Paper and around the District. Send tips and ideas to citydesk@washingtoncitypaper.com.

Metro’s “Back2Good” initiative is focused on reliability and safety. Its website touts accomplishments like working elevators and new trains, but the transit system is still having trouble getting riders places on time. Since launching its “Rush Hour Promise” program on Friday, Metro has already refunded nearly 1,700 credits to riders who experience a delay of 15 minutes or more. According to Metro, its weekday ridership is more than 612,000.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • 18-year-old man arrested for shooting 16-year-oldTaiyania Thompson near Gallaudet University last week. [WTOP]

  • Student attacked in Ballou H.S. classroom dies, but police don’t know if his death is connected to the attack. [WTOP]

  • A mother discusses living at the D.C. General shelter, set to close later this year. [WAMU]

  • American University launches inclusivity plan after racist incidents on campus. [WTOP, AU]

  • City Paperowner Mark Ein discusses his new news adventure. [Post]

  • Does D.C. use too much salt to prep its sidewalks and roads for snow events? [WAMU]

  • John Wall will undergo another knee surgery and miss six to eight weeks. [NBC Sports Washington]

  • And the football team has another new QB. Welcome Alex Smith! [NBC Sports Washington]

RECENT CITY PAPER STORIES TO HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DAY:

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by City Paperstaff(tips? tips@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Buy some eccentric items that belonged to late Councilmember Jim Grahamat an estate auction this weekend. [NBC Washington]

  • Mary Cheh wants investigation into DCPS graduation rates to go even deeper. [WAMU]

  • D.C., Maryland, and Virginia officials have signed NDAs with Amazon regarding HQ2. [WAMU]

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

  • The Messthetics, a new trio featuringFugazi’s Brendan Canty and Joe Lally with guitarist Anthony Pirog, debuts its first track. [NPR Music]

  • Check out photos of Nag Champa, Shaed, Fielder, and OG Lullabies at DC Music Download’s 6th anniversary celebration. [DC Music Download]

  • Silver Spring-based avant-garde and jazz label Cuneiform Records goes on hiatus. [Washingtonian]

  • Local synth-pop duo The Galaxy Electric spaces out in the music video for “Crystalline Glow.” [WCP]

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

  • Local restaurateur expresses his concerns over the minimum wage increase. [Eater]

  • How to build a better desk lunch. [Post]

  • Don’t worry about making chili. These restaurants are offering Super Bowl take-out. [DC Refined]

  • TapaBaralready has a replacement in Bethesda. [Bethesda Mag]

  • What makes Virginia beers so special? [NoVa Mag]

HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, byAndrew Giambrone (tips? agiambrone@washingtoncitypaper)

  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton says D.C. wins whether or not the FBI stays. [WBJ]

  • Georgetown businesses still want a gondola connecting D.C. and Rosslyn. [WBJ]

  • Developer behind 153-room hotel in Mount Vernon Triangle wants a zoning variance. [UrbanTurf]

  • 240 D.C. homes sold for more than $2 million last year. [UrbanTurf]

  • Study: D.C. apartments are priciest in August and cheapest in December. [Curbed DC]

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