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

Whistleblower Eric Payne, a government employee who was fired in 2009 for exposing pay-to-play maneuverings in a lucrative lottery contract, will finally be compensated after winning a unanimous federal court case six months ago and signing a settlement deal this week with Attorney General Karl Racine. The case marks a shameful era in D.C. politics, one that left a stain not just on the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, but also on Racine’s friend and political mentor Vince Gray, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, and former Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham.

 LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Smithsonian staff gather outside African American museum after noose is found inside. [WAMU]

  • Man who showed up at Trump hotel with a military-style rifle is released. [AP, ABC7]

  • Bowser tells District residents to tear down threatening immigration flyers. [WTOP, Post]

  • Mary’s Center health facility relies on federal dollars to provide services. Now it’s one of several area organizations asking donors to step in. [Post]

  • District taxis are getting digital meters. Will they help them compete with Uber? [WAMU]

  • Expect rainbow french fry boxes at Mickey D’s during the Capital Pride Parade. [WTOP]

  • There’s a fancy new underground art space near L’Enfant Plaza. [WBJ]

  • She saved an unconscious woman who was dumped from a car in Alexandria, Va. [NBC4]

  • Body of missing veteran is found in a car outside D.C.’s VA hospital. [AP]

  • Georgetown’s business school gets a new dean. [WBJ]

  • A convention for kid inventors. [WUSA9]

  • Disabled D.C. students see live, interactive theater and become stars for a day. [NBC4]

  • A man robbed a bank near Gallery Place and the police are looking for him. [Post]

  • Now through Saturday the weather will be “splendid.” [Post]

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

 LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Jeffrey Anderson (tips? jeff.anderson@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • CM Robert White calls teacher resignation problem an emergency. [Post]

  • CM David Grosso wants record of every person who evaded the school lottery. [Post]

  • People flocked to White House to protest Trump’s withdrawal from Paris Accord. [ABC7]

  • The “greening” of city hall: Wilson Building lit up in protest of Trump withdrawal. [NBC4]

  • In D.C., mostly rich people and white people get access to grocery stores. [Post]

  • More on Brandon Todd’s “minor fine.” [Post] 

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

  • Here’s the complete guide for the 2017/2018 season of D.C.-area theaters. [Post]

  • Listen to the debut EP from Dawkins. [DC Music Download]

  • Get stoked: Northern Virginia post-hardcore legends Majority Rule and pageninetynine announce a benefit reunion tour. [WCP]

  • The Renwick is getting a Burning Man exhibition. [DCist]

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

  • Tortilla Coastseems to have closed without warning in Logan Circle. [PoPville]

  • Tinkerbell-sized clothes pins are trending in cocktails. [Washingtonian]

  • Shouk is bound for the Union Market district. [DCist]

  • Four summer cocktails you can’t screw up. [DC Refined]

  • Amazon’s grip on the food world is getting stronger. [Thrillist]

 HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, by Andrew Giambrone (tips? agiambrone@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • More on the D.C. Council’s proposal to turn empty offices into affordable housing. [Post]

  • Ward 5’s ongoing Brookland Manor redevelopment raises important questions. [GGW]

  • Renovated rowhouses in Capitol Hill are going for as much as $1.5 million. [Curbed DC]

  • What you can rent in the District for just $1,500 a month (hint: not a lot). [Curbed DC]

  • Developer seeks raze application for controversial Adams Morgan project. [UrbanTurf]

Sign up: To get District Line Daily—or any of our other email newsletters—sent straight to your mailbox, click here.