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

Ashley Carter won her seat on the D.C. State Board of Education with comfortable margins in Wards 5 and 6, but with even stronger support east of the river, upsetting Democratic incumbent Mary Lord. How’d she do it?

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Contractors who worked on Trump’s D.C. hotel say they’re owed millions. [WAMU]

  • D.C. hero Ron Daniels, who ran a needle exchange for 15 years, dies at 57. [Post]

  • Spring weather today, “freezing drizzle” expected over the weekend. [Post]

  • Idea: Make Georgetown’s C&O Canal a skateway in the winter. [GGW]

  • Hundreds will get nearly $3 million back from lender that charged up to 196 percent interest rates. [Post]

  • Charles Koch donates millions to create research institute on “fragile communities.” [WBJ]

  • Man who scaled White House fence draped in a flag is trying to avoid jail time. [NBC4]

  • Express bus service on Rhode Island Avenue to begin in late March. [GGW]

  • Petula pooh-poohs pink pussycat hats for Women’s March. [Post]

  • City receives about 1,800 bus permit requests for Women’s March vs. 200 for inauguration. [NBC4]

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

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

  • Mary Cheh tells Congress to mind its business over “death with dignity” bill. [WTOP]

  • Improper city spending and cutoff credit cards: D.C.’s $40 million blizzard (and a new showdown between Vince Gray and Muriel Bowser). [Post]

  • Bowser rallies around firefighters as Metro blames them for L’Enfant Plaza. [WAMU]

  • D.C. fire chief also challenges Metro. [WTOP]

  • Longtime inaugural parade announcer Trump dumped will join NBC4 coverage. [Post]

  • Mixed crime stats and a new police patrol strategy for D.C. [Post, The Hill Rag]

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

  • Public art as a street harassment deterrent, but not all think it’s effective. [WAMU, DCist]

  • The National Museum of the American Indian’s soft focus on Horace Poolaw’s photography. [WCP]

  • There was no chance of scoring tix to that Planned Parenthood inauguration eve show at the 9:30 Club. [DCist]

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

  • Florida Avenue Grill vows not to close. [Post]

  • Food Service Monthly Publisher Michael Birchenallhas died. [Eater]

  • Northern Virginia taps into the coffee cocktail trend. [NoVa Mag]

  • Community in Bethesda served a “Golden Shower” burger yesterday. [Washingtonian]

  • Drink these beers if you’re watching your weight. [Thrillist]

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

  • 2016 home prices in the D.C. region reached an all-time high for December. [Post]

  • Animal advocates not happy about proposed pet rules for public housing tenants. [WCP]

  • A new home for veterans and low-income residents opens today on North Capitol. [Post]

  • What to know about the real estate and amenities in Anacostia. [Curbed DC]

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