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THE NEWS:

The D.C. primary is a week away—and in a Democratic District, June 2 really matters. There are competitive races in Wards 2, 4, 7, and 8, and you’ll learn more about the candidates in Thursday’s cover story. (Stay tuned.) 

Don’t live in a competitive ward? Me neither. But get in the habit of exercising your right to vote. You also get stickers! (Here are five reasons to vote local even though D.C. lacks statehood.) 

Today is a critical date. It’s the last day D.C. residents can request a mail-in ballot for the June 2 primary. Government officials are encouraging everyone to vote by mail if they can to avoid crowding at the polls. 

For those who cannot vote absentee—say, because you aren’t getting your mail as is the case for some Ward 8 households—vote centers are open now. There are at least two vote centers in every ward that are open between 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the Election Day, they will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Here are the locations. Everyone needs to wear a face mask or covering to vote at these locations. If for whatever reason you don’t have one, don’t worry, City Paper was told you’ll be provided one.  

How do you request a mail-in ballot? You’ve got options: 

Track your mail-in ballot here. These ballots need to be postmarked by Election Day, June 2. —Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • At Tuesday’s press conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser announces two new testing locations, one of which will replace the site at United Medical Center. She also defended the executive’s metrics for reopening. “We have no interest in cooking the books. We have put out proactively a lot of information on a daily basis,” said Bowser. [Twitter, Twitter]

  • For the first time in weeks, D.C. announced zero deaths related to COVID-19. As of Monday, 8,334 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19. D.C. is one day away from seeing a 14-day decrease in community spread, a critical metric to begin a phased reopening. [EOM] 

  • Essential jobs and crowded houses: Why so many in the Latinx community are getting infected with COVID-19. [Post]

  • A new safer streets advocacy group closed their streets to cars on Memorial Day in protest of more open spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. [WAMU] 

 

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

  • Gov. Larry Hogan empowered local leaders. They wish he hadn’t. [Post]

  • Primary election results may not be certified until June 21, after the Ward 2 special election. [Twitter]

  • ICYMI: A list of D.C. Council endorsements. [DC Line]

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

  • Are to-go alcohol sales saving D.C. restaurants? [WCP]

  • Eat at National Place closes after 15 years. [PoPville]

  • Eat this fried chicken sandwich that doubles as a good cause. [Edible]

  • Meat industry workers continue to get sick in large numbers. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Smithsonian Associates now has free classes available for streaming. [Washingtonian]

  • For WAMU’s “Postcards To My City,” an art lover dedicates a postcard to D.C.’s museum scene. [WAMU]

  • How local theater artists came up with their YouTube mini-series, Rebecca and Becca in Space. [DC Theatre Scene]

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

  • Patrick Ewing is out of the hospital and recovering at home after testing positive for COVID-19. [Yahoo]

  • Jennifer King, the first African American woman to be a full-time NFL assistant coach, took a winding path to her current groundbreaking role with Washington coach Ron Rivera. [Post]

  • No better time to take a dig at an opponent than at a championship ring reveal. “Even with them cheatin’ they still couldn’t take us out,” Howie Kendrick said after the Nats revealed their World Series champions ring. [NBC Sports Washington]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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