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

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An ad-hoc coalition of activists are organizing against the National Policy Institute—an Arlington-based group that says it aims to “promote awareness of the heritage and identity of European people”—which plans to hold an event this Saturday at the federal Ronald Reagan Building. The activists say the U.S. government shouldn’t host the NPI because it’s been classified as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center and espouses racist views.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

• The District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs faced sharp criticism on Monday. [Times]
• The D.C. streetcar is already getting mixed reviews. Also, Rand Paul thinks it’s “waste.” [Post, Roll Call]
• Washington Gas is seeking a nearly 10 percent rate hike in D.C. that would take effect next year. [WTOP]
• Three D.C. residents have been chosen to work on the set of Veep while it films in the District. [Post]
• The National Zoo had to close it’s Kids’ Farm exhibit because of e. coli. [City Desk, Post, WAMU, DCist]
• The Federal Transit Administration wants regional jurisdictions to create a Metro safety agency. [WAMU]
• Two British parliamentarians told the NFL that the name of D.C.’s football team is offensive. [City Desk]

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

• Crane & Turtle Closing: The Petworth restaurant will close in April because its married chefs are leaving.
• Save Fillmore Arts: Parents are petitioning D.C. Public Schools to keep funding the Georgetown arts center.
• Morning Light: Local photographer Timothy Hide does a Q&A with us about taking early photos of D.C.

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Will Sommer (tips? wsommer@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Rand Paul not a fan of the streetcar. [Roll Call]
• Time to tear down the Southeast Freeway? [Washingtonian]
• DCRA criticized at hearing. [Times]
• Eleanor Holmes Norton: Streetcar launch “feels like magic.” [WBJ]
• Office of Tax and Revenue struggles to fight tax refund fraud. [Route Fifty]
• More on the privatization of some ambulance service. [NBC4]
• Street sweeping is back. [DCist]

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

• Once again, the Fillmore Arts Center loses funding. [City Desk]
• A trap rap song about selling drugs at Trader Joe’s? A trap rap song about selling drugs at Trader Joe’s. [Bandwidth]
• 9:30 Club named “Nightclub of the Year” again by Pollstar. [DCist]
• An interview with local photographer David Hyde. [Arts Desk]
• Behind the scenes of Breakin’ Even Fest. [Bandwidth]
• Veep is in town. [Washingtonian]
• And so was Natalie Portman. [DCist]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Jessica Sidman (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• The 10 hottest Italian restaurants in D.C. [Zagat]
• Five D.C. cafeteria meals that will make you feel sad about your lunch [Washingtonian]
• Spike Mendelsohn‘s The Sheppard will reopen in Dupont Circle March 15. [Eater]
• Dudley’s Sport & Ale in Shirlington eyeing June opening. [ARLnow]
• Pretzel Bakery relocates one block away this week. [Hill Now]
• Every type of person you’ll see in a D.C. Starbucks [Thrillist]