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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On Tuesday, the D.C. Council unexpectedly did not vote on a permanent ban on cannabis clubs—private social venues where residents could legally consume marijuana. Instead, it approved a task force to study their feasibility over a four-month period. The decision pleased legal-weed advocates: In 2015, all 13 councilmembers had voted to ban the clubs on an emergency basis.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • The Council also approved legislation that, in part, would pay certain residents not to commit crimes. [AP]
  • Police identified the man an officer fatally shot Monday as Peter John, 36, of no fixed address. [NBC4]
  • D.C.’s Attorney General has filed a motion to intervene in the battle over the minimum wage. [City Desk]
  • Does Ward 4 have a canine-attack problem? Residents there have recently suffered injuries by dogs. [Post]
  • 16th Street NW, a major transportation corridor, could soon get a dedicated bus lane for rush hours. [Post]
  • The head of the Federal Transit Administration says he could change members of Metro’s board. [WAMU]
  • Report: The D.C. region isn’t doing as much as it could to rein in smoking. [WTOP]

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

  • “Books from Birth”: A new program handled by D.C. Public Library will send kids books to their homes.
  • Saving Union Arts: Some residents of the Northeast arts collective don’t want it to become a fancy hotel.
  • Lobbying Woes: Activists opposed to the Pepco-Exelon merger are questioning a lobbying report by the ex-chair of pro-Mayor Muriel Bowser FreshPAC, saying it shows “a number of inconsistencies.”

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

  • Vince Gray mulls a return to politics. [Post]
  • Council backs off permanent pot club ban. [City Desk, Times, DCist, Post]
  • Activists want FreshPAC chairman’s lobbying report investigated. [LL]
  • Council passes anti-crime bill that pays people not to commit crimes. [NBC4]
  • Artists protest New York Ave. displacement at zoning hearing. [Arts Desk, WAMU]
  • Do District trivia with LL on Feb. 24. [Facebook]

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

  • Signature Theatre names librettist John Weidman as winner of its 2016 Sondheim Award. [Post]
  • Shake up at Dupont Underground as Braulio Agnese leaves project and Philippa Hughes takes over. [Washingtonian]
  • Avenue Q leads the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards nominations. [Arts Desk]
  • Are local audiences more subdued than others at shows? WAMU will investigate. [Bandwidth]
  • Nearly 100 artists come out in support of Union Arts at zoning hearing. [Arts Desk]
  • African American History Museum will open on Sept. 24. [Washingtonian]

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

  • Thomas Foolery to reopen under new owners. [Borderstan]
  • Where to find takeout for Super Bowl Sunday [Washingtonian]
  • Why can’t restaurants ever open on time? [Post]
  • Where to find Taco Tuesday deals [Eater]
  • ​Wahlberg brothers looking to bring burger joint, Wahlburgers, to D.C. [WBJ]
  • D.C. Council tables permanent cannabis club ban, approves task force to study them. [City Desk]