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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The death of 74-year-old James McBride, whose neck was found broken after special police officers at Medstar Washington Hospital Center restrained him in late September, was ruled a homicide on Monday. The ruling follows a similar one last month related to an in-custody death: that of Alonzo Smith, 27, who died in November.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • A fire on the 1400 block of Delafield Place NW Monday night almost trapped firefighters, who made it out safely. An investigation into its cause closed parts of 14th Street NW to traffic this morning. [NBC4, Post]
  • Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the D.C. Council on an anti-crime tour yesterday. [Loose Lips, WAMU]
  • The Council is expected to renew a ban on so-called “cannabis clubs” today, angering pot advocates. [WBJ]
  • It could also approve an incentive bill for residents to install security cameras on their property. [FOX5]
  • A barricade situation near the Georgetown waterfront Monday afternoon and night ended peacefully. [Post]
  • D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton says it’s time the feds loosen financial restrictions on Metro. [WAMU]
  • Come April, you can see the balls from the National Building Museum’s Beach exhibit in Dupont. [DCist]

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

  • Banning the Boards: Two D.C. universities have prohibited fire-catching hoverboards on their campuses.
  • Campaign Finance: During an appearance on the Kojo Nnamdi Show Monday, Mayor Bowser said she would support closing a political-action committee loophole that her supporters benefited from last year.
  • Maestro!: The National Symphony Orchestra has announced a new music director in Gianandrea Noseda.

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

  • Muriel Bowser pressures Council on crime bill. [LL, Post]
  • Bowser, surprisingly, says she supports closing FreshPAC loophole. [LL]
  • Sorry, potsters: Council will likely uphold ban on marijuana clubs. [WBJ]
  • Another death involving special police ruled a homicide. [City Desk]
  • More on Eleanor HolmesNorton and Metro’s finances. [WAMU]
  • Can Franklin Square be saved? [WAMU]

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

  • Meet Prince George’s County first youth poet laureate. [Post]
  • Bells Of helped shaped D.C.’s Revolution Summer, but its debut recordings sat collecting dust for three decades. [Arts Desk]
  • The babes are back: Take a peek at Babe City 2.0. [DC Music Download]
  • The Beach’s balls are back! This time in Dupont Underground. [DCist]
  • The National Symphony Orchestra names Gianandrea Noseda as its music director. [Arts Desk]
  • With Hothead, Laurie Spector breaks out as a solo artist. [Bandwidth]
  • An interview with Roger Gastman, the man behind the 9:30 Club oral and pictorial history book. [DCist]

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

  • 11 healthy-ish dishes for the new year [Washingtonian]
  • Bayou Bakery is rolling out expanded dinner service at its Capitol Hill location. [Post]
  • Dupont bar brawler bites off man’s fingertip at New Year’s party [Borderstan]
  • JACO Juice & Taco Bar opens this week in Georgetown. [PoPville]
  • The best places to eat in D.C. right now [Thrillist]
  • New Shirlington brewery to open this Saturday [ARLnow]