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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At a D.C. Council hearing Wednesday, business leaders expressed serious concerns about a proposed paid-leave bill that they’d have to fund through employer taxes, but didn’t appear to have many alternatives to the plan. It was the first of three hearings on the legislation, which—as drafted—has received wide support from the Council and public.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • The latest U.S. Census data indicates that D.C. no longer has a racial majority, and is growing. [City Desk]
  • An energy deal the District recently signed will put solar panels on 34 government-owned facilities. [Post]
  • On Wednesday, the federal General Services Administration bowed out of a series of hearings critical of Pepco’s planned merger with Exelon. The GSA was seen as a last line of defense against the merger. [Post]
  • Organizers of a New Year’s Eve party are moving it outside D.C. due to “recent worldwide events.” [Fox5]
  • D.C. lawyers bring in the most money nationwide, according to an analysis released Wednesday. [DCist]

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

  • Foster Children: What’s the current state of the District’s child welfare system? City Paper investigates.
  • Black Male Achievement: A new report praises D.C. as a leading city in terms of supporting black males.
  • No-Frills in Bloomingdale: Crisp Kitchen + Bar, which serves patty melt burgers and hot chicken, opened this week.

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

  • GSA leaves opponents of Pepco-Exelon takeover hanging. [Post]
  • City continues sweeps of homeless camps. [City Desk]
  • Businesses get sick over family leave bill. [WAMU]
  • CMs fume at People’s Counsel. [Post]
  • New Metro budget keeps the status quo. [WAMU]
  • What the new transportation bill means for the D.C. area. [WAMU]
  • Should D.C. be made weird? [DCist]

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

  • Lorelei will play their seminal debut Everyone Must Touch The Stove in full at Black Cat on Dec. 28. [Arts Desk]
  • Make D.C. weird. Or is it weird already? HOW DO WE KNOW? [DCist]
  • At their release show, Big Hush‘s noisy dissonance transcends genre. [Post]
  • Animal Collective streams new album exclusively at BWI Airport. [Washingtonian]
  • An interview with 7DL Studios founder Miles Ryan. [DC Music Download]
  • Inspired by Logic, K.A.A.N.—a brickmason in Maryland—is elevating his rap game. [Bandwidth]
  • In WWI Memorial debate, Pershing Park wins a big endorsement. [Arts Desk]

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

  • Beer holiday gift guide [DC Beer]
  • Korean-style sushi burritos are coming to NoMa. [Post]
  • 20 dishes you need to eat [Washingtonian]
  • The Wydown on 14th Street NW wants to add booze to the menu. [Borderstan]
  • Shaw’s Tavern adds a second bar, more healthy options [Eater]
  • Why are there so few black people in craft beer? [Thrillist]