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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Just who is Beverly Perry, Muriel Bowser’s right-hand woman? She’s a well-connected former lobbyist and Pepco executive, now serving as a senior adviser to the mayor, raising questions from local advocates and politicians alike.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • District residents overwhelmingly support a generous paid-leave proposal being considered by the D.C. Council—that is, when employers, not employees (through a new tax), would have to pay for it. [Post]
  • “There are a lot of issues with the paid leave act,” says Chairman Phil Mendelson. [NBC4]
  • Fewer than 30 percent of D.C. students grades 3 through 8 were deemed “proficient and on track” for college and career readiness, according to new standardized test scores released yesterday. [City Desk]
  • Monday was Paul Wiedefeld’s first day as the new general manager of Metro. He arrives as riders express growing dissatisfaction with Metrorail, and he has a busy schedule in the next days. [City Desk, City Desk]
  • A bill being introduced to the Council today would allow local products to get a “Made in DC” logo. [City Desk]
  • Feds concerned about overcrowding on Metro platforms. [WAMU]
  • Bowser says her administration will look into the D.C. Housing Authority after an AP investigation on house flipping. [AP]
  • Recreational pier may open much sooner as part of The Wharf. [BizJournal]

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

  • Isabella & Kim: Two big-name area chefs are debuting Yona, a Japanese-Korean noodle bar and small-plates restaurant, in Arlington this week.
  • A Pleasant Surprise: President Barack Obama popped into Pleasant Pops café in Adams Morgan this Saturday with daughters Sasha and Malia. One of the store’s owners says of the visit, “It was awesome.”
  • The Sleigher: Yes, our annual take on this year’s holiday hits is back. No, it’s not named after the metal band.

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

  • Get a load of these grim test scores. [City Desk, Post, Post, WAMU]
  • Paid family leave plan popular, funding it less so. [Post]
  • Muriel Bowser advisor could get a big pay-out from Pepco-Exelon merger. [Post]
  • Pepco-Exelon merger fight looms for later this week. [WAMU]
  • Union Station expansion on meeting agenda. [GGW]
  • Mark Lee: let Georgetown party. [Blade]
  • Cops catch suspect in 150th homicide of the year. [Post]

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

  • HAPPY HOLIDAYS, THE SLEIGHER HAS RETURNED. [Arts Desk]
  • Watch a short film on how go-go is staying alive as D.C. gentrifies. [The Atlantic]
  • C. ex-pats BETTY celebrates 30 years at The Hamilton. [DCist]
  • Christmas in Washington has been canceled after 33 years. [Post]
  • Kali Uchis collaborates with  on new single “Wave.” [Bandwidth]
  • Listen to Big Hush‘s new EP, Who’s Smoking Your Spirit? [Arts Desk]

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

  • MGM National Harbor casino will feature restaurants by the Voltaggio brothers, José Andrés, and Marcus Samuelsson. [Post]
  • Robert Wiedmaier‘s Reservoiris now open at Reagan National Airport. [Eater]
  • Crisp Kitchen + Barbrings Nashville hot chicken to Bloomingdale. [Washingtonian]
  • 16 must-do activities in December [Thrillist]
  • Chipotle opens its first Columbia Pike location in Arlington. [ARLnow]
  • When tipping was considered deeply un-American [NPR]