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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 public crime meeting Thursday morning, local Black Lives Matter activists interrupted Mayor Muriel Bowser during a speech she gave on a new plan to combat the city’s recent uptick in violence, called “Safer, Stronger D.C.”

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Four people were wounded in three shootings late Thursday night. [WUSA9]
  • Firefight: A group of men jumped onto a firetruck in Congress Heights yesterday and brawled. [WTOP]
  • The D.C. Office of the Attorney General is closing a corner store in Petworth over synthetic drugs. [WTOP]
  • Brace yourselves: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will be holding a joint protest against the Iran nuclear deal in the District within the next two weeks. [CBS News, CNN, The Hill]
  • It’s a boy! The larger of Mei Xiang’s giant panda twins appeared healthy yesterday, after its younger sibling died Wednesday afternoon. The zoo announced his paternity this morning. [City Desk, City Desk]

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

  • PR Crisis: Metro hired two crisis-management firms after the fatal January smoke incident near the L’Enfant Plaza station, and City Paper got exclusive access to documents detailing the expenses.
  • Dancing Goats: An Olympia, Wash.-based coffee bar will soon open its first D.C. location in Georgetown.
  • Turn, Turn, Turn: Gear Prudence explores how you should make turns from the L Street cycletrack.

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

  • Black Lives Matter protesters disrupt Muriel Bowser anti-violence kickoff. [LL, Post, WAMU, DCist, Times]
  • Inside Metro’s post-smoke incident spin machine. [LL]
  • One in four DCPS schools face principal turnover. [Post]
  • Smart growthers unhappy with congestion study, Part 1. [GGW, WAMU]
  • Protected bike lanes for C Street NE. [GGW]
  • Suspects arrested in two murder cases. [Post]

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

  • 5 of the best crab cakes in D.C. [Washingtonian]
  • 5 daytrips from D.C. that take 2 hours or less by car, train, or bus. [Express]
  • 8 binge-worthy blowout feasts in D.C. [Zagat]
  • 10 things to see, eat, drink, and do before summer ends [Post]
  • 12 best bars and restaurants in Charlottesville [Thrillist]
  • 17 standout BLT sandwiches [Eater]