A morning roundup of news, opinion, and links from Washington City Paper and around the District. Send tips and ideas to citydesk@washingtoncitypaper.com. 

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Marijuana legalization is days away in D.C., but thanks to a meddlesome Congress, the city has been unable to create rules for how residents may obtain it.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • It is going to snow. [Capital Weather Gang]
  • The Washington Monument has shrunk a bit. [WAMU]
  • At the Obamacare deadline, a flurry of sign-ups in D.C. [ABC7]
  • Ward 4 candidate Brandon Todd faces residency challenge. [Loose Lips]

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

David Carr: Former City Paper staffers remember their legendary former editor, who died suddenly on Thursday.

Self-Determination: Mayor Muriel Bowser is considering changing the mayoral position on whether the budget autonomy referendum has legal force.

Franklin School Fallout: The mayor’s decision to pull the plug on the Franklin School museum project runs the risk of ruining the city’s reputation as a business partner, plus five other reasons to reconsider.

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

  • Marijuana legalization—and lots of questions—await the District in ten days. [Post]
  • …but Rep. Andy Harris says the city’s “bravado ran out” on legalization. [WAMU]
  • Muriel Bowser could reverse mayoral direction on budget autonomy referendum. [LL]
  • Brandon Todd challenged on his residency in the Ward 4 race. [LL]
  • Prosecutors have a plea deal for Christopher Barry. [Post]
  • Department of Justice wants stay on gun purchasing ruling. [Times]
  • Marijuana business seminar heads to D.C. [WBJ]
  • Contemporary Metro is reminiscent of five years ago. [Post]

HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, by Aaron Wiener (tips? awiener@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Six of the biggest developers in D.C. have submitted bids for the FBI’s Hoover Building. [Post]
  • Six reasons Muriel Bowser should rethink her decision to pull the plug on the Institute for Contemporary Expression. [Arts Desk]
  • Washington’s bust: Bad for D.C., good for America. [New York]
  • An independent review will examine the errors at Metro’s control center during the Jan. 12 incident. [Post]
  • Potential designs for the Pepco Buzzard Point substation. [SWTLQTC]
  • D.C. hotels profit from elaborate Indian weddings. [Post]
  • Why those extra stories on MLK Library didn’t make financial sense. [GGW]
  • Today on the market: Logan Circle 1BR—-$334,900

ARTS LINKS, by Christina Cauterucci (tips? ccauterucci@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Six reasons Mayor Bowser should reconsider pulling the contemporary-art kunsthalle from the Franklin School… [Arts Desk]
  • …and a letter to sign if you agree that she’s selling D.C. short [Arts Desk]
  • Why building residential space on top of MLK Library [Greater Greater Washington]
  • Meet Showtime’s house band, Granny and the Boys, and its 82-year-old frontwoman. [WAMU]
  • How the Smithsonian’s $1.5 billion fundraising goal breaks down among its museums [Post]
  • Members of the Sweater Set and Ballad’ve interview one another about songwriting, ukeleles, and shape-note singing. [D.C. Music Download]

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

  • A Philippine restaurant will fill the shuttered Tonic space in Mount Pleasant. [Express]
  • 21 D.C. eats that won’t break the bank [BuzzFeed]
  • The Columbia Room will pop-up at PX March 10. [Post]
  • Highline RXR is now open in Crystal City. [Washingtonian]