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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The now-scrapped plans for a museum at the Franklin School building downtown were too financially risky, a spokesman for Muriel Bowser says, adding that arts facilities that charge for entry may struggle to compete with the city’s many free museums.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • The Freer Gallery plans to close for more than a year, for major renovations. [Arts Desk]
  • Inside a smoky, simulated Metro emergency. [WAMU]
  • The Bowser administration will end the encryption of firefighter radios. [Post]
  • CBS Sports analyst Greg Anthony is due back in court on a charge of soliciting a prostitute at a D.C. hotel. [NBC4]

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

Returning Citizens: A new D.C. business helps people transition from prison to jobs cleaning kitchens, for profit.

Slow Growth: D.C.’s population growth is slowing, and the numbers tell a different story from the conventional wisdom.

Turning the Tables: In a survey, chefs rated Tom Sietsema the No. 8 restaurant critic in the country.

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

  • Muriel Bowser will reportedly drop encryption on fire department radios. [NBC4]
  • Candidates challenged in Ward 4 and Ward 8 [LL]
  • D.C. Council fields will be big. [Post]
  • After losing the Franklin School to Bowser administration decision, would-be arts center operator says “there was no failure here.” [WBJ]
  • “Only money matters” to Bowser administration after Franklin School decision, says Post art critic.  [Post]
  • Bowser moves to expand summer jobs program up to 24-year-olds. [Post]
  • District’s population keeps growing, but more slowly [Housing Complex]
  • Whistleblower case continues over police escorts for celebrities [WAMU]

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

  • Dani Levinas says he had no warning about the administration’s yanking the Franklin School award. [WBJ]
  • The move shows that Muriel Bowser is more interested in money than art. [Post]
  • Handicapping the proposed rowhouse zoning change, which seems likely to pass [UrbanTurf]
  • Schools don’t benefit proportionally from D.C.’s funding for at-risk students. [GGW]
  • Controversial Anacostia development moves forward [UrbanTurf]
  • The D.C.-area housing market is off to a strong start in 2015. [RealEstate Business Intelligence]
  • Today on the market: Friendship Heights 1BR—$649,000

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

  • How GW is breaking its promises to Corcoran students [Bmore Art]
  • Muriel Bowser put the kibosh on the nascent Institute for Contemporary Expression… [Housing Complex]
  • …and here’s why that’s a short-sighted move that sells all of D.C. short. [Post]
  • The best music merch from D.C.-area bands [Bandwidth]
  • Watch Spoonboy‘s new music video for “The Dispossessed,” filmed at the Rocketship. [D.C. Music Download]

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

  • Rose’s Luxury chef will open a fancier fine dining restaurant next door—with reservations. [Post]
  • Flat rate bottomless food and drink cafe looking to come to Rosslyn. [ARLnow]
  • Yet another Valentine’s Day round-up [Washingtonian]
  • Virginia will get three more Cava Grills, including one with breakfast. [Eater]
  • Chez Billy Sud expanding to add a wine bar. [PoPville]
  • A “sexy” new supper club encourages you to feed strangers. [Express]