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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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D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson says he plans to ignore Congress and treat D.C. marijuana like any other voter-approved referendum, sending the law to Congress for a 30-day review so lawmakers can veto it or quietly let it stay.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • A 12-year-old boy was shot in the leg after someone fired a gun into a house Saturday night on the 4600 block of 9th Street NW. [News4]
  • In the wake of a Georgetown rabbi charged with spying on naked women while they participated in a mikveh—-a Jewish ritual bath—-women in the D.C.-area planned a “Take Back the Mikveh” event. [WAMU]
  • Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to call for legislation restricting gun access in the state. [Washington Post]
  • Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser is headed to California this week to make the final pitch for D.C. as an Olympic site. [Loose Lips]

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

What’s in a Word? The fate of D.C. marijuana could hinge on the legal interpretation of one word.   

Losing Control:  D.C. rent control laws are supposed to keep housing affordable. So how do landlords keep getting around them? Our latest cover story explores.

You’re Fired: Wilson High’s principal was fired over test scores—-a firing he says was “capricious and arbitrary.”

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

  • Phil Mendelson says he’ll ignore Congress and submit the marijuana law for congressional review anyway. [Post]
  • Wilson High principal Peter Cahall calls his firing “arbitrary.” [LL, Post]
  • Muriel Bowser can travel to Olympics presentation, thanks to D.C. Council rescheduling. [LL, Post]
  • Parking pass distribution botched. [Housing Complex]
  • UDC book store robbed at gunpoint. [Post]
  • 12-year-old hit by a bullet. [Post]
  • Students could get new high school diploma options. [Post]
  • Colby King wants Bowser to push back big-time on congressional pot interference.[Post]
  • Post ed board backs June primary plan. [Post]

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

  • D.C.’s best architecture of 2014. [UrbanTurf]
  • Ten-story residential development planned for Industrial Bank–owned building off U Street NW. [WBJ]
  • E.L. Haynes students get schooled in gentrification and activism. [DCist]
  • Painted bus/bike lanes coming to Georgia Avenue. [WashCycle]
  • Why is the D.C. Council stalling on approving the Franklin School redevelopment? [WBJ]
  • Muriel Bowser helps make the D.C. Olympics pitch. [LL]
  • Looks like TGI Friday’s is not coming to Columbia Heights after all. [New Columbia Heights]
  • Today on the market: 3BR Columbia Heights condo—-$750,000

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

  • Student veterans from the Corcoran are losing benefits now that they’re studying under the auspices of GW. [Washingtonian]
  • Arlington’s One More Page Books gets a grant from author James Patterson to launch a mobile bookstore. [Post]
  • The members of the Deadmen on writing dark songs and swapping out drummer after drummer [BYT]
  • Six D.C. artists who showed exceptional work at the Miami art fairs [East City Art]
  • Photos of Young Rapids, Friend Roulette, Tiny Hazard, and Dave Klinger at the Pinch [D.C. Music Download]
  • The Freer and Sackler galleries have completely digitized their collections, making images available for free online. [Post]

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

  • Z-Burger founder sues business partners over trademarks, profits. [WBJ]
  • Five new brunches to try [Zagat]
  • The peking duck at China Wok surpasses Peking Gourmet Inn, says Tim Carman. [Post]
  • Try Super Bowl Noodle House for some of the best Chinese around. [Tyler Cowen]
  • Local breweries release winter beers. [Eater]
  • Andrene’s Caribbean & Soul Food reopens without the plexiglass barrier. [PoPville]
  • Taste test of 100 Montaditos [BYT]