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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Congress will hold a hearing today on D.C. statehood for the first time in two decades, but don’t expect much to come from it. Witnesses testifying include Mayor Vince Gray, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. 

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

• The Washington football team won its home opener Sunday, but the victory was overshadowed by the injuries of Robert Griffin III and DeSean Jackson. [News4]
• Mayoral candidate David Catania released a 126-page campaign platform and says he’s the candidate of substance. [Washington Post]
• U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ron Machen is starting a new unit in his office to look at cases that may have resulted in wrongful convictions. [WAMU]
• Acting on a tip, D.C. police are once again searching Kenilworth Park for missing 8-year-old Relisha Rudd. [WJLA]

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

Fall Arts Guide: Our Fall Arts Guide is on stands and online. Pick it up to plan all your music, book, performance, theater, comedy, film, and museum happenings for the upcoming season. You’re welcome.

Cold War: Is D.C. experiencing a cold war on cars? Sixty-two percent of D.C. households have cars, but nearly nine in 10 new D.C. households do not.

Public Controversy: The D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities decided to remove the “junk”-looking 5×5 public art piece in Anacostia after residents said it was insulting to the community.

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

• Large David Catania policy document backs Vince Gray‘s streetcar plan, plus guaranteed paid parental leave. [Post]
• Muriel Bowser commits to only four mayoral debates. [LL, Post, WAMU]
• Mayoral Power Rankings are back. [LL]
• Vince Gray, Phil Mendelson on the witness list for Monday afternoon statehood hearing in the Senate. [Times]
• But the statehood bill still isn’t going anywhere. [Post]
• Voters unmoved by mayoral options. [Post]
• Jonetta Rose Barras compares Bowser’s short debate schedule to Adrian Fenty snubbing Maya Angelou and Dorothy Height. [JRB]
• Post ed board comes out against marijuana legalization initiative. [Post]
• Developer says Brookland court ruling won’t stop plans. [WBJ]
• Little-know candidate Nestor Djonkam leads the mayoral ballot. [Post]
• The District’s cold war on cars [Housing Complex]
• Controversial Anacostia public art opposed by Marion Barry gets removed. [Arts Desk]
• U.S. Attorney Ron Machen pursues wrongful convictions. [WAMU]
• Blade columnist Peter Rosenstein explains why he’s backing Bowser.[Blade]

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

• The transformative effects of the planned Union Station redevelopment [Post]
• A streetcar expansion might be needed to make the 11th Street Bridge Park work. [CityLab]
• But the park’s already getting rave reviews. [Fast Company]
• St. Thomas’ Parish Church design gets tweaked again. [UrbanTurf]
• Developer still committed to big Brookland project despite court setback. [WBJ]
• Neighbors work to move Marvin Gaye Park beyond its “Needle Park” reputation. [Post]
• WMATA employees have a habit of parking on the NoMa sidewalks. [GGW]
• Inspired by D.C. experiment, Chinese city creates sidewalk cellphone lane. [AP]
• Bryce Harper introduces Anacostia High School students to their revamped locker room. [Post]

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

• Due to complaints from Anacostia residents, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities will remove a 5×5 art installation Marion Barry says “looks like junk.” [Arts Desk]
• Juanita Britton‘s Anacostia Arts Gallery and Boutique, which functions as something of a community center, will close next month. [DCist]
• Andre Pagliarini of Boardroom Heroes on finding punk rock as a kid in Brazil and being in a band with a sibling [D.C. Music Download]
• In Visible Language, a bilingual play with two parallel storylines: one for deaf audience members and one for hearing ones [Washingtonian]
• After a $4 million renovation, Brookland’s Dance Place is reopening. [Post]
• The Signature Theatre hired Joe Calarco in a full-time position focused on developing new musicals. [Post]

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

• Sommelier certification has become a point of contention. [Post]
• Seven bar food snacks to try during football season [NoVa Mag]
• IChing bringing Asian fusion to Shaw Sept. 26. [PoPville]
• Farming is an expensive “habit” for young people. [NPR]
• Olive Garden‘s investors are coming for your free breadsticks. [Vox]
• The 13 things you need to eat in D.C. this fall [Thrillist]
• David Chang says he’s most excited about his D.C. restaurant. [Forbes]