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 D.C. police department could soon face a severe officer shortage as a wave of officers retires and other young officers leave the force for better paying jobs in the suburbs, an alarming trend for the police chief, who has said her force can’t get much smaller. The flood of retirees comes 25 years after a large number of officers joined the force during a hiring spree in the city.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Chris Brown is expected to make an appearance at D.C. Superior Court Tuesday for a possible plea deal in his simple assault case. [Post]
  • Ocean City approved a plan to restrict smoking to designated areas on the beach and board walk starting May 1, 2015. [WAMU]
  • The D.C. fire department is a lot more functional under the helm of the interim fire chief. [Washington Times]
  • Jurors will begin considering the Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell corruption case Tuesday. [WAMU]

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

The Dives of Others Chat: Enjoy our latest cover story on the state of dive bars in D.C? Ask questions and give your criticisms to its writer Jenny Rogers during a chat today.

Rose’s Long Wait Time:  Where to drink while you’re waiting your turn to eat at Rose’s Luxury.

Busboys and More Busboys: Busboys and Poets is in negotiations to open a new restaurant in struggling Ivy City.

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

  • Top strategist Tom Lindenfeld off the Muriel Bowser campaign after being connected to Philly corruption case. [LL]
  • Bowser rival David Catania points out Lindenfeld’s role in earlier Bowser campaigns. [NBC4]
  • School policies loom for mayoral candidates. [Post]
  • Jeff Thompson crony Jeff Smith gets 60 days in jail for illicit Ward 1 campaign. [LL]
  • Colby King considers Smith’s evasions. [Post]
  • Vince Gray plans China trip. [Housing Complex]
  • Boundary changes could shake up District sports. [Post]
  • Retirements could stick police with a personnel shortage. [Post]
  • The D.C. fire department is a whole less tumultuous with interim fire chief in charge. [Times]
  • Lessons from living on D.C. streets. [WAMU]
  • Feds ask for an end to St. Elizabeths oversight. [WBJ]

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

  • The rapid rehousing pinch gets tighter as the city cuts back. [Post]
  • A post-exit interview with Victor Hoskins [WBJ]
  • Profiles of three people who have helped build D.C. (including Hoskins’ wife). [Post]
  • The life and houses of R. Donahue Peebles [WSJ]
  • In defense of shoaling. [CityLab]
  • The Pigskins and D.C. Olympics backers find themselves allying on a new RFK Stadium. [Post]
  • Fires force Marriott Wardman Park guests to sleep in ballrooms. [WJLA]
  • Metro critiques Boston’s Silver Line. [PlanItMetro]
  • Today on the market: Takoma 2BR condo—-$329,900

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

  • At the National Book Festival, author and cartoonist Gene Luen Yang called for more literary characters of color. [Post]
  • John Mulaney on why so many of today’s rising comedy stars have degrees from Georgetown [Washingtonian]
  • Arch Campbell broadcast his final movie review (for now) on ABC7. [DCist]
  • Listen to romantic R&B from Abhi//Dijon on “13.” [Bandwidth]
  • The KanKouran West African dance festival, reviewed [Post]
  • Listen to Pree‘s newest avant-pop track, “Two Feet Shy.” [D.C. Music Download]
  • In honor of the National Museum of the American Indian’s 10th anniversary, a numerical breakdown of the institution’s history [Post]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS is on vacation.  (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)