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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Our latest cover story is a look at how rich foreign investors are helping finance D.C.’s building boom—-in exchange for legal status in the U.S.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • The GOP-controlled House Appropriations Committee voted Wednesday to insert an amendment into an unrelated spending bill that would effectively kill D.C.’s locally passed marijuana decriminalization law. [City Desk]
  • But would this amendment, if it is passed, inadvertently legalize marijuana in the District? [Post]
  • On July 2, D.C.’s embattled fire chief Kenneth Ellerbe will officially step down from his post. But can the city’s fire and EMS department ever be fixed? [Loose Lips]
  • A large branch crushed an SUV this morning as it was driving along Constitution Ave. NW. Luckily the driver escaped unscathed. [News4]

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

A Walk By Any Other Name: Whitman-Walker is changing the name its annual fundraising walk from the “AIDS Walk Washington” to the “Walk to End HIV.” Here’s what that says about the current state of the fight against the disease in the District.

CityArt: Mayor Vince Gray unveiled a 25-foot high, 50-foot wide digital video screen outside the plaza at CityCenterDC, which will eventually be used to showcase local video artists’ work. 

Hail to the Reagans?: A Washington Times contributor argues that the Washington football team should be changed to the Washington Reagans. Seriously, it seems.

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

  • House appropriations committee votes to pull funding from District’s marijuana decriminalization. [City Desk, Times, Post]
  • Did the anti-pot amendment accidentally make the drug legal in the District? [Post]
  • Can the D.C. fire department ever be fixed? [LL]
  • Noisy caravan of protesting cabbies descends on the Wilson Building. [Post, WAMU, WTOP]
  • Prominent Hillcrest residents back David Catania‘s mayoral bid. [LL]
  • School boundaries proposal would promise preschool for many. [Post]
  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton intends to rides in driverless car, kills it instead. [LL, Post]
  • Norton wants to get more time on CSX tunnel. [Post]
  • Post ed board not fans of congressional meddling in marijuana decriminalization. [Post]
  • Jonetta Rose Barras wants schools chancellor to stop Savoy principal from leaving. [Post]
  • CareFirst explains its nearly $900 million surplus. [WBJ]
  • Ward 8 State Board of Education race remains sleepy, since the ward’s usual debate organizer is a candidate this time. [Informer]
  • How an AIDS walk dropped the “AIDS.” [City Desk]

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

  • U.S. World Cup success is good new for D.C. bars. [CityLab]
  • A peek at the maze coming to the National Building Museum. [UrbanTurf]
  • San Francisco’s smart parking program is a big success, mostly. [CityLab]
  • The lesson: When parking costs reflect demand, everyone wins. [GGW]
  • D.C.’s most expensive housing neighborhoods per square foot: Logan Circle and West End. [UrbanTurf]
  • Why one developer is bucking the weak market and building offices on spec. [WBJ]
  • Today on the market: Cathedral Heights 1BR—-$257,000

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

  • There’s a new, permanent screen for video art in the ritzy shopping hub at CityCenterDC. [Arts Desk]
  • Lupita Nyong’o‘s dad, a Kenyan senator, is in town for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. [Post]
  • EDM up-and-comer JSTJR created his own tropical bass community in New Hampshire.  [BYT]
  • Can Tiësto get millenials (and tweaked-out ravers) to care about global poverty? [Post]
  • A merman of sorts takes center stage at Connersmith’s “Academy 2014.” [East City Art]
  • John Jazz is starting regular jam sessions at Flash. [D.C. Music Download]
  • Top picks for food, music, crafts, and fitness at the Folklife Festival [Express]
  • A bloated, leather-jacketed Chris Brown is on trial in D.C., and has somehow managed to attract supporters. [Post]

FOOD LINKS, by Jessica Sidman (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Sweetgreen launches a test kitchen at its Dupont location. [Post]
  • Is it time for food to get its own major museum? [NPR]
  • The Embassy Row Hotel has a new rooftop pool bar with a ramen burger. [Washingtonain]
  • More details about R.J. Cooper‘s Gypsy Soul, opening July 23 in the Mosaic District [NoVa Mag]
  • Local food writer Nevin Martell on what canary and piranha taste like [Zagat]
  • Q&A with chef Charlie Palmer [WBJ]
  • What Daikaya beverage director Lukas Smith drinks in a week [BYT]