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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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The freezing rain in the area should stop this afternoon, but the relief may only be temporary: More snow could be headed our way Tuesday.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • An employee of D.C.’s Parks and Recreation department has been fired and another has been placed on administration leave after women were reportedly raped at the Wilson Aquatic Center department by staff with access to the pool. [NBC4]
  • A look at how D.C.’s new Walmart could impact area Targets and small businesses [Post]
  • Weekend MARC service to Baltimore is now open for business. [WAMU]

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

Buy D.C. ICYMI, the most recent Washington City Paper has our comprehensive holiday shopping guide, with tons of advice on finding the perfect gifts in the D.C. area.

Going Ape: D.C. psych-rock ensemble Apes released its first new music since 2008.

Back to the Future: This is what the Metro map could look like in 2040.

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

  • Jim Graham, who still hasn’t announced his Ward 1 re-election plans, heads to News Channel 8 at 10 a.m. for an announcement. [Twitter]
  • Who are Vince Gray‘s voters? [Post]
  • Gray: lack of voting rights for District has parallels to apartheid. [WAMU, Post]
  • Colby King: Gray wants to “win at all costs.” [Post]
  • Police chief Cathy Lanier discusses officers connected to child porn and pimping. [Post]
  • Employment Services head Lisa Mallory leaves for building association. [Post]
  • United Medical Center nursing home gets a new operator. [WBJ]
  • Metro general manager defends higher fare proposal. [WAMU]
  • Potential homicide in Brightwood [Post]
  • Parks and Recreation employees reportedly on leave after alleged rapes. [NBC4]

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

  • Other Walmart-invaded cities offer lessons for D.C. [Post]
  • Walmart’s effect on Target and other businesses [Post]
  • Veteran anti-nuclear protesters facing eviction from their home base. [City Desk]
  • Ben’s Chili Bowl didn’t break the law by taking down H Street facade. [Hill Rag]
  • Metro defends its fare structure. [PlanItMetro]
  • Riggs/PNC building by White House up for sale, with major challenges for any new owner. [Post]
  • Missing the old Howard University [Hill Rag]
  • Carr got a pretty good deal on Washington Post building. [Post]
  • Today on the market: Brightwood Park studio—$149,000

ARTS LINKS, by Ally Schweitzer (tips? aschweitzer@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The Kennedy Center Honors. They happened. [Post, Post]
  • A drawing by outsider artist Martin Ramirez comes to the Library of Congress. [Post]
  • Air and Space Museum guards tackle a freelance photographer. [DCist]
  • Chris Richards ranks the best pop singles of the year. [Washington Post]
  • D.C. residents support the arts, kind of, but they don’t attend fundraisers because they claim to be too busy. [WBJ]
  • Photographers are still pissed about the White House’s photo policy. [New York Times]
  • Pay tribute to Nelson Mandela at the National Museum of African Art. [Post]
  • D.C. punks and Nelson Mandela [City Desk]
  • D.C.’s Apes release new music with its original lineup. [Arts Desk]
  • What would you change about If/Then? [Post]
  • John Waters: “…there’s nothing sadder than a disappointed bird.” [BYT]

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

  • Where to buy holiday cookies [The Plate]
  • Rose’s Luxury makes list of America’s best restaurants [Thrillist]
  • Between pigs and anchovies: where humans sit on the food chain [NPR]
  • Urbana now has the “Ferrari of pasta extruders.” [Eater]
  • PORC food truck officially calls it quits. [Post]
  • Awesome photos of Dolcezza‘s new gelato factory [BYT]
  • Where to do yoga and brunch [Express]