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 latest local victim of the federal shutdown is the decades-old drum circle in Meridian Hill Park, which Park Police shut down Sunday because the drummers were playing on closed, federal land.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • The government shutdown is entering its second week and there’s no end in sight. [News4]
  • The D.C. Council may have approved $32.5 million in tax breaks a year ago for tech firm LivingSocial, but the company is far from reaching its hiring and other business goals to collect on these breaks. [Washington Post]
  • One contractor was killed and two Metro employees injured in a welding accident along the Red Line Metro tunnel early Sunday morning between the Union Station and the Judiciary Square stops. [FOX News]
  • The unidentified man who set himself on fire on the National Mall Friday afternoon died later that evening of his injuries. [City Desk]

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

Wreck-it Ralph: ICYMI, our latest cover story on how Ralph Nader—-legendary consumer advocate, five-time presidential nominee—-managed to piss off a whole neighborhood by getting involved D.C. library politics.

Presidential Seal: President Barack Obama said that if he were owner of the Pigskins, he’d consider changing the team’s name.

Crowd Riding: Metro is getting too crowded and it’s only going to get worse. So Metro mapped out four different scenarios that could help alleviate the capacity problems.

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

  • LivingSocial is far from collecting on its tax breaks. [Post]
  • Collecting trash in federal parks will cost D.C. $58,000. [Times]
  • D.C. film office head Crystal Palmer loses her job, shuffled to deputy mayor’s office. [WBJ]
  • Mayoral hopefuls turn out for Stein Club fundraiser. [Blade]
  • “Temporary” licensing fee lives on. [WBJ]
  • Unemployment applications swell during shutdown. [Post]
  • Height limit debate continues. [WAMU]
  • Metro contractor killed in weekend incident. [WAMU]

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

  • Building 197, the site of the Navy Yard shootings, may be renovated. [AP]
  • Welding accident in Red Line tunnel leaves one dead, two injured. [DCist]
  • Could problems in Montreal affect Capital Bikeshare? [Atlantic Cities]
  • Another stab taken at developing burned-out Columbia Heights site. [WBJ]
  • DDOT considers replacing service lane with wider sidewalks in Cleveland Park. [GGW]
  • JBG plans 350 apartments for NoMa. [UrbanTurf]
  • DC Water approves contract to build First Street Tunnel. [DCist]
  • Metro identifies corridors in need of new transit. [PlanItMetro]
  • The political calculus of the Wells-Evans Walmart bill switcheroo. [Hill Rag]
  • LivingSocial is not on pace to get tax incentives from the city. [Post]
  • Today on the market: Rowhouse at the foot of Mount Pleasant

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

  • The Washington Post published a special museums section this week—though, it’s unfortunately ill-timed because of the government shutdown and all. [Post]
  • The shutdown also ruined National Fossil Day by delaying this T. rex skeleton’s journey to the Museum of Natural History. [Post]
  • Shutdown closes Adventure Theatre, too. [D.C. Theatre Scene]
  • Read this great essay by Fan Death Records founder Sean Gray about disability in the punk scene. [The Media]
  • Scandal‘s Season 3 premiere, recapped [Post]
  • Oh, and Scandal cleaned up in the ratings last week. [Post]
  • National Cathedral premieres Matthew Shepard documentary [AP]
  • Blacklist (that new FBI show with James Spader) gets picked up for a full season. [Huffington Post]
  • Rappin’ with local record-shop owners [BYT]

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

  • The top 10 spots for dining solo [The Plate]
  • Budget-friendly brunches around D.C. [Washingtonian]
  • Day 1 at Rose’s Luxury [Eater]
  • The hunt for D.C.’s best gluten-free pizza [Post]
  • All the details about the President and VP’s visit to Taylor Gourmet [Obama Foodorama]
  • Five ways the government shutdown is affecting the restaurant world [Zagat]
  • Fast food workers in government buildings are losing shifts. [City Desk]