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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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As of today, texting and driving is considered a primary offense in Virginia that is punishable by fine.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • A majority of Washington area residents view Metrorail favorably, according to a new poll. [Post]
  • D.C. public schools will overhaul ninth-grade education to provide extra support for students repeating the year. [Post]
  • D.C. police are investigating two attacks on transgender women Saturday morning. [WTOP]
  • Surveillance camera footage is becoming an increasingly effective investigative tool for D.C. police. [Times]
  • The Maryland gas tax will increase by nearly four cents today. [NBC4]

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

Fare Punishment: A Metro employee was charged with embezzlement for allegedly stealing minimally valuable paper fare cards.

Traffic Cam Haters: Vincent Orange plans to introduce legislation that would set up a two-year moratorium on new traffic cameras.

Taxing Effects: Now that plans for the mixed-use Howard Town Center are no more, what happens to the project’s $11 million tax abatement?

Culinary Computation: Check out some handy equations for new restaurant openings in the District.

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

  • Tommy Wells wants to keep old attorney general structure. [Post]
  • Walmart could pull out of three D.C. stores, including Skyland, over living wage bill. [Post]
  • Post ed board cheers D.C. Council for rejecting David Catania‘s weighed funding for schools. [Post]
  • D.C. Jail inmate hangs himself in cell. [Times]
  • Amazingly, 78 percent of people polled approve of Metro’s reliability. [Post]
  • Meet Virginia political newsletter maestro Tom Whipple. [Post]

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

  • Walmart bill could cost us some Walmarts. [Post]
  • But the benefits outweigh the overhyped costs. [Hill Rag]
  • What to do with the Coast Guard’s soon-to-be ex-HQ at Buzzard Point? [WBJ]
  • Logan Circle plagued by toxic dog treats. [WJLA]
  • Gallaudet’s looking for a development partner. [Post]
  • Many people who drive to Metro stations could easily walk or bike. [PlanItMetro]
  • Fairly radical design for Randall School project. [UrbanTurf]
  • Foreign investors pour money into downtown office buildings. [Post]
  • Today on the market: Van Ness apartment

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

  • D.C.’s artistic growth has outpaced its supply of venues, says Forum Theatre Artistic Director Michael Dove. [Washingtonian]
  • Local author Howard Norman talks about the murder-suicide that took place at his D.C. home in 2003 and how he has to travel north to get any writing done. [WAMU]
  • ICYMI: CulturalDC buys Flashpoint. [Post]
  • What’s next for Keegan Theatre? [Post]
  • Admiring David Adjaye‘s D.C. libraries [Greater Greater Washington]
  • Justin Bieber, immortalized in wax and leather pants. [DCist]
  • WJLA profiles performance artist Holly Bass. [WJLA]
  • Hey, look at this new Lemuria video! [Stereogum]

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

  • The top 10 hot dogs around D.C. [The Plate]
  • Standard beer garden changes its name to Garden District. [Post]
  • A guide to Fourth of July specials and parties [Washingtonian]
  • Union Jack’s closing in Ballston. [ARLnow]
  • It’s officially official: Daniel Boulud‘s DBGB Bar & Kitchen is coming to D.C. [Eater]
  • Food truck regulations in cartoon form [Cartoon Picayune]
  • Captain Cookie & The Milk Man launches second truck. [Food Truck Fiesta]
  • How your choice of utensils can affect how food tastes [NPR]