The Needle: Pigskins Defender Edition

Health-Care Care: Alleged shadow campaign financier Jeffrey Thompson‘s former health-care company, Chartered Health Plan, owes more than $47 million to its providers—-and part of that tab is going to be paid by local taxpayers. A developing deal could have the city paying around $35 million to settle the firm’s accounts. -3

The Pigskins’ Latest Defender: Stephen Dodson, a “full-blooded American Inuit chief originally from the Aleutian Tribes of Alaska” who “represents more than 700 remaining tribe members,” defended the better-known, more racist name of the Washington Pigskins on a Dan Snyder-produced television program. Dodson’s support was also cited by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a letter to the Congressional Native American Caucus, who have criticized the football team’s name. The only problem, according to WCP alum Dave McKenna: Dodson isn’t actually a chief, and the phrase “full-blooded American Inuit chief originally from the Aleutian Tribes of Alaska” is just as fictitious. No one told Dodson that the Inuits and the Aleuts are entirely distinct peoples. +2

Smoking Hazard: Officials believe a cigarette butt caused the fire that destroyed Frager’s Hardware earlier this month. According to the Post, a surveillance video of the alley next to the Capitol Hill store shows a Frager’s employee dropping the butt into a bucket about 30 to 40 minutes before the fire was reported. – 1

Early July 4: Former Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas was arrested in Los Angeles for driving with a truck full of fireworks. +2

Yesterday’s Needle rating: 70 Today’s score: 0 Today’s Needle rating: 70