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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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This week’s cover story: How Washington insiders consult on shows like Veep and House of Cards to create a more believable nation’s capital for TV. Well, believable-looking, at least.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • The D.C. Council is scrutinizing the city’s longtime scratch-off lottery contract.  [NBC4]
  • An 18-year-old woman was charged with attacking a Metro bus driver twice during his route after she got on in Gallery Place Wednesday night. [WTOP]
  • Thousands in Northwest D.C. lost power last night after a tree fell on River Road in Tenleytown. Pepco says this morning that it’s restored power to almost all customers. [WJLA]
  • In a vote on Wednesday, the D.C. Council decided to lower the city’s sales tax from 6 percent to 5.75 percent beginning in October. [Times]
  • Jeff Thompson’s lawyer doesn’t screw around. [LL]

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

Backyard Bear: A small black bear loose in Northwest D.C. sent police on a 90-minute chase before they finally captured him in a Palisades backyard.

The Saga of Ska: Some of D.C.’s top ska musicians take a look back at the genre’s history in the city.

Living Wage D.C.: After a contentious debate, the D.C. Council gave initial approval to a bill that has large retailers pay employees a living wage of $12.50 an hour.

Taco the Town: Why is Del Campo chef Victor Albisu starting a takeout-taco side project in the suburbs?

Wale Watch: That new album by D.C.-bred rapper Wale? Kind of a letdown.

Photo of the Day: Man Smoking

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

  • Budget approved with lower sales tax, no amendment from David Catania on schools. [WBJ, Times]
  • Living wage bill passes first vote, 8-5. [Housing Complex, WBJ, Post]
  • Report on Human Rights Watch investigation of MPD says nonprofit used incomplete data, made wrong assumptions. [Post]
  • The Heller ruling, five years later. [WAMU]
  • Keely Thompson pleads guilty to spending city grant money on trips to Atlantic City. [LL, NBC 4]
  • Lottery ticket contract up for review. [NBC 4]

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

  • Where does Hollywood get its image of D.C.? Consultants, of course. [WCP]
  • Wegmans comes to Tysons; is D.C. next? [Post]
  • DDOT: Met Branch Trail is not languishing. [WAMU]
  • How a bear ends up in D.C. [City Desk]
  • American Enterprise Institute buys Dupont building for $36.5 million. [WBJ]
  • On the benefits of sharrows [WashCycle]
  • Woman attacks X2 bus driver. [WJLA]
  • Today on the market: Foggy Bottom co-op

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

  • Tyler Green: Why is the National Gallery of Art just getting around to mounting an exhibit for the work of a living African American artist (Kerry James Marshall)? [ArtInfo]
  • D.C. Council proposes honoring artist Mingering Mike. [Arts Desk]
  • Wale says he’s performing at RGIII’s wedding. [Post]

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

  • The Post crowns D.C.’s best doughnut (which was on City Paper’s 50 must-try dishes list last week). [Post]
  • Ten places to get deviled eggs [Girl Meets Food]
  • Meat in a Box and Did Someone Say Pizza? (yes, that’s its name) coming to Adams Morgan. [Eater]
  • Sushi Capitol opens near Eastern Market. [PoPville]
  • How to make Spike Mendelsohn‘s steakhouse burger with onion straws [The Plate]
  • Eight barbecue world pet peeves [Zagat]
  • Restaurants with graffiti art [Express]