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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)
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]
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