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Roads downtown have reopened this morning after police investigated a suspicious vehicle near the White House.
LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:
- Mayor Vince Gray is trying to avoid $36 million in payments to firefighters, says Harry Jaffe. [Examiner]
- D.C. government procurement boss pleads guilty to DUI. [Loose Lips]
- Bill from David Grosso would help students get into nearby charter schools. [Examiner]
- New glow-in-the-dark signs for Metro. [Examiner]
- Arlington man holding a meat cleaver arrested at a hospital. [Post]
RECENT CITY PAPER STORIES TO HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DAY:
Photos of the Day: Tree Climbing.
Too Sidwell Friendly: A lawsuit over an affair at tony Sidwell Friends has pulled in Bob Woodward.
End of the Line: A new study suggests the city’s streetcar line should end at Benning Road.
Spawn of the U Street Taco: The U Street Taco—-a half-smoke wrapped in a Jumbo Slice—-has inspired culinary mutations.
LOOSE LIPS, by Loose Lips columnist Alan Suderman. (tips? lips@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- CBE program allows pass-through vendors to make a killing on city contracts. [Times]
- Yvette Alexander supports Anita Bonds; FOP goes for Pat Mara. [Post]
- Lawmakers finagle a way to meet Bryce Harper. [Examiner]
- Smokers in D.C. won’t pay more for Obamacare, panel rules. [Post]
- Strip the soon-to-be-elected A.G. of power. [Post]
- D.C. wants Congress to erase $36 million firefighter bill. [Examiner]
- Protest filed against sole-source DGS contract. [WBJ]
- Two councilmembers don’t like e-cigarettes. [Post]
HOUSING COMPLEX, by Aaron Wiener (tips? awiener@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- How’s D.C.’s strategic schools plan working out so far? [GGE]
- Is a new parking lot the right answer to Logan Circle’s car crunch? [UrbanTurf]
- Some skepticism toward the city’s new safe streets campaign [WashCycle]
- Southwest officially gets its first new apartment building in decades. [SWTLQTC]
- This vacant crack hangout shows Anacostia gentrification’s got a ways to go. [GGW]
- D.C. has 195 centenarians; only 21 are men. [WJLA]
- Say goodbye to Caribou Coffee. [WTOP]
- Central Union Mission condo conversion to begin in June. [UrbanTurf]
- When boring isn’t boring. [DCist]
- Today on the market: The Washington Post headquarters
ARTS LINKS, by Ally Schweitzer (tips? artsdesk@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Al Green cancels his appearance at the White House’s “Memphis Soul” concert, citing back injury. This isn’t the first time the soul legend has bailed on the Obamas. [Post]
- … but Justin Timberlake still made it. [Post]
- After more than seven years on the job, Rep Stage’s artistic director steps down. [Post]
- NoMa Summer Screen schedule announced. [Frozen Tropics]
- Listen: Head-Roc‘s tribute to Ward 8 Councilmember and “Mayor for Life” Marion Barry. [DCist]
- Rev. Al Sharpton to participate in an Emancipation Day debate at the Lincoln Theatre. [Arts 202]
- Listen: Hometown Sounds’ tribute to D.C., in podcast form. [Soundcloud via Pink Line Project]
FOOD LINKS, by Jessica Sidman (tips? hungry@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Izakayas are the hot new thing. Duh. [NYT]
- Where to find cheap drinks [BYT]
- Park Tavern opens in Navy Yard. [PoPville]
- What you’ll eat at Alamo Drafthouse, opening May 3 in Ashburn, Va. [Eater]
- Argonaut hosts science fair challenge and trivia nights. [Post]
- Are tasting menus a rip-off? [Zagat]
- Oh hey, City Paper‘s Best of D.C. party is tonight. [Borderstan]