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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In this week’s paper, available today: MPD Chief Cathy Lanier inherited 18 cops that the department wanted to fire, but couldn’t. Her attempts to fire them again made things even worse.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Is Jack Evans too white to be mayor? [Times]
  • Green Line fire leaves riders stuck. [Post]
  • Crackdown on U-turns on Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane begins. [Examiner]
  • Nats’ season tickets now on a SmarTrip-like card. [WTOP]
  • Task force decision on whether to bury D.C.’s power lines delayed. [Examiner]
  • Should D.C. ban ski masks because they’re popular with robbers? No. [Times]
  • Ex-Metro cop sues for discrimination, alleges that white and Asian-American officers get away with worse. [City Desk]

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

Photo of the Day: Today’s Weather.

Phoenix?: Capitol Hill’s divey Hawk ‘n’ Dove got an update. But can a bar that some patrons say now feels like a cruise ship keep its gritty charm?

Jack’s Squat: The National Park Service wants to evict Jack’s Boathouse in Georgetown. But why are the feds picking on a beloved neighborhood boathouse?

RIP, Sockets: D.C.’s Sockets Records is closing after an eight year run. Its legacy: chronicling D.C. DIY’s weird years.

LOOSE LIPS, by Loose Lips columnist Alan Suderman. (tips? lips@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • LL’s cover on the rotten state of MPD’s internal affairs, where investigators sign off on reports they don’t actually believe in. [WCP]
  • Who died and left the District $50 million? [WBJ]
  • Task force studying whether to bury power lines blows deadline, much to Jack Evans’ annoyance. [Examiner]
  • Kenyan McDuffie wants to know what the inspector general is doing with his $15 million a year. [Post]
  • Taxis that take credit cards? Maybe in May. [Post]
  • Vince Gray announces new resource center for ex-cons. [Examiner]
  • Vincent Orange calls shenanigans on contracting dispute at United Medical Center. [Times]
  • It would be nice if the president mentioned D.C. in State of the Union address. [Post]
  • Marion Barry wants to spend $100 million of the city’s current surplus, will probably fail. [Post]

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

  • City issues call for Walter Reed master developer. [WBJ]
  • Fratty bar building in Dupont alley to become single-family house. [UrbanTurf]
  • Condos coming to former auto repair shop space on Park Road NW. [Park View DC]
  • Renderings of the firehouse/hotel coming to E Street SW. [Southwest TLQTC]
  • Ceremonial work begins where actual work was already underway at Fort Totten Walmart. [WBJ]
  • Big surprise: Walmart doesn’t like the big box living wage bill. [WBJ]
  • Of all the country’s Sunday parking disputes, D.C.’s are the weirdest. [Atlantic Cities]
  • City life diminishes a person’s powers of attention. [Atlantic Cities]
  • The final report from the mayor’s task force on Bloomingdale/LeDroit flooding. [OCA]
  • Today on the market: Six-unit Brightwood Park building

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

  • Spin awards moombah compilation Moombahton Forever an 8 out of 10 [Spin]
  • Speakeasy DC’s first short-story collection to be released on Valentine’s Day [Twitter]
  • Bethesda Barnes & Noble not going anywhere [Washington Business Journal]
  • DCist’s list of the best up-and-coming bands in D.C. [DCist]

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

  • Nopa Kitchen + Bar: the latest culprit in D.C.’s neighborhood name-shortening trend [City Desk]
  • Food lover’s guide to where to watch the Super Bowl [Washingtonian]
  • Where to dine with the stars in D.C. [Eater]
  • Swedish chef will bring luxe menu to new Georgetown hotel restaurant [Post]
  • New chef at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club [Bethesda Mag]
  • Five neighborhood Italian gems [Zagat]