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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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Should District taxpayers pony up $1,500 for Councilmember Jim Graham to remember Elizabeth Taylor? Graham says he was representing the District.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Legal D.C. medicinal marijuana gets closer to legalization. [Post]
  • Council throwing serious investigation noise over lotto. [Examiner]
  • Once again, D.C. region really rich [WTOP]

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

Photo of The Day: Page Three Photo

Ska Lives!: Frequent ska singer Caz Gardiner is working with a new band, and thinks the D.C. ska scene is coming back.

Park It: Injunctions aside, the city still wants a bus depot in Ivy City.

Party Paper: Do the Washington Post‘s execs deserve more than $2 million in stock bonuses?

Food News: 14th Street NW is getting a new Italian restaurant.

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

  • Nat Gandhi stays mum on lottery contract; Jim Graham says he’s an innocent victim; David Catania makes both Nixon and Napoleon references when talking about CFO’s office. [Post, Examiner]
  • Ron Machen on Kwame “Fully Loaded” Brown‘s 2008 campaign: “There’s a real difference between not being criminally charged versus running a campaign properly.” [Post]
  • Mayoral hopefuls Muriel Bowser and Jack Evans spend big to win no-contest contests. [Post]
  • Bedbuds at a fire station. [Times]
  • Evans says he doesn’t have that “crazy feeling that Nat Gandhi should resign.” [Examiner]
  • Sekou Biddle might run in special election. [DCist]
  • Streetcars coming, soonish. [DCist]
  • Wrongfully convicted D.C. man needs help. [Post]
  • Mary Cheh pushes stalled proposal to ban money orders. [DCist]

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

  • DDOT’s streetcar timeline, starting with Anacostia testing in March. [GGW]
  • Vince Gray says there’s no “Plan” for Ivy City. [Post]
  • But there is a Plan. It’s called population growth. [Slate]
  • How far should school choice go? [GGW]
  • Building near L’Enfant sells for a record price. [Post]
  • DC Water wants to reconsider its huge pipeline plan. [DCmud]
  • A solution to traffic jams? [Atlantic Cities]
  • Today on the market: A 16th Street Heights gem

ARTS LINKS, by Caroline Jones (tips? artsdesk@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Local indie group Ugly Purple Sweater debuts their new music video, set at and about the shopping center on 14th St. NW. [PoPVille]
  • Introducing your new crush, David-Apollo. He may be made of stone but he’s still handsome as heck. [Going Out Gurus]
  • The Phillips Collection is now showcasing Aimé Mpane’s Mapasa, which they acquired at (e)merge this past fall. [Experiment Station]
  • Carole King will be the next recipient of the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize. She’ll receive the award sometime in 2013. [Post]
  • Local rockers Redline Addiction discuss their creative process and their upcoming show at the State Theatre in Falls Church. [D.C. Music Download]

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

  • District to reopen food truck regulation comments. [Post]
  • More details about Black Whiskey, coming to Logan Circle [Washingtonian]
  • Yes, Russia House team is taking over 1212 U St. NW. [Eater]
  • Alternative medicine kingpin wants to open a D.C. outpost for True Food Kitchen. [WTOP via HuffPost]
  • Dress Barn replaced by Pret a Manger at 17th and K streets NW. [PoP]