The Unsmokables: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is on a personal campaign to stop District businesses from selling synthetic marijuana, to the point that she is conducting her own stings around the city. Make sure to read her press releases about her operations, which, with respect to Norton, sound like they were written under the influence of some other mild narcotics. +4

Chopped: DCist reports that Ray’s the Steaks in Ward 7 is closing. -3

Inauguration Party: The inauguration’s good times will last seven days (PDF) in January, with the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration permitting select businesses to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. all week. +2

Not Cool: Riley Mercer, a 40-year-old Washington man, was sentenced to 22 years in prison today for using a gun to rob…his grandparents. -3

Wednesday’s Needle rating: 36 Today’s score: +/-0 Thursday’s Needle rating: 36