Statehood Rides the Bus: Hot on the heels commissioning of pro-statehood TV spots that only ran on the D.C. government’s cable Channel 16, District patriots today rolled out pro-statehood advertisements that will run on…the sides of Metrobuses. That surely guarantees more viewers than tune in to watch old mayoral press conferences, but, especially with bus routes that stay in the city, it still presents a problem: The people most likely to see the ads have no ability to call a voting member of Congress to demand that the situation be rectified. -1

No Bull’s Eye on South Dakota Ave: Target is abandoning plans to open a second D.C. store. The chain was supposed to go into Dakota Crossing, the troubled Fort Lincoln retail development that was supposed to have a Shopper’s Food Warehouse and a Costco, too. But only one of the three hyped retailers has signed a lease, meaning it’s unclear just who else will be luring shoppers to far northeast. The good news: If Michelle Obama‘s next “secret” shopping trip is to Costco, she may be able to stay in the District. -2

We Love Stuff:  If only Target had paid attention to the survey results from Bundle.com. The website says Washington is America’s “most shopaholic city,” with an “average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear” of $263. Arlington, with $254.58, is second. Oddly, burgs like New York and Los Angeles aren’t on the list, “we’re guessing, because their populations include both the wealthiest and the poorest,” speculates the Huffington Post. Because, you know, the District doesn’t have any of America’s poorest people. +3

It’s a Disaster! President Barack Obama “today declared a major disaster exists in the District of Columbia,” the White House announced. The Redskins? No, silly: The earthquake? Sure, the trembler took place back in August, but today’s declaration helps the District and “certain nonprofit organizations”—like, say, the one that runs a cathedral frequented by various important locals—recoup repair costs. +1

Yesterday’s Needle rating: 32 Today’s score: +1 Today’s Needle rating: 33