As much local politics as humanly possible. Send your tips, releases, stories, events, etc. to lips@washingtoncitypaper.com. And get LL Daily sent straight to your inbox every morning!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—-“Pershing Park Case: Now It’s All About The Coverup; Nickles Faces Huge Test In U.S. District Court,” and “Councilmember Cheh Calls For Nickles To Resign.”

Morning all. LL has biked to Dewey Beach leaving me to takeover the LL Daily franchise for a week. LL was kind enough to e-mail me a handy rundown of what he does to fuel this beast. I am no LL. So please, take it easy on me. It’s also August.

Mayor Fenty was involved in a car accident on Sunday evening. Thankfully, he wasn’t driving his Le Car. Fox is reporting that “No injuries were reported in the crash on Broad Branch Road in northwest Washington. A spokeswoman for Fenty says he was behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle when another vehicle apparently went through a stop sign and pulled in front of the mayor’s SUV. There was minor damage to the vehicles.” (WTOP has same).

Columbia Heights is again the focus of a potentially controversial shooting. WJLA is reporting that a Special Police Officer (i.e. a private security guard) shot and killed a resident during a confrontation on Friday night. WUSA9 is also on the story. The D.C. Police Department has issued more info on the shooting via a press release:

“At approximately 9:06 pm on Friday, July 31, 2009, officers from the Third District responded to the 1400 block of Girard Street, NW, to investigate the report of a shooting. Upon arrival they discovered an adult male lying in front of a building at that location suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was transported by personnel from the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The decedent in this case has been identified as 31-year-old Michael Dwayne Parker of the 4000 block of Livingston Road, SE.

A preliminary investigation into this case indicates that the decedent may have been fatally shot at the above location during an alleged confrontation with a Special Police Officer employed by a private company. It must be noted that all of the circumstances surrounding this case remain under active investigation and that all facts will be subsequently presented to the United States Attorney’s Office for their review.”

Last week, the D.C. Council gave its OK on that huge hotel development near the Convention Center. The Post offers a fine rundown of the development’s lengthy backstory and its major selling point—-that it may revive Shaw. Key graph: “The hotel, promised when the District broke ground on the convention center in 1998, will stretch more than 1 million square feet at Ninth Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. It will rise 14 stories, a mix of modern glass and steel and brick dating to 1916 in a design that incorporates the old headquarters of the American Federation of Labor, a landmark building on the otherwise vacant property.” Honestly, how many major projects does it take to develop Shaw? Not sure if a big shiny hotel is it.

The D.C. Council also voted to increase unemployment benefits (Washington Business Journal, WTOP , WJLA, NC8).

Hope and change remain the main narratives on the education front. The Post‘s Bill Turque breaks down the different groups taking over a number of District public schools this coming year. NYC’s Friends of Bedford is set to takeover Coolidge and Dunbar. Friendship Public Charter Schools is taking over Anacostia High. Key graph: “Experts say one of the lessons learned is that starting a school from scratch is usually easier than taking control of an existing one, where political feuds, bureaucratic inertia and scar tissue from past reform attempts can make change difficult.” And then there’s this: “Friendship and Friends of Bedford will face that challenge at Anacostia, Dunbar and Coolidge. Although they have autonomy on matters of curriculum, instruction and teacher professional development, the schools’ staff.” Meanwhile, the Post reports that MOCO expanded its summer school programming.

AFTER THE JUMP: More Fedex Field controversy this time over this past Saturday’s Paul McCartney show, an upcoming hearing is scheduled over the fire hydrant-water-flow issues, and so much more!

News Channel 8 reports that another Metro bus driver has been arrested. This time for driving on a suspended license: “Carletta Douglas was arrested Thursday in the District after a traffic accident. Douglas was driving a 92-line Metrobus on Good Hope Road near 25th Street SE when another vehicle hit her bus, police said. A Metro spokesman says 35 passengers were on the bus at the time. One passenger complained of neck pain was taken away by ambulance.” This is not Douglas’ first arrest: “Publicly available court records show Douglas was charged with second-degree assault in November 2001, nine months after she was hired at Metro. It’s unclear how the case was resolved…. Thursday’s arrest was the second in one week of a Metrobus operator. On Saturday, Michael Robinson, 41, was arrested on a kidnapping charge after he allegedly refused to allow a passenger to exit the bus.”

There were huge issues getting into Saturday’s Paul McCartney show at FedEx Field. WTOP reports: “Delays of over two hours forced the concert to start over an hour late so people could get into their seats. Zack Bolno, Executive Director of Communications for the Washington Redskins said the backup was because most people were only using one entrance and that four other entrances to the stadium were under-utilized. ‘This was a new audience unfamiliar with the stadium.'”

The Washington Times has a nice puff piece on Legg Mason. Apparently, the tournament is stronger than ever in recruiting tennis’ top tier talent.

FENTY TODAY: 2:00 pm
Remarks Hillcrest Play Courts Ribbon Cutting
Location: Hillcrest Play Courts & Recreation Center
3100 Denver Street, SE

3:15 pm
Remarks All Hands On Deck and National Night Out Announcement
Location: 18th and M Streets, NE