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IN LL WEEKLY—-LL’s Midterm Examination: Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, two years on.
Morning all. Starting tomorrow, LL will be taking a little tropical vacay, so LLD will be in the hands of LL emeritus Erik Wemple till next Friday. Peace!
LATEST ON AMARI HALL DEATH—-From WaPo’s Keith Alexander: “The Congress Heights woman charged with killing her 7-year-old daughter last week told police that she stabbed the girl and set the family home on fire but later said that an unknown intruder had attacked them both….Hall also told the officer that she stabbed herself in the chest, according to charging documents. Hall later tested positive for PCP and opiates, the documents say.” More from WTOP and WTTG-TV.
Unsurprisingly, the D.C. Court of Appeals today declined to strike down Michael A. Brown‘s certification as at-large councilmember. This news comes from a press release issued by the D.C. Republican Committee, which challenged the certification. Says chair Bob Kabel, “The Court’s ruling is disappointing. This will open the door for questionable elections for years to come….Michael Brown is a perpetual candidate, who will say anything to get elected and District residents deserve better.” More to come.
HILARIOUS WAPO CORRECTION—-“A Dec. 30 Metro article said that the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services won an innovator’s award from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. The department was among the top 50 programs in the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards competition but was not the final winner.” That’s a correction to Robert Pierre‘s DYRS article yesterday. Why hilarious? Because Tommy Wells made a similar error in an op-ed he wrote earlier this month, which Colby King corrected in his column last Saturday.
MR. WASH MADNESS—-Logan Circle car wash employee has seizure while driving car, runs over two co-workers before hitting condos across 13th Street NW. NC8 covers. Also WUSA-TV, WTTG-TV.
D.C. cops offer a last look at stolen property seized from Good Hope Road fence, WaPo’s David Betancourt reports, including “[a] brown wooden organ, possibly from a church” and “[o]ne white baby bootee with pink lace, alongside a silver flask engraved with the initials J.E. Rusty spoons and framed photos in black and white, circa mid-20th century.” Have a look yourself!
Boston Globe covers voting rights, post-Obama. “The issue could be one of the first legislative initiatives of his presidency, and a test of his commitment to make life better for the district’s 581,000 residents, who on average pay some of the nation’s highest federal income tax bills.” Quotes from Eleanor, Ilir Zherka, and Utah frosh voting rights foe Jason Chaffetz. INTERESTING—-“An Obama spokesman, asked whether the president-elect supports statehood, declined to respond directly, instead issuing a statement that said: ‘The president-elect is a strong supporter of D.C. voting rights because he believes that all Americans should have a voice in our Democratic process.'”
$10M contract to add convention center meeting space awarded to joint venture of D.C.-based Columbia Enterprises and Maryland’s Forrester Construction Co.
WaTimes covers the imminent closing of the Market Inn. “The Market Inn, which specializes in seafood such as lobster, crab cakes and she-crab soup, is a place that Father Time has left alone, its loyal fans say. The windowless dining rooms and dark wood interior reflect an era better suited for the Rat Pack than those caught up in Washington’s rat race….Its legendary collection of female nude portraits – some tasteful, others not so much – hang unashamed on the barroom walls, provoking nostalgic chuckles from longtime patrons.”
SOMEWHERE LEN DOWNIE IS SMILING—-WaPo’s Martin Weil quickly and smartly wraps up the year in weather.
Tom Sherwood writes his year-end Notebook.
IN WAPO BRIEFS—-“$10 Million Contract Given to Add Meeting Space”; “4 Charged With 2nd-Degree Murder in Stabbing”; “Driver Strikes 2 Pedestrians Near a Car Wash”
—-THE INAUGURATION SECTION—-
THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY—-Obama family will arrive in D.C. this weekend, and will stay at hotel until they move into Blair House on Jan. 15, NBC reports.
WRC-TV: “[I]nterstates 395 and 66 likely will be closed to regular traffic inside the Beltway on Inauguration Day.”
Local LGBT marching band Different Drummers will march in inaug parade, according to WRC-TV.
WaPo is a day late to the Michael Newdow lawsuit story. Examiner’s Leah Fabel, meanwhile, has her second-day story, about how Newdow doesn’t have a chance in hell. Aaand…”Regardless of the eventual outcome, the suit will likely not affect the festivities to take place on Jan. 20, as the defendants have 30 days to prepare a response.”
AP says, thanks to inauguration, D.C. is the new prime tourism destination: “Presidents are ‘in’ again, and that means Washington is a hot spot.”
Inauguration home rentals moving slowly, Politico reports.
Cops will use NYE drunk-driving checkpoints for inaugural practice, Sherwood reports.
Still need inaugural tickets? Give $5 or more to the PIC by Jan. 10 and you’re entered into a lottery to win one of 10 tickets, complete with travel and accommodations, Biz Journal reports.
—-END INAUGURATION SECTION—-
Dumbass drives into hole at 17th and Gales Streets NE:
Local bank robberies are on the rise!
Golden Triangle BID is taking proposals for “artistic” bike racks.
3,000 protest Gaza airstrikes at State Dept., along Constitution Avenue.
Property values in Maryland went down.
Property values in Arlington went down, but not as much.
Unsurprisingly, government officials in P.G. and MoCo make a lot of money.
Sales are up at Salvation Army, Goodwill stores.
Archdiocese of Washington gets new auxiliary bishop.
Blogger asks re gay marriage, “Considering all of the issues that challenge our wonderful city, such as crime and troubled public schools, is this how we want our leaders spending their time and our tax dollars? Do a majority of the people of the District of Columbia support gay marriage?”
Fire chief Dennis Rubin has a fan in blogger Mike Love, who praises his “savvy and guts.”
Mount Vernon Square resident pleased with Cathy Lanier‘s response to prostitution concerns.
Cyclists pleased Tommy Wells will be on transpo committee.
MORE ON G’TOWN APPLE STORE—-GGW’s David Alpert says “Just propose a Federal style store already, Apple”; Georgetown Metropolitan blog Photoshops a mockup of what Apple might have been proposing.
Harry Jaffe imagines a tropical tete-a-tete between Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones, including this all-too-believable exchange: “‘Vinnie,’ he yelled. ‘What about Brett Favre? He’s through with the Jets. Let’s dangle a few mil in his face and get a name-brand back in the lineup.’…’Great idea, boss,’ Cerrato said.”
PARTY TRANSPO REMINDER—-Metro open till 2 a.m. tonight; free “SoberRides” available by calling 800-200-TAXI.
D.C. COUNCIL TODAY—-No events scheduled.
ADRIAN FENTY TODAY—-10:45 a.m.: remarks, personnel announcement, Reeves Center, 2000 14th St. NW.