Let's face it -- a local election in an off year and in the midst of a heated presidential campaign won't attract much attention, much less lots of voters. And tomorrow's District primary likely isn't much of an exception. While in 2006 the mayoral battle between Linda Cropp and Adrian Fenty and the contest for the chairmanship of the D.C. Council gave that year's electoral season a certain buzz, tomorrow's choices haven't provoked the same......

Over the last few years a number of ANCs and Wards -- including a stretch of H Street NE, part of Logan Circle, and wards 4, 7 and 8 -- have banned the sale of single cans and bottles of beer, citing their tendency to cause their drinkers to pee on sidewalks, litter, and generally make trouble. Now the Examiner is reporting that Council members Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) would......

Earlier this year it looked like a measure pushed by some Ward 6 residents to impose volume limits on protests in residential neighborhoods was destined for failure. As we briefly mentioned yesterday, though, the D.C. Council endorsed an amended version of the legislation. According to the City Paper's Mike DeBonis, who closely followed the debate, yesterday saw some back and forth on the legislation, which was originally sponsored and pushed by Council member Tommy Wells......

As we reported last week, Georgetown residents should have been ready for some rude awakenings over the weekend -- and rude awakenings they received. The Post reported on the gathering of activists who took to the streets of Georgetown on Saturday and Sunday morning to make a point -- loudly -- about the D.C. Council's recent inaction on a bill that would place limitations on the use of amplification during demonstrations in residential neighborhoods. Led......

If you live on any of Georgetown's quiet tree-lined streets, this weekend might be a good time to take an impromptu out-of-town vacation. In response to the D.C. Council's tabling of a bill that would place limitations on the use of amplification for demonstrations in residential neighborhoods, activists are planning to take to the streets of Georgetown this weekend to make a point -- and make it loudly. According to an email we received, the......

WTOP's Mark Segraves got a hold of a partial list of the folks who've been receiving tickets to use the city's free luxury box in the Verizon Center -- the one that the D.C. Council is so miffed they're being boxed out of -- and there's some fun tidbits he discovered.Most of those invited to D.C.'s Luxury Suite at the Verizon Center by Fenty either contributed the maximum $2,000 to Fenty's campaign or worked on......

Interesting story in today's Examiner, which tells the story of Logan Circle resident and dog owner Daniel Greenberg. Greenberg likes to let his dog off its leash inside Logan Circle, even though the practice is against city code. He was caught with his dog off-leash by an MPD officer back in May, and was actually arrested on criminal charges -- even though the D.C. Council has passed legislation that makes having a dog off its......

The main intersection in Georgetown, at Wisconsin and M Streets NW, could soon be known for more than over-priced boutiques and terrible traffic. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) has introduced a bill that would name the intersection "Joe Pozell Square," after D.C. reserve police officer Joseph Pozell, who directed traffic in the intersection for years. Pozell died in 2005 after being hit by an SUV in the very same intersection. Should the D.C. Council......

>> "Man, if I am ever refused service at a publicly funded institution for wearing a political shirt, I am leaving that fucking place in handcuffs. Someone gets their rights trampled on and she responds with a vegan cake? That is so fucking weak. Grow a pair." [why.i.hate.dc] >> "If you’ve always wanted one of Sen. John Edwards’ $400 haircuts, now’s your chance. Duvall’s Hair Co., in McPherson Square, put a sign outside its......

Last June we reported that the Georgetown waterfront, which has never been much of a gem, was finally starting to take shape. Specifically, the Georgetown Waterfront Park, three decades in the making, had finally jumped through the last of its bureaucratic hoops and would soon see a parking lot coverted to green space. But for what was left of 2006, nothing much happened. The parking lot remained. Late last week we saw that the parking......

Many schools are still closed and roads and sidewalks still dangerously icy this morning as the region struggles to dig out of the winter storm that passed through earlier this week. Most of the really bad news continues to come out of the suburbs, where many homes are still without power, and injuries and at least one death have been reported. The Post has a good rundown of the extent of the metro area's ice......

Hey Washington, are you suddenly feeling cheerier than usual this morning, without knowing for sure why? Well check it out: Congressional Democrats have gone ahead and returned to a rules change that allows nonstate representatives to vote on amendments. The nonstates included in the rule, which was also in place from 1993-1995, are American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now it's on to getting full voting rights!......

>> Yeah, you. You need to stay late tonight to make up for the crazy amount of time you're about to have off. That's right, those of us who do not work for the Federal Government are currently glaring up a storm at those of you who do, because the word from on high is now official: President Bush has declared January 2 as the official day of mourning for President Ford, which means Federal......

Common sense took a bit of a beating today, courtesy of the Washington Redskins and D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams. As we learned from NBC 4 this morning, city officials and confidants of team owner Dan Snyder have started exploring the prospect of building the team a new stadium on the RFK site. Council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and lame-duck Williams have tacitly endorsed the idea, with Williams noting: I've talked to him [Snyder] a couple......

It may have been buried towards the bottom of a Post article this morning, but this little piece of news is sure to please some people: In other action, the council approved an emergency bill that allows exceptions for businesses that are within 400 feet of a school, college or District-operated recreation area applying for liquor licenses. D.C. law prohibits such proximity, but the bill will allow exceptions for businesses in commercial areas.It's been a......

Hey, D.C., are you like us? Does this odd time of year, when the days are shorter but we have yet to switch back off of Daylight Savings Time (that'll be Oct. 29 at midnight, in case you're wondering) and it's still dark in the morning when you wake up, leave you feeling a little discombobulated? We suspect the change in light might be responsible for a lot of people we've noticed feeling grumpy and......

A splendid morning to you, dear District. Looks like it'll be a nice sunny day, if a little chilly, with highs only reaching the mid-50s. It's also that day where one should watch out for broken mirrors and black cats crossing paths: Friday the 13th. Whatever you do, watch out for mummies being sold on Ebay, too. D.C. Taxis May Become Metered: Yeah, you've heard that one before. There may be some truth to......

If you do, or just enjoy hearing them, you may want to attend the Roast of Anthony Williams on October 18th at the Marriott Wardman Park. The event is part of a Southeastern University gala, and for the low price of $250, will feature jokesters like Adrian Fenty, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Councilmembers David Catania and Jack Evans, GWU President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and Broadway actor and D.C. native......

For nearly a year, DCist has been following the conflict developing in Shaw between proprietors of new restaurants and bars and neighborhood churches, which oppose the opening of new establishments that allow drinking. Area churches have relied, so far, upon a provision in the law which grandfathers existing liquor stores and taverns, but which does not allow new establishments, "within 400 feet of a public, private, or parochial primary, elementary, or high school; college or......

Like it or not, the details of the personal lives of the rich and famous intrigue us. We like to know what exists behind that public facade, what quirks make the celebrity, pol, athlete or rock-star just a little more human. And just as we once found out that mayoral candidate Linda Cropp owns an iPod and stocks it with audio books and that D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams enjoys bird watching, today the Examiner brings......

Yesterday, we noted that legislative efforts to force Comcast's hand on airing MASN broadcasts of Nationals games were picking up steam. Sure enough, the D.C. Council considered and passed emergency legislation sponsored by Jack Evans and Vincent Orange that requires Comcast to air those broadcasts or renegotiate its franchise agreement with the District. According to the Washington Business Journal, the legislation will become official in two weeks, barring a mayoral veto. Of course, that could......

WUSA 9's Sports Director Brett Haber can sleep a little bit better tonight. Last week Haber indicated that his inside sources had told him that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig had chosen Bethesda developer Ted Lerner to be the new owner of the Washington Nationals, and that a decision was to be expected as early as Friday, April 28. Haber may have been a few days off, but the story held -- Lerner's group has been......

While racial tensions are simmering over the battle to win ownership of the Nationals, another longstanding baseball feud is nearing a head, with potentially frustrating results for District television viewers. Comcast, which provides cable service to most D.C. cable subscribers, has refused to air Nationals broadcasts produced by MASN, Orioles owner Peter Angelos' sports network, which owns the rights to Nats games. Three weeks ago, Virginia Representative Tom Davis (R) held hearings on the matter......

Members of the D.C. Council aren't the types to stand up to double-parking churchgoers -- spare Jack Evans, whose ward includes Logan Circle and Shaw, a majority of the members of the council are backing D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' plan to delay parking enforcement until August, reports the Washington Times. Members of the council exempted themselves from most of the city's parking regulations while on official business in July 2002. Mixed Results for Immigrant Boycott:......

While some D.C. politicians have spoken out on the chuch parking issue, one has been surprisingly quiet on the matter -- Jack Evans, the council-member whose ward includes Logan Circle and Shaw. But as our newfound friends at Logan Circle Parking Problems pointed out to us, Evans has finally broken his silence on an issue that has politicians scrambling to find who they can stand to offend -- churchgoers or area residents. Evans yesterday chose......

Yes, there is enough news today on the church parking issue to both justify a roundup and provoke commenters into demanding that we stop covering the issue. Church Parking Blog Launched: When in doubt, start a blog. Everyone has one, and as of this Tuesday, so does the vexing issue of church parking in Logan Circle. The blog's author has chosen to remain anonymous (for fear of being damned to an enternity in hell, should......

It was almost four months ago that the D.C. Council gave its second and final endorsement to the smoking ban in bars and restaurants, delighting anti-smoking advocates. Civil libertarians and representatives of the city's hospitality industry weren't as happy, but they had one hope left -- for Congress to strike down the ban. According to a newsletter from Council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), that didn't happen, and as of this coming Monday, smoking will be......

With the recent good news that the historic Heurich House would be staying open to the public, DCist had a few questions regarding what the $100,000 raised thus far has been used for and what the future portends for the Dupont Circle landmark. Gary Heurich of Friends of the Castle informed us that their prior goal of raising $250,000 goal no longer stands. Rather, the $100,000 that was raised over the past 46 days was......

Immigration News: The Post reports that yesterday thousands gathered outside the Capitol building to protest legislation that could potentially authorize prosecution of social service workers, doctors, and others who assist illegal immigrants. A protest spokesperson estimated that 20,000 people showed up to the rally. The original House bill was sponsored by Representatives from Wisconsin and New York, but issues surrounding immigration are locally pertinent. The Post also looks today at a Brookings Institution study......

Today the on-going tiff between Vegetate and Shiloh Baptist Church in Shaw gained mainstream media attention. Well, sort of. Washington Times columnist Adrienne Washington reporter Amy Dolittle today explores the two sides of the conflict in the wake of the city's recent decision not to grant the vegetarian restaurant a liquor license. City officials based their decision on an existing law forbidding the sale of alcohol within 400 feet of a school. One point of......