Here's a sampling of some of my favorite posts about Betts:

*"when we were 16 (JUST), I was a bit mad and had a big crush on a lifeguard in Virginia Beach. Brian and I set out on day in that summer in his mother's Monte Carlo. It was white. We drove 5 hours to Va beach to see him. We told his parents that I had an aunt in Lake Anna (we calculated the time and distance to see if ...it was credible). How stupid were we? (seriously). But we did it. 10 hours in the car together for me to see a lifeguard that was really not interested. That was/is friendship. I can go on with silly stories like this, but that is not important. He was/is a great man, brother, son, person, principal etc. I love him, I miss him and we MUST carry on his dream. RIP"

*"I didn't know Mr Betts; I attend a private school in McLean, Virginia, and never even knew Mr Betts existed until this morning. However, I felt compelled and somewhat obliged to promote his memory because my best friend was Erika Smith, the then-9 year old who was murdered alongside her father in 2002 in the house Mr B...etts purchased and died in. The murders are presumed to be unrelated, I know. But this morbid, horrific coincidence has made me feel unfortunately connected to Mr Betts' plight by a tragic association and by something as simple as purchasing a home. I'm not going to pretend I knew Mr Betts at all. But from what I've read on this page, in articles, he seemed like a great guy and was much-loved, and I'm absolutely devastated. I hope his family, friends, coworkers, and students find the solace they need somehow; solace I know is not easy to find, solace I still have not found. But I hope they find theirs, and that his death is avenged and he remains honoured."

*"Brian Betts was one of the best things that ever happened to my children. You guided them, joked with them, taught them life lessons that will remain with them for always. Plus, you were there for me. God Bless You Brian for all your strength and love you gave each life you touched. You will be missed....but your legacy of education and love of all will go on. "

"*I Remember When I Alwayss Got In Trouble And Mr Betts Would Never Yell At Me He Would Say Karen You Need To Change The Way You Act And I Never Listened To Him But Now I Think Imma Listen To Him And Movee Forword With Life.Rest In Peace Mr. Brian Keith Betts.♥ "

*"I remember in Neelsville, you would always make sure I was in PE class and in math class. You made sure, that every student in your classroom learned what you taught, no matter if it took more than one day to teach it. You made sure that your students were successful. You are the best teacher/coach/leader/principal tha...t anybody could ask for. You definitely taught me alot and I will miss you but you are never forgotten. Keep watching me! R.I.P Brian Betts"

Let's hope his murder gets solved soon, and DCPS finds a way to create a lasting tribute to Betts.

What I want to know: Has Gray's very public waffling on the subject hurt him? Has it slowed down legislation as everyone at the Wilson Building waits for Gray to make his decision? And what other local leaders should people be pushing to run? Yesterday's Post story on Gray sure didn't help him. What was he thinking, what were his advisers thinking?

The Washington Teacher gives a thumbs down to Rhee's interview with Anderson Cooper last week [video link]. Blogger writes:

"Just more of the same of Rhee on her soap box with unedited teacher bashing . Many who watched Michelle Rhee on Cooper's Thursday evening show were infuriated about the production of 'What's Next -Education ?' If you were watching, the answer to that question is more of the same. Stay tuned for more firings, more firings and more firings by Chancellor Michelle Rhee."

And Now, Anacostia reports on the opening of Big Chair Coffee. DCist was there too. And so was our resident real estate expert! The shop looks like it sure beats the grocery-store Starbucks.

The Heights Life has the rundown on Columbia Heights' top Netflix rentals. Pretty mainstream! Benjamin Button? WTF. Seven Pounds? Slumdog Millionaire? Not very hipster! Where's the fuckin' mumblecore!?

Frozen Tropics has the agenda for tonight's PSA 102 meeting covering youth violence.

"Wait a minute. Clinton Portis is on this team?"

"Wow DC is as cold as Denver. I don't see what the big difference is going to be. Oh yeah, all the losing."

"I'm ironing my clothes for tomorrow's Press Conference announcing my hire"

"Mr. Snyder asked me something about a 'Rooney Rule'. That Dan, what a card."

(Hat Tip: the awesome Sports Bog)

Dee Does The District had a cold first day of class. Someone left a window open in their classroom all during the break. And "Dee" heard about problems in other DCPS schools:

"If the unhinged screen door to my balcony is any indication, it's been very windy (and very cold) recently. The daytime high, with windchill, was in the teens today. And how many of you were taught at a school without heat today? Three of my colleagues reported no heat at their respective schools today, which is just ridiculous.

Can you imagine the outrage and ruckus parents would bring if this situation occurred somewhere other than DCPS?"

Prince of Petworth puts up a completely weak-sourced rumor that Ben's Next Door may open an outpost in Petworth.

The Washington Teacher reports on some serious in-fighting within the teacher's union.

The 42 reviews Tynan Coffee in Columbia Heights.

Slate discovers Animal Collective.

"In numerous staff meetings, my administration has told teachers that our students are failing because we're not using engaging instruction or making meaningful c onnections. My response, rather than acknowledging that there are times when my lessons aren't engaging, is to blame student failure on others by saying, "the kids don't come and the administrators don't support us on discipline issues." Of course, the latter comment is true — attendance is terrible and administrators at my school often do nothing with discipline issues that have been referred tot hem. But sometimes the former is true, too."

Congress Heights On The Rise asks the inevitable question: Where's a good place to eat in the neighborhood? Options are still slim enough that the blogger must mention the "hot bar at Giant." Checkout our own roundup from a few years back; fuck it, our archive search sucks. One last complaint: DO WE REALLY HAVE TO CALL YOUR PATCH OF REAL ESTATE, RIVER EAST? Readers want facts, not marketing schemes. Or maybe they want marketing, I don't know.

DCmud diligently and expertly chronicles the latest twists and turns in the Skyland Town Center development proposed for Good Hope Road and Alabama Ave. This is a must read for development junkies. Apparently a zoning hearing ran to three hours with people airing complaints regarding the massive mixed-use project:

"ANC-7B submitted a letter of support, but it listed approximately 20 concerns or items that needed further discussions, including concerns over traffic mitigation, litter control, and promised transportation enhancements. One group of neighbors, the Ft. Baker Drive Party, remains in complete opposition citing concerns over, naturally, the proximity of the planned development to their homes."

Frozen Tropics recounts their holiday travel hell.

The Georgetown Metropolitan offers New Year's Eve recommendations.

"From the looks of the online comments on The WaPo website, it seems like Rhee has lost favor with many of her former supporters. I remember when Rhee first came to DC to reign as Chancellor of our public schools over two years ago. At that time Rhee's support base consisted of many willing to give her the benefit of the doubt despite her obvious lack of credentials and experience in public education . Fast forward to 2009 and take a look at the latest newsworthy event about Rhee's de-throning of another favored DC principal, Patrick Pope who has been principal at Hardy middle school for over a decade."

Barry Farm (Re)Mixed reports on their own real estate issues: "My property is 'underwater' or for those of you who don't know...I owe more than my house is worth (negative equity).  I just did the math off of a recent sale in my association of a foreclosure, and I can't even bring myself to say out loud, just how underwater I am.  But I can afford my monthly payments, so being in negative equity should have no material impact on my life.  My house is my home, and since I need a roof over my head, I should be ok...right?"

Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could reports that the Market Inn has been demolished.

And Now, Anacostia reports that a historic building has been saved from the wrecking ball.

The Vinyl District wants you to know that there are four awesome D.C. record stores within a 15-20 minute walk. Blogger is offering cash to anyone who writes in the sweetest appreciation.

The Georgetown Metropolitan has the complete rundown of the Hardy PTA meeting with Rhee over the principal change:

"Rhee began her remarks by stating that Hardy’s arts integration program is a model both for the city and the nation. She further stated that not withstanding any personnel changes at Hardy, the arts program will remain. She then segued into announcing that a new performing arts magnet school would be created and that Patrick Pope was offered the position to design, plan, implement and lead the new school. He will remain principal through this school year. Next year Dana Nerenberg would take over the principal function of Hardy on top of her responsibilities at Hyde-Addison. Patrick Pope would then take a year to create the new school. While implied, it was not 100% clear that he will actually be the principal of the new school when it opens in 2012."

The 42 covers the recent art sale that supported an area nonprofit.

Yesterday we had our monthly staff meeting after school. Interestingly enough, the first thirty minutes of this mandatory whole-school meeting were dedicated not to raising test scores, preparing for IMPACT observations, or discussing important events coming up at our school. Rather, we spent time talking about all of the exciting ways Aflac insurance can work for us! Seriously?! I don't need to come to work to hear a commercial. This staff meeting is required – not some optional sales pitch – and the Aflac presentation went long, so we had even less time for the rest of the agenda (which consisted of such clearly unimportant topics as "How and when to report child abuse" and discussing our "school safety plan").

DCist reports that the Sculpture Garden's ice skating rink remains closed due to "technical difficulties."

And Now, Anacostia gets over their conflicted feelings and celebrates a turkey giveaway.

Barry Farm (Re)Mixed trumpets the news that a Yes! Organic Market is coming to Minn and Penn SE. It's one of the busiest intersections in the city. It has just been crying out for some major retail. This could be it. Or the start of something. The market will be joining a brand new residential spaces.

Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could chronicles the latest news in redevelopment plans for Buzzard Point.

Frozen Tropics wonders if alleyways should be reclaimed with art.

The Georgetown Metropolitan thinks there should be more bike lanes in their hood.

"So it boils down to this: Michelle Rhee intentionally and illegally fabricated a budget shortfall in order to fire teachers. Around the time of the RIF she blamed the City Council for the lack of funds, but all this shows that there was room and time for DCPS to make adjustments (not hiring 900 new folks?) to the system before a RIF became necessary."

Dee Does the District has their own reaction to Rhee's testimony:

"I don't know whether to throw my laptop off my balcony or weep. I think instead I'll just go to bed, speechless."

Barry Farm (Re)mixed calls for Mary Cuthbert to step down from her post as ANC Commissioner. The blogger posts a letter from Commissioner William Ellis outlining why Cuthbert should go. He She writes:

"It is not me that is failing our people! Under Commissioner Cuthbert’s leadership as Chair, she has failed us countless times. In 2004 she forfeited 14,000 dollars of our tax payer’s money by not filing Quarter Reports, money that could have been used to lift up this community. In 2007 she forfeited 5,000, and in 2008 another 5,000 for not filing Quarterly Reports. Up to this very day, she still blatantly disregards the wishes of the Auditor by not answering the Audit Request or wanting to approve a yearly budget. As a result, the audit will take 24,000 for unauthorized rent payments, from our next audit [if] something is not done immediately."

Frozen Tropics highlights a newish soul food restaurant on West Virginia Ave.

Greater Greater Washington thinks DDOT should consider one change to its streetcar system.

Dee Does The District doesn't appreciate a sad bit of race baiting reported from the marathon hearing on the DCPS teacher layoffs.

Harry Potter and the Urban School Nightmare despairs over their students' poor attendance. They write:

"Our school's enrollment is down, and attendance is lower than I've ever seen it. When I first started at my school, I routinely had between 25 and 30 students in my class each day. Now, I'm lucky if I get 12. Today, less than half of my students were in class, and last week the average was 55%. Now, the kids who are there every day are learning like FIENDS, but at this rate 45% of my kids are going to fail. So what gives?"

DC Teacher Chic reports from her classroom a new trend—the working lunch. They write:

"This past week, I welcomed my students into my classroom / office space to eat their lunches. At first, it started because a few students were finishing assessments while eating their lunches (so as not to miss further instruction). To say the students loved the idea is an understatement. In the days following, my working lunches have blossomed from four students to seven, with several more students showing interest in attending next week."

Borderstan reports property crimes and violent crimes were up in September according to the latest crime stats: "Total crime (both violent and property crimes) for the  month of September 2009 in the Borderstan crime area¹ is 27% higher than in September 2008 and 61% higher than September 2007." The blog has maps and stats.

The 42 does not miss the Real World folks. But if you do miss the cameras or the realty competition shows, the blog knows what film crews are coming next.

And Now, Anacostia admires some new display windows on MLK.

Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could has an update on Arena Stage's redevelopment.

*photo by Darrow Montgomery

McKinley Technology High School lost 15 staff members on Oct. 3 to controversial "reductions in force," an effort by Chancellor Michelle Rhee to fix what she says is a budget deficit in District schools. The teachers were escorted out of the school by police, as if they posed a danger to their pupils. Students were angered, and hundreds of them left school to denounce the moves, garnering the attention of the media, teachers advocates, and the D.C. Council.

Over a week later, the episode still casts its shadow at McKinley. “The whole atmosphere totally changed,” according to senior Jessy Beach, an organizer of the protests. “You can sense the dreariness,” says Kyler Jackson, a sophomore. "Overall, it's just very gloomy," says senior Ikechukwu Umez-Eronini.

McKinley is one of the District’s highest-performing schools. Its Web site boasts of high Advanced Placement and D.C. test scores—the school has made Adequate Yearly Progress, a key federal benchmark, five years in a row. Incoming students must turn in an application, essay, and four recommendations to be considered for admission. Erika Landberg, program director at education nonprofit DC VOICE, likens McKinley to other DCPS gems like Duke Ellington, Benjamin Banneker, and School Without Walls. "Kids all across the city really try and get in that school," she says.

So when students complain that Chancellor Rhee's RIF process has damaged the school's climate, it means something.

There's been "a lot of chaos in the school" since the layoffs, says Beach. Last week, fire alarms went off sporadically, some students protested by not wearing school uniforms, and some weren’t going to class. “Ever since the RIFs, kids have felt betrayed, so they rebel or they don't listen,” she says.

Classes have been affected, as well. "Right now, I have three classes that were switched around," says sophomore Kahn Branch. He was enrolled in an SAT class before the RIFs, and was planning to take another next semester. But "that class is not offered anymore, so I was gonna be moved to JROTC," he says. "But I decided not to take that so now I have to take African-American History."

Branch isn't the only one with a schedule in upheaval, but he's a minority, according to DCPS spokesperson Jennifer Calloway. She wrote in an email that of McKinley's 710 students, "fewer than 100 students saw any change in their course schedules." She says only two classes have been eliminated completely.

Interpretations of how the school has changed seem to vary by age. All of freshman Jamika Aceveda’s classes are the same. “I can't base the school on the protests,” she says. “The vibe is still fun.” But seniors lost two popular guidance counselors, who were relied upon for help with the college admissions process.

Umez-Eronini says that Principal David Pinder promised "that schedules wouldn't be really affected, that he wouldn't fire necessary teachers and necessary counselors." Now he feels that promise was broken. Pinder directed questions to DCPS's press operation.

One of those let go was Sheila Gill, a popular guidance counselor. Now seniors are concerned about their college admissions process. “We lost the person who dealt with our transcripts,” says Beach. Under the new reduced staff, seniors share a counselor with the freshmen. Beach says it’s harder to get appointments for help with college applications, since their counselor is also responsible for the ninth graders.

On the allegation of broken promises, Calloway says that "students were promised that the integrity of their schedules would remain." She says that McKinley's two counselors are buttressed by a full-time D.C. College Access Program representative, and two "college support teams" of three teachers each.

"We recognize that students are upset," Calloway says. "The school administration has held student assemblies to hear their concerns and to address many of their questions." She also says that "school officials are working closely with student government to build a positive climate going forward."

Others in the McKinley community are unsatisfied with school administration. "There is an absolute lack of trust that has developed between the students, the principal, and many of the parents," says Iris Toyer, McKinley parent and chairperson of advocacy group Parents United. "They will not look at the principal the same."

Some students are moving on. School is “flowing like it never really happened,” Jamika Aceveda says of the layoffs.

Others are fighting it out. Says Umez-Eronini: “It ought not be like that, because, you know, we're in high school," he says. "It's supposed to be one of the happier times of your life–you know, it's my senior year. I really shouldn't be waging some huge political injustice on my own behalf."

"The City Council uses only rhetoric to denounce the pairs' actions; remember when Vincent Gray caved and restored the school funding he originally cut? The Washington Teachers Union has been utterly useless in the struggle between 825 and teachers' rights; George Parker continues to cancel meetings and overall, has not been proactive in addressing the layoffs. With the Mayor's reelection looming within a year, there are no candidates that pose a serious threat to him. And while the protests and sit-ins are a start, I seriously doubt Chancellor Rhee or Mayor....o until someone with a better vision and a stronger hand comes along, I think Chancellor Rhee is here to stay, despite what you think of her."

In Bloom wonders what's going on with Baraki: "After an flurry of construction activity earlier this spring—including the appearance of an outdoor seating area—Baraki has since sat quiet. Its highly visible location at the intersection of First Street NW and T Street NW meant that many folks in Bloomingdale and beyond went past it every day wondering what was (or wasn't) going on."

Life In Mount Vernon Square wonders if pepper spray is illegal: "I am told on the one hand you can have it and it needs to be registered;  then I was told you cannot own it.  Which is the case?"

Frozen Tropics posts about a recent shooting on 10th Street.

Time to get involved! There's a meeting today about the new dog park at 17th-and-S. On Wednesday, there's a meeting for ANC 6C (see draft of the agenda). And finally...the Downtown Neighborhood Association is meeting tonight—guests reportedly includ AG Peter Nickles and Councilmember Phil Mendelson!

Penn Quarter Living debuts a new column called High Rise Life. The first one is on elevator etiquette. It's not so much a column as bad comment bait of which I am sometimes guilty of. Here's a sampling from PQL's rookie effort on sharing an elevator: "Fob in and offer to push buttons or don’t offer and make sure others belong in the building? Remind neighbors that bicycles and their owners usually ride the freight elevator or zip it? Heel your dog or let him/her sniff around and be friendly? What is good neighborly elevator etiquette?" Fascinating.

Frozen Tropics reports on the breaking news last night concerning the pedestrian hit by a Metrobus in Trinidad. The Post is reporting that the woman has suffered life threatening injuries:

"In Monday's incident, the woman had just gotten off the D-8 Metrobus on Mount Olivet Avenue NE, between Trinidad and Montello avenues. She apparently crossed in front of that bus and then was struck about 6:30 p.m. by another Metrobus traveling in the same direction, Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel said.

Two men who said they witnessed the incident told television stations that the woman was thrown a distance down the street, and appeared to be unconscious after being struck. One of the men said that after the woman was hit, the driver of one of the buses 'got down' and prayed."

The Georgetown Metropolitan answers the question: Just what are Georgetown's boundaries?

Do you want to see pictures of people buying records? Someone posted a bunch of pictures from the DC Record Fair held this past Sunday. We wish we could have been there. Meanwhile....Fair sponsor The Vinyl District is giving away tickets to this week's Gossip show at the 9:30 Club.

The New Teacher On the Block offers their take on the hundreds of teachers laid off last week. In the Rhee vs. Gray fight, the blogger sides with Gray:

"Now, of course, this has resulted in finger-pointing, name calling, and a complete lack of transparency on many people's parts (Standard Operating Procedure for DCPS, really). Rhee blames the City Council for not providing the money required to allow all of these teachers to keep their jobs. City Council member Vincent Gray the DC City Council fired back with a press release accusing Rhee of using the council as a scapegoat in executing her master plan of getting rid of large numbers of DCPS teachers.

In this case, I'm in Gray's corner. The numbers just don't lie. It's just another example of the lack of transparency Rhee feels she is entitled to. When I came here, I thought I liked her: I am among the legions of teachers she's supposedly replacing the entire DC teaching force with and I support a lot of the ideas she proposes. But both her behavior and her attitude are counterproductive and arrogant; since I have been here, she has done nothing but alienate, obfuscate, and out and out lie."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Jack Evans Says He Still Supports Peter Nickles," "Councilmember Alexander Raises Concerns Over AG Nickles."

Morning all. Last night may have been National Night Out but for Mayor Fenty, it's Greek Week. WaPo breaks the stunning news that the District government actually paid the $37,000 tab for his Kappa Alpha Psi's welcoming party. The bash was held on Monday night and featured an open bar, crab cakes, red velvet cupcakes, and jazz bands tooting on two floors. The Post makes no mention of beer bongs and togas. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development had put out the dough via a grant. AG Peter Nickles apparently has forced Fenty and Co. to reimburse the city for the shindig. But Nickles swears Fenty knew nothing about the city's involvement. Key graphs:

"Attorney General Peter J. Nickles said he looked into the matter Tuesday morning at the request of the mayor. 'I concluded immediately that this was not proper,' said Nickles, who said the society reimbursed the money that morning.

Although the mayor attended the affair and was on stage as fraternity members thanked him for paying for the event, 'he didn't put two and two together that this was money that had come from the city,' Nickles said."

SEX ED NEWS: The District plans to expand its STD testing program into all public high schools. WaPo has the full story on this progressive move. There are plenty of reasons to do this. Key graphs: "The program conducted last year at eight high schools found that 13 percent of about 3,000 students tested positive for an STD, mostly gonorrhea or chlamydia, according to the D.C. Department of Health. The expansion places D.C. public schools in the vanguard of a growing number of urban school districts that test adolescents for STDs. About 12,000 students attend public high schools in the District." The news came within hours of DC Appleseed releasing its report card on how the District is dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis (for public education, the District received a C+). WaPo covers the DC Appleseed's findings noting the overall positive scores: "But the report took Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) to task for failing to give the disease more visibility. 'While Mayor Fenty and his administration deserve recognition for the continued support of . . . numerous HAA initiatives, his public appearances and statements about the epidemic have fallen short of his enthusiasm for action inside the government,' it said."

THE NEW YORK TIMES IS ON OUR SIDE: The paper's editorial board comes down hard against Congress and its attempts to meddle in our needle exchange program. The editorial dubbed the meddling an "outrage."

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: As we mentioned above, National Night Out happened. This meant another All-Hands-On-Deck effort from the D.C. Police Department. Police visibility was high! But News Channel 8 reports that the District still endured at least one violent incident. Three people were injured during a shooting in Southeast shortly after 10 p.m. News Channel 8 reports: "Fire officials say two 38-year-old women and a 17-year-old boy have each been shot in the leg."

AFTER THE JUMP: A power outage, more Metro news, Harry Jaffe pens a quick profile of the judge in the Pershing Park case, and much, much more.

Fox5 covers a power outage that left one Northeast neighborhood without electricity for most of yesterday. Three utility poles had crashed to the ground. Key graph: "The downed lines were a health hazard for some. One 7 month old who suffers from a heart condition was taken from his apartment complex, which had no electricity for hours."

METRO: Yesterday, Metro General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. begged a Senate subcommittee for more money. WaPo reports: "Metro, the only major transit agency without a source of dedicated funding, says it needs more than $7 billion for capital projects over the next 10 years to offer safe and reliable service." Catoe stated that without additional funding, safety as well as service would decline. Bonus graph: "Catoe used a question from Menendez about what lessons he has learned from the crash to sharpen his request for more money. He noted that the oldest Series 1000 train cars are less crashworthy than the newer cars, which he said "did not cause the accident but had an impact on the amount of damage that can be done." All six of the cars on the train that struck the one ahead of it were from the old series."

FBI RAID: Yesterday, the feds raided a health clinic in SE as well as a medical supply company. The agents are looking into allegations of medicaid fraud. WUSA9 reported that a number of patients had to be turned away while the agents did their work.

STaTter 911 raises some good points over the on-going issues with the hydrants:

"Councilmember Jim Graham announced Friday he will hold a hearing on September 16 to determine what went wrong at the fire last Wednesday night at the Chain Bridge Road mansion of former DC Board of Education president Peggy Cooper Cafritz. The Ward 1 councilmember is trying to determine why it took the DC Fire & EMS Department almost two hours to establish a reliable water supply to combat the fire.

Mayor Adrian Fenty has asked the fire chief and the DC Water & Sewer Authority (WASA) for reports this week on what happened and how to correct the issues.

If this sounds familiar, it should. In late 2007, Councilmember Graham held a series of hearings looking at the serious water supply issues that became apparent during a four-alarm fire that destroyed an apartment building in Adams Morgan on October 1 of that year. The Fenty administration also ordered an investigative report into the problems that occurred during that fire.

So what happened to the report?"

YOU DON'T MESS WITH U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE EMMET SULLIVAN: That's the gist of Harry Jaffe's new column in the Examiner. Judge Sullivan is presiding over the controversial Pershing Park case and has called on the D.C. Council to investigate possible wrongdoing in which evidence has either been lost or destroyed or messed with. Key graph: "Three different presidents put Sullivan into three different judgeships: Ronald Reagan appointed him to Superior Court; George Bush (41) moved him up to the federal court of appeals; Bill Clinton nominated him to the federal district court in 1994. From the streets of his home town to the federal bench, friends and lawyers have learned one thing: 'Don't cross the dude.'"

FENTY'S SCHEDULE:

10:00 a.m.
Remarks Savoy Playground Installation Kick-off
Location: Savoy Elementary School
2400 Shannon Place, SE

3:45 pm Remarks
Appleseed HIV/AIDS Report Card Announcement
Location: J’s Barber Shop 3845 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

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

New Columbia Heights spots a possible illegal bar on Georgia Avenue. Jim Graham is so on this.

Congress Heights on the Rise lists reasons you should attend Wednesday's D.C.Library trustees meeting. The blog even lists a number you can call for carpooling to the big session. One reason: "Clearly the community is not happy with the proposed WashingtonHighlands library designs. How will the Board direct DCPL leadership towork with the local ANC's to help them get to a solution the whole Ward can appreciate?"

Borderstan offers May/June crime stats for the "new Borderstan."

Penn Quarter Living notes that a bagel chain on 9th Street debuted outdoor seating. I didn't know there were still bagel places left in D.C.

The New Teacher on the Block isn't quite buying the latest upbeat reports between Rhee and the teacher's untion.

Housing Complex has a great story on a local, modern co-op.