Greater Greater Washington

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Morning links: More muck


Photo by SoulRider.222 on Flickr.
Yet another investigation: Add the DC Lottery contract to the list of things under federal investigation. The FBI has begun interviewing staff close to the contract negotiations, though the FBI has yet to acknowledge the probe. (City Paper)

End entitlement, end tickets: A Post editorial suggests eliminating free sports tickets and constituent service "slush funds" to start combating DC councilmembers' "sense of entitlement."

The occupation is over: Occupy DC's last remaining tents in McPherson Square were knocked down Sunday night, leaving only a few piles of debris and the muddy remains of a park. Occupy hasn't gone, though; they have an office just up 16th. (DCist)

Some parts of DC get whiter: Three of the 25 ZIP codes which gained the most percentage of white residents are in DC, basically all around the Green Line. Four were in Brooklyn, the others in cities that might surprise you. (Post)

Metro becoming paperless: SmarTrip starts its two-year-long makeover next month with new card dispensers and new passes, to be followed by automatic reloading in September and a card management app in June. (Examiner)

Bag searches catch nobody: Metro has not arrested a single person from its random bag searches. Police Chief Taborn claims it's necessary just to be random, and that the public "welcomes" it, ignoring the strong objections from the RAC. (WTOP, Froggie)

TBD Off Foot: TBD On Foot blogger John Hendel, the last remaining TBD employee, is leaving, likely spelling the end of the blog. Hendel did a great job covering transpor­tation, especially taxi policy. TBD will remain only to publish WJLA content. (City Paper)

Time for a freeway's exit: What does one do with a well-used, much-hated, massive elevated freeway in downtown Baltimore? Developers and activists want the Jones Falls Expressway demolished, but city officials maintain a conspicuous silence. (Urbanite)

And...: U Street's streetscape overhaul began yesterday. Construction will go on for at least a year. (WTOP) ... DC's long-vacant library kiosks