>> Starting in January, the so-called Humpback Bridge on the George Washington Parkway will be revamped to be hump free and more pedestrian friendly. [WTOP] >> Mayor Fenty's administration tripled the number of employees making $175,000 or more from this time last year. Five of those employees, including the mayor himself, make over $200,000. [Examiner] >> Last night's fatal shooting of a man in the Barnaby Terrace neighborhood brings D.C.'s 2007 homicide total for... more ›

Ahh, rise and shine, Washington! It's another beautiful fall day, so stretch and breathe in deep ... but not too deep, unless you enjoy inhaling some of the worst air in the nation. Scientists are putting numbers on information our lungs already knew: the D.C. area "produces more carbon dioxide than several medium-size European countries," the Post reports. This is due primarily to Maryland's coal-burning power plants and our stand-still traffic, we make more carbon... more ›

>> Bobby Boswell sounds off with a strongly worded criticism against ESPN's refusal to acknowlege a fantastic game of soccer in favor of nonstop coverage from the "Beckham Cam." [D.C. Sports Bog] >> Fare thee well, Rock Creek Rambler. >> Late Wednesday afternoon, a portion of the ceiling on the underside of the outdoor overhang in the “lower plaza” area of the State Department's Columbia Plaza complex fell down, damaging several cars parked underneath.... more ›

>> A federal jury awarded $260,000 to one of two men who sued NBA star Allen Iverson after they said they were beaten by his entourage outside Eyebar. [WaPo] >> Watch the very same Allen Iverson dominate on his high school football team at Bethel High in Hampton, VA in 1993. [DCSportsGuy] >> Spending $600 on a first generation iPhone: expensive. Losing it twelve hours later: so sad it's funny? [craigslist] >> Massive fire... more ›

Today a select group of the world's wordiest tweens take the stage at the annual lexicon smackdown known as the National Spelling Bee. Almost 300 students will spend the next two days at the Grand Hyatt on H St. competing in written and oral tests of their spelling skills, culminating in Thursday's final round, to be aired nationwide on ABC. The Examiner has a profile of one of the circuit's best-known competitors, facing his final shot at the brass ring this year. Like Samir Patel, many of the bee's most serious contenders are home schooled, including my all-time favorite word wizard, Rebecca Sealfon, shown above in a moment of pure spellation winning the 1997 bee. more ›

>> D.C. United host rivals New England in a game nationally televised on ESPN2. Posters and t-shirts await the first 10,000 and 3,000 entrants, respectively. Be sure to get there early for food, drink, and some party rock courtesy of Love Seed Mama Jump in Lot 8. [RFK Stadium (tickets still available), 7 p.m. kickoff; pregame festivities at 5:30 p.m.] >> Don't forget the Onion's D.C. kickoff party with Georgie James, Neil Hamburger, Aziz... more ›

>> Anyone born before 1985 can surely appreciate the simple joys of 8-bit electronic entertainment. Filmfest DC presents a documentary about a complex Iowa man fighting to retain his title as World Champion of Donkey Kong. King of Kong delves into the unique lives of people involved in this epic battle. [4000 Wisconsin Ave. NW, $9, 7 p.m.] >> Unbuckled alums Pela join Metropolitan and Five Four at Rock and Roll Hotel tonight. [1353... more ›

>> Filmfest DC screens Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, a concert tour documentary unlike any you've seen. The movie follows a group of people fleeing from Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war who form a unique band and face the daunting task of facing the future in a war-torn society. [4000 Wisconsin Ave., NW, $9, 6:45 p.m.] >> As we told you last week, it's a great week for lovers of big band music. The... more ›

> > Tonight's hidden agenda: those plucky plucks from McSweeney's are in town tonight screening Wholphin, the "Audio-Visual" version of their magazine, The Believer. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served, but you should probably take anything they say about "lifetime subscriptions" with several grains of salt. At the Center for American Progress, 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor. Take Orange/Blue to McPherson Square Station or Red to Metro Center. > > The... more ›

Good morning, Washington, and happy Cinco de Mayo. We understand that with all the recent furor over immigration, some folks might suddenly find themselves adopting an anti-Cinco stance. But to our xenophobic, er, friends we say: remember, this holiday is really about a military victory against the French. Surely that's something that both Minutemen and Mexican immigrants can agree to celebrate. Day Labor Center's Fate Unknown: Immigration opponents in Herndon have been quick to claim... more ›

Written by DCist Contributor April Fulton. more ›