Get rid of that Christmas tree early! From January 3-14, you can leave it on the curb. After that, it'll have to go out with the trash. more ›

Yesterday's 40th anniversary celebration of Fiesta DC in Mt. Pleasant was either a raucous and colorful celebration of the District's Latino heritage or a complete breakdown of the neighborhood's otherwise peaceful veneer. It just depends on who you ask. more ›

It turns out Washington isn't that dirty, despite certain commentariats' insistence that the city is overrun with pooping hobos. more ›

In case it's slipped your mind, tomorrow marks the observation of Emancipation Day in the District -- which means that most of the city's workers will be taking the day off. more ›

With less than 24 hours left until a likely federal government shutdown, the city is full of anxiety about how Congress' squabbling will put a crimp in our daily routines. What can you expect living in a town which is at the total whim of the constantly bickering lawmakers in Congress? Behold, an encyclopedic guide to the shutdown's effect on the District! more ›

You might be able to take Metro during a government shutdown, but a bevy of other city services that Washington residents usually take for granted would grind to a halt. more ›

An update to the DPW shooting story that we noted in the Morning Roundup: one man, who was previously been reported to be in grave condition after being shot at a Department of Public Works parking lot at 1241 W Street NE, has died as a result of his wounds. 51-year-old Larry Hutchins of Suitland, Md. -- a 24-year employee of the department -- was identified as the man who was killed. WTOP reports that the second person who was shot is currently in critical condition, also noting that there had been a stabbing at this same parking lot in 2009. Due to the shooting, DPW has suspended trash and recycling collection around the city today. Police are still investigating. more ›

We gave you an update Saturday on the District's efforts to pickup trash this coming week (residential collection will take place, but a day later than normal due to today's holiday, and only from curbs, not from alleys). But we wanted to remind you that recycling collection is still suspended this coming week, just as it was last week. If you're like me, you've got a whole lot recycling piling up, but don't be the jerk who puts out the recycling when it won't be collected. I saw an awful lot of recycling cans out last week, left there only to further impede tough-to-navigate sidewalks. more ›

The Epiphany isn't until Wednesday, but the District is already busy collecting old Christmas trees and wreaths. The Department of Public Works says residents should place tinsel-free holiday trees and other greenery curbside, preferably inside tree boxes, anytime between now and Sunday, Jan. 10. Trees will then be picked up and chipped into compost. The city will continue to pick up trees through Jan. 16, but in the event you miss the Jan. 10 deadline, go ahead and put out your tree with your regular trash. DPW will collect late trees as space permits. more ›

Lots of reports came in yesterday that one half of the heralded "green" arm of the city's Summer Youth Jobs Program, the Mayor's Conservation Corps, had hit the streets around town to pass out paper fliers that are designed to hang on people's doors, except that many of them just ended up as trash on the street. Head over to Scott's Take for the best coverage we've seen so far. more ›

The D.C. Department of Public Works hit up almost every major listserv in the city with the message that most of their services are on hold for the President's Day holiday on Monday. Trash and recycling pickup will both work on a sliding schedule; so whatever day your refuse is usually picked up, it's a day later this week. Also, parking meters, residential parking, and rush hour lane restrictions are all lifted, as are all scheduled street and alley sweeping -- if you've got a friend in town who needs a free parking space tomorrow, well, consider it your lucky day. more ›

An item we missed (hat tip WTOP) is that the District Department of Public Works sent around word late last week that trash and recycling collection days for many D.C. residents will change starting Dec. 1. Beginning this weekend, residents who will be affected by the changes will start seeing signs posted on their streets and receive doorknockers with the relevant details. A good clue as to whether your trash day might change: if you currently only get trash pickup once a week and also live within Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, your trash day is probably going to change. Keep an eye out for those signs and doorknockers. more ›

...and it has to do with trash. more ›