D.C. being the place that it is, big protests such as those that took place this last weekend are a dime a dozen. Complaints of excessive use of force by police officers are just as recurrent, with protestors often charging that overzealous police officers step in to make arrests too quickly and offer few apologies or admissions of wrongdoing thereafter. This weekend seems to have been different in that regard — WJLA is reporting that the District’s Office of Police Complaints, which sent 11 employees out to monitor the protests, did not observe nor report any aggressive police behavior. While this newfound concern for freedom of expression and assembly stems from the shameful 2002 events at Pershing Park, it is at least reassuring to know that expressing dissent nowadays won’t provoke a quick billy-club to the head.

American U’s Faculty Votes on Ladner: Five of the six schools that make up American University have passed votes of no confidence on the leadership of embattled president Benjamin Ladner, who is currently on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation into some $500,000 in questionable spending, reports the Post. The five schools — the College of Arts & Sciences, the Kogod School of Business, the School of Communication, the School of International Service and the Washington College of Law — passed resolutions that indicate that while some trustees may still have faith in Ladner, many professors do not. The Eagle, American’s student newspaper, recently featured an interview with Ladner where he denied any wrong-doing but agreed to reimburse the university $21,000 in what he admitted were personal expenses.

Mayor’s Office Responds to Roosevelt Island Sale: Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Ca.) may not have expected the backlash he’s now getting for proposing to sell the District’s Roosevelt Island Park, as DCist reported last Friday. According to the Post, the document containing the idea was inadvertently released to the public and was only part of a brainstorming session on how to raise money for the drilling of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. An official in the mayor’s office reassured DCist that the idea would never fly, noting that, “The mayor is a serious environmentalist who likes to canoe and birdwatch. He will not let it happen.”

New Bus Shelters Coming: Though we reported it in August, District officials have finally sealed the deal on the almost 800 new bus shelters that will soon dot city streets, reports WJLA. The new shelters — which will include real-time arrival information and be resistant to vandalism — are to be paid for by Clear Channel Outdoor, who in exchange for the $150 million cost will get exclusive advertising rights in the shelters for 20 years. The shelters are expected in 2009, and the majority of the $150 million is slated to fund the new Great Streets program.

Fairfax County Receives New Branding: Feeling that maybe a new, hipper identity would do better in attracting visitors to Fairfax County, tourism officials have announced that the county will now be known as “fxVA,” writes the Post. Taking after the popular “NoVA,” the well-known “OBX,” and other such locale brands, county officials have also unveiled a new slogan (“Fx Marks the Spot”) and announced plans for a segway scooter at Tysons Corner Shopping Center to serve as a mobile information booth. We wish this were a joke; we really do.

Briefly Noted: Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski to vote against John Roberts for SCOTUS … Search for missing VCU student expands … No more flouride in area water supplies … D.C. and PG County police start joint patrols … D.C. man pleads guilty in killing of transgender prostitute.

Picture above snapped by Justin DC.