>> Roundly derided for over a month now in the media, Judge Roy L. Pearson has dropped the pants from his $67 million lawsuit against Custom Cleaners. In April, Pearson filed suit against the cleaners for misplacing his favorite pair of pants. Pearson has now altered his complaint to focus on the “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “Same Day Service” promises made by the shop. And now he’s only asking for a measly $54 million. Gee, that’s so much more reasonable. [AP and WJLA]

>> Chickens and ducks were found in the basement of a rowhouse that caught fire this morning on the 1,300 block of Parkwood Place, NW. [WJLA]

>> Dutch students have invented powdered alcohol. We salute them. [Scientific American]

>> The House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government did indeed lift the ban on the use of local tax money for a needle exchange program in the District. The budget that includes the revised language still needs to pass a series of votes in the House and Senate before it is sent to President Bush for his signature. [AP via NBC4]

Photo by Kyle Walton