Good morning, Washington. As you get ready to do your patriotic duty tomorrow by grilling meats, drinking beers and watching fireworks, beware that if you haven’t been doing your civic duty by showing up for jury duty, you could be in big trouble. The D.C. Superior Court’s chief judge has issued bench warrants for almost 100 D.C. residents who failed to show up for jury duty and then also failed to show up to a hearing to explain why. The penalty for failure to appear for jury duty includes fines of up to $300 or up to seven days in jail. Got any good D.C. jury duty stories? Tell us in the comments.

Nickles v. Mendelson: Attorney General Peter Nickles did not attend Wednesday’s D.C. Council hearing on revising the city’s gun laws, and instead sent a letter to At-large Council member Phil Mendelson asking him to put a hold on his legislation. Nickles wrote that he felt it was important for the Council and the executive to work closely on crafting the new law. Mendelson said he was “mystified” that Nickles didn’t show up and openly criticized that decision at the hearing.

Bus Transit Center Nixed: Looks like DC2NY’s campaign to make people think L’Enfant Plaza is more dangerous than it really is has succeeded: the Examiner reports that DDOT has gone ahead and suspended its plans to create an intercity bus depot near L’Enfant Plaza for the time being. Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham said he asked DDOT officials to slow down the process and give the public a chance to weigh in on the change.

Briefly Noted: Fire at construction site in Northeast … Unidentified body found under the Taft Bridge … Suspicious package shuts down area around World Bank … 7-year-old boy drowns in Silver Spring swimming pool.

Photo by Samer Farha