Good morning, Washington. As frustrated as some of us find ourselves hiking up a broken Metro escalator in this awful August heat, it’s humbling to see someone do the same with a limp or a cane. A chronic inconvenience for some can be a major obstacle for people with disabilities. The Washington Post takes a look at some of the challenges those who use wheelchairs, canes or other aids experience on our distressed transit system, touching on what Metro has done well, and what it could do better (much of which would help not only the disabled, but all riders).
>> Saturday was the deadliest day for American forces in the war in Afghanistan. Insurgents shot down a Chinook transport helicopter, killing 30 U.S. servicemen, including some Navy Seals from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden, and 8 Afghans. The unit, Seal Team 6, is based in Virginia Beach. The New Yorker has a shot of President Obama being briefed on the crash by phone.
>> Bill Turque looks at data from this year’s D.C. Comprehensive Assessment System exams, which show that the pernicious achievement gap continues to persist in the District, separating public schools in the poorest neighborhoods from those in the most affluent.
>> In sports, yesterday was Redskins fan appreciation day; D.C. United settled for a 3-3 draw with Toronto FC; the Washington Nationals lost 15-7 to the Colorado Rockies; and Nats pitcher Stephen Strasburg is expected to throw an inning or two today in the minor leagues (WJLA reports the Hagerstown Suns issued media guidelines for the game, which made clear that, “no photography or videography on the field is permitted”).
>> WAMU does a Q&A with Washington Blade Editor Frank Kameny Kevin Naff. [Ed. note: This post originally named Kameny the editor, not Naff. We regret the error.] Since its debut in 1969, the Blade has aggregrated thousands of photographs which they’re now digitizing and archiving online. You can check out some of Naff’s favorite photos, including what gay pride in D.C. looked like in 1976.
>> On this date in 1981, the now defunct newspaper the Washington Evening Star ceased all operations after nearly 130 years of publication. If you’re inclined, the Washingtoniana has some charming scrapbooks with old clippings.
>> Mike Allen says this is a must-read. What do you think?
>> Maybe not quite as cute as a baby panda hiding under a towel in a plastic tub, but still pretty damn cute.
>> Lane wars.
>> If you didn’t know, cycling isn’t just for hipsters.
