Photo by billkoplitz

Good morning, Washington. Just when you thought that one scandal involving Mayor Vince Gray was over, another one rears its ugly head, but this one dealing with his time as D.C. Council Chairman. According to The Washington Times, a lawsuit filed by a former D.C. government worker and now making its way through the courts alleges that Gray, councilmembers Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), and D.C. CFO Natwar Gandhi worked to influence the outcome of a competitively bid contract to run the city’s lottery in 2008. The lawsuit, filed by former procurement officer Eric Payne, includes vivid details of conversations held between the officials and Payne, who was strongly encouraged to dump a local firm that had partenered with Greek company Intralot, which had won the $38 million deal. Payne claims he opposed any such move; he was eventually fired.

Virginia Passes New Restrictions on Abortion Clinics: Do parking spaces have much, if anything to do with abortions? Maybe, maybe not, but the Virginia Board of Health has decided to lump them into a package of strict regulations on abortions clinics that pro-choice advocates fear could shut down all of the Old Dominion’s 22 clinics. According to the Post, the new regulations passed yesterday essentially treat abortion clinics as ambulatory surgery centers, significantly increasing the rules and regulations that apply to them. They passed on a 12-1 vote and will go into effect on December 31 for 18 months as emergency rules provided Gov. Bob McDonnell gives them the go ahead. Around 25,000 abortions are performed in Virginia each year.

Racing May Have Caused Early Morning Maryland Crash: According to WTOP, police in Prince George’s County are investigating a fatal early morning crash on Indian Head Highway that they suspect was caused by two cars racing each other. One speeding car apparently sideswiped another, forcing them both off the road. The car that was assumed to have been racing struck an oncoming tractor trailer, killing the driver of the car. If the crashes were caused by racing, it certainly won’t be a first — in 2008, eight spectators were killed when a car plowed into them during a race along Indian Head Highway.

Sulaimon Brown Ordered to Turn Over Documents: Sulaimon Brown was in court again yesterday, this time being ordered to turn over documents related to his failed 2010 mayoral campaign to a D.C. Council committee, reports WUSA9. Two weeks ago Brown claimed that the documents the committee requested, without which it can’t formally close its investigation of his claims against Mayor Gray’s mayoral campaign, were in the hands of the feds; yesterday his attorney claimed they had gotten them back. Brown has until Monday to turn over the documents.

Briefly Noted: Metro worker fired for taking agency vehicle home … Former Washington Wizards guard facing murder charges … Tareq Salahi is devastated that Michaele left him for Journey’s guitarist … Fairfax County principals want cameras in school cafeterias … Gray using tax credits to encourage business to hire District residents.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2010, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics apologized for a poor primary performance and Michelle Rhee dug her hole just a little bit deeper. In 2009, the D.C. Libertarian Party tried to get back on its feet and D.C. was found to have a high percentage of wealthy young people.