Good morning, Washington. Expect beautiful autumn weather today, with plenty of sunshine and cool temperatures. With winter’s chill lurking just over the horizon, we’re compelled to enjoy these fleeting mild days.
>> A day after DDOT installed old parking meters in downtown Anacostia — much to the chagrin of some residents — the agency removed the dilapidated meters. Congress Heights on the Rise writes, “A round of applause for everyone who advocated on Anacostia’s and Ward 8’s behalf. It took less than 24 hours for DDOT to see the light of day and expire those old janky coin-operated-doesn’t-take-a-credit-card-hand-me-downs-from-northwest meters.”
>> The Viola Drath murder saga keeps getting campier. Albrecht Gero Muth, 47, the man accused of killing his 91-year-old socialite wife in Georgetown, fired his attorneys Friday and will represent himself in the murder trial. Muth, a German, contends he’s a general in the Iraqi Army.
>> The bipartisan supercommittee is working over the weekend as their deadline for reducing the nation’s debt nears, though all signs point to gridlock. The Washington Post looks at what will happen if they don’t reach a deal.
>> Mount Rainier City Hall was evacuated Friday after a bird flew into the building’s electrical transformer, which fried the building’s heating system. The bird was found dead on the sidewalk, and all employees at City Hall were sent home for the day.
>> Tampa-based Island Travel & Tours Ltd. plans to offer charter flights from Baltimore to Cuba but is being inspected by federal officials because they promoted their plans to do so before receiving the necessary approval. Island Travel President William Hauf said his company did nothing wrong, especially since the airport put out the press release.
>> Three people were injured when a police car crashed into a tree and two cars near the 4th District police headquarters Friday. Two D.C. police officers were injured and taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and a man who was in another car was also injured and taken to a hospital.
>> Dominion Virginia Power will miss its Sunday goal of having both of its nuclear reactors back at full power at the North Anna Power Station. The reactors shut down after the region’s Aug. 23 earthquake, but last week the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the company could restart the reactors. Dominion said workers at North Anna discovered a problem with a Unit 2 electrical connector and claimed it would be back online soon.
>> Three people are in critical condition after a carbon monoxide leak at an Aspen Hill apartment building in Montgomery County. The problem may have started with a faulty furnace.
>> A state legislative report found that cleaning the Chesapeake Bay could cost Virginians $13.6 billion to $15.7 billion, far more than the estimate provided by Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration, which had put the cost at $7 billion to $10 billion.
> > Greater Greater Washington has an interesting post on the collaboration between the Dutch Embassy and the District, which is giving Barry Farm and Northwest One attention of “leading new urbanists.”
>> DCmud reports that George Washington University plans to demolish a cluster of townhouses along Pennsylvania Avenue to make room for a large office building. The townhouses are some of the last remaining historic structures on Pennsylvania Avenue.
>> The Washington Examiner reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission charged six D.C.-area residents with defrauding 130 investors in a five-year, $27 million Ponzi scheme.
>> “I will not lose any sleep over JoePa’s retirement plans. Nor will I watch to see when the moving vans pull up in front of the former university president’s digs. The focus should remain on those boys who were apparently harmed years ago…”
>> Dan Snyder is not attending RFK Stadium’s 50th Anniversary celebration tonight at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
>> Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
>> Temple Hills, Maryland is reportedly turning into a litter box.
>> Turkey! No strings attached.
>> Michelle Obama dines at Sticky Rice.
