Photo by Karon

Good morning, Washington. It’s the second day of a cold snap, and with the chill we’ve been feeling, there’s only really one good solution — long underwear. Of course, while you can be toasty outside, you also run the risk of being uncomfortably warm indoors. Still, it’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make, especially with as cold as jeans can feel when it’s barely in the 30s outside.

So Much for Transparency: D.C. Council Chair Kwame Brown pledged to start 2012 on a new foot, and to that end he held the first of a monthly series of press conferences yesterday. (We were there.) But as the Examiner reports, the TV feed of the press conference was suddenly cut off when reporters turned to questions about ethics and the fate of embattled Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5). As such, viewers of Channel 13 and the online feed were left with no way to watch the final 20 minutes of the press conference. Brown and his staff claimed that they knew nothing of why the feed was cut.

Fantasy Sports May Soon Pay Off in Maryland: If you’re a Maryland resident and a fervent fantasy sports participant, this might interest you. The Washington Times reports that a Maryland state legislator is considering introducing legislation that would make it easier for winners of fantasy leagues to claim cash and prizes. Current laws are vague on the issue, leaving Maryland residents out of cash-and-prize leagues sponsored by organizations and media outlets. According to a study, some 32 million people across the country participate in fantasy sports leagues.

Briefly Noted: Metro and transit union ready for negotiations … Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling outlines role in breaking votes in Senate … Yep, this morning is the coldest in a year … Another local bookstore to go out of business … D.C. police looking into second homicide of 2012.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) said she wanted to empower the District to better collect money it’s owed (today that wish may come true) and Mayor Vince Gray joined a protest to keep D.C. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s voting privileges in the House. In 2010, Agent Zero claimed that the whole gun thing was a joke and we were relieved (for many reasons) that we didn’t go to the LateNightsShots New Year’s Eve party.