Photo by pablo.raw

Good morning, Washington. It’s one of the most wonderful days of the year—Major League Baseball is back, and the Nationals begin the season visiting the Chicago Cubs. Stephen Strasburg gets the start for the 2:20 p.m. game.

Herding Bison: Howard University issued the following statement last night, shedding a grain of light on the latest developments about its apparently troubled athletic department: “Howard University is conducting an internal investigation of possible NCAA rules-violations. As a result of this process, the University temporarily withheld a number of student-athletes from competition as self-imposed action. Most teams will compete as scheduled. We are working diligently to fully resolve this matter as quickly as a possible. In order to protect the integrity of this review, we are unable to share additional details at this time.”

L.A. Confidential: Who is Proteus Spann? Very little is known about this man, other than that he is a Hollywood movie producer who is also part of Jeffrey Thompson’s network of political donors, the City Paper reports. Spann’s Office of Campaign Finance dossier, showing $27,000 in donations to local campaigns since 2006, appears to be longer than his IMDb rap sheet. And his responses to Alan Suderman’s inquiries were a little bizarre: “I’m an AMERICAN. MAY WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US IN THE NAME OF BUSH AND the NRA,” he told Loose Lips in an email.

Briefly Noted: Spicy tuna rolls are leading suspect in sushi salmonella outbreak … Tim Kaine talks economy on the campaign trail … Gas prices now averaging $4.11 in D.C. area … House fire on Locust Road NW hospitalizes two … Tenth Street NW not going to become a pedestrian plaza, after all.

This Day in DCist: In 2011, Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Remember Him?), attempted to defend his fellow councilmembers from liquid projectiles with ropes. In 2010, President Obama threw out the first pitch at Nationals Park. (And the Nationals proceeded to get spanked by the Phillies.)