Photo by Noe Todorovich

>> The District makes contracts with a lot of companies under the Certified Business Enterprise program, but the game is rigged, Alan Suderman writes in the new issue of Washington City Paper. The CBE program, he writes, “gives special preference to any business of any size based in D.C.—or pretending to be based in the city—that knows how to play the game.”

>> After splitting last night’s doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nationals are one game away from clinching their first playoff berth in team history. With a win tonight, the Nationals can become the first D.C. team to make baseball’s postseason in 79 years.

>> What the hell happened on the Red Line yesterday? During Wednesday’s morning commute, riders between NoMa-Gallaudet and Rhode Island Avenue were evacuated when a train lost power. Shortly after, some 1,000 passengers near Tenleytown were stranded for over an hour before being evacuated when their train lost power. So what was the culprit? Metro doesn’t have an answer yet, WAMU reports.

>> DRUDGE SIREN: Someone in the executive suite at the Washington Examiner doesn’t like President Obama.

Briefly Noted: Ovechkin might quit the NHL if player salaries get cut … Special election coming—reformer candidates please identify yourselves … Fairfax County and the Cooch suing Environmental Protection Agency … Baltimore woman dies from infection following liposuction … Future presidential candidate Martin O’Malley raising money today for North Carolina governor.

This Day in DCist: Last year, cabbies sued the mayor and the D.C. Taxicab Commission. In 2010, the case against Metro maps as billboards.