Photo by bnedwek

Photo by bnedwek

>> The Nats are headed to the playoffs, but if the city’s officials want to go to the games, they’ll have to pay their own way. The Post reports that unlike during the regular season, Mayor Vince Gray and members of the D.C. Council will not be getting access to a suite and 25 prime infield seats. That’s probably for the best—the free tickets they get to Nats Park and the Verizon Center have prompted a number of childish disagreements between the city’s elected officials.

>> The stakes in Maryland’s November referendum on whether to expand gambling or not are high, a point proven by the amount of money being poured into the fight from both sides. The Examiner reports that groups that support and oppose expanding gambling to a new site at the National Harbor have put $24 million into ads, robocalls and mailers ahead of the November vote. The candidates in the state’s 2010 gubernatorial race only spend $15 million collectively.

>> Today Pepco workers will vote on whether or not to approve a proposed contract, reports WJLA, a step that could lead to the first Pepco strike since 1985. Today the D.C. Public Service Commission will also vote on Pepco’s requested rate increase, which it says will help pay for improving the city’s electrical grid.

Briefly Noted: Dirty tricks bedevil Virginia Senate campaign … Huguely appeals conviction … Four family members found dead in Herndon home … Contractor to be announced for $15 million repair job of Washington MonumentAP scores jump in D.C. public schools … Alexandria mayor suffers through Metro troubles like everyone else … Gray urges D.C. CFO to beef up background checks … Maryland moped users: as of today, you have to wear a helmet … Forty-four senators ask Cuba to release Maryland government contractor detained there.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said he was fine with gender-segregated dorms at Catholic University, D.C. legislators tried to make unemployment a protected status under the city’s Human Rights Act and Fiesta D.C. wasn’t really a party for everyone. In 2010, Michelle Rhee kept it diplomatic during an appearance on Meet the Press.