Photo by Elvert Barnes

>> Who would have thought a few years ago that the District’s best friend in Congress would turn out to be a conservative Republican from California? Well, that’s what we’ve got in Rep. Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee whose principal work interests seem to be investigating the Obama administration for looking sideways and pushing for D.C. budget autonomy. He’s on the cover of the new issue of Washington City Paper.

>> Readers of our “Ridiculous Inauguration Deal of the Day” know that President Obama’s second swearing-in means many local merchants intend to pry every last cent from some of the wealthiest spectators. Well, some of those folks might be arriving in Washington via private plane, so Dulles International Airport might close one of its runways to regular air traffic and devote it to Gulfstreams and Learjets, The Washington Post reports. The decision wouldn’t affect commercial landings, though.

>> Mayor Vince Gray and the National Rifle Association might be in agreement on something. Gray tells The Washington Examiner that he would be open to the prospect of placing more armed guards in D.C. schools, along the lines of the NRA’s suggestion in the wake of last months mass school shooting in Newtown, Conn. that every school in the country be outfitted with a gun-toting guard.

Briefly Noted: Wizards revert to losing ways … Just how good are those One City One Hire jobs anyway? … Expect lots and lots of protesters lining the parade route on Monday … Virginia executes inmate who wanted to be executed … Rooftop fire at Hank’s Oyster Bar.