Mark your calendars: WMATA put out a release earlier today announcing the dates of a series of six public meetings at which you can voice your opinions about the proposed Metro fare hikes, which would go into effect in January. The full set of proposed increases is here, but the basics include raising the base fare of Metrorail from $1.35 to $1.65, keep bus fares the same as long as you use SmarTrip cards (add…

No matter how you feel about a city known for its hippie culture or holier-than-thou aging baby boomers, you sort of have to love Takoma Park, Md. Commonly referred to as “The People’s Republic of Takoma Park” or “The Berkeley of the East”, the commuter suburb right on the border of the District is not only charmingly beautiful, but the people who live there wear their political proclivities on their collective sleeves so seriously they…

Good morning, D.C. First, some good news: today’s high temperature will be a mere 93 degrees. Bring a sweater! Next, some bad news: AccuWeather puts today’s “Thunderstorm Probability” at a robust 100%. Hmm. Finally, some great news: Unbuckled is tonight! Bring your sodden, sweaty selves — it’ll make the experience that much more authentically Washingtonian. Prince William Co. Approves Anti-Illegal Immigrant Measures: WJLA reports on a new measure unanimously passed by the Prince William…

Good morning to all of you Washingtonians who, despite being forced to come in today, are honoring Dr. King today through peaceful resistance to actual work. Rather than confronting authority violently, you can make your dissatisfaction known through idleness and websurfing. We’ll be right here with you. Then, outside work, maybe do something a little more meaningful to celebrate MLK Day. Guilty of Wrongful Deeds: D.C. police may have ended a rash of brazen break-ins…

Buck up, D.C. Of course we’re all still reeling from the Justin Timberlake-Cameron Diaz split confirmation, but there’s plenty to be cheerful about this Friday before a holiday weekend (especially one that’s shaping up to at least be mild temperature wise, if rainy). Why, even a few of this morning’s headlines seem downright cheery. New Taxi Zone Map in the Works: Even while the new District government is considering making the switch from zones to…

We’re not sure if Indian Summer is an entirely PC term, but when mall Santas start appearing the same week it’s predicted to skirt 70 degrees, we’re left with two conclusions. Either we were really nice to puppies and orphans in a past life or global warming isn’t so bad. Now for the rest of the news. Fenty Already In The Hole: Incoming Mayor Adrian Fenty hasn’t even been sworn in yet and he’s facing…

Written by DCist contributor Ian Buckwalter The startup costs for that strip club you and your friends were hoping to open in Prince George’s County just got a little pricier. And the club itself may have just become a little less attractive to both patrons and performers. As reported in The Examiner this morning, the Prince George’s County Council passed a bill yesterday requiring that all adult entertainment establishments obtain a license from the county…

Montgomery County has long been hailed as a national pioneer in the implementation of inclusionary housing policy, having passed the region’s first zoning ordinance, which has been responsible for the creation of over 12,000 moderately priced dwelling units (MPDU) since the 1970s. The explosive growth at both ends of the Red Line in the past decade prompted the county to take another landmark step this week when the County Council unanimously passed a proposal to…

Those cancer-stick-up-the-butt forces have lined up their troops along the District’s northern and eastern borders, and it’s only a matter of time before they come goose-stepping across that thin line that seperates freedom from totalitarianism. Ok, that may be a little dramatic of a description, but it’s somewhat true — with the decision of Prince George’s County to go smoke-free in bars and restaurants, Maryland’s two counties that border the District will soon both officially…

Good morning, Washington. Today’s weather is likely to match Jerry Kilgore’s mood: lousy. That’s right, the results are in, and Virginia’s new governor is Democrat Tim Kaine. Kaine beat Kilgore by six percentage points in the culmination of a brutally negative race that turned dirty, then got even dirtier. Frankly, we’re glad it’s over. The Post has complete election results for Virginia here; Maryland’s results are here. Group Surveils Day Laborers: The situation surrounding illegal…