Photo by jessamyn on Flickr.

A new path for charters

DC will give highly-performing charter schools greater preference to fill vacant public schools. This fall, the District will award spots in two Ward 5 elementary schools and announce another round of school closures. (Post)  

Library group hurting libraries?

The Ralph Nader-founded DC Library Renaissance Project is getting in the way, say West End community groups, by opposing the public-private partnership to build a new library and some affordable housing. The library group says there isn’t enough affordable housing in the project. (Post)  

The eGoofacehoople Arts Transit Authority

6 tech companies run private shuttles from San Francisco to Silicon Valley. A new map shows this network as a transit system. (Scroll down to the big multicolored map.) (Stamen Design)  

711 more solar panels

JD Antos relates his experience putting solar panels on his DC house. Meanwhile, Catholic University added 700 of them. (City Paper)  

Pay DC more hotel money

A judge says travel companies owe DC millions in hotel taxes. They charge retail rates online but only pay taxes on the wholesale rates they pay. Before DC gets a dime, though, there will surely be appeals. (WBJ)  

The missing money

DC Council member Michael A. Brown’s former campaign treasurer claims that Brown gave him money out of the campaign account as a salary. Brown had announced in June that most of his campaign funds were missing. (Post)  

See money from space

Richer neighborhoods look different from poorer ones on satellite photos based on the amount of tree cover. (Per Square Mile)  

And…

Amtrak will test trains at 165 mph along the Northeast Corridor. (Examiner) … Louisville uses 3D printers to share plans with the public. (Atlantic Cities) … Philadelphia builds a park for $50,000. (Next American City) … A commuter tax is unlikely. (Examiner)