Photo by Shanti Knapp on Flickr.

Make it happen

Ward 8 has far fewer food, retail, and transportation options than anywhere east of the Anacostia. With a real plan in place for how to pay for it and DC’s basketball teams already having a fanbase, the proposed Mystics/Wizards facility might be the best development prospect St. Elizabeth’s has seen in years. (CHOTR)  

Call on me

Starting in November, you can catch an Uber or Lyft from National or Dulles; right now, that isn’t totally allowed. The airport authority will charge ride-hailing companies $4 per trip, a cost that will likely fall on riders. (WAMU)  

Safety first

Councilmember Mary Cheh just introduced the Bicycle and Pedestrian Act of 2015. The law will make crash data publicly available, get tougher on dangerous drivers, and make sure road upkeep is geared toward more than just cars.  

Out of control

Workers at Metro’s control center, which oversees the whole system, are poorly trailed and ill-prepared for emergencies. Transit specialists from around the country say the problems helped cause January’s L’Enfant tragedy. (Post)  

The race is on

Robert White will run for an at-large seat on the DC Council. He joins David Garber as the second big challenger to Vincent Orange. We endorsed White when he ran in 2014; he came in 3rd beyond Anita Bonds and Elissa Silverman. (City Paper)  

“Misspelling” for Mayor?

Bill Euille is running a write-in campaign for reelection as Alexandria’s mayor, but lots of people don’t know how to spell his last name. What happens if thy misspell it, like “Yule”? To be determined… (WAMU)  

Anticlimactic arrival

The long-awaited Silver Spring Transit Center opens Sunday. But with the project coming 5 years late and millions over budget, Metro has decided there won’t be any ribbon cutting, balloons, or other fanfare. (Post)  

Departing Dominion

For decades, more people moved into Virginia than out. But last year, Virginia experienced outward migration. A weakened economy (and stronger ones in other states) and retiring baby boomers may be to blame (Stat Chat)  

And…

DC has a doppelgänger: South Australia. (Big Think) … A record number of people passed through BWI in July. (WTOP) … The Post Office will temporarily remove 50 blue collection boxes during the Pope’s visit. (City Paper)