Photo by Triratna_Photos on Flickr.

Silver Spring up in flames

An apartment building in Silver Spring exploded late Wednesday night, leaving two dead and more missing or injured. Residents frequently complained about the smell of natural gas, and police suspect a leak is to blame. (Post)  

Bike lanes? ANC says no thanks

The Petworth ANC voted down recommendations from a DDOT study that calls for reducing the number of lanes and adding a bike lane to New Hampshire Ave NW. The commissioners took the vote before they had even read the study itself. (PetworthNews)  

How to make office parks work

A new, free shuttle takes workers from the the Grosvenor Metro to an office park with no other transit options in Bethesda. Montgomery County is running the shuttle in part to convince businesses that traditional office parks are still viable. (Bethesda Beat)  

Purple still pushing along

Some limited Purple Line construction work is still moving forward, even after last week’s federal ruling that the project needs a new environmental study. (Bethesda Beat)  

Columbia Heights on crime

Is crime in Columbia Heights getting worse even as housing prices continue to rise? Year-over-year statistics say no, but increases in racial tension and brazen violent crime make residents feel otherwise. (City Paper)  

Another MetroAccess assault

Another MetroAccess driver has been charged with sexually assaulting a passenger in her home, this time in Fairfax County. This is the second driver to be charged with sexual assault this week. (WTOP)  

No PAC bump

Super PACs that receive national funding poured huge sums into the DC Council primary races this election cycle. Despite the influx of campaign spending, not all the chosen candidates won their races. (WAMU)  

Can’t contain shipping container homes

Another development constructed from shipping containers is coming to DC. The condos will make their way to Shaw in late 2017. (UrbanTurf)  

And…

Activists will sing karaoke, poorly in front of the White House to protest the DEA’s decision to keep marijuana a Schedule I drug. (DCist) … Greer Gillis of DDOT is the new acting head for DC’s Department of General Services. (City Paper) … A DC homeless shelter got a donation of geese meat from the National Park Service’s efforts protect the Anacostia wetlands from geese. (WTOP)