Breakfast links: A snowplow bribery scheme reveals endemic corruption at Virginia’s DOT
Image by John Sonderman licensed under Creative Commons.
Virginia’s DOT faces charges of bribery, harassment, and drugs
Seven people have been convicted in a corruption investigation at Virginia's Department of Transportation. Some say the problem is more extensive than the snowplow bribery scheme that put them behind bars, calling corruption “endemic” to the agency's culture. (Rachel Weiner / Post)
Civil liberties groups say DC Police are not collecting data on stop-and-frisks
Civil liberties groups charge that the DC Police Department has not kept adequate data on stop-and-frisks, even though the department is required to by a 2016 law. The groups argue that without that information, it is difficult to identify systemic problems with policing. (Martin Austermuhle / WAMU)
The Purple Line will be a “transformational” project, its new head says
The Purple Line contractor CEO Fred Craig says the project will be “transformational” for the area — it will slash travel times for riders on the Red Line and boost opportunities for people to get to previously inaccessible jobs. (Katherine Shaver / Post)
DC’s six-year housing inventory is at a new low
The number of homes for sale in DC has hit a new low, part of a six-year decline in the housing inventory available to potential buyers. Current supply is only five weeks, while experts estimate that a balanced market has a six-month supply. (Urban Turf)
A Maryland bill wants to fix the wage gap
A new Maryland bill could make it illegal for employers to ask potential employees about their salary history. Supporters aim to reduce gender, race, and other wage gaps by forcing employers to pay workers based on the market value of the position. (Ally Schweitzer / WAMU)
Howard students protest in the administration building, demanding change
Howard University students took over the school's administration building, protesting a recent discovery that a student employee may have embezzled student aid funds supposed to go to low-income students. The students submitted a list of nine demands of the administration, ranging from more counselors to the resignation of the university president. (Sarah Larimer and Danielle Douglas-Gabriel / Post)
Walmart will pay $1.3 million for withdrawing from Skyland Development
Walmart has settled with Washington, DC for withdrawing from its planned store in the Skyland Development in Ward 7. Walmart will pay $1.3 million for breaking its lease on the land, stopping any threats of future litigation. (Michael Neibauer / WBJ)
Why European cities are so much denser than US cities
European cities are often noted for their density. Many of these cities owe their design to centuries of designing decisions, ranging from climatic considerations to technological constraints during development. (Feargus O’Sullivan / City Lab)
Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.