Breakfast links: DC’s population growth is slowing down—that’s actually ok
Image by Jim Havard used with permission.
DC’s once-rapid population growth is flagging
DC was one of the fastest-growing jurisdictions in the country, but December Census numbers show that growth is slowing. That's actually ok though: more people move to DC when the national economy is doing badly because it offers a lot of steady jobs. Some leave due to high cost of living when the economy picks up. (Martin Austermuhle / WAMU)
Keeping the lights on in extreme cold is no easy feat
Various kinds of extreme weather can obstruct access to electricity, including cold snaps. This power system researcher breaks down what utilities must do withstand disruption, including fixing power lines and providing backup “microgrids.” (Zhaoyu Wang / CityLab)
Metro doesn’t do a good job of assessing priorities and risks before starting projects
WMATA needs to do a better job at fully assessing where to best spend more than $1 billion a year for capital projects, a new study released by the Government Accountability Office Thursday says. Unusually, the agency doesn’t score and rank projects to figure out its priorities. (Robert McCartney / Post)
Could a Green New Deal include funds for public transit?
Policy professionals and urban activists are worried that the federal funding for transit in the highway trust fund will run out of money around 2021, leaving cities and states with a serious shortfall. Some say Congress should pass a Green New Deal with funds for transit. (Laura Bliss / CityLab)
The Washington region’s unemployment rate declined
The unemployment rate for the Washington region has fallen below 3%, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates. This ranks among one of the lowest unemployment rates for a major metropolitan region. (Jeff Clabaugh / WTOP)
Ten interesting facts about Petworth
Did you know that Harry Houdini once escaped from that historic red brick jail in 1906? Or that Abraham Lincoln was almost kidnapped off his horse in the neighborhood? Here are some other fun facts about Petworth. (Matt Blitz / DCist)
Herndon may get a food truck vending zone
Fairfax County’s mobile food vending zone program has been popular in Tysons Corner, and soon it could expand to Herndon on Dulles Technology Drive and to Mount Vernon. (Vernon Miles / Reston Now)
Could the new Newseum go to Maryland?
After last week's announcement that Newseum will sell its Pennsylvania Avenue building and relocate, the big question is: to where? Maryland is making a concerted effort to entice the organization. (Michelle Basch / WTOP)
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