Weekend links: Tragedy and comedy

Woman kills 3, gets 2 tickets

A Frederick County woman killed three people outside a church with her car. All she got were two traffic tickets, “for unsafe backing and negligent driving.” The investigation has been closed. (Post)

House cuts everything Republicans dislike

The House passed a spending bill including huge cuts, including all Metro capital funding, high-speed rail, most of New Starts, almost everything related to the environment, the new health care bill, Planned Parenthood, NPR, and more, but does let the military keep sponsoring NASCAR. (Christian Science Monitor, The Transport Politic)

Gas stations will gradually turn into condos

A profile on DC’s biggest gas station owner, Joe Mamo, ends by noting that some operators worry he’ll convert many stations to condos; Mamo is aware that rising real estate costs, rising gas prices, and alternative fuels will push land toward other uses in the long run. (City Paper)

Dog heads civic group

A civic association in an Annandale neighborhood elected a dog as president. The dog, through her owner the former president, promised to “govern with an even paw.” (Post)

Depends what you mean by “absolutely”

Apparently, when Councilmember Michael Brown says he “absolutely” supports having hearings on Walmart, that doesn’t mean he committed to holding a hearing on Walmart. (Housing Complex)

Safer car hood designed

Some researchers have designed a car bonnet (“hood” in the United States) that’s less likely to hurt a pedestrian or cyclist if it hits one. Of course, not hitting people at all is the best safety measure. (Anglia Ruskin University, Stephen Miller)

Weekend whimsy

Dulles and DCA are hosting concerts. (Post) … Toronto has a wave-form deck along their waterfront. (David Garber) … When regular no parking signs don’t work, try a handmade wooden one. (TBD)

Things collapsing

A few steps collapsed at the bottom of an escalator at Foggy Bottom, dropping a woman a few feet. Nobody was injured. (TBD, DCist) … Wind knocked over the National Christmas Tree, which will have to be replanted. This happened twice before. (DCist)