1 big thing: 🔎 Covid data lost & found 

2. ⌛️ See ya, Trump Hotel

workers remove the trump name from the facade of the trump hotel in Washington DC 

3.  Scoop: Progressive Zach Parker picks up key endorsement

Zachary Parker (left) and Janeese Lewis George (right) stand side by side and smile on sidewalk of rowhouses

New jobs to check out


4. Around the Beltway: Union Station re-do

Illustration of a bass drum, a snare drum, a conga drum and a hi-hat, playing. 

5. Three super-affordable dates

Enjoy a day at The Wharf. Photo: Oliver Contreras/for The Washington Post via Getty Images.

☁️ Today's weather: We're in for a cloudy day with a high of 69 and a chance of rain tonight.

🏒 Situational awareness: The Capitals are one game away from ending their season after falling 5-3 to the Florida Panthers last night in Game 5 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series. The puck drops on Game 6 tomorrow night at 7:30. 

Today's newsletter is 651 words — a 2.5-minute read.

🐀 1 gross thing to go: The Nats have a new mascot...

Washington D.C.

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Washington, DC. Written by Chelsea Cirruzzo, Cuneyt Dil and Paige Hopkins.

Axios D.C.

1 big thing: 🚇 Who's driving Metro?

2. 🦠 A preventable tragedy 

Fresh openings from the job board 


3. Around the Beltway: Seriously, these guys again?

Illustration of a giant panda wearing glasses and looking at a smartphone.

4. Waterfront Airbnbs driving distance from D.C.

White Point Cottage on Potomac; Photo: Courtesy of Airbnb

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny with temps in the high 70s. A delightful day for a rooftop, don't you think?

Today's newsletter is 727 words — a 3-minute read.

Is the baby formula shortage impacting your family? If so, how are you dealing with this problem? 

Reply to this email to share your thoughts.

1 big thing: 🚇 Metro's new boss

2. Town Talker: ⚔️ Youngkin's biggest nemesis

State sen. Adam Ebbin faces off the camera outside a cafe

3. Around the Beltway: 🎶 Battle of the bands

Fresh job openings around town


4.  ⚽ The D.C. soccer besties who scored 

A couple poses with a soccer ball. One is wearing a wedding dress.

​​5. 🍸 Get high 

🌤 Today's weather: Sunny with a high of 71. Clouds and rain are expected for the rest of the week, so enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. 

😋 It's National Eat What You Want Day, so act accordingly. Check out our Instagram if you need inspiration.  

📍Situational awareness: Last night the House passed a bill enabling staff to unionize.  

Today's newsletter is 933 words — a 3.5-minute read.

🗣 Calling all restaurant owners: Have you recently left food delivery apps (or are you considering it)? Hit reply to share your experience for an upcoming story.

1 big thing: 🤔 COVID data delay under the microscope

2.  🚶🏽 Why we can't walk

3. 🚴🏼 Stat du jour: Pedestrian peril

New jobs to check out  


4. 😷 The mask car

5. Around the Beltway: A civil war in Fairfax

Illustration of a text-message balloon that looks like the Washington D.C. flag, with the stars fading in and out like a text-message waiting animation.

6. 💐 A bouquet to go

7. 🌈 Over the rainbow 

Happy Monday! Not a stellar weekend for our Nats, Caps, Spirit, and Mystics fans... hang in there, guys. 

Luckily, the Nats did have one win on Saturday. 

⛈️ Today's weather: How do we know it's about to be summertime in the District? Thunderstorms. Expect storms throughout the day, with temperatures in the high 70s. 

📍 Situational awareness: Expect delays on Metro's Green and Yellow lines after WMATA abruptly pulled 72 train operators from service due to lapsed re-certifications. 

Today's newsletter is 885 words — a 3-minute read.

🍺 The Metropolitan Beer Trail kicked off this weekend! Did you go?

Grab a pass here to get discounts at bars, including Metrobar and City-State Brewing, as you walk the trail. 

Editor's note: The sixth story in this newsletter has been updated to reflect the store's new hours and also notes the name of the store's co-owner.

1 big thing: 🚽 Where to go when you gotta go

Illustration of a public restroom lock, but "occupied" is replaced with "new." 

2. 👶 What's in a (baby) name?

3.  Sports Capital: 🏒 Make or break

Illustration of the flag of Washington DC. The three stars are replaced with a basketball, a baseball and a soccer ball. 

4. 🚨 Heads up!

A graduation ceremony in front of the National Monument. 

5.  Around the Beltway: Microtransit

6. 🔥 Hot homes

A neutral colored living room with hardwood floors and high ceilings. 

7. 🗳 1 double take to go …

☔️ Today's weather: Pack your rain gear. Expect scattered showers and a high of 72.

🤝 Tell a friend: Use this referral link to share Axios Local with your networks. Refer lots of new subscribers and you'll score some swag.

Today's newsletter is 970 words — a 4-minute read.

📺 Paige is stuck at home (thanks, COVID 🙄), so she's catching up on shows, like Ozark.

🛼 Chelsea is learning to roller skate. 

🔨 Our editor Kayla is attempting to hang some pictures without putting a hole in her wall.

Improving D.C.’s walkability should go beyond infrastructure fixes to account for levels of policing, environmental quality, and other factors that affect how much people walk, according to new research.

Why it matters: The pandemic and the rise of remote work have made walkability even more important as Washingtonians spend more time in their own communities. “People want more out of their neighborhoods,” Urban Institute researcher Yonah Freemark tells Axios.

State of play: Washington has a walkability disparity — areas with large numbers of people of color, people with physical disabilities, and low-income families are facing some of the biggest challenges when it comes to getting around.

Details: The Urban Institute’s walkability report included policing, which impacts a community’s comfort level with walking; proximity to places to walk such as schools, parks, bus stops, and jobs, environmental quality, infrastructure, and safety. 

Areas toward the center of the city such as Chinatown and Shaw struggle most with environmental impacts on walkability, including air quality, noise pollution, shade, and vegetation.

Communities east of the Anacostia River, including Congress Heights and Anacostia, are more heavily policed and have poor sidewalks and infrastructure and poor access to resources.

The city’s wealthiest areas are unsurprisingly the most walkable.

Walkability report takes in-depth look at neighborhoods

Infrastructure and safety aren't the only impacts on walkability, according to new report.

Washington, D.C.

Improving D.C.’s walkability should go beyond infrastructure fixes to account for levels of policing, environmental quality, and other factors that affect how much people walk, according to new research.Why it matters: The pandemic and the rise of remote work have made walkability even more important as Washingtonians spend more time in their own communities. “People want more out of their neighborhoods,” Urban Institute researcher Yonah Freemark tells Axios.

News

The Mystics tonight play the third game of their 25th season, and this team is worth paying attention to. Here’s a quick rundown for casual fans:

The big picture: The pandemic seasons haven’t been great for the Mystics, who won the WNBA championship in 2019. But with star forward Elena Delle Donne returning after a back injury, things are looking up.

On the court: The Mystics are 2-0 this season and have already seen big games from Ariel Atkins, Natasha Cloud, and Delle Donne.

This team is strong on both ends of the court with several shooters and defensive stalwart Atkins (the first player in WNBA history to earn all-defense designations in each of their first four seasons).

Rookie and third overall pick Shakira Austin scored a double-double Sunday night while Delle Donne was out, proving that she could be the rare WNBA player to shine in their first year.

What to watch: The band isn’t all back together yet and will have to adjust to a changing roster for at least the first few weeks of the season. 

Elizabeth Williams is still overseas finishing her season in Turkey; Delle Donne is still on load management for her injury and isn’t traveling to away games yet, and Alysha Clark is still injured but expected to return soon.

Note: The 2019 championship was Delle Donne’s last full season, and while other players are on the rise she’ll be integral to the team’s success.

Off the court: Mystics players continue to be some of Washington’s most outspoken athletes. Forward Tianna Hawkins and guard Natasha Cloud last week spoke out about abortion rights. Players have also advocated for Brittney Griner, who’s still in Russian custody.

The team’s platform for social justice initiatives this season — dubbed District of Change — will partner with Mayor Bowser’s 202Creates program on a t-shirt series that supports local artists. 

Expect to see players in their popular Rise jerseys honoring the 19th Amendment next month.

Special events: Throughout the season the team will host themed game day events, including Military Appreciation (May 22), Pride (June 12), and Back-to-School (August 7).

A casual fan's guide to the 2022 Mystics

The Mystics play their third game of their 25th season tonight, and this team is worth paying attention to. Here’s a quick rundown for casual fans:

The Mystics tonight play the third game of their 25th season, and this team is worth paying attention to. Here’s a quick rundown for casual fans:The big picture: The pandemic seasons haven’t been great for the Mystics, who won the WNBA championship in 2019. But with star forward Elena Delle Donne returning after a back injury, things are looking up.

Sports

Former presidential adviser Symone Sanders left the White House to fulfill a childhood dream: hosting her own TV show. “Symone,” which covers politics and culture, premiered Saturday on MSNBC and can be streamed on Peacock.

Sanders, who’s engaged to D.C.’s former “night mayor” Shawn Townsend, shared her media habits with Axios as a part of our recurring Screen Time series.

📲 First tap(s) of the day: Snooze, then texts.

🗞 News: Sanders says she gets a wide variety of news sources sent to her email, including local news. “I think it’s a good barometer,” she says of local coverage. “I like to juxtapose the national tipsheets to what the front pages of the local newspapers are.”

🎧 Listening to: Into America and The Daily.

🔌 Tips for unplugging: Limit notifications to essential contacts only. In addition to turning off notifications, Sanders is “obsessed with the Marvel universe” and loves a good movie or reality TV show to decompress. 

“I tuned out the rest of the world,” she says of catching up on "The Batman" last week. “I told my assistant, ‘if anything happens, do call, because I will not know about it.’”

Screen Time with Symone Sanders

MSNBC show host and former presidential adviser Symone Sanders shares her media habits.

A black and white image of Symone Sanders.

Former presidential adviser Symone Sanders left the White House to fulfill a childhood dream: hosting her own TV show. “<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Symone" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/SYMONEMsnbc" data-vars-content-id="3372debb-08c8-4bcf-8fa3-7fbc69717f1c" data-vars-headline="Screen Time with Symone Sanders" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/SYMONEMsnbc" target="_blank">Symone</a>,” which covers politics and culture, premiered Saturday on MSNBC and can be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="streamed on Peacock" data-vars-click-url="https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/msnbc-hub?cid=2201libgennbnwownedi4995&amp;utm_campaign=2201libgen&amp;utm_source=msnbc_msnbc_na&amp;utm_medium=own_edi_awa_navlnk&amp;utm_term=msnbcvstr&amp;utm_content=msnbc&amp;orig_ref=https://www.msnbc.com/" data-vars-content-id="3372debb-08c8-4bcf-8fa3-7fbc69717f1c" data-vars-headline="Screen Time with Symone Sanders" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/msnbc-hub?cid=2201libgennbnwownedi4995&amp;utm_campaign=2201libgen&amp;utm_source=msnbc_msnbc_na&amp;utm_medium=own_edi_awa_navlnk&amp;utm_term=msnbcvstr&amp;utm_content=msnbc&amp;orig_ref=https://www.msnbc.com/" target="_blank">streamed on Peacock</a>.Sanders, who’s engaged to D.C.’s former “night mayor” Shawn Townsend, shared her media habits with Axios as a part of our recurring Screen Time series.

Metro named its next CEO to step in after Paul Wiedefeld retires at the end of next month.

What’s happening: Randy Clarke, who’s coming to WMATA after leading Cap Metro in Austin, Texas, takes over as the agency faces steep pandemic-induced profit losses and a safety investigation that has sidelined over half of Metro’s railcar fleet for six months and counting.

Details: Clarke worked for Boston’s transit authority for six years — including a stint as chief safety officer — and spent two years as a VP at the American Public Transportation Association, a trade group based in the District.

WMATA salary: $485,000 (10% annual bonus eligibility).

Track record: Clarke will go from overseeing a $318 million operating budget in Austin to Metro’s $2 billion operating budget.

His top achievement in Texas involved the effort to get a multi-billion-dollar transportation expansion project — including new light rail lines — approved by voters.

After starting there in 2018, much of his tenure involved navigating the pandemic and the steep ridership drop that followed. 

Similar to D.C., pandemic staffing shortages and subsequent route changes have frustrated Cap Metro riders this year.

Metro names new CEO

Metro will change leadership as it navigates pandemic and safety challenges.

Metro's incoming CEO, Randy Clarke. Photo: WMATA

Metro named its next CEO to step in after Paul Wiedefeld retires at the end of next month.What’s happening: Randy Clarke, who’s coming to WMATA after leading Cap Metro in Austin, Texas, takes over as the agency faces steep pandemic-induced profit losses and a safety<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" investigation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2022/05/05/dc-metro-yellow-green-line-wait-times" data-vars-content-id="3f13eab8-2326-4792-9882-61ba01308db8" data-vars-headline="Metro names new CEO" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2022/05/05/dc-metro-yellow-green-line-wait-times" target="_self"> investigation</a> that has sidelined over half of Metro’s railcar fleet for six months and counting.

Data: Social Security Administration. Chart: Baidi Wang/Axios

The Social Security Administration released the top 2021 baby names in each state.

The big picture: Parents in the Washington region weren’t especially creative this year and mostly stuck to national trends when naming their new additions.

In the District, the top names were Henry and Charlotte. While Charlotte was a popular name throughout the country, Henry didn’t make the top five on a national level or in Maryland or Virginia.

In Maryland, the top names were Liam and Olivia, exactly the same as the most popular names nationwide.

In Virginia, the top names were Liam and Charlotte, which were both top-five names nationwide, and in D.C. and Maryland as noted above.

Zoom out: The SSA also notes the names that are growing most quickly in popularity nationwide. In 2021 they were: Amiri, Eliam, Colter, Ozzy, and Loyal for boys; and Raya, Wrenly, Angelique, Vida, and Emberlynn for girls.

Here are the Washington area's top 2021 baby names

Parents in the Washington region weren’t especially creative this year and mostly stuck to national trends when naming .

The Social Security Administration released the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="top 2021 baby names" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#5-2022-1" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#5-2022-1" target="_blank">top 2021 baby names</a> in each state.The big picture: Parents in the Washington region weren’t especially creative this year and mostly stuck to national trends when naming their new additions.

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Stories

Walkability report takes in-depth look at neighborhoods

Here are the Washington area's top 2021 baby names

Metro names new CEO

Screen Time with Symone Sanders

A casual fan's guide to the 2022 Mystics

Newsletter editions

🚇 Who's driving Metro?

🚶🏽 Why we can't walk

🚽 Public restroom revamp

👋 See ya, Trump Hotel

🚇 Metro's new boss