German Stocks Drop After Merkel, Sarkozy Reject Rescue Plan; $400,000 Collected So Far in Ticket Amnesty Program: Morning Links

It’s going to be really nice today, says Capital Weather Gang, with highs in the upper 80s and a not-too-high level of humidity. Enjoy it because there’s a possibility rain will be back tomorrow.

German Stocks Drop After European Union Discussion: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicholas Sarkosy met yesterday and rejected a plan to expand the 440 billion euro (equivalent to about $633 billion) rescue fund. Both said European economies needed greater integration first. Now, several German stocks dropped—with the Deutsche Borese AG (DB1) dropping 6.8 percent.

Ticket Amnesty Program Draws $400,00 in Revenue: NBC4 reports that the DC DMV collected more than $400,000 in the first two weeks of its traffic and parking ticket amnesty program. The program allows people who received tickets to avoid late fees. The city hopes to collect $6.3 million.

Coast Guard Investigating Anacostia Substance: Remember yesterday when that oily surface covered parts of the Anacostia river? Well, the US Coast Guard is investigating the cause. Yesterday Coast Guard officials said the substance wasn’t oil, even though many residents said they smelled petroleum, the Washington Times reports. But a water-quality specialist at the Anacostia Watershed Society said he thought the substance was oil based on the smell. The watershed’s 2010 report card gave the Anacostia river a failing grade on water quality and clarity.

Artists’ Studios to Shutter: Gold Leaf Studios, a warehouse on 443 I Street, Northwest, has been home to a collection of artists and musicians who went there to work—and sometimes party—over the years, but that will end on January 31. Jonathan Fischer at the Washington City Paper reports that the warehouse’s current subletters will be booted in favor of a project to turn the space into residential housing.

Improvements Planned for Glebe Road: Arlington County is planning improvements to make intersections along North Glebe Road safer for pedestrians, ARLNow reports. The intersections, at Carlin Springs Road, Wilson Boulevard, and Fairfax Drive, will be altered to widen medians, increase visibility of crosswalks, and add stop lights. The changes will be primarily funded by federal dollars.

Felons Turn Themselves In: Saturday 220 felons as well as others charged with misdemeanors turned themselves in to a DC courthouse s part of a “safe surrender” program. The program allows those charged with crimes to voluntarily turn themselves in and avoid sometimes embarrassing arrests in front of family or at stoplights. More “safe surrender” days will be held on August 20 and 27.

Briefly Noted: Adam Serwer takes on the idea that DC is insulated from the recession. . . . The Capital City/Florida Market is apparently now Union Market. . . . The Washington Times says chefs are looking to open first-rate restaurants in DC. . . . Montel Williams is among those who applied to open a medical marijuana dispensary in DC.

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