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Good Monday afternoon, D.C. Don’t be duped by fake fall—it could hit 80 degrees today. Here’s some news you might have missed while celebrating Howard University’s 100th homecoming.

No, Cap

A White captain with the Metropolitan Police Department is on paid administrative leave after using racial stereotypes in an email offering overtime opportunities.

“Here at THRIVE (Rosedale), we stay knocking on doors like Shy Glizzy and Fat Trel, and you know when you cop from CAP Small, he will show up and show out because he doesn’t do it for the clout,” Captain Ryan Small wrote in the email to the 5th District mailing list. (THRIVE stands for Targeted Homicide Reduction Through Intervention and Violence Elimination.)

Small’s supervisor, Commander Shawn Rooney, apologized for Small’s “offensive, unprofessional and culturally insensitive” email. MPD Chief Pam Smith also rebuked the email, saying, “this type of unprofessional behavior will not be tolerated.” Small has been removed from the THRIVE program and is under internal investigation.

Not Another Insurrection

Local and federal authorities have been preparing for potential civil unrest that could come with the approaching presidential election and its aftermath. Capitol Police increased staffing by 300 officers, the D.C. Board of Elections has, for the first time ever, hired armed security officers for its headquarters and mail ballot processing center, and fencing has been installed near Lafayette Park and the White House.

Activists, organizers, lawyers, and residents are preparing, too. Zac Hoffman, manager of the National Democratic Club, is talking with federal law enforcement about potential evacuation routes from the building in Southeast. He also says he plans to leave the lights off in his apartment. Scott Michelman, legal director of the ACLU’s D.C. chapter, sent a letter to D.C.’s law enforcement agencies reminding them of the heavy-handed and violent responses to demonstrations around the previous two presidential elections.

“I really fear outsiders coming in,” D.C. resident Gail Sullivan told the Post. “This is where the insurrection happened. … Maybe it will spill out more into our neighborhoods than it did before.”

Spare Ribs?

The Commanders’ dynamic rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels left Sunday’s game against the Panthers early with a rib injury. It’s unclear whether the rising star will be healthy enough to return to the field this week against Chicago and No. 1 pick Caleb Williams (Daniels was the No. 2 pick in the draft and the Heisman Trophy winner last year). Daniels is expected to undergo imaging Monday. His mother, Regina, posted on social media last night: “He’s fine.” (City Paper owner Mark Ein is part of the Commanders’ ownership group.)

Backup QB Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels and led the Commanders to a 40-7 victory.

—Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• The University of Maryland was one of just eight public universities throughout the country that provided records to the Post of deals and payments for student athletes based on their name, image, and likeness, or “NIL.” The records reveal an inconsistent and unregulated market and a deep gender disparity, with most payments going to men’s football and basketball players. One Maryland football player was paid $80,000 for an appearance; and Maryland men’s basketball players disclosed payments eight times the amount of women’s basketball players. [Post]
• Pepper, a Cane Corso puppy stolen from a boat in Southeast, was returned to his owner. A person who had apparently unknowingly purchased Pepper returned the dog; police are still searching for the thief. [WUSA9]
• Police are also searching for two people suspected of robbing a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. The Friday incident, which was caught by surveillance cameras, shows two men approaching the postal worker and demanding his belongings before fleeing. [WTOP]

By City Paper Staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Mayor Muriel Bowser is proposing that the city buy Capital One Arena and lease it back to Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports to complete the deal struck earlier this year to keep the Wizards and Capitals in D.C. Both sides plan to release full details of the proposal Monday afternoon. [NBC Washington, Post]
• Legendary cornerback Darrell Green called for the Commanders to return to RFK Stadium as Bowser presented him with a key to the city this weekend. But the bill to make that happen is in danger of not advancing before the legislative calendar resets at the end of the year. [WUSA9]
• Contaminated meat and poultry products may have been sent to 13 schools across D.C. [WTOP]

By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• It’s in the waffles. TreeHouse Foods has issued a voluntary recall on hundreds of frozen waffle products due to a possible listeria contamination. The waffles are sold under a variety of names including Walmart’s Great Value and Target’s Good & Gather, as well as private label brands at Food Lion, Kroger, and Schnucks. [WTOP]
• The team behind Dupont’s Greek restaurant Balos Estiatorio is working on opening two new dining spots: The Angie, a French American bistro in Fairfax, and sister bar—Bar Angie—in D.C. [WBJ]
• A neighborhood restaurant to leave your neighborhood for—that’s how restaurateur Ashok Bajaj and chef Frank Ruta envision their new Van Ness-area eaterie. Rosedale will serve rustic New American, including Ruta’s roast chicken. [Axios]

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)