IN THE NEWS: Liquids, Marion Barry and a Dead Cow

... Scary Liquid. A large jar with an unidentified clear liquid and straw freaked out a Secret Service canine unit outside the Chinese Embassy. The jar was inside a parked car and authorities closed off Connecticut Avenue for two hours yesterday, The Washington Post reports.

The liquid was found to be harmless.

... Council Doesn't Want Barry Back. The D.C. City Council has endorsed current Ward 8 Councilmember Sandy Allen over former Mayor Marion Barry, who is trying to make a political comeback, the Post reports. Barry says he could care less.

... Briefly Noted. PETA is offering a reward for the shooting of a Maryland cow near Frederick, the Post reports. And WMATA is blaming this month's ceiling collapse at the Farragut North metrorail station on shoddy work by a 1985 contractor, but assures that all other ceilings are safe, The Washington Times reports.