Federal health officials are investigating a multistate salmonella outbreak that has been linked to raw oysters and sickened 27 people across a dozen states. wapo.st/4sroQe8

Louise Lucas, a leading Democratic power broker in Virginia, mounted a fierce response to a DOJ indictment against her and six others as an attempt to “silence those who stand up to them.” wapo.st/4izOf1E

Zookeepers at the National Zoo say Dolly’s name matches the bold and feisty personality of their “most vocal” recent red panda cub. Roughly 65% of the 20,000 votes cast were in favor of the name honoring the late Dolly Parton. wapo.st/4z3YAJd

For the first time in 34 years, a cassowary laid an egg at Australia's Adelaide Zoo. 10-year-old Martha has been mating with 13-year-old Jeffrey. Dad will takeover incubating the neon green egg and, hopefully, it will hatch.

Against the backdrop of a darkening economic outlook and looming fiscal cliff, the D.C. Council weighed seven ideas to raise taxes. Here are the proposals, such as a new business activity tax and a wealth proceeds tax: wapo.st/4jswzWK