WASHINGTON (AP) - District of Columbia leaders including the mayor and council chairman are heading to Las Vegas for a convention where they hope to drum up new business for the city.

Continue reading

Mayor Vincent Gray, Council Chairman Kwame Brown and several councilmembers depart Saturday for the annual International Council of Shopping Centers convention, which runs from Sunday to Tuesday. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the gathering.

The elected leaders plan to meet with retailers and retail investors, including representatives of big-box stores and grocery stores. In the past, the convention has helped city officials secure deals with Walmart and Home Depot. The district's commercial real estate market is regarded as one of the hottest in the country.