The Post reports this morning on impressive growth throughout the region in the number of black-owned businesses. Census Data released yesterday detailed the strides black businesses made between 1997 and 2002; nationally black-owned firms grew 45 percent (compared to about 10 percent for all firms), but they still only account for 5 percent of all businesses. While growth took pace across the region, media focus has been on Prince George’s County, which now has over 28,000 black-owned businesses. According to the Post, that makes it the “fourth-largest concentration of black entrepreneurs in the nation.”

Paging Anna Benson: Details continue to emerge regarding Nationals GM Jim Bowden’s unfortunate pas de drink. According to NBC4, Bowden was seen shortly before his arrest, arguing with his girlfriend Joy Browning. The fight apparently left him bruised (see photo at left), and Browning went on to strike an officer twice, after he took her cell phone away.

Arlington Growth Necessitates Metro Improvements: Rapid growth around Orange Line stations in Arlington has led to station upgrades at Ballston, which are likely to be incorporated at Rosslyn and Courthouse, as well. Yesterday, Metro opened three new elevators at the Ballston station, a project which was funded by Arlington County and completed three months ahead of schedule. Later this year, work will begin on a new entrance to the Ballston station.

Briefly Noted: Wahoos continue living wage campaign…More federal money to assist in Anacostia cleanup, development…Just don’t mention global warming…Break up the Nats.

This day in DCist: We featured a daring Borf tag, and we took a look at the season-to-be (that-was) for the Redskins.

Picture at top taken by scuba_steve002. Photo of Jim Bowden from NBC4.