As we detail below, the D.C. Council has taken a step towards making us safer. Well, making us feel safer, at least…

Council Passes Anti-Crime Measures: The D.C. Council passed a series of measures aimed at curbing the recent uptick in violent crime, handing D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams a victory while upsetting civil liberties and youth activists, reports the Post. The legislation would move the existing juvenile curfew up to 10 p.m. from midnight, require the courts to tell police when a juvenile with multiple violent offenses on his record is released, and install surveillance cameras (which the Washington Times calls “spy cameras“) in various neighborhoods. The only dissenting vote came from councilmember and mayoral candidate Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4). We still think something better could have been done in response the recent crimes.

Security Programs Take a Hit: The recent cuts in federal funds for anti-terrorism programs have forced the region’s governments to scale back on certain plans, writes WJLA. The cut — from $77 million last year to $46 million this year — will primarily affect a high-tech regional communication system and the purchase of extra beds for area hospitals.

Maryland Wal-Mart Law Struck Down: A Maryland law that would have forced Wal-Mart to pay more in health insurance for its employees was struck down by a federal court, notes the Post. The law, which would require that companies in Maryland with more than 10,000 employees put more money into health insurance policies, was passed in January after Governor Robert Ehrlich’s veto was overridden. The federal judge that overturned the law claimed that it ran afoul of a federal statute protecting corporations from state-to-state differences in health and benefits.

Briefly Noted: U.S. evacuees from Lebanon arrive in Baltimore … Virginia inmate opts for electric chair … Rep. Tom Davis’ plan for Metro still not a sure bet … Politics and crab cakes mix in Maryland … Big toll hike expected on Dulles Greenway.

This Day in DCist: On this day last year, we observed the upside-down world of school politics in Maryland and Virginia, created some of Dino’s crostini, reported on the links between Chief Justice John Roberts and an illegal french fry, and scoped out the area’s best moving companies.

Picture snapped by Grundlepuck