How’s that Congress-is-back-in-session traffic treating you this morning, Washington? Seems like everyone and their step-cousin is on their way to the Hill this morning to witness what new Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised will be “the most ethical Congress ever.” So we sure hope all you staffers cleaned out your bosses’ freezers last night, because this morning will have been too late. In all seriousness, we’re definitely looking forward to following the goings on during the first few weeks of the new Congress, as the new Democratic majority has outlined an incredibly ambitious agenda for their first week in power (not to mention those longer working weeks we’ve heard so much about). So let DCist welcome you to town, new Congress and staff. We look forward to two fun-filled years of pressing up against you during rush hour on the Metro.

Mayor Fenty Demands Statehood: Now that we’ve got you Hill folks’ attention, listen up! The time is now. Our new shiny-headed jogging-crazed Mayor demands it, and we agree. But if we can’t have full statehood just yet, um, pretty please make good on your promise to give us just one measly full representative in the House? Thanks.

Cherry Blossoms Will be OK: At least according the Associated Press, who tell us that despite what many of you have probably already noticed — this insanely warm winter is causing a number of trees around the city to bloom already — the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin should not be affected and will still bloom on their normal schedule. That’s good news, we guess, although the idea of getting to stroll down on a lazy warm February morning and see the blossoms before the throngs of tourists even get a chance to pack their bags certainly has its appeal. But oh yeah, right, global warming is bad. We have to keep reminding ourselves.

Briefly Noted: Lanier appoints D.C. Schools Security Chief … Obscure character actor paid $150,000 to promote D.C. Schools. … Metro train driver at fault in deadly accident … Fire in Northwest kills one person.

This Day in DCist: Last year we noted the final passage of the smoking ban that’s now in effect, and the year before that we welcomed the Journal Newspapers to the District.

Photo by Mrbossanova16

Filed Under: associated press, Briefly Noted, cherry blossoms, congress, dcist, district, fire, fun, global warming, good news, house, mayor, mayor fenty, metro, nancy pelosi, news, photos, schools, smoking, smoking ban, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, statehood, the city, This Day, tidal basin, tidalbasin, traffic, train, washington,