Tons of people told us about the large tree that fell over near Dupont Circle last night, crushing a parked car and causing the street to shut down. This photo was posted to the DCist Flickr pool, so we thought we’d go ahead and share it, though we still haven’t heard back about what caused the tree to fall — we’re guessing old age.

>> “…by reducing Thursday drinking, overall drinking on campuses would decline, even if students continued to drink on Friday and Saturday nights.” Why, it’s so simple it just might work!!! [USA Today]

>> “Good news, America — your kid no longer has to go school with the blacks!” [Wonkette]

>> A Reston-area woman found an alligator in her back yard. [WTOP]

>> The FDIC has opened an internal investigation after receiving complaints that senior staff induced women to go topless at a recent golf outing. [Examiner]

>> Nathaniel Rabinowitz apparently barricaded himself in his house in the 1,700 block of Vermont Avenue NW, set fire to the home and then shot himself this afternoon after authorities came to his residence. He had been in a dispute over a ladder outside his home, which neighbors say burglars used to access their skylights so they could break in. [WaPo]

Photo by chapulin colorado