Good morning, Washington. If you’re the sort of person who likes to start thinking about their lunch break just as soon as they sit down at their desks, we have excellent news for you in the form of a planned DC Vote rally for voting rights between noon and 1:30 p.m. today. Anyone who’d like to show their support for voting rights is encouraged to meet on the north side of Constitution Avenue between First and Second Streets NE for a short rally, and then fan out in the Senate office buildings to distribute literature to staffers. If you’re planning to be there to fight for representation for the District, send an email to Lateefah Mims at lmims (at) dcvote.org.

Juvenile Detention Triples: A new study to be released today by the Campaign for Youth Justice shows that the average number of juveniles held in the D.C. Jail in recent months has tripled since last year. The Post reports that the rise is being attributed to factors such as an increase in violent crimes committed by juveniles, and by prosecutors applying a “blanket policy” of trying juveniles as adults. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) expressed concern that holding so many youthful offenders with adult criminals only creates more dangerous criminals.

Rhee Spends Big on Staff: D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee plans to spend $1.6 million for salaries for her 13 top aides, The Examiner reports. Lisa Ruda, Rhee’s chief of staff, and Kaya Henderson, deputy chancellor, are each paid $200,000, the same amount as Mayor Adrian Fenty. The average salary of each Rhee aide is $122,000.

Briefly Noted: Reward offered for suspect sought in two D.C. bank robberies … Two officers hurt in crash at Mass. Ave. and 13th St. NW … Virginia man convicted in 2002 shooting rampage … Mexico drug lord apprehended in Silver Spring restaurant.

This Day in DCist: In 2006 we noted the passage of last year’s emergency youth curfew, and in 2005 we debated whether a section of 9th St. NW near U Street should be officially designated “Little Ethiopia.”

Photo by andertho