Photo by lifeinthedistrict

Good morning, Washington. “I can’t believe this is the middle of July,” was a popular refrain we heard this weekend. The sentiment wasn’t even really referring to how quickly this year seems to be slipping by (even though that’s certainly also true), but rather how generally mild the summer heat has been to date. This weekend’s balmy conditions were enough to make cynics like us predict a hellish September as the most likely form of justice from Mother Nature. It does look like we’ll be treated to some nasty humidity this week, though high temperatures will at least remain at reasonable levels.

Shhh! You’ll Jinx It! The Post once again goes with a big story this morning on how violent crime in D.C. (and in other major cities) has seen a significant drop this year, this time focusing on how nobody seems to know why this is happening, especially in the middle of a terrible recession. D.C. is on track, the story notes, to have the smallest number of killings since 1964. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier provides several quotes taking credit for the decrease.

D.C. Adoption Rate Dropping: In less encouraging local statistical news, another Post story reports that the number of D.C. foster children who are being adopted has fallen sharply. Despite the big backlog of cases finally having been cleared under new agency head Roque Gerald, CFSA may still have a long way to go in terms of reforming itself. But the agency is heading to court today for a hearing on setting a timetable for ending court supervision that’s gone on for years as a result of a federal class-action suit.

Briefly Noted: Obama to be at Children’s Hospital today … Kaine to visit Alexandria unemployment office … CBS pays tribute to Walter Cronkite … Maryland will ask for federal funds for Purple Line … District based Marine charged with killing a puppy … Fatal shooting at a house party in Sterling.

This Day in DCist: In 2007, we squashed rumors that the Uptown Theater might have been about to close, and in 2006, upscale Dupont restaurant Urbana opened for the first time.