Photo by andertho

Happy Emancipation Day, D.C.! There’s a lot going on today to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation of District slaves in 1862, and a list of events can be found here. Additionally, the folks at DC Vote are hosting an advocacy day on the Hill for the D.C. voting rights legislation that might make a comeback next week, so if you’ve got time to spare before noon head on over to the Capitol and demand your voting rights.

Tea Party Supports D.C. Voting Rights: A few days ago we wondered if the Tea Party members that held a protest in downtown D.C. yesterday would finally recognize that unless they’re all District residents, they can’t really claim to be suffering from the strictures of taxation without representation. The Examiner’s Harry Jaffe apparently went to find out, and got a few choice quotes of Tea Partiers siding with our cause for voting rights. OK, they might be a select few, but we’ve already got a call into Sarah Palin to see if she’d like to bring her brand of practiced Alaska folksiness to the next voting rights rally or advocacy day.

D.C. Schools Enrollment Inches Up: There is a glimmer of good news on the horizon for Michelle Rhee — enrollment in D.C. schools will increase in the 2010-2011 academic year, the Post reports. Sure, it’ll only be 164 students, or an .36 percent increase, but an increase is good news, right? Kind of. The majority of the enrollment increases are seen in preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, while grade 1-12 will still see declines. Additionally, enrollment in public charter schools will rise by 6.2 percent.

More Problems Found in D.C. Schools Budget: OK, so maybe that rising enrollment won’t be enough to cover up more budget-related problems at D.C. schools. The Examiner reports that not only does the schools budget not have the $34 million surplus that Rhee said it did earlier this week (and D.C. Natwar Gandhi angrily refuted yesterday), but it’s actually got a $20 million deficit in central office operations and a $10 million deficit for overtime and special pay. That means that less than $5 million is available to fund retroactive pay raises that are part of Rhee’s new teacher contract. Additionally, Rhee is firing back at Gandhi, claiming that it was his office that verified the $34 million surplus earlier this week.

Quote of the Day, Courtesy of Marion Barry: “I have nothing but integrity,” said the Ward 8 council member yesterday as he richly accused fellow Council member David Catania (I-At Large) of steering an earmark to George Washington University. That may well rival his claim that he’s a “moral politician,” a claim made at a rally in 2009 against same-sex marriage.

Briefly Noted: Area retail vacancy rate far below national average … D.C. middle school principal found dead in home … Four Prince George’s County police officers suspended for beating of U-Md student … Death of D.C. cyclist during Nuclear Summit ruled an accident.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2009, Marion Barry was again spared jail time. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI toured the city in his quirky Popemobile.