Photo by yakfur

Good morning, Washington. Today’s another big day in World Cup action, as the U.S. lines up against Slovenia at 10 a.m. in a must-win game. While there’s no Dupont Circle outdoor viewing happening this time around, much less are there great colonist/colonized jokes to throw around, we’re sure activity in the city will largely grind to a halt as the game happens. The local branch of American Outlaws, a dedicated U.S. soccer club, let us know that they’re having their watch party at Molly Malone’s on Barracks Row and are expecting crowds and T.V. cameras for those who count Eastern Market as convenient during a weekday. As for me, well, I’m still drunk from Switzerland’s historic win over Spain, a victory that finally put to rest the many neutrality jokes I’d been hearing (and even I was making).

Gray Good News Train Rolls On: Last night mayoral contender Vincent Gray got some more good news for his campaign — he won the Ward Three Democratic Committee Straw Poll and picked up the committee’s endorsement. But unlike other straw polls and endorsements, these were much closer. Gray narrowly beat Fenty in the poll 174 to 168, while he won the endorsement vote 40-15. All the results are here. (He didn’t gather 75 percent of the votes needed for the endorsement, so he can’t officially claim it, but his campaign already has.) Earlier this week Fenty picked up the endorsement of the city’s construction union, but apart from that, it’s hard not to feel that Gray is riding a much bigger wave right now. In related news, the Examiner’s Harry Jaffe tries to explain how it is that Fenty could govern so well and campaign so badly. His conclusion? “Fenty’s tyrannical methods of running a municipal government do not work in a political campaign.”

Virginia is for Legals: Arizona might not have to reap the consequences and criticism of their new immigration laws alone if one Virginia official has his way. The Post reports that Corey Stewart, the chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, is asking Virginia state legislators to consider pulling an Arizona and allow police to inquire as to the immigration status of those they have a “reasonable suspicion” are in the country illegally. This wouldn’t be the first time Prince William County pushed the local envelope on immigration — in 2007, the county started allowed local police to ask everyone they arrested of their immigration status. On the plus side, soon the commonwealth will have something to be embarrassed by that’s not Attorney General Ken “The Cooch” Cuccinelli.

Story of the Day, Courtesy of WTOP: “Va. man competes in world beer pong event in NJ.”

Chinatown Townhouse for Sale! Motivated Seller! Great Location!: If you’ve ever driven down Massachusetts Avenue between Third Street and Sixth Street NW, you’ll notice a small, rundown townhouse sandwiched between two of the new residential buildings that sprouted up on the strip over the last few years. (Architects have dubbed the area the “Mediocre Mile.” Ouch.) The Post reports on the house and its owner, a man who at the height of the construction boom turned down millions for the property but is now selling it for significantly less under threat or foreclosure.

Briefly Noted: Metro workers punished for mistaken 10-car run … One more reason never to go to Pentagon City Mall — 29 of 30 eateries have been cited for health code violations … Public viewing for slain Maryland State Trooper to be held today.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2009, the Columbia Heights Metro station was the scene of a double shooting and D.C. United asked their fans where they’d like to see a new stadium built. In 2008, Comet Ping Pong scored a win at an ANC meeting and three people were shot at the Anacostia Metro station.