Photo by specimenlife

Good morning, Washington. If you want a somewhat terrifying read for your morning, head over to the Washington Times for another installment of its excellent series on youth crime in the District and the city’s continuing inability to do much about it. In today’s story, reporters Jeffrey Anderson and Matthew Cella write: “Of the 110 people publicly identified by police or prosecutors as being arrested for or charged with homicide in the District between Sept. 1, 2009, and Aug. 31, The Times investigation found that 41 were 21 years old or younger. At least 26 of these alleged young killers – more than 60 percent – were either committed to DYRS [Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services] at the time, previously committed or had a record of prior juvenile arrests.” Yikes.

D.C. Parking Fee May Increase: The Post reports that Mayor Adrian Fenty is considering doubling fees for residential parking permits as part of a plan to close a $185 million budget gap. The fees would increase from $15 to $30 a year. Fenty is currently working a proposal to shave down the deficit, though he’s already a week late on presenting it to the D.C. Council. While the parking fee would increase, the majority of his proposal is said to focus on spending cuts.

NoVA Also Wants a Streetcar: It seems that streetcars are all the rage these days, and not just in D.C. TBD reports that residents got a chance yesterday to review plans for a streetcar that would run along Columbia Pike in Arlington and Fairfax counties. The streetcar, which would cost north of $160 million, would have to be approved by both counties by mid-2011. The Examiner also covers the streetcar-to-be, which county officials hope to pay for with a federal grant.

And This Is Why Banning Four Loko Is Dumb: Because people who would otherwise never even have thought to try the stuff are running out to stockpile it. The Post writes that sales around Georgetown and American University have surged as students have run out to get cans of the 22-ounce drink before it disappears all together. The article quotes Greg Gerlach, a sophomore at American who has bought 50 cans of Four Loko and openly looks forward to the day that he can hawk it at twice its cost to other students. “People know I’m selling it,” he says. Yeah, including university officials and police. If you’re planning on selling an alcoholic beverage that may soon be banned across the country, you should probably not spill the beans to the first Post reporter you come across. Just sayin’.

Briefly Noted: D.C. can’t account for federal funds used for schools … Two names leak out as possible Gray appointments … Man killed on BW Parkway as he pushed broken-down car.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2009, Sarah Palin announced a local stop on her book tour and a new Whole Foods was announced for what has become the Wisconsin Avenue Whole Foods Corridor. In 2008, we asked for reader reviews of the short-lived Adams Morgan taxi stand and a fight at Anacostia High School sent five to the hospital.