Photo by Stinky Grinch.

Good morning, Washington. Riders at the Braddock Road and College Park Metro stations: congratulations, you were the first to experience Metro’s random bag searches. The transit agency’s controversial new safety procedure kicked off around 7:30 a.m. this morning at those two stations. Adam Tuss reports that one man had to wait for five minutes because “because his bag tested positive for a trace of explosives,” though he was ultimately let through after his bag didn’t have anything harmful inside. We’re already hearing stories about a woman toting Christmas gifts who missed her train, eight-minute long searches, and warnings that household chemicals could set off the scanning machine. Both stations’ sweeps have completed — readers, did any of you have your bag swept? You know how to tell us.

Will D.C. Crack 600,000?: The U.S. Census Bureau gets its once-a-decade moment in the sun this morning, as it releases the results of the 2010 population count. The figures are expected to reflect a slowdown of American growth; but around these parts, we’re looking forward to seeing whether the District can reverse decades of population decline and — possibly — break the 600,000 barrier. Of course, we’d simply settle for an increase in population for the District, which would be a first for D.C. since the 1950 Census.

Rents Up, Up, Up: Speaking of Census figures, the Post reports that they show rental prices in the Washington area having increased 22 percent over the last decade. The Post cites an increase in houses converted to rental properties and fierce competition for desirable apartments as reasons for the increase. It’s great news for landlords — who already had the advantage of D.C.’s unquenchable market for short-term housing to bolster their negotiating position — but tough on potential renters, who are being squeezed, no matter their budget.

Gray’s Last Day As Council Chair: Mayor-elect Vince Gray will retire his Chairman’s gavel after today’s legislative meeting, when the Council will take its final vote on Gray’s budget gap closing proposal and consider measures on the hotel tax not being paid by travel booking sites and a controversial tax break for Union Station businesses (which we thought was “dead as a dog“). Meanwhile, Freeman Klopott has more about Gray’s search for a new fire chief, which he chose not to conduct nationally in order to avoid “instability.” Gray appointed Kenneth Ellerbe, who was involved in a somewhat shady “personnel exchange” before he resigned from the department earlier this year.

Briefly Noted District residents prepare for welfare cutbacks…James Patock pleads guilty on gun charges…Redskins to build bubble over practice field…Four charged with burglarizing home in Spring Valley.

This Day in DCist: Last year, we were drooling over the Four Season’s gingerbread Smithsonian Castle; in 2007, we revisited the Farragut Monument.