Photo by maxwellvu

Good morning Washington, and Happy National Pie Day! Yes, it’s a slow news day, but anything is better than discussing, or even thinking, about the blistering cold outside. So follow the orders of the menacing American Pie Council and stuff your pie hole.

>> Hundreds gathered in Towson, MD to honor Baltimore County volunteer firefighter Mark Falkanhen Saturday. Falkanhen died in a three-story apartment fire Wednesday night while searching for trapped residents. He later died at the hospital. Later, the Baltimore County Fire Department awarded him the medal of honor, the department’s highest praise. Funeral services are planned for Monday at Baltimore’s Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

>> A missing Silver Spring teen has been found safe within D.C. city limits. Karen Mitchell, 14, was last seen by her family leaving for school early Thursday morning. Investigators determined that she had taken a cab from Silver Spring to the 3300 block of 22nd Street, SE. No foul play is suspected at this time.

>> Although the Beltway is at a standstill most of the time, at least during waking hours, please be careful out on the roads. According to WTOP, one man is dead and his passenger is in serious condition after their vehicle broke down and was struck in the third southbound lane of I-495. The deceased driver was killed after having exited his vehicle .