Photo by technotheory

Good morning, Washington, and happy World Car Free Day! Despite another day of potentially rainy weather, over 11,600 local commuters have pledged to go sans automobile today. And as part of the celebration, Capital Bikeshare will be throwing itself a birthday party down at Yards Park starting at 6 p.m.

Washington Region Doing Better Than Rest of Country: The Examiner reports that 2010 Census numbers show that the Washington region has emerged as the richest metropolitan area in the country, with four of the top five richest counties located in Maryland and Virginia. (Loudoun County leads the pack with a median income of $119,540.) Still, writes the Post, not all is well for all. The same Census numbers show that incomes have fallen in Montgomery and Fairfax counties, mostly due to an influx of lower-earning immigrants. Also, despite an increase in the median income in the District, the city’s poverty rate climbed, so much so that it now ranks third in the country.

Another Potential Shutdown Looms: There’s certain things that really shouldn’t be left to the last-minute — debates over local tax rates and budgets that could avert a government shutdown are amongst them. Sadly, we’ve dealt with both this week. The Post reports that the House yesterday rejected another spending bill, setting up another last-minute budget confrontation that could end in a federal — and local — government shutdown by October 1. With the threat of another shutdown hanging over the District’s head, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is trying to push legislation that would allow the city to spend its own money in the case that the federal government does shut down. This is what little you need to know about how a federal shutdown and how it effects the District — we wouldn’t get our trash picked up. What does our trash have to do with Congress? Nothing at all, making the fact that this is happening yet again even more foolish.

Substandard Concrete Used for Wilson Bridge: The Wilson Bridge may be new, but it seems not be of very high quality. WAMU reports that Maryland man has admitted that he approved the use of substandard concrete during construction projects on I-270 and the Wilson Bridge; the Post reports that the Maryland State Highway Administration has stressed that the crappy concrete has no effect on the bridge’s overall structural integrity, though.

Briefly Noted: Stay away from the cantaloupe … Does anyone even protest the IMF and World Bank anymore? … Washington is sixth in the U.S. in terms of smog … Twelve locals make it on to Forbes 400 richest list; in related news, can I borrow a few bucks?

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2010, we hunted through old yearbooks for a picture of Mayor Vince Gray during his college years (what a looker!) and we wondered what type of person would vandalize D.C. Central Kitchen’s vans. In 2009, we saw images of a public art installation set to go up in Adams Morgan (it never did) and found that Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) loves ethics.