Photo by elocke

Good morning, Washington. If you drive a lot, you probably already know this — gas prices in the region are high, with those in the District being highest. The Examiner reports that the District’s average price of $3.54 a gallon beats Virginia and Maryland ($3.30 and $3.37, respectively) and exceeds the national average of $3.41. All told, only 10 states pay more for gas than we do. It’s unclear why District residents pay more for gas than their regional neighbors, but if it has anything to do with a local gas station mogul, we’re no closer to a solution today — the D.C. Council put off any action against Joe Mamo, a gas station owner, until at least January.

D.C. Council Votes on Secure Communities: Only weeks after Mayor Vince Gray ordered D.C. police to stop inquiring about immigration status during routine operations, the D.C. Council voted yesterday to limit the time that suspected undocumented immigrants can be held at the local jail. According to WAMU, the council unanimously decided to put a 24-hour cap on how long they’ll hold individuals wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, unless the person is accused of a violent crime. The detentions, known as civil detainers, usually last 48 hours before the individual is released.

Movers and Shakers in the DMV: The Examiner reports that residents of the Washington Metro region move around more frequently than their counterparts in the other parts of the country. In 2010, close to 34,000 people moved from the District to Maryland or Virginia, an increase over 2009. A similar rise was seen in the number of people moving from those two states to the District — 16,000 in 2009 and 21,000 in 2010. Mobility in other parts of the country is lower than it’s been since the U.S. Census started tracking it in 1948; the region’s surprisingly resilient economy is cited as a reason that so many people move around locally.

Bullet Hit White House: Oscar Ramiro Ortega, who is suspected of firing a gun in the proximity of the White House a few days ago, better run far and fast — the Post reports that one of the bullets from his AK-47 actually hit a window on the presidential residence. Police still aren’t sure if Ortega was aiming for the White House or not, but at this point that distinction may be lost on the police that are searching for him on an arrest warrant for carrying a dangerous weapon.

Briefly Noted: Protesters in Richmond find an interesting place to occupy … Prince George’s County passes on slots ban … Gaithersburg is debt-free … Maryland officials confident that same-sex marriage will be legalized … D.C. Economic Partnership survives on taxes … Street Smart campaign kicks off.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2010, IHOP in Columbia Heights opened its doors, we first met marijuana entrepreneur Montgomery Blair Sibley and the House considered legislation that would cut the time between a vacancy on the D.C. Council and a special election. In 2009, the Washington Blade shut its doors, the District started raising awareness for the five-cent plastic bag fee and we got some pics of the first Tweed Ride.