Photo by ianseanlivingston

Good morning, Washington. Since we had our freak snow storm on Monday and a pleasant sunny day yesterday, today we split the difference with what the Capital Weather Gang can only describe as a “soaking rain.” There may be a little snow or sleet mixed in early on, but nothing to provoke a panic, even in panic-prone D.C.

Metrobus Crashes, Caught on Camera: WTOP may well have hit paydirt today with hundreds of videos it obtained showing Metrobuses getting into accidents, whether collisions with other vehicles or even pedestrians being hit. The footage of the many accidents and mishaps came from the on-board cameras every bus has; WTOP received 134 videos showing accidents in August and September 2011. Metro officials say that the accidents are but a small sampling of the thousands of bus trips on region’s streets every day, and that the transit agency has worked to discipline drivers that get into preventable accidents. Under current rules, a driver can be fired after being involved in three major preventable collisions.

Issa Wants More Answers on Occupy D.C.: The powerful chair of the House oversight committee wants more answers out of the Department of Interior on why the Occupy D.C. encampment at McPherson Square has been allowed to remain as long as it has. The Washington Times reports that Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) received a first round of responses from the department earlier this month, but he now wants copies of all communications made with the White House, National Park Service and MPD. He’s also still waiting on the legal rationale for the occupiers being allowed to stay; according to park rules, camping is prohibited, after all. At a hearing in December, Issa expressed frustration that the encampment had destroyed new grass that had been paid for by federal stimulus funds and accused Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar of giving the occupiers preferential treatment.

Higher Fares, Same Service: The Examiner accurately boils down the proposed fare increases that might hit Metro users later this year — higher prices for the same service. Metro officials concede as much, but say that maintenance backlogs and needed improvements to trains and escalators are needed now, and they’re not free. Moreover, they say, all the work that happens now will pay off down the road.

Briefly Noted: Popular D.C. radio host passes away … Two more arrests in September 2010 daytime U Street shooting … Did D.C. statehood advocates time tomorrow’s trip to New Hampshire right? … Catholic University celebrates 125 years … Liberty University sponsors freestyle skier … As Virginia kicks off legislative session, Senate expected to slow things down … Ward 5 candidate changes tune on same-sex marriage … Tom Sherwood lays it down on Harry Thomas, Jr., and Mike DeBonis reports on where some of the money he stole went.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier responded to comments she had made in the wake of a death outside of the DC9 nightclub, a University of Maryland student was killed in his home and we debated whether Chef Gillian Clark was being clever or rude with a series of YouTube videos on customer requests. In 2010, Big Chair Coffee and Grill had a big opening in Anacostia and the Nissan Pavilion changed its name — to Jiffy Lube Live.