Photo by Elvert Barnes

Good morning, Washington. Hey, wasn’t it supposed to snow a little yesterday? That was kind of a bust. Maybe this weekend?

Overcoming: The Post looks at a pair of federal laws that in recent years have helped battered immigrant women—many of whom lacked legal status—escape their abusers’ torment. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act and the 2007 law creating the “U visa,” which allows assault victims to win legal residency upon helping law enforcement prosecute their abusers, have helped many D.C. area immigrant women who have been afraid that by going to the police they would risk deportation.

Counter Counter: Just why do so many D.C. coffee shops serve Counter Culture coffee? It’s not because it tastes good—in fact, it’s pretty watery. The City Paper’s Alex Baca caffeinated her way through many of the at least 25 cafés and restaurants that serve the Durham, N.C.-based roaster’s beans. She finds that Counter Culture is so ubiquitous largely because of the free training it offers to baristas employed by coffee shops that serve only Counter Culture.

Sammy’s Law: The speed limit on Maryland’s Intercounty Connector is 55 miles per hour, but like the pretender of a Van Halen frontman once said, some legislators aren’t content to drive at such a turtle-like clip, the Post reports. Montgomery County Sen. Nancy J. King told Maryland’s transportation secretary she’s found it “hard” not to push the speedometer into the 60s.

Briefly Noted: Alexandria medic in critical condition after falling from I-395 overpass … Recipe for fun: Counter-protesters moving in to Freedom Plaza next week … Just why are Montgomery County’s Ride On buses so flammable? … Roads near National Institutes of Health and the new Walter Reed to be torn up … Protective Services Police officials fired after mishandling Occupy D.C. protest last October … McDonnell to enlist the help of Bush. Jeb Bush.

This Day in DCist: In 2011, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) said he’s a one-and-done kind of guy, and the long, dark journey into TBD’s night. Two years ago, enough with the snow; seriously, enough with the snow.