Photo by jim_malone

Photo by jim_malone

>> Now that health care reform was ruled constitutional, states have to start getting ready for its implementation. D.C. and Maryland have already been laying the groundwork, but as the Examiner reports, Virginia is now scrambling to catch up. As the mandate worked its way through the courts—thanks in part to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli—Gov. Bob McDonnell decided to hold of putting the wheels in motion on meeting federal requirements under the law. As a consequence, Virginia legislators are likely going to have to go into special session to make up for lost time.

>> Pepco isn’t a particularly popular company around these parts, but the electricity provider is asking for a four percent rate increase in Maryland and five percent in D.C. to raise $111 million it needs to replace aging equipment. But the Post reports that residents and their advocates are pushing back on the rate increase, complaining that Pepco just isn’t very reliable when it comes to keeping the power on.

>> Yesterday we reported that Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At Large) was claiming that a staffer had spent campaign funds without his authorization. Well, Loose Lips reports that MPD yesterday raided the home of Hakim Sutton, Brown’s former campaign treasurer, as part of the investigation into the alleged embezzlement.

Briefly Noted: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision helps anti-corporate cash initiative in D.C. … More shootings in D.C. neighborhood where two kids were hit earlier this week … Today’s not a good day to be playing golf … AIDS Quilt makes its return to D.C.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, we finally got to hear the Fugazi/Wu-Tang mashup and the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation started charging permit fees again. In 2010, we debated who was a better dancer—Mayor Adrian Fenty or then-mayoral contender Vince Gray.