Photo by pablo.raw

Photo by pablo.raw

>> Virginia Republicans are revisiting a controversial plan to drug-test welfare recipients, writes the Examiner. The commonwealth’s GOP says that it has found a way to make the process cheaper—the original cost of the tests would have far outweighed the value of the benefits that could be saved—thus overcoming an obstacle that sank the idea during a legislative session earlier this year. Virginia Democrats say the plan is insulting and unfairly stigmatizes individuals who already have tough lives.

>> Sometimes you’ll want to park on a D.C. street, only to notice seemingly conflicted signs telling where and when is allowed and when it’s not. Or you’ll feed the meter, only to come back and find a ticket, even though you didn’t exceed the time you paid for. D.C. officials admitted that these are problems they have to address in the coming months as part of a broader attempt to make changes to how drivers in the city park their cars, reports WTOP. Other changes—including whether or not residents will have to pay for a visitors parking pass to give to guests—will also be considered.

>> An 18-year-old girl was robbed and shot as she walked to school yesterday in Southeast D.C., reports WAMU. Though she emerged with non-life threatening injuries, the incident has provoked the Guardian Angels to announce that they will patrol the neighborhood, writes WJLA.

Briefly Noted: Montgomery County Council gets first Latina presidentOne person dead in Bloomingdale house fire … Glitch in data management system forces D.C. police to stop distributing daily crime briefing … Maryland struggles to replace Prince George’s County delegate … 18-year-old Rockville man found guilty of providing gun for shooting at Metro station … Congressman wants more oversight over 911 systems in region.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, I took over (yay!) and Occupy D.C. raised a barn. In 2010, Pepco was outed as the least-reliable electric utility in the region.