Photo by caroline.angelo

>> Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has agreed to include a provision banning anyone involuntarily committed from ever buying a gun in a larger gun control bill, reports the Post. Existing law only applies a ban to those who have been committed for more than 30 consecutive days, but O’Malley agreed to the higher threshold after it was pushed by members of his own party. Virginia implemented a similar law after the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting.

>> Area leaders are again appealing to President Obama and congressional leaders to stop a series of $1.2 trillion budget cuts set to kick off on March 1, writes the Examiner. If the cuts take effect—a process known as sequestration—Virginia stands to lose 208,000 jobs, followed by 127,000 in D.C. and 115,000 in Maryland. The cuts were to take effect on January 1, but were pushed off until March.

>> A bill increasing fines for texting while driving is headed to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s desk, reports WVEC. Under the provisions of the bill, texting would become a primary offense—meaning you could be pulled over for just that—and a first offense would cost you $250, up from $20.

Briefly Noted: Anthony Williams, Alice Rivlin to lead search for new D.C. CFO … VRE offering discounts for people willing to step up to Amtrak … 15-year-old Prince George’s County boy killed over shoes … Designs for two D.C. Walmarts being reworked … Renwick Gallery to get overhaul.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2012, locals ran around Nationals Park in costume hoping to become one of the racing presidents and a local reporter suffered some backlash from a story exposing stores selling booze to minors. In 2011, the fully-loaded SUV saga kicked off.