Breakfast links: Making waves

High water

Heavy rain in the DC area has caused flooding problems.  Many drivers ignored warnings not to drive down flooded streets, and some got stranded. (Post, Gazette)

It’s electric

Exelon, a Chicago-based nuclear company, purchased Pepco, the electricity utility for DC and Maryland. How could the change affect our region? (City Paper)

Ridesharing companies fight regs

Representatives of Sidecar and UberX spoke against proposed regulations from the DC Taxi Commission, which they say would force the ridesharing companies to stop operating in DC. (Washingtonian)

Mo’ concrete mo’ problems

A set of experts worries that the Silver Spring Transit Center could face falling chunks of concrete unless it gets extra girding and support, which could delay opening the transit center even longer, until 2015. (WBJ)

Public housing delayed

DC launched an initiative to converts troubled public housing into mixed-income communities almost a decade ago, but work has yet to get underway or has made little progress at most of the sites. It’s not the only affordable housing program that has stalled.  (City Paper)

DC General closing?

Even though it’s remained at capacity, Jim Graham is calling for DC General to be closed by the end of the year. The shelter was never meant to be permanent, but DC currently has no alternatives for the homeless. (City Paper)

See the schools change

You can see how the demographics of DC schools evolved since 2001 in a set of new interactive maps and charts. In DC’s east, charters have grown as neighborhood public schools shrank and closed. (Urban Institute, City Paper)

Many Marylanders would move

Nearly half of Marylanders would move to another state if given the chance; 37% of Virginians would. 17% actually are planning to leave. The main reasons? Jobs, family, and weather. (WAMU)

And…

A street collapsed in Baltimore near the CSX railroad tracks. (WTOP) … A driver crashed into a bus stop near Chinatown, striking a pedestrian.  (DCist) … DC starts offering driver licenses to undocumented immigrants. (WAMU) … Take a look at DC’s new convention center hotel. (WBJ)