Breakfast links: Family incomes up in DC but the gap widens between wards

Family study shows growing wealth inequality by ward

DC's median family income rose this year, but not for all, according to an annual report. Households in Ward 2 saw their median income increase 65%, but in Wards 7 and 8 those numbers dropped, highlighting the city's economic divisions.  (Perry Stein / Post)

Fewer delays for Metro overall despite yesterday’s bad commute

Metro showed improvements in railcar reliability and fewer delays and offloads in the first quarter of 2017. But for people stuck in rush-hour single tracking on the Red Line yesterday, it didn't mean much.  (Martin Di Caro / WAMU)

Fairfax needs private land to widen Route 1 for bus lanes

A Fairfax County project to widen a stretch Route 1 could end up needing land from 200 nearby homes and businesses, though final federal approval is still pending. The extra-wide highway would include a center lane dedicated to bus rapid transit.  (Max Smith / WTOP)

Public speech causing a stir on private balconies

An apartment complex directly across the street from Nationals Ballpark has banned the use of flags and banners on their unit's private balconies after residents branched out from mostly baseball-themed paraphernalia to competing political banners.  (Benjamin Freed / Washingtonian)

Silver Spring won’t get an arena after all

Montgomery County plans to turn two parking garages in Silver Spring into a 5,000 seat arena hit a major speed bump when no developers bid on the county's proposal before the deadline passed.   (Andrew Metcalf / Bethesda Beat)

High down payments push many to FHA loans

Buying a home in the Washington region is difficult, in part because of high down payments, which most people cite as a major barrier. Federal Housing Administration loans are supposed to ease that burden, but looming government reforms could change that in still-unknown ways.  (Kriston Capps / CityLab)

Canadian police ride the bus to catch distracted driving

Quebec police are trying a new traffic control measure: riding the bus. The high vantage point allows them to see drivers using cell phones at the wheel, and officers in cars can issue citations. Distracted driving is huge in the US too, one study estimates drivers check phones in 600 million trips per day.   (CBC News)