ABC7 TRAFFIC: The ruptured water main and ensuing sinkhole in Upper Marlboro is repaired but South Osborne Road will remain closed during today’s rush- hour commute. Minor crash on I-66 East near Vienna. Otherwise, nothing major to report – yet, that is. Here’s the traffic flow map, and follow DaybreakSkip on Twitter for breaking updates: http://tbd.ly/95jmWZ

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TEA PARTY WON’T LIKE THIS: We’re talking red meat, here. Per the Post, “President Obama has directed a small team of advisers to develop a proposal that would keep the government playing a major role in the nation’s mortgage market, extending a federal loan subsidy for most home buyers, according to people familiar with the matter.” http://wapo.st/q1LkJW

HE SWEARS HE DIDN’T DO IT: Per ABC7, “Detectives returned to the Georgetown home of 91-year-old journalist Viola Drath Monday night to investigate her death, deemed a homicide. Drath twice reported violent attacks by her husband, Albrect Muth, who at 47 was 44 years her junior.” http://wj.la/oxEmBk

THE OL’ SPRINGBOARD: Per the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “Gov. Bob McDonnell assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association on Monday, a move that significantly elevates his profile nationally and could provide a springboard to higher office, possibly even the vice presidency.” http://bit.ly/pnkX58

DON’T FORGET ABOUT US: Per the New York Times, “BAGHDAD — A chilling series of fatal attacks across Iraq on Monday that killed 89 people sent a disheartening message to the Iraqi and American governments: After hundreds of billions of dollars spent since the United States invasion in 2003, and tens of thousands of lives lost, insurgents remain a potent and perhaps resurging threat to Iraqis and the American troops still in the country.” http://nyti.ms/pEl1Fp

RECESSION? WHAT’S THAT? The Post takes an exhaustive look at the region’s growing pockets of wealth. “More than $80 billion in federal contracting dollars will flow to the region this year, up from $4.2 billion in 1980, according to Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University.” http://wapo.st/mUQ0Lg

SPORTS STROLL: Marcos Ambrose wins rain-delayed NASCAR race at Watkins Glen. . .Jason Reid knows who Redkins’ quarterback will be. “The Washington Redskins’ supposed quarterback competition between Rex Grossman and John Beck isn’t a fair fight. The winner is predetermined. The fix is in. All along, the job has been Beck’s to lose.” http://wapo.st/ovmrYe

THE GREAT UNKNOWN: D.C. area police forces wrestle with the looming problem of flash mobs that turn violent but the uncharted-waters nature of the problems creates more questions than answers. Per the Examiner, “"Fortunately, we haven't been hit with exactly that type of crime yet," said D.C. Assistant Chief Lamar Greene. "Of course, we're aware and we've met to discuss tactics and we're going to look at ways to make sure we're able to combat this type of crime if it happens in the [District]." http://bit.ly/qhhtKu

POLITICO BLINK: “Congress might be headed for a super turf war. The 12-member supercommittee needs to find its $1.5 trillion in spending cuts from somewhere — and that means treading on the jurisdiction of some very powerful committee leaders who may not be happy to have ceded a significant amount of authority on perhaps the biggest spending cut bill in American history.” http://politi.co/outLaC

ON ICE: A judge in Aruba ordered the man detained in the suspected death of his travel companion, Bethesda’s Robyn Gardner to be held for 16 more days as prosecutors build their case against Gary Giordana, prosecutors said Monday. http://wj.la/qw3BVo

SAD SICKO ALERT: Per the AP, “A Louisiana man told investigators he decapitated his disabled 7-year-old son because he had grown tired of caring for the boy, (whose) head was left by the side of the road so the child's mother would see it when she came home.” http://apne.ws/no37ia

ABC7 WEATHER: The storm system impacting our region continues to pull up the eastern seaboard today, ensuring more sunshine and similar temperatures. There will be a refreshing wind out of the northwest which could gust up to 25 mph. Shower chances are slight. http://wj.la/72e8x6

--Skip Wood