• Weather Advisories Are Exciting News Events: Massive thunderstorms blew through DC, spewing hail and knocking out power throughout the area.  Those who still had power took to their blogs in order to inform others that it was indeed raining.  The afternoon storm rolled in so quickly that it made for an captivating visual, as captured by Prince of Petworth and The DCist.

• Yesterday's storms put a damper on voter turnout for the Virginia gubernatorial primary.  After clogging every channel with strange campaign ads like this one for the past several weeks, the Post reports that only about 6% of the state's registered voters cast ballots.  Polls closed at 7 p.m. and by 7:45, the pollsters at fivethirtyeight.com called the Democratic primary for state senator R. Creigh Deeds.   Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Rainy Days Edition" »

The Washington Post calls the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary for Creigh Deeds shortly after 8 p.m.

He will face Republican Bob O'Donnell McDonnell in November.

Deeds won, notably, without the vote of Washington City Paper editor and Alexandria resident Andrew Beaujon. Says Beaujon, "I forgot."

Beaujon explains that, due to this morning's thunderstorms, he took the bus to work rather than his customary bicycle: "Threw off my whole rhythm."

First up: Fresh stuff right here on this very Web site. Jason Cherkis has the cops, in their own words, explaining themselves for the DeOnte Rawlings shooting. Of special note: why they not only left the boy bleeding from the back of the head, but why they never even checked to see if he's still alive. Stunning.

Tim Carman's got even more on the eviction of celeb chef Spike Mendelsohn; Amanda Hess is wondering who can tell a rape joke; Ruth Samuelson finds a juicy condo conversion story peopled with phantom tenants; and Dave McKenna finds a guy to lay out in telling detail why DCPS is dysfunctional. LL Weekly to be pimped in forthcoming LL Daily.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, except when it comes to the Cleveland Park Cititizens Association. Marc Fisher today goes after George Idelson and Friends after old George, rather than welcome a bunch of people who don't agree with him into "his" neighborhood group---designed to "make your voice heard and help preserve and improve our neighborhood"---decided instead to postpone/cancel elections. Idelson's a classic NIMBY, of course, who favors "preservation" above development, even if that development includes replacing a crappy grocery store with a noncrappy one. But what Fisher didn't get into is just how quietly effective old George has been over the years. The battles being lost in Cleveland Park now are connected to the "overlay"---the complicated, esoteric formula that dictates how much property and which kind can be commercial. Idelson is its most vocal defender and has successfully fought off scrapping it and drastically changing it. As a result, Cosi fell victim. The Giant project has been stalled for more than 10 years. Empty storefronts at the Park and Shop remain that way. But if old George is forced to open up his fiefdom? Things could finally get interesting in CP.

Moving on to the fact that Virginians are not allowed to smile for their license photos anymore. But they are allowed stupid vanity plates? Oy vey.

More from the D.C. blogoworld:

Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Communism in Cleveland Park Edition" »

Read More "Eastern Shore: Down and Back" »

It's been a historic time for Virginia. On Tuesday, the state turned blue, voting for a Democratic presidential nominee for the first time in decades. In March, the state will lose its signature brewery, according to Greg Kitsock, the suds guru for the Washington Post. The Old Dominion Brewing Co. plans to shutter its facility in Ashburn and increase production at its other plant in---wait for it, wait for it--Delaware. (Hey, doesn't Delaware already have a famous microbrew?)

Local beer geeks are deciding whether they will remain loyal to the area's oldest microbrew once it abandons Virginia. What do you think? Will you continue to buy Old Dominion? Or will you tell it to kiss off, much like Old Dominion has done to the state after which the company took its name?

In the meantime, I suggest Old Dominion change its name to Small Wonder.

Photos by Ewa Beaujon.

1. Fairlington Rec Center, Arlington, 12:20 p.m.

2. Cora Kelley Elementary School, Alexandria, 12:50 p.m.

3. George Washington Middle School, Alexandria, 1 p.m.

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch's never-not-amazing polling troubles page.

• One woman was arrested outside of the poll at the Whitcomb Court recreation room in the East End after she flicked a lit cigarette at a police officer. The woman was upset because she no longer was qualified to vote in the precinct, [Registrar J. Kirk Showalter] said. The woman was arrested and charged with littering.
• Two workers from opposing campaigns got into a fistfight outside the poll at George Wythe High School in South Richmond, she said.

In which we speak with Mary and Pam, two McCain volunteers who predict an upset victory for the Republican ticket. Mary doesn't trust polls, while Pam thinks Virginia and Florida are going to break decisively for McCain.

An Obama victory, Pam adds, might signify that God requires "penance" from the U.S. For something.

Plus: will Prop 8 turn California red?!?!

Um...probably not.

Trouble viewing? Try the YouTube version.

*We're not really counting that "this is your brain on democracy" thing.

You might want to get used to the words "Vice President Palin." [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

In some precincts, voters experienced problems because optical scanning equipment was not working properly. In other locations, people were filling out ballots with wet hands and clothes, which caused problems with the machines.

Some lowlights of voting in the Virginia capital, as reported today by WWBT-TV.

• 308 precint Library
  Librarian overslept did not open until 5:55am and voters let in at 6:25am
• Swift Creek Middle School-Midlothian
  Machines stopped working -- no techanican on site. Long lines, hundreds of people waiting in line. Paper ballots were given out and filled out but can not be used because of broken machines. Ballots are being put in a metal container. Voters are worried about their votes being counted and privacy.
• Precint 108-Hunting-Henrico County
  Voting machines not working.
  Paper ballots are being filled out but put in an open brief case.
  Voters have no way of knowing if their vote will be counted.
• Southside Baptist-6000 Iron Bridge
  Cars being towed by WAWA

Seriously, if any locality can screw things up, it's this one. Should be interesting to see what emerges there--I'm expecting "Ukrop's Fried Chicken" to end up with at least three of the Commonwealth's electoral votes.

For much of yesterday, I debated whether or not to go to Obama's last rally--being held tonight--in Manassas.

Pro: It's Obama's last rally. It's history. Bruce Springsteen may be there. If not Bruce Springsteen, may be Mark Warner(!) will be there. Obama has not tired of giving a great speech. His "closing argument" is pretty powerful. I've been obsessed with the election. Sometimes my obsession has become a burden to friends and colleagues. It's hard to hold a conversation with someone who regurgitates the latest poll numbers, who sounds like he has "Election Tourette's." By attending the rally, I will be surrounding myself with other election freaks. That could be fun, right?

Con: The rally is in Manassas. It is an hour away without traffic on 66. There is always traffic on 66. Obama people are letting people in at 5 p.m. The rally starts at 9 p.m. There's no way to get there without sitting in traffic for a long time. This would mean the making of sandwiches, carrying a blanket, wearing winter-like clothes, and perhaps lying to a boss about why you're leaving work early. Did I mention the rally is in Manassas?

What are you gonna do?