Watch Your Backhoe: A Metrobus and a backhoe collided this afternoon on North Capitol and M Streets NE, injuring six. But the bus driver isn’t to blame. According to WJLA, “Metro Spokesperson Cathy Asato says the backhoe made contact with the right side of the bus as the bus was passing through a construction area.” -3

Remains Of Missing Boy Found: Police say they’ve found the remains of William McQuain, son of Jane McQuain, a Maryland woman who was allegedly killed by her husband. Suspected is the husband, Curtis Lopez, who was also William’s stepfather. -6

Bagel Displacement!: The District isn’t the only jurisdiction in the area being menaced by the specter of an invasion from Arkansas. A Walmart planned for Rockville Pike is setting off the usual gripes about traffic and density, just like the stores the firm wants to put in D.C. The Rockville site, though, would mean Bagel City, one of the few places in town to get reliably excellent bagels, would be evicted. Fortunately, whatever bagels Walmart sells are probably no good, so if the shop can find a new lease, it ought to survive. -2

Being Influential Finally Pays Off! The D.C. Council voted to stop arresting people with expired tags on their cars after pressure from the likes of Fox News, the Washington Post and Virginia Senator Jim Webb. WTOP: “The bill submitted by Democratic Mayor Vincent Gray was approved without opposition Tuesday. It would eliminate criminal penalties for expired tags, replacing them with civil fines.” -1

Yesterday’s Needle rating: 73 Today’s score: -12 Today’s Needle rating: 61