IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: "Tampering Charges Tossed, But Conspiracy Case Goes Forward," "Outcast Psychic Eyes Bethesda Comeback," "World Cup Roundup," "Defense Expert Disputes Knife Evidence In Wone Case," "Court Sides With Protesters In DPW Poster Removal Case," "Fatal Shooting In Brentwood"

Good Morning. So just how bad is Mayor Adrian Fenty doing against D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray? He lost the Ward 3 straw poll—the results of which were released late yesterday. If Fenty is to have any hope of keeping his job, he's got to dominate that ward. LL is stunned and thinks maybe this is some kinda joke. But it must be true since there's a Gray campaign press release in my inbox: "According to results released tonight, Gray was named the winner of the Ward Three Democratic Committee Straw Poll with 174 votes to 168 for Fenty. The straw poll was conducted one week ago as the candidates faced each other in a candidates’ forum sponsored by the committee, but ballots were not counted until this evening. The straw poll was open to any registered Democrat living in Ward Three. The Ward Three Democratic Committee also voted tonight on whether to endorse a candidate for Mayor. While no candidate received the required 75% needed for an endorsement, Gray handily beat Fenty among the delegates by a margin of 40-15 (or 64% of the vote to 24%)." More coverage via WaPo.

AFTER THE JUMP—Virginia at war with itself over Metro, Don Peebles rides the fence, bad record keeping found at Adult Protective Services agency, and much, much more!

METRO MESS: WaPo editorial board refers to Virginia's threat to withhold Metro funds as "blackmail." The board writes: "This is not a dispute between Virginia and Metro, or even between Virginia and the other two Metro jurisdictions, Maryland and the District. This is a dispute between Virginia and Northern Virginia. And resolving it would not require redrawing the rules governing Metro's board. As things have stood for years, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, a regional body representing Fairfax and Arlington counties and Alexandria, has named two voting members to the Metro board to match the two voting members named by the District and the state of Maryland. (Maryland's seats have for years been controlled not by suburban governing bodies but from Annapolis, which also provides the state's subsidy.) When Virginia was asked to pony up $50 million a year in funds to match the federal dollars, state officials started pressing the commission to allow them to name one of the two voting members (plus an alternate) for Virginia. The Northern Virginians declined.... State officials point out that they are chipping in about 52 percent of all Virginia dollars going to Metro; the remaining 48 percent comes from Northern Virginia localities. State officials are also right that the Metro board would be well served by having Virginia represented by a full-time transportation expert, not part-time politicians, no matter how conscientious and well-intentioned." Best line: "But Metro is not a political trophy to be squabbled over; it's one of the busiest and most critical transportation systems in the nation. Northern Virginia needs to recognize the state's legitimate interest and contribution, back down and allow Richmond a vote on the Metro board. Richmond should negotiate without holding the system hostage. This internecine skirmish must not be allowed to jeopardize funding for transit in the nation's capital."

IT'S NOVA VS. THE REST OF VA: Meanwhile, the Examiner's Kytja Weir reports that two Virginia Congressmen called the funds threat "budgetary blackmail." Weir writes: "Reps. Gerry Connolly and Jim Moran, both Democrats, wrote a letter to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell stressing 'serious concerns' about the proposal to give two of the four Virginia board slots to political appointees instead of elected officials from Northern Virginia. They specifically disputed the McDonnell administration's claim that the commonwealth deserved half the positions as it was contributing 52 percent of the overall $249 million in state and local subsidies for the pending $2.1 billion Metro budget, which starts July 1. They argue that Northern Virginia riders' fares and parking fees are not included in those numbers, thus underestimating how much local residents are contributing. Furthermore, Connolly told The Washington Examiner, that the $50 million the state is threatening to withhold comes from revenue paid by Northern Virginia drivers through the 2 percent gas tax. 'I know who pays the bills. It's local taxpayers, not Richmond, not the commonwealth,' Connolly said. 'This is our own money that Virginia is suddenly laying claim to.'"

HOPEFULLY, THE LAST DON PEEBLES LINK EVER: WaPo's Mike DeBonis writes that the developer has finally, sorta, maybe made up his mind on whether to run for mayor:

"The D.C.-born developer, based in Florida for more than a decade now, appeared on Jonetta Rose Barras's WPFW-FM show Thursday morning, promising to answer whether or not he'd challenge Mayor Adrian Fenty — a decision he's been openly pondering since last fall.

Not surprisingly, no hard answer came from Peebles, who has pledged to inject as much as $5 million of his own money into the race and has relished the attendant public attention. But it's clear the public's patience is nearing an end. Barras started by asking Peebles the big question: Will you or won't you?

'I continue to get an outpouring of support asking me to run for mayor,' he started, before launching into an extended monologue on the problems of Washington today — ranging from jobs to fiscal management.

Barras finally pressed him to answer the darn question. Even that didn't get a clear yes or no.

When he had agreed to come on the show, Peebles explained, he intended to announce he'd run for the mayoralty as an independent — that is, in the general election, after Fenty and Vincent Gray had duked it out. But Peebles said that earlier this week he'd learned that his mother-in-law's cancer had significantly worsened.

So, he said, 'at this point right now, I cannot be a candidate for mayor.'

Barras then asked if the 'door is closed' to a mayoral run. Said Peebles, 'You never say never.'"

Peebles has a great back story and can talk passionately on the subject of job creation. But why would anyone vote for this guy after all his indecision? More coverage via WBJ.

SHADY RECORD KEEPING: The Examiner's Alan Suderman reports that paperwork concerning some of the District's most vulnerable residents wasn't kept secure—the IG has found: "Sensitive information of some of the District's must vulnerable residents, including abused and neglected elderly and disabled citizens, was left in a haphazard and unsecured mess at a city office, the D.C. inspector general has found. The District's Adult Protective Services division is tasked with 'investigating reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of frail, elderly and disabled adults,' according to the inspector general's report. But the APS's case files — which include clients' statements, Social Security numbers, health records, and the names of those who reported abuse — were left 'unorganized lying on unattended desks, in open boxes, and in carts waiting to filed' in a storage room," the IG found. And the storage room was often left open and unlocked because it was used by city employees "as a thoroughfare" to reach exits and restrooms. City employees from a different department and who weren't authorized to look at the records had easy access to the files, according to the IG. The report is the third the inspector general has issued in little more than a year that details how a city agency has failed to safeguard city records."

9:30 CLUB VS. LIVE NATION: AP reports: "The owner of Washington's 9:30 Club has filed a lawsuit against Maryland to prevent the state from giving Montgomery County $4 million to build a music venue. The lawsuit was filed this week by the music club's parent company, IMP Inc., and that company's co-owner Seth Hurwitz. It says the county hasn't provided enough information about the project's costs as required by the General Assembly. The county is contributing $4 million to build the venue. A spokesman for the county executive says the county has met the assembly's conditions. The Live Nation venue would be built in downtown Silver Spring and serve about 2,000 standing patrons. Hurwitz has said his company could create a music venue in Silver Spring without public funds."

FENCED IN: WaPo's Ann Marimow updates on Vincent Gray's controversial fence: "The clock is ticking for Council Chairman Vincent Gray to do something about his fence. He has 30 days to relocate or lower the black aluminum fence that surrounds his Hillcrest home, according to a letter dated June 9 from the District's Public Space Committee. Last month, the committee ruled that Gray had not provided sufficient justification to exceed the District's height limit on fences built in the public right of way. The panel, charged with protecting the character of the city's neighborhoods, gave Gray two options to act by July 9: lower his 67-inch fence to the limit of 42 inches or move the fence back to the property line. Rulings by the obscure but powerful committee are final. Gray is consulting with his attorney, but has "not yet made a decision on whether he will move the fence or decrease the height," his campaign spokeswoman Traci Hughes said Thursday."

METRO MESS PART 2: Metro workers will be disciplined over ten-car train.

HOLDOUT HORROR STORY: One landlord who refused millions to sell during downtown's development boom now probably regrets that decision.

REQUIRED FATHER'S DAY READING: WaPo's Petula Dvorak profiles a father who adopted two neglected boys with the help of the Children's Law Center.

GRAY'S HEALTH: The Examiner's Bill Myers reports that Gray had a bit of "a sniffle" this week.

CRUISERS: Three cop cars were hit by an SUV.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK: From Keith Jarrell on campaign sign wars:

"For more than a month I have had a Vince Gray for Mayor sign in my yard. Proudly I might ad, and at my request. This evening after attending a CAC meeting at 4th District I came home only to find a Fenty for Mayor sign in the middle of my front yard, completely unauthorized!

Where does the dirty, over bearing side of Fenty STOP?

I am open to no excuses from the Campaign on this heinous act. If they even begin to suggest that the person that installed the Fenty sign maybe didn't see the Gray sign then I am going to suggest that they get their eyes checked. They would have to have practically walked over the first sign to put up the second one.

I have left a message for the Fenty Campaign manger giving him until 8Am tomorrow morning to have the sign removed.

Keith Jarrell"

MAYOR'S SCHEDULE:

9:30 a.m. Remarks
Ribbon Cutting for Marvin Gaye Park
Location: Marvin Gaye Park
Minnesota Avenue and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE
(Don't you feel like he's already cut a ribbon at Marvin Gaye Park?)

D.C. COUNCIL SCHEDULE:

11 a.m.
Committee on Aging and Community Affairs (Hearing)
Bill 18-235, the "Veterans License Plates Establishment Act of 2010"
Location: John A. Wilson Building, Room 412

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Prosecutor: Wone Suspects 'Did It For The Family,'" "Defense: Cops Prejudiced Against Wone Suspects"

Howdy. A big day in D.C. Superior Court with the start of the Robert Wone conspiracy trial. It's been several years since Wone was murdered in the Dupont Circle home of the three defendants. That's a long time to speculate, theorize, and comb through the evidence. No one has been more attentive to this case than the men behind the website Who Murdered Robert Wone? The site offers up strong Day One coverage that included opening statements and the testimony of Wone's widow. The bloggers picked up on a few interesting details:

"It’s clear the defense is ready to take full advantage of any and all previously admitted government and law enforcement errors, reinforcing their message that this was a flawed investigation from the beginning. Said Ward counsel Schertler, the government '…tried to create evidence to fit a preconceived theory…'

Interestingly, all three defense attorneys took pains to paint Robert and all of the Swann Street three as good friends…and that friends simply can’t murder friends. A close reading of the defendants’ interview statements, and comments today from Kathy Wone, raise some doubt about those claims.

Looking back, in his opening statement Kirschner seemed to hit his strongest stride referencing W-5 and Joe’s statement to him that he pulled the knife from Robert’s chest. This, after being interviewed for hours that he found the knife lying on Robert’s chest..an inconsistency that Kirschner hopes to demonstrate the 'vacuum' of truth in statements by the defendants."

More coverage via WaPo, NC8, the Examiner, WUSA9, WTOP.

AFTER THE JUMP—More bad news for CFSA, introducing the Fake Don Peebles, Maya Angelou pens supportive note to Fenty, and MOCO schools get in hot water over religion.

BUDGET WATCH: Yesterday, LL cheered the restoration of funds to several Child and Family Services Agency programs that had been cut by Mayor Adrian Fenty's proposed budget. But LL failed to provide a clearer picture of the cuts that are still set to take effect. You can find a full breakdown of the cuts in the Human Services Committee report (PDF)–which include hefty slices from foster parent subsidies, rapid housing, along with a cut to the grandparent-caregiver subsidy program, and the gutting of the parent advocacy program. The safety net still needs a lot of patching up. The D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute provides a fact sheet on the budget mess. Meanwhile, Save Our Safety Net is organizing a Human Safety Net around the Wilson Building tomorrow morning. The press release has the details:

"District residents and advocates will build a safety net around the John A. Wilson Building at 8:30 am Wednesday, May 17, 2010. The demonstration is being organized in partnership with the Fair Budget Coalition and Save Our Safety Net (SOS-DC)....Harry Thomas, Michael Brown, and other Councilmembers will join hundreds of DC residents

FAKE DON PEEBLES: The big question from yesterday: Was Don Peebles now using Twitter? The answer turned out to be no. But the Fake Don Peebles is still pretty awesome. Favorite tweets include this one from May 16: "There has been much speculation over my intent to run for mayor of DC, for inquiring minds: I am still giving it serious consideration." And this one from May 12: "I like thinking big...If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big." I don't know about you but this substitute LL is going to be following the Fake Don Peebles at least until the election.

MAYA ANGELOU STICKS UP FOR FENTY: Remember that controversy last summer revolving around the Fenty Administration's attempt to boot out Cora Masters Barry from the tennis center? Remember the reports of Fenty dissing Dorothy Height and Maya Angelou? Fenty had failed to meet with the famous women, who were intent on lobbying on Barry's behalf. On NC8's NewsTalk last week, Fenty addressed the controversy. During the interview, Fenty mentions receiving a letter from Angelou as evidence that there were no hard feelings. WaPo has a copy of the letter: "In the September missive, Angelou writes, 'I know that my name has been used in varying ways, but while I am a friend of Mrs. Cora Masters Barry, and a supporter of her great efforts, I in no way meant to be a threat or a negative figure to you in this matter....I want you to know that I have not spoken to the press and it was never my intent to bogart or jam you against a wall.'" We applaud the poet for her use of the word "bogart." I'm sure Fenty totally understood the term.

VINCE GRAY CAMPAIGN WATCH: D.C. Wire's Mike DeBonis (the name sounds familiar...) reports that Gray is playing catchup on a number of fronts: "Gray's nascent operation has to contend with a well-established, well-organized Fenty election apparatus, the vaunted 'Green Machine,' which prides itself on identifying friendly voters and making sure they get to the polls on Election Day. Already, Fenty works from a list amassed in the course of his 2006 landslide win, and his re-election campaign continues to collect names on street corners and from door-to-door canvassing. Without divulging the actual length of the list, Fenty consultant Tom Lindenfeld says that the campaign 'has been counting and mining the voters for an extended period of time.' Gray, on the other hand, starts pretty much from scratch. This weekend, his campaign started making headway on that front, phoning thousands of District voters to ask for their support. 'In a sense, it is catching up,' Gray campaign spokesperson Traci Hughes said Monday. 'We've got someone who's been essentially running for office for three years, and we're just joining the race.'"

MOCO VS. GOD'S PLAYGROUND: A MOCO school canceled a series of field trips to Bethesda's With Me Playseum for its kindergarten classes after the museum's owner apparently dropped the G word on her website. WaPo reports: "The owner of the fledgling business, Gina Seebachan, bought tiles so each child could make a handprint to take home as a keepsake. She organized books by authors the children were reading for story time. If the trip went well, Seebachan thought, business might really take off. Then, without warning, Westbrook Elementary School, which all four of Seebachan's children have attended, canceled the trip. All because, Seebachan says, she mentions God on the Playseum Web site. Last month's canceled school visits were just the latest in what some friends and neighbors call an unsubstantiated whisper campaign that has gone viral, with Web postings accusing Seebachan, an evangelical Christian, and the Playseum of being less about creating a play space for children and more about saving their souls. In a well-to-do, liberal community, where separation of church and state is virtually a religion, Seebachan's references to God, and the use of the politically loaded word 'life' on the Playseum Web site, coupled with the echo chamber of the Internet, made for a combustible mix." Key graph that makes the owner look a little kooky: "She indeed plays her iPod Nano at the Playseum, meaning that children hear '80s hits such as 'Tainted Love' but also some Christian rock. She says she did once sing a catchy ditty that included some hallelujahs while she made apple pie in the play space's bakery. But, she says, she hasn't sung anything with religious content since then. All the other things people are saying about her, she says, are 'utter lies.'"

COMMENTARY: This morning, Children's Law Center's Executive Director Judith Sandalow provides a commentary on WAMU concerning Mayor Fenty's child-abuse prevention plan. Here is an excerpt:

"Four years after he called for a District-wide plan to prevent child abuse and neglect, Mayor Fenty quietly issued a press release announcing the plan had been completed. It wasn’t worth the wait.

The inconspicuous nature of the announcement speaks volumes about the District’s lack of commitment to actually prevent child abuse and neglect. Indeed, the plan itself is all talk and very little action.

I just don’t understand the Mayor’s lack of urgency.

Our child welfare system is overflowing. Almost 4,000 children were abused or neglected in fiscal year 2009 alone. There are more than 2,000 children in foster care at any given moment and another 2,000 children whose families are monitored by our child welfare agency. With the troubled economy sending thousands of additional families into poverty, we can only expect this number to increase.

The suffering behind these numbers is almost unspeakable."

HORSE PLAY FOLLOW UP: WUSA9 has video of the wild horse romp through NW from this past weekend.

APOLOGIES TO RON MOTEN: Early in LL's short tenure, he quoted FOP honcho Kristopher Baumann stating that Peaceoholics received city funds to locate and return juvenile absconders. This is not true. Ron Moten tells LL that his organization had received no such funding. Juveniles charged in the Brian Betts murder had escaped from DYRS supervision. All three defendants had attended a Peaceoholics retreat just prior to the killing. Moten says he did not know of their issues with DYRS. "We would have made them turn themselves in," Moten says. "They have to be willing to accept responsibility for what they've done." Moten adds that the retreat did help many of the other kids in attendance. Of the 47 children who participated, 16 have since found employment. It should be noted that Baumann promptly contacted LL to correct the error.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Bomb Scare At Thomas Circle"

Howdy. The murder of principal Brian Betts was starting to seem like a stone-cold whodunit. That is until police located a woman—a mother of one suspect—who had used the principal's credit card at a Silver Spring Giant which led to two teenage suspects being charged yesterday with the murder. I followed WaPo's updates throughout yesterday as the reporters did amazing work talking to neighbors of the suspects, interviewing witnesses to the raid, and generally being all over this story as it developed. WaPo reports in today's lengthy story that MoCo police have charged two teenagers who had met Betts through a phone-sex line the night of his murder: "Sharif Tau Lancaster and Alante Saunders, both 18, were charged with murder, robbery and a handgun violation. Police said that a third 18-year-old man was being held and that they expected that he would also be charged in the killing." MOCO cops believe the motive was robbery; More from The Examiner on the sex-chat line: "A police source with knowledge of the investigation said Betts was using Adam4Adam, a networking Web site for gay men, when he spoke to one of the three youths on April 14. Betts was last heard from around 11:30 that night." More coverage via NC8/WJLA.

WHAT COLBY KING WILL BE WRITING ABOUT: Both Lancaster and Saunders had recently absconded from DYRS custody. WTOP works this angle getting AG Peter Nickles to offer more details: "Nickles says the two men somehow slipped away from the home, and D.C. police had been searching for them. 'Obviously, they were not properly confined,' Nickles tells WTOP." More from the Examiner's Bill Myers: "Saunders had fled the agency's custody April 1, days before Betts' body was found in his Silver Spring home in what police are describing as a robbery-murder set up through a phone sex chatline. 'I was telling him, 'if you stay out there longer and run, it's just going to be worse for you,'' Saunders' mother, Delilah Saunders, told the Washington Examiner Monday night, tearfully describing her last conversation with her son. Lancaster had been placed in secure detention in July after years of arrests on charges from weapons violations to unlawful entry. He was put in a work release program in January, records obtained by the Examiner show."

How many more deaths are going to have to be tied to DYRS kids before Fenty and Co. step up and fix that system?

METRO POLICE ON ALERT: Following NYC's bomb scare, WTOP's Adam Tuss is reporting that Metro cops are on some kind of vague "heightened alert." This means: "K-9 teams, specialty officers and extra units are being deployed at some stations, Kiss and Ride lots and station entrances as a direct result of the terror plot." More bomb scare react quotes via NBC4. Meanwhile, Red Line service resumed normal service as of yesterday afternoon, reports NC8/WJLA, and DCIST.

MORE METRO NEWS: WaPo's Ann Scott Tyson reports that officials/management experts/Metro nerds are questioning the leadership of Richard Sarles, Metro's interim chief. No honeymoon for this guy! After reading this you kind of feel bad for the interim chief: "Sarles, who recently stepped down as head of New Jersey Transit, has set modest targets for his tenure, while exhibiting a reticence that has led some officials and transit experts to question whether he is forceful enough to steer Metro through the budget crisis, leadership transition and critical safety decisions it faces in coming months. 'Sarles has been somewhat circumspect,' said Jim Graham, a District member of the Metro board. 'I don't know how much of that is an 'I-am-not-the-boss' attitude . . . or if that is his actual style.'"

In other Graham-Metro news...the Ward One councilmember, who is running for re-election, picked up the transit workers' endorsement. According to a press release, Graham "was endorsed for re-election by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689. The union represents more than 2,000 bus and Metrorail operators, maintenance, clerical personnel and other transit employees who reside in D.C.... ATU Local 689 President Jackie L. Jeter said, 'Jim Graham has consistently fought to provide funding and improve service on the Metro system since he’s been in office. I’m particularly proud that he’s supporting a region-wide dedicated funding source for Metrorail and Metrobus.'"

On the terror beat: Security worries close Supreme Court doors (NBC4, DCIST).

Medical marijuana advocates are lobbying the D.C. Council to make the bill less restrictive, WAMU's Patrick Madden reports. The D.C. Council is expected to take a final vote on the measure today. Advocates want to increase the amount of marijuana patients can get per order. And: "Advocates also want to make sure there are civil protections for patients using medical marijuana, for example, protecting someone getting fired for failing a drug test at work." D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson tells Madden that it is unlikely that major changes will be made to the final bill. WaPo goes A1 on its findings that pot use is already fairly routine in the District: "marijuana is already ubiquitous in many parts of the city, as demonstrated by federal surveys showing that Washingtonians' fondness for weed is among the strongest in the country — and growing. The popular image of the nation's capital leans toward the straight and narrow, a town of over-achieving, button-down bureaucrats, lawyers and lobbyists. But meander through any neighborhood from Congress Heights to Friendship Heights, and Washingtonians across race and class lines can be found lighting up." Shocking!

The D.C. Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments over the D.C. Council's gay-marriage bill. WaPo via AP reports: "Bishop Harry Jackson sued after the Board of Elections and Ethics refused to approve the ballot initiative, saying it would violate the city's Human Rights Act. The judge said the city was right. Tuesday's appeals court hearing will be before the full court. It's rare for all of the judges to hear a case before it has been heard by a three-judge appeals panel, particularly when the lawyers in the case didn't request the en banc hearing."

MORE PROOF MICHELLE RHEE REALLY HATES THE PRESS: In his D.C. Schools Insider blog, WaPo's Bill Turque notes: "We learned from Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee at her Friday D.C. Council testimony that the fiscal disarray following the contract announcement was actually an attempt to avoid that worst of all possible worlds: a leak to the press. Rhee said that ideally the District would have buttoned down all financial issues and secured District CFO Natwar M.Gandhi's certification before announcing the terms of the contract, as it did on April 7. But the fear was that details would leak while it was pending in Gandhi's office, agitating union members." Turque gets react from the teacher's union. [Emphasis added].

SAVE OUR SAFETY NET is holding a protest tomorrow morning in front of the Wilson Building. From the press release, the group notes: "District residents and advocates will protest cuts to the City’s safety net services at a rally in front of the Wilson Building on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. The rally is being organized in partnership with the Fair Budget Coalition and Save Our Safety Net (SOS-DC). 'The Mayor’s budget includes cuts to important social services that the city provides, like child care vouchers, job training, domestic violence services, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. We are gathering to show the Council that recipients are voters who care about these services, and to urge them to find other ways, including revenue increases, to close the budget gap,' says Emily Appel of the Fair Budget Coalition Steering Committee." The protest is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Speakers to include Councilmember Tommy Wells and DC Central Kitchen's Robert Egger.

TOMMY WELLS STREETCAR TOUR: Frozen Tropics notes that Councilmember Wells will be hosting a street car tour along the H Street Corridor on Friday. FT has the full tour schedule.

BIKE LANES ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE: Big news for patriotic cyclists. WaPo reports that bike lanes are nearly finished on Penn Ave.: "The outline for a pair of bike lanes that will stretch from the White House to the Capitol is emerging down the center of Pennsylvania Avenue as work crews replace old traffic markings with new bike-only designations. 'We're about a week away from opening them to bike traffic,' said Jim Sebastian, bike coordinator for the District Department of Transportation.'It's going to require more markings and more signal work.' The signal work is necessary because the two bike lanes are at the center of the avenue, which still will carry three lanes of vehicle traffic in each direction on most blocks. To avoid collisions when cars and bikes are attempting left turns, traffic light cycles are being changed so that bikes will have an exclusive green light to turn left when all other traffic is stopped."

WE TOTALLY MISSED THIS RIBBON CUTTING: ANC 8C01 reports on "the opening of Ward 8's first 'green' condos in what was once an abandoned eyesore in the community. The new Fendall Heights condos, at the corner of Fendall and V Streets, SE, adds 29 newly renovated units just blocks from the also newly renovated Frederick Douglas House. The affordable housing project, restricted to first time home buyers, was developed through a joint venture with ARCH Development, a non-profit community development organization, Fendall Partners, and $170,000 in pre-development support from the District Department of Housing and Community Development."

A Brandywine resident has been charged with murdering his neighbor (WaPo).

MIKE SELLERS SPOTTED: WTOP (via AP) reports that Sellers gave a talk to kids about the ills of steroids, admitting that they are hard to resist.

MAYORS SCHEDULE: 10:45 a.m. Remarks at Ross Elementary School, 1730 R Street NW.

D.C. COUNCIL SCHEDULE: 10:00 a.m. legislation meeting at the Wilson Building in room 500.

"Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Ulder Tillman said this probable swine flu case 'now affects Rockville High.' A decision was made to close the school Thursday on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and the Maryland state health department we are taking immediate steps to close the school.

Few details were released about the student, who is suffering from similar symptoms of the virus and is the ninth probable case in the state, officials said. The student was last in school on Monday, officials said."

Today, the school would be hosting an "AP Picnic" and at least one other student activity. Something called "Class Night." According to the events calender, students would be competing in the late afternoon to "prove which class is the BEST!" It concludes: "Come ready to 'BATTLE IT OUT'!" I guess the battle will be on hold.

Harris, known for his trusty baritone and superior mustache, writes:

"I write this not as a journalist, but as a Montgomery County resident. Can someone tell me how County Executive Ike Leggett can get away with such blatant insult to our intelligence when it comes to his traffic/speed cameras? I saw the press conference where he laughed at the question of whether the cameras sprouting up all over the county were really there to make driving safer or to generate revenue to close his budget gap. He laughed and said, of course, this is only about public safety. He laughed again.

I gave Leggett the benefit of the doubt, even after I got stung while following along with traffic on River Road. I believed him when he said the cameras would not be installed in “gotcha” spots, but would only be set up to keep school zones and problematic spots safe. Then I went away on vacation and returned to find my neighborhood community 'surveilled' by eight cameras. As for their locations, four were set up near school zones, but not exactly in them. Four of them were installed behind the crests of hills (the definition of “gotcha” spots)."

Is Leggett in trouble on this issue?

Later in his post, Harris writes about his own speed ticket:

"As for the instance when I got stung, I accepted it. I was on my way to a CVS for a Valentine’s Day card after midnight (I’m a procrastinator, what can I say? At least it was the morning of the 14th!) and I was tagged by a crest-of-a-hill camera on River Road nowhere near a school. I know this may put me in line for some criticism, but I have to wonder – is there really a need to provide protection when/where there isn’t anyone to protect? There are no pedestrians, school buses or children or traffic at 1am."

Today, WTOP wonders if the speed cameras are just put in place for governments to tax residents.

1. The problems on River Road appear to be on-going problems. There's still water. Maybe lots of it. And Officials still are only guessing at what caused the break. It was probably the extreme cold:

"River Road was closed to traffic between Seven Locks Road and Bradley Boulevard. Water was still covering the street as of 10:45 a.m., with some of it flowing off the road and one point and into a nearby creek, It was not immediately clear how the massive quantity of water would affect that woods and structures on either side of the roadway.

There was no immediate information on why the large pipe might have ruptured, but age and extreme weather are often factors in such breaks."

2. The water main break could have been avoided. Officials, the Post reports, had warned for years that many of the pipes were more than decades old and had been worn away by "acidic soil" and "ground water." The Post writes:

"In 2007, the system reported a record 2,129 pipe breaks, which generally result in cut-offs in service and road flooding.

The sanitary commission on average replaces about 25 miles of pipe a year. But last February, the representatives from Montgomery and Prince George's County who make up the sanitary commission opted not to assess an additional fee of $20 per month that had been proposed to fund a more widespread pipe replacement."