Photo by Ehpien on Flickr

More snow today

A second winter storm could bring another 5 inches of snow today and has closed schools and governments. Thousands of people in the Washington region are still without power and a second storm will delay efforts to restore it. (VirginiaPilot, WAMU, Wash. Times)  

Education debate gets heated

A lively mayoral debate on education at Eastern High School saw plenty of boos and cheers. The crowd’s ire focused on both Mayor Gray’s and Councilmember Jack Evans’s support for mayoral control of schools. (Post)  

DC’s ugliest buildings

What are the DC’s ugliest buildings? Do the Metro headquarters building, U Street’s Franklin D. Reeves Municipal Center, and Massachusetts Avenue’s Darth Vader Building belong on a list of the top 5 ugliest buildings in the area? (WBJ)  

Car2Go raises rates

DC’s 30k Car2Go users will see a rate increases of a few cents per minute along with higher hourly and daily rates. The company, which pays the District $793,000 for parking, may be looking to rent their users’ parking spaces. (UrbanTurf)  

Free bus to Metro continued

The free Prince William Metro Direct Bus taking passengers from Woodbridge to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station will continue Saturday service through May 17 after recording unexpectedly high ridership. (Potomac Local)  

Restore service or decrease fares?

Transit budgets in cities across the country are gradually improving and Portland has to decide whether to reinstate services that were cut or to lower fares on the current service. Which is better for riders?  (Streetsblog)  

Unfortunate Charm City milestone

Baltimore surpasses its 2012 homicide total, with the 218th homicide occurring last week. Baltimore’s Police Commissioner is disappointed but highlighted that all other major crimes are on the decline. (Patch)  

Unusual crime fighting methods

Is it possible that our local officials have it all wrong on how to effectively fight crime? Should encouraging gentrification and immigration be part of the crime prevention policy tool-kit? (Atlantic Cities)  

High Line critters

Japanese cockroaches have been spotted on New York’s High Line. The species, which probably came to NYC as stowaways in the park’s exotic plants, are less vulnerable to cold weather and may compete with native NYC cockroaches. (NextCity)  

And…

How will Europe’s most car-crazy city become more green? (NextCity) … Legal non-US citizens who are residents of the District may get the right to vote in local elections. (Colorlines) … Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice paid over $1,000 in DC traffic tickets after being confronted by reporter. (Post)