Good morning, Washington. We start today with this photo of a line of newspaper distribution boxes from a new photoblog we’ve come across, Digital Obscura.

We Have Money!: What would you do with a nearly $400 million budet surplus? The Post reports that the city’s hot hot hot real estate market has contributed to our robust fiscal health.

Nats Win First Game: In a promising start, the Nationals beat the Mets in their spring training opener game in Viera, Fla.

To Close or Not to Close: Will Howard Universtiy be forced to shut its doors? That’s the question this morning in the Examiner. As the city wants Howard University to operate a new hospital in Southeast on the site of the former D.C. General Hospital, there are questions as to whether Howard can actually run two hospitals.

More on Mercury: As we reported yesterday, Cardozo High School has been shut down again because of a toxic mercury prank. Just as a quick update, the school is shut down today and a decision is still pending on whether the school will be closed on Friday, the AP, via WLJA reports. Want to know more about mercury? Here’s a good website about the element and how you can hold it in your hand (at right), but it’s NOT recommended. Also “Mercury does NOT stick to magnets, so if it gets into your carpets or under your floorboards it will be a long-term problem.” Mercury seems to be a long-term problem for the D.C. public schools.

Briefly Noted: With new parking rules, WMATA tries to outsmart crafty SmarTrip dodgers … Owner says that Club U is safe … Saudi Embassy driver charged with smuggling Egyptians into D.C.