It’s that time of year when the trees are in full bloom, the days get longer and the IMF and World Bank hold their annual meetings. And in good annual fashion, a meeting of the world’s top financial official is sure to draw a crowd of protesters, though nowhere as many as in the heyday of anti-globalization activism. WTOP has the details on the protests and demonstrations that might complicate your commute today and over the weekend; WJLA has a list of road closures. We’re all for free speech and activism, just as long as it doesn’t include anything like 2007’s foolish-turned-violent October Rebellion that hit Georgetown.

Metro/Nats Dust-Up Concludes Quickly: Yesterday we wrote of the brewing conflict between Metro, the District and the Nationals. The short: DDOT Director Gabe Klein told the Nats that the city would no longer be fronting the costs for running Metro past its closing time during late games, roughly $27,000 an hour. It didn’t take long for Klein’s superiors to quickly smack him down, and the Post today quote the new DDOT director taking one for the team, saying, “I’m relatively new, and I’m going to fall on my sword. If the city makes a commitment, we have to make sure to honor that commitment.” Metro claimed that they don’t have the money to pay for the late-night service, and neither Maryland nor Virginia were willing to pay for a perk that other organizations and teams are forced to pay for themselves. Our take? It is the city’s team, so there is an argument to be made for getting people to and from the games. But why does it feel like we got taken by the Nats ownership yet again?

Metro Moves Closer to Dedicated Funding: In more Metro news, WTOP reports that local officials are getting closer to fashioning a plan for dedicated funding for the transit agency so as to gain access to $1.5 billion in federal funds that were appropriated last year for capital improvements. Metro Board Chairman and D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) will introduce legislation in early May that irons out past differences between D.C., Maryland and Virginia on the funding.

NIMBYism Takes Front Stage at Holder Hearing: The D.C. Examiner reports of a hearing on the Hill yesterday where Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) told Attorney General Eric Holder in no uncertain terms that he opposes a plan floated by the Obama administration to move some Guantanamo detainees to a prison in Alexandria for trial. Virginia officials have been angered by the plan, saying that it would pose a danger to the courthouse and the surrounding urban environment, which includes shops and hotels.

Briefly Noted: Legal clinic for homeless kept afloat by donations … Another reason to be concerned about D.C. EMS service … Defense lawyers challenge evidence in Levy slaying.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2008, we visited Cheesetique in Del Ray. In 2007, Butterstick (or Tai Shan, if you like his lame name) was saved from deportation to China.

Picture snapped by Iceman882