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Ward 5 Prepares for Special Election: In just two weeks, residents of Ward 5 will be able to move past the scandal involving Harry Thomas, Jr. when they vote in a special election to fill the seat that he vacated after pleading guilty to stealing $350,000 in city funds. But the Post reports that Thomas’ crimes still hang heavy over parts of the ward, prompting residents to ask hopeful candidates if they similarly plan on stealing city funds and increasing the risk that turnout will be low. Though the field of contenders is large, former Ward 5 candidates Kenyan McDuffie, Delano Hunter and Frank Wilds have emerged as front-runners, with Republican Tim Day and former D.C. Council staffer Drew Hubbard remaining engaged in the fight.

Compromise Reached on Paying Back D.C. Workers: D.C. government workers could be paid back for two of the four furlough days they were forced to take last year, reports the Examiner. The move comes as a compromise between Mayor Vince Gray and the D.C. Council; Gray originally wanted $19 million to pay for all four days the workers took as part of a 2011 budget gap-closing plan, but the council seemed disinclined to give him that much money.

Some Officials Question Scrapping Peak-of-the-Peak Surcharge: Come July 1, Metro users will pay more for rail and bus service, but they will no longer pay a 20-cent surcharge for using the system during its busiest periods. But according to the Examiner, the elimination of the peak-of-the-peak surcharge has some officials and advocates complaining that it wasn’t given enough time to do its intended job—encourage commuters to spread out the times that they use Metro. Transit officials point out that since the surcharge was implemented, there hasn’t been much proof that people are flexible enough to change when they get to and from work to make the surcharge worth keeping.

Briefly Noted: Joel Osteen preaches hope to a sold-out crowd at Nationals Park … Ian MacKaye surprised with 50th birthday party … Naked man spotted walking along GW Parkway this morning … Police increase presence after series of assaults on Northwest Branch Hiker/Biker Trail … Armed robbery at Georgetown Five Guys … Maryland man charged in killing of pregnant girlfriend.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, D.C. and Arlington received failing grades for their air quality. In 2010, The Washington Blade returned to newsstands after a brief closure scare.