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>> The first phase of a year-long upgrade of U Street NW starts today, reports WJLA. New road surfaces, improved sidewalks and better lighting will eventually grace the corridor from Ninth to 14th Streets once the work is done; workers will start on Ninth Street and work their way west over the course of the next year.

>> The man accused of driving an SUV into the lobby of a building on Connecticut Avenue on Friday tried to use a lighter to ignite the car, which was doused in gasoline, writes WTOP. Charles Morrell Ball will be in court today to face arson and other charges; he has a long criminal record in Maryland and had a restraining order filed against by his girlfriend the day of the incident.

>> The region’s retailers are a popular destination for organized theft rings that steal everything from perfume to printer cartridges and sell them on the black market, reports the Examiner. The area is particularly popular due to the number of retailers it has and its proximity to interstate highways; items often stolen and then resold include baby formula, graphic novels, laundry detergent, electronics, and over-the-counter medications.

Briefly Noted: Sulaimon Brown calls former D.C. Council Chair Kwame Brown a “crook” … Tens of thousands of Girl Scouts gathered on National Mall for centennial celebration … Virginia voters prepare for primary on Tuesday … D.C. councilmember worried with number of assaults at youth detention center … Virginia woman charged with DUI in crash that killed woman, dog.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011 the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance filed a formal complaint against Brown’s campaign, leading to the federal investigation that saw him resign last week. In 2010 even the National Zoo’s occupants were caught up in World Cup fever.