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>> As the first phase of the Silver Line nears completion and old rail cars are taken out of service, the Examiner reports that Metro will have to balance putting new 7000-series cars on the extension out to Dulles and in regular rotation through the rest of the system. Metro is in the process of removing its 290 1000-series cars from rotation, a process that could take a few years to complete. The 429 replacement 7000-series cars—which will be split between the Silver Line and the rest of the system—have been slow to come in from Japan, though, where last year’s earthquake caused a number of production delays.

>> Four D.C. inmates with mental illnesses have filed a lawsuit claiming that they have been improperly imprisoned at the nation’s most secure federal prison and denied needed mental health care, reports the Post. The four inmates are being held at a supermax prison in Florence, Colorado despite rules prohibiting the imprisonment of mentally ill inmates at such facilities. Additionally, the four claim that they have not had access to needed medications.

>> WAMU’s Patrick Madden delves into the links between Councilmember Marion Barry’s (D-Ward 8) former drug supplier and the Jeffrey Thompson campaign contribution network. A must-read for you political junkies. This really is a very small town.

>> The director of the Reston Zoo (wait, Reston has a zoo?) was arrested late Friday and charged with animal cruelty, reports WTOP. Meghan Mogensen, 26, was said to have improperly treated a sick wallaby and have unlawfully used euthanasia drugs. The investigation against her started in January.

Briefly Noted: Woman stabbed on Metrobus over weekend … Even as scandal swirls around him, Mayor Vince Gray goes about his daily business … 100-person brawl outside Gaithersburg club leaves one shot, five stabbed … Teacher acquitted of sexual molestation charges paid $72,000 by Fairfax school to cover legal fees … D.C. teen killed after losing control of scooter.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, 12 D.C. voting rights protesters were arrested at the White House and the Capitol Area Food Bank announced that it would start charging for produce. In 2010, it wasn’t a plane, it wasn’t Superman…it was the International Space Station flying over D.C.