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>> Earlier this month D.C. signed a $35 million contract to put smart meters in all of the city’s taxicabs by later this year. The post reports that the installation of those meters—which will include TV, GPS and credit card payment capabilities—may be delayed, as two meter manufacturers that didn’t get the contract are appealing the city’s decision. Creative Mobile Technologies of Long Island City, N.Y. and Alexandria’s Taxi Magic say that their bids weren’t properly and fairly considered.

>> As a journalist (or just a resident), it isn’t particularly hard to get close to Mayor Vince Gray and ask him a question. His schedule is public, and his security and handlers don’t do much to keep reporters (or regular people) at a distance. That might soon change. NBC4 reports that Police Chief Cathy Lanier has told Gray’s security detail to give the mayor a little more breathing room as he makes his way to and from events.

>> A group of McLean residents are complaining that too many helicopters are flying over their homes at all hours of the day and night, writes the Examiner. Later this week the residents will get to aim their complaints directly at representatives from the many different local and federal institutions and agencies that fly helicopters over Northern Virginia, including the FAA, Department of Defense and Fairfax County.

Briefly Noted: 13 AIDS protesters arrested at White House … Pepco says that reliability in Maryland will suffer due to lower-than-expected rate increase … Federal judge orders Maryland to stop enforcing concealed-carry law … Maryland ACLU wants state to follow D.C. lead on photographing and recording of police … Truckers protesting Virginia plan to put tolls on I-95 … New D.C. ethics board to meet today.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, the House of Representatives finally got a women’s bathroom and the executive director of the D.C. Board of Elections resigned. In 2010, immigration officials arrested the truck driver that ran over cyclist Alice Swanson.