Surcharges — riders hate ’em, but drivers say they can’t live without ’em.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh introduced this morning a bill overhauling the city’s taxicab regulations that has sparked outrage among the city’s cab drivers. At a press conference yesterday, Mayor Vince Gray defended legislation that would significantly alter the way taxis in the District do business.

If D.C. Taxicab Commissioner Ron Linton has his way, riders could see an increase in rates as soon as February 2012.

Larry Frankel The man who was found dead in Rock Creek Park on Friday has been identified as Larry Frankel, 54. Frankel was State Legislative Director for the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, and previously served as executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Sources say Frankel had been missing since at least Wednesday, and preliminary word is that he died of natural causes. D.C. police found Frankel face down in a creek in the…