The MTA's proposed Red Line can move into its next phase after gaining approval from the Federal Transit Administration. The new phase is called preliminary engineering, or PE, which would turn the concept into actual planning.

The planning is estimated to be a two-year, $2.2 billion (with inflation) project that results in a 14.5 mile light rail spanning the city from Woodlawn to Bayview.

This only further stirs up conversation about the controversial Red Line, which some residents in Canton and West Baltimore have specifically advocated against—particularly because the tracks would be above ground along Boston Street and Edmonson Avenue. But, supporters say the line will relieve traffic congestion and provided a much-needed option for east-west transit.

Some sample tweets from today:

"I will personally fist fight anyone who opposes the Red Line and pummel them into support. #...

Have you checked out the all-star game voting lately?

I wasn't surprised to see that there were no Orioles leading in any position, but I was really disappointed to see that no O's were even among the top five vote-getters in any position. Perhaps most distressing, Adam Jones (pictured), who is batting .293—6th best of all American League outfielders—is not among the top 15 vote-getters in outfielder balloting (Nick Markakis, tied for 9th with a batting average of .277—and an active, 16-game hitting streak—also doesn't make the top-15). Matt Wieters, who is batting .267, fourth best among AL catchers, and is possibly the best fielding catcher in the league, throwing out an incredible percentage of potential base-stealers, doesn't make the top-five vote-getters at that position. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, batting .304—only four percentage points behind league leader Jhonny Peralta—also doesn't...

One of the two dolphin calves recently born at the National Aquarium has died. The mortality rate of dolphins born in captivity is pretty high (33%), and you might recall that the Aquarium lost another baby dolphin last year. That death figured into a story I wrote about the Aquarium last May, which you can read here. Hopefully, an autopsy will determine the cause of death, and Aquarium officials can get to the bottom of this.

When word came out two days ago that Jeff Mangum, the reclusive lead singer of '90s rock band Neutral Milk Hotel, would play two shows at 2640, the performance space operated by Red Emma's Bookstore Cafe, it was like a bat signal to the hipster world.

Tickets went on sale at noon today both on-line and at Red Emma's, where a crowd had gathered before 7 a.m. to queue for tickets. Those standing in a line that snaked through Red Emma's aisles and out onto St. Paul St. (top) had come from as far away as Detroit and Philadelphia. Tickets were selling for $27, a great price for such a rare show, especially considering that tickets for Mangum's Boston show are going for $5,600 on eBay.

It's not surprising, given Mangum's thought-provoking, smart music, that the crowd at Red Emma's this morning was eminently friendly, with hopeful ticket-buyers passing the time reading the thousands of books within arm's reach (bottom) or chatting with the line neighbors.

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