Over Par: Ghost at the feast! Just when you thought you’d heard the last of federally incarcerated former Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., the leather chaps-loving legislator showed his scandal isn’t over with the filing today of federal charges against Millicent West, the Thomas-connected former head of the Children’s Youth & Investment Trust Corp. -2

Getting the Bamboot: A federal sequester could shutter the National Zoo’s most popular exhibits—-even the pandas. (The animals will still be cared for, of course.) -3

Insult to Injury: The family of a man who died waiting for a D.C. ambulance last year has been billed almost $800 for the emergency trip. -4

Not So Fast: Councilmember Jim Graham is taking the D.C. ethics board to court over its claim that he broke city conduct rules. Meanwhile, Chairman Phil Mendelson wants Graham reprimanded. +/-0.

Wednesday’s Needle rating: 79 Today’s score: -9 Today’s Needle rating: 70