Here's a look at today's local headlines:

PAYBACK! Heels head into the ACC tourney this week ranked No. 1 after last night's victory, with a possible rematch with Duke in the final.

BUILDER SUES SCHOOLS: A contractor who submited the low bid for building Elementary School No. 11 in Northside is suing the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for a half million bucks. So why isn't the school system sweating? Read our story.

SNIPPING SUCCESS: Fewer animals are coming in to the Orange County Animal Shelter, and so fewer are facing the needle. Find out what Orange County is doing that's getting props from state public health vet Lee Hunter.

CHATHAM WALMART: OrangeChat blog readers read it first. The long-awaited plan for a Chatham County Walmart is in, and this time Orange County leaders are sweating. Find out what the big box could mean for Obey Creek in Dave Hart's story.

Tim Toben talks about what's next for him after the Greenbridge foreclosure. The state approves the Howard and Lillian Lee Scholars Charter School. And Gene Pease is looking for "two tough sons of bitches."

It's a good time for letters to the editor. We've finally emptied the inbox that has been full ever since the Yates Motor incident. Tell us what's on your mind about these and other issues at editor@newsobserver.com

And thanks for reading,

Mark

Council member Gene Pease wants the Chapel Hill Town Council to get tough when it comes to improving the Rogers Road neighborhood.

Pease said at the end of the council meeting Monday that he wanted two "tough sons of bitches" on the task force that will work on a plan to bring sewer lines and a community center to the Rogers Road neighborhood, near the county landfill.

Appointing two council members to the Historic Rogers Road Task Force was the last item of business on the council's agenda Monday. Four council members were vying for two spots on the group.

Pease was not one of them, but said he wanted to make sure the people the council appointed would make sure the county doesn't make big financial decisions without input from Chapel Hill.

"Well, I want two tough sons of bitches on it," Pease said

Too much density and too much height was the message Monday night from the council to the developers of a proposed student housing complex.

Developers presented their concept plan for Trinitas, a 90-foot tall student housing apartment complex proposed for 602 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. We first wrote about the plan here in January.  The project is being proposed by Trinitas Ventures, based in Lafayette, Ind.

Trinitas would add 319 apartments in four buildings, each seven stories tall, on the site. It would sit behind the Northampton Apartment complex. The Granville Towers student housing complex on West Franklin Street has 1,300 beds. Developers would tear down the Central Park Apartments that are currently on the site. Travis Vencel, the developer is asking the town to grant the project an exception, so that it can be built up to 90 feet tall.

Jim Merritt started a landslide of campaign slogans at the League of Women Voters forum Monday.

"Remember," he said in his closing statement,"Chapel Hill has Merritt."

Next in line was Matt Pohlman: "I don't have any catchy phrases. Pohlman is limiting."

Ed Harrison revived his slogan from 2005: "Common Sense for an Uncommon Town."

Laurin Easthom deconstructed the whole endeavor: "Chapel Hill Has Merritt. Everybody Votes Raymond. For Pease in a Pod. DeHart of Chapel Hill. All I ask is to just, 'Vote Easthom'. I can't think of anything."