Top Headlines: Metro Fire, Roller Derby, New Voting Age and Innovation Schools

Patch brings you news from across Montgomery County. Catch up on headlines you might have missed this week, including a fire underneath a Metro rail car in Silver Spring, a Twitter video that jeopardized AP test scores at a Gaithersburg high school and a Rockville evacuation spurred by an odd smell.

Track Fire Leads to Evacuation of Silver Spring Metro Station

SILVER SPRING—A fire underneath a Metro rail car sent billowing smoke over downtown Silver Spring and forced the evacuation of the Silver Spring Metro station at the peak of Tuesday evening’s rush hour. Read more on Silver Spring Patch.

Van Strikes Woman Walking in Median in Wheaton

WHEATON—When two cars collided near the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue Thursday morning, one jumped the curb and struck a woman walking in the median, Montgomery County police said. Read more on Wheaton Patch.

Takoma Park Makes History with New Voting Age

TAKOMA PARK—If you are old enough to get a Maryland driver's license, you will be old enough to vote in the City of Takoma Park’s municipal election in November. Read more on Takoma Park Patch.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Slams: Meet The Black-Eyed Suzies

ROCKVILLE—Before they even laced up the skates, players from the Black-Eyed Suzies strolled into the Wednesday night scrimmage with the requisite snarl and swagger of the modern-day roller derby girl and enough tattoos, red lipstick, torn fishnets and snark to fill a roller rink. Read more at Rockville Patch. 

Man Pleads Guilty to Depraved Heart Murder in Gaithersburg Hit-and-Run Death

GAITHERSBURG—Police said the Damascus resident ran one man down with his car, targeted another. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch.

Council Chooses Developer Approach for Wheaton

WHEATON—County officials have the next six months to work with private developers on plans for Wheaton redevelopment that could include the new Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission headquarters, the Montgomery County Council decided this week. Read more on Wheaton Patch.

Montgomery County Council Set to Pass $4.8B Budget

ROCKVILLE—The plan for next year includes a tax increase, more cops in schools, more food resources for the poor and a fully funded public schools system. Read more on Rockville Patch. 

ROCKVILLE—Reports of an odd smell near Town Center spurred the evacuation of a building and temporarily shut down Rockville Pike on Tuesday morning. Read more on Rockville Patch.

GAITHERSBURG—The systemwide proposal to provide more central office support to struggling schools begins with a 10-school pilot, according to county schools officials. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch.

Local Residents Talk About Purple Line at Open House

BETHESDA—Most visitors at Tuesday evening's Purple Line open house at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School were supportive of the light rail line, planners told Patch. Hear what they had to say on Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch.

Berliner Calls for Better Electricity Service with 'Utility 2.0'

BETHESDA—Montgomery County Council Member Roger Berliner asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to require that substantial changes be made to electricity services in the state. Meanwhile, Pepco is asking for permission to raise rates. Read more on Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch.

CHEVY CHASE—The tools of the burglary trade can be as simple as a piece of concrete, as these Chevy Chase residents learned. Read more on Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch.

Report: Quince Orchard Students Won't Lose AP Exam Credit Due to Twitter Video

GAITHERSBURG—The company that administers Advanced Placement exams decided Monday that the improper video will not invalidate the exam for 274 students. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch.

ANNAPOLIS—Two of the most contentious bills Maryland state lawmakers grappled with this session became law Thursday. The Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, which provides for a hike in the state's gas tax, and the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, a restrictive gun control bill, proved divisive for legislators this session. Read more on Silver Spring Patch.

BETHESDA—For teens and 20-somethings in America, driving is much less of a daily thing than it was, say, 20 years ago. Car usage for other age groups has also declined, according to a new study by U.S. Pirg, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Read more on Bethesda Patch.