Montgomery County and Fairfax County first responders are searching the Potomac River near Great Falls for a swimmer reported missing on June 14, 2026 (via Pete Piringer/X)
First responders in swift water boats and a U.S. Park Police helicopter are scouring the Potomac River for a man who went missing while swimming in the Great Falls Park area yesterday (Sunday).
Montgomery County’s police and fire departments received a call around 6:15 p.m. for a swimmer in distress near the Billy Goat Trail in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park in Potomac, Maryland.
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Explore programs, connect with admissions, and discover the graduate pathway that’s right for you.
Advance Your Career. Explore Graduate Programs Near D.C.
Are you looking to make a real impact in government or public service? Advanced education can be the key, and it’s closer than you think.
The Schar School offers master’s degrees and graduate certificates designed to help students build expertise, advance their careers, and make an impact in their communities and professions. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., the Schar School combines rigorous academics with access to the institutions, organizations, and networks shaping policy and public service today.
Students benefit from:
• Renowned faculty with academic and real-world experience
• Hands-on learning through applied research and policy simulations
• Connections to government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations
• Access to one of the nation’s most dynamic professional environments
Graduate programs are available in areas including:
• Public Policy
• International Affairs
• Public Administration
• National Security and Defense
• Government and Public Management
Explore programs, connect with admissions, and discover the graduate pathway that’s right for you.
Candidates raise their hands and repeat the oath of allegiance that makes their citizenship official during a naturalization ceremony at Gunston Hall on June 12. (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
Fifty new citizens took an oath of allegiance to the U.S. last week during a naturalization ceremony held at a founding father’s home 250 years to the day that Virginia adopted his seminal prelude to the Declaration of Independence.
As part of two days of “Declaration Day” festivities, citizens from 17 different countries on Friday (June 12) raised their right hands and promised to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States” on the grounds of Gunston Hall, once owned by George Mason, who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
After a contentious debate, the Fairfax County School Board will give parents the opportunity to opt out of take-home laptops and tablets in the upcoming school year and study stronger screen limits and restrictions.
At its meeting Thursday (June 11), the board discussed restrictions on screen time and school-provided devices for students amid local, regional and national pushback against technology in classrooms, particularly in elementary schools.
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A real estate sign announces that a house for sale in Vienna is under contract (file photo)
A combination of more sales and higher average prices pushed Fairfax County’s real estate sales volume up 17% year-over-year in May, according to new data.
A total of 1,427 residential properties went to closing last month, up 11.7% from 1,278 in May 2025, according to figures that MarketStats by ShowingTime reported June 10 based on data from Bright MLS.
Shoppers browse booths at the Clifton Farmers’ Market at 12644 Chapel Road (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
Va. House Releases Budget Proposal — “Budget leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates announced a new roughly $74 billion spending plan during a Friday morning press conference in Richmond … Most of the new funding is dedicated to public education while preserving the sales tax exemption for data centers, which the Senate proposed nixing.” [VPM News]
Trump Admin Sues Va. Over ICE Laws — “The Trump administration is suing Virginia over new state laws surrounding immigration enforcement, including one that bans U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing masks … On Thursday, June 11, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit challenging these new laws, calling them unconstitutional.” [WRIC]
Fairfax Residents Moving to Richmond — “Migration data released by the Internal Revenue Service (which tracks where people file their tax returns) shows an uptick in the number of people moving out of Fairfax County and into the Richmond metro. The data also shows a smaller, but still significant trend: The Roanoke Valley now attracts more new residents from Fairfax County than it loses to the state’s most populous county.” [Cardinal News]
Amazon Eyes Distribution Site in Tysons — “Amazon.com Inc. is expected to bring its new 30-minute delivery option to Tysons and Arlington as the competition to provide the speediest distribution heats up among the world’s largest online retailers.” The company is seeking multiple permits to build out “an 8,450-square-foot industrial storefront sandwiched between Tyco Road and the Dulles Access Road,” possibly for its Amazon Now delivery service for groceries and “household essentials.” [Washington Business Journal]
Assistant Police Chief Leaving — “Assistant Chief Brooke Wright will retire from the Fairfax County Police Department after almost three decades of service, leadership, and commitment to public safety. She has been appointed Assistant Chief with the Wilmington Police Department in North Carolina, where she will continue her law enforcement career.” [FCPD]
Spanberger Defends Vetoes — “The pushback has exposed ideological and procedural tensions inside Virginia’s Democratic Party at a moment when lawmakers had hoped to capitalize on full control of Richmond after years of divided government. Spanberger, however, rejects the idea that her vetoes reflect dysfunction or political drift.” [Virginia Mercury]
First Varsity Girls’ Wrestlers Head to College — “Two years later, Fairfax County made girls’ varsity wrestling a new sports option. MacKay was eager to join and did, becoming part of a cohort of first-ever team members across the Northern Virginia suburb. Now, MacKay and two other students who were part of the inaugural teams have been recruited to compete in college.” [WTOP]
Madison Girls Win Lacrosse State Title — “The Madison High School girls lacrosse team can finally put last season’s state runner-up finish behind them. On Saturday, the Warhawks held off Battlefield 11-9 in the Class 6 state final at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn to claim a state title they almost captured a year ago.” [Inside NoVA]
New Legal Notice — On-premises beer and wine license application; objections within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 80 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 9 to 11 mph, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 60 degrees and a northwest wind at 5 to 8 mph. [NWS]
Expect sunny weather with temperatures reaching a high of around 87°F and a northwest wind at approximately 6 mph. Saturday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to about 67°F and light, variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.
We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Storm-related power outages in Fairfax County around 7:50 p.m. on June 12, 2026 (via Dominion Energy)
More than 21,200 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County have reported losing power as a result of thunderstorms currently passing through the region.
As of 8 p.m., the majority of outages are focused in the eastern part of the county, though some in the Fair Oaks area have also been affected, according to Dominion’s outage map. In most cases, the utility hasn’t determined an estimated time of restoration yet.
Marshall High School students at FIRST World Robotics Championship (via FCPS)
Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (June 9) honored students from robotics teams at two schools for participation in recent international competition.