Morning Notes

Mixed Reactions to N. Va. Move for Wizards and Capitals — “Officials announced plans to bring the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards to a new arena in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood. The new $2 billion arena, leased to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, is scheduled to break ground in 2025 and open sometime in late 2028.” [ALXnow]

Fundraiser Supports Family of McLean Man Found in House Fire — “The fire broke out Monday morning at a home on the 4000 block of Ridgeview Circle in McLean…A GoFundMe campaign for his family was launched Tuesday and has already raised more than $10,000.” [ARLnow]

School Board Plans Vote on New Grading Policy — “This Thursday, December 14, the School Board will determine whether to adopt as policy the use of the 100-point scale, with 50% as the lowest passing grade for submitted assignments, for all high school credit-bearing classes.” Calling inconsistent grading is one of the top frustrations she hears from families, Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren says more time is needed for a thorough review. [Melanie Meren]

Richmond Highway Study Seeks to Create Sense of Place — With major construction still years away, the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development’s Community Revitalization Section and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) will hold “a two-day workshop in late January in which panelists will create a placemaking strategy for a four-mile section of the corridor” in the near-term. [On the MoVe]

Nearby: Prince William Approves Data Center Projects — “After a 27-hour meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Wednesday approved the PW Digital Gateway, allowing construction of what’s expected to become the largest data center corridor in the world.” [Inside NoVA]

Virginia Gets Funding for Wildlife Crossings — “To reduce the risk of car-creature collisions, earlier this year the Virginia Department of Transportation released the state’s first-ever Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; how long the wait will be until parts of the plan are implemented, however, will depend on funding.” Initial funds came this fall in the form of two federal grants totaling more than $1 million. [Virginia Mercury]

WaPo Profiles McLean Neighborhood — “The entrances of McLean Hamlet at Falstaff Road and Titania Lane have afforded many appreciative chuckles to passersby who remember their high school Shakespeare classes…But talk to residents about what makes the neighborhood special, and literary theming is the last thing they mention.” [Washington Post]

Free “Sober Rides” Available for Holidays — “Those who may have had too much to drink this holiday season will again be able to avail themselves of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s “SoberRide” service, conducted in conjunction with Lyft. The 2023 program will be in operation nightly from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. each night from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Thursday — Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching a high of around 45 and a gentle northwest wind blowing at 3 to 5 mph. As night approaches, the sky will remain clear and the temperature will drop to a low of about 29. [Weather.gov]