Audit Identifies Metro Safety Issues — “Metro workers responsible for maintaining key safety systems that help prevent collisions are not following internal procedures, and the engineers who are supposed to oversee them sometimes don’t notice because they aren’t looking at the data, according to an audit by the transit agency’s independent regulator.” [Washington Post]
Bomb Threat Reported at Lake Braddock School — Security at Lake Braddock Secondary School was stepped up yesterday (Thursday) after an anonymous student made a threat to bomb the school on TikTok. Activities continued “as regularly scheduled after the building was cleared” ahead of students arriving at 7:30 a.m. [WUSA9]
Investigation of Annandale Shooting Continues — Fairfax County police detectives are looking for a male suspect and two “associates” in connection to Tuesday’s shooting at the Fairmont Gardens apartments. The victim, an adult woman, was driven by a friend to a hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. [FCPD]
Fairfax City Pauses Yard Waste Collections — “Curbside collection of brush and debris will be suspended for the rest of the week (through Jan. 19) due to winter weather conditions. Please leave items at the curb until they are collected. Refuse and recycling collection will continue without interruption.” [City of Fairfax]
Missing Man Found Dead in Herndon — “Fairfax County Police Department officers were called to the 2400 block of Masons Ferry Drive for a death investigation around just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Someone had found a body behind an apartment building in the area.” Police identified the body as a man who went missing on Jan. 11, stating that “no foul play is suspected.” [WUSA9]
Meals Tax Revenue Dips in Vienna — “The Vienna town government is on solid financial ground midway through fiscal year 2024, although its meals-tax revenues have taken a minor hit and housing costs continue to escalate. ‘We are in good financial shape,’ town finance director Marion Serfass told the Vienna Town Council when presenting the town’s mid-year financial report Jan. 8.” [Gazette Leader]
Fire Department Adds Medical Specialists — “This week #FCFRD launched 3 EMS Specialist postions to support our EMS providers. 3 Lieutenant/Paramedics will provide support during emergency incidents allowing for a greater skillset & more advanced interventions available. They will also provide EMS training throughout FCFRD.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Advocates Urge Virginia to Let Localities Ban Leaf Blowers — Members of Quiet, Clean NOVA let loose on four gas-powered leaf blowers outside the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on Jan. 11 “to raise awareness” of the noise and air pollution they generate. Bills introduced by Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Great Falls) and Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Fairfax) would give cities and counties the authority to prohibit the tools. [Patch]
It’s Friday — Snow is expected mainly before 1pm, with a high near 34 and a 90% chance of precipitation. New snow accumulation will be less than an inch. Friday night, there is a slight chance of snow showers before 1am, with partly cloudy conditions and a low around 19. The chance of precipitation drops to 20%. [Weather.gov]