Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

FCPD: Teacher from Texas arrested after sexually soliciting ‘juvenile’ in Fairfax County

Published January 16, 2024 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County police (file photo)

A teacher from Texas drove over 1,500 miles to Fairfax County earlier this month with the expectation that he would have illegal sexual contact with a minor, local police say.

David Ortiz, 32, was arrested Friday (Jan. 12) as part of the Fairfax County Police Department’s ongoing crackdown on online sexual solicitations of juveniles, known as “Operation ADC Express 2,” according to a news release published today (Tuesday).

News

Vienna-based credit union draws scrutiny for racial disparities in mortgage approvals

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 16, 2024 at 11:00AM

The Navy Federal Credit Union headquarters in Vienna (via Google Maps)

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is calling on the federal government to investigate whether Navy Federal Credit Union has discriminated when approving loans to homebuyers.

The country’s largest credit union, which is headquartered in Vienna, rejected more than half of the Black people who sought a conventional home purchase mortgage in 2022, despite approving over 75% of white borrowers seeking the same loan, CNN reported last month.

Countywide

JUST IN: FCPS calls off classes on Tuesday, Fairfax Connector reduces service due to snow

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 15, 2024 at 7:15PM

A man and kids walk in the snow past Appletree preschool in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools is using up its first snow day of the year, canceling all classes and other activities on school grounds tomorrow (Tuesday) as flurries continue to blanket the D.C. area.

Affected activities include extracurricular programs, sports practices, field trips, outside recreation classes, adult education classes and the School Age Child Care (SACC) centers.

News

BREAKING: Student arrested for sexual assault at Annandale High School

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 13, 2024 at 9:40AM | Updated January 15, 2024 at 6:41PM

(Updated at 6:40 p.m. on 1/15/2024) A 17-year-old student was arrested yesterday (Friday) for allegedly sexually assaulting another student at Annandale High School.

The victim reported the assault to a school resource officer earlier this week, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release.

News

The Boro developers appeal county’s claim that construction blocked pedestrian access

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2024 at 1:15PM

The southbound Westpark Drive sidewalk was closed in 2024 during construction on The Boro's expansion in Tysons (via The Meridian Group)

Construction on the next phase of The Boro in Tysons has prevented pedestrians from safely walking on the streets around the site, a Fairfax County inspector says.

Matthew Stenger, an investigator with the county’s Department of Code Compliance, issued violation notices last month against The Meridian Group, The Boro’s master developer, and Silverstone Silver Living, which is constructing The Trillium Tysons, a senior living building expected to open this year.

Countywide

Poll: Have you gotten sick this winter?

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2024 at 11:00AM | Updated January 12, 2024 at 12:05PM

A tissue box with a mug (via Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash)

(Updated at 12:05 p.m.) Colds are in the air this winter, as a new COVID-19 variant has joined forces with the flu and RSV to produce a particularly challenging respiratory illness season.

Covid-related hospitalization levels remain low in Fairfax County, where 145 patients were admitted in the week that ended on Dec. 30 — a 46% increase from the previous week. But hospital visits and deaths are on the rise in Virginia and nationally, with the U.S. death toll exceeding 1.1 million people since the first case in 2020.

Countywide

New Fairfax County program diverts people from incarceration to culinary training

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2024 at 9:30AM

Sen. Tim Kaine and Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano talk at Mackenzie's Tunes and Tonics for a press conference on the county's Taking Root diversion program (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Instead of jail-time, a restaurant job could be waiting for some individuals facing non-violent criminal charges in Fairfax County if they finish a newly launched job training program.

The Pathfinder Kitchen initiative unveiled Monday (Jan. 8) by the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney builds on the office’s nascent Taking Root diversion program, which offers case management, mental health and substance use assessments, affordable housing and other services to people accused of non-violent crimes in lieu of incarceration.

News

Fairfax Water to replace and expand 71-year-old tank in Idylwood

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 11, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fairfax Water plans to replace a water tank that has stood in the Poplar Heights neighborhood since 1952 (via Fairfax Water)

A water tank erected in Idylwood around the time of the Korean War is on its last legs, Fairfax Water says.

The water authority is seeking to replace the 71-year-old Poplar Heights tank with a bigger, elevated tank that will be able to hold approximately 1.25 million gallons of water, according to an application submitted in December to Fairfax County’s planning department.

Around Town

Upcoming Winter Restaurant Week offers new eateries, MLK Day brunch

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 11, 2024 at 10:15AM

Ingle Korean Steakhouse in Tysons is one of three Fairfax County eateries participating in RAMW's Winter Restaurant Week for the first time (courtesy Ingle Korean Steakhouse)

The D.C. region’s biannual restaurant showcase is cooking up a return next week.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington has enlisted dozens of establishments to participate in this year’s Winter Restaurant Week, which will run from Monday, Jan. 15 to Sunday, Jan. 21.

News

FCPD: Multiple home burglaries linked by woman pretending to deliver flowers

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 11, 2024 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County police say several recent home burglaries have involved a woman who pretends to be delivering flowers (courtesy FCPD)

Fairfax County police believe a recent series of home burglaries were committed by the same people, based on one suspect’s floral accessories.

Detectives are currently investigating five burglaries that started on Dec. 28 and continued most recently on Tuesday, Jan. 9: