Countywide

A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, potentially foiling their efforts to pick up seats in the U.S. House in November.

Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. struck down the legislature’s actions on three grounds, ruling that lawmakers failed to follow their own rules for adding the redistricting amendment to a special session; failed to approve the amendment before the public began voting in last year’s general election; and failed to publish the amendment three months before the election, as required by law.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools has once again canceled classes in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern.

With an abundance of ice and frigid temperatures slowing road and sidewalk cleanups, FCPS announced that schools will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday), though this time, central administrative offices will open on a two-hour delay.


News

Amazon is throwing in the towel on Amazon Fresh, announcing today (Tuesday) that it will close all locations in favor of a renewed focus on Whole Foods Market and other concepts.

The last day of operation for Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores is Feb. 1, with the exception of its California locations, which will remain open longer to comply with state requirements, Amazon said.


Around Town

Despite cold temperatures and a looming storm, plenty of families stopped by the Reston Town Center pavilion on Saturday (Jan. 24) to enjoy a variety of winter activities.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the town center’s second annual “Ice-travaganza” brought live music, free hot chocolate, ice skating and ice sculptures that were soon buried under as many as eight inches of snow by Winter Storm Fern, which passed through the area a day later.


News

A child in McLean is safe and sound after getting caught in a culvert while playing in the snow this afternoon (Monday), the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) says.

Firefighters responded to the 1900 block of MacArthur Drive around 4:45 p.m. after receiving reports of a trapped child.


Countywide

Though it ground most activity in the D.C. region to a halt yesterday (Sunday), Winter Storm Fern ultimately came up short of last year’s biggest winter event in terms of total snowfall.

The storm dumped between 5.5 inches and 8.5 inches of snow and sleet on different parts of Fairfax County, according to unofficial measurements taken by National Weather Service staff and trained spotters.


Countywide

Fairfax County government offices and schools will remain closed tomorrow (Tuesday), as work continues to clean up roads after yesterday’s Winter Storm Fern.

In addition to closing schools for a second day, Fairfax County Public Schools is canceling all activities on school grounds, including extracurricular programs, team practices, field trips, middle school after-school programs, and adult education classes.


Countywide

A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued for Fairfax County, suggesting the icy conditions currently slowing travel across the region could continue for a while.

The advisory is set to take effect at 7 p.m. tonight (Monday) and stay in place until 11 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday). Current forecasts indicate that temperatures could remain below freezing through the rest of this week, with highs topping out at 24 degrees on Wednesday (Jan. 28).


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools’ first comprehensive redistricting effort in 40 years is complete.

The Fairfax County School Board voted 8-3 at its meeting last Thursday (Jan. 22) to approve the revised school boundaries recommended by Superintendent Michelle Reid after an 18-month review focused on addressing overcrowding, split feeders and other issues created over decades of piecemeal adjustments.


Countywide

With snow and sleet continuing to pile up across Fairfax County, the local government has officially extended all facility closures through tomorrow (Monday).

Affected facilities include parks, recreation and community centers, libraries and courthouses, which have all been shuttered since 8 p.m. yesterday (Saturday) due to Winter Storm Fern.


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