Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

When preparing for snow, Fairfax County, VDOT work to limit salt use

Published January 20, 2022 at 11:00AM

An anti-icing truck on Route 123 in Tysons from January 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

White brine lines are a familiar sight on Fairfax County roads before snowstorms, such as the one that passed through the D.C. area last weekend.

Not too long ago, though, winter weather preparations involved scattering tons of dry salt and sand on streets, sidewalks, and other outdoor surfaces.

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JUST IN: FCPS will go virtual on Thursday, citing snow in forecast

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 19, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated February 25, 2022 at 11:47AM

A Fairfax County Public School bus in snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 1:50 p.m. — A Winter Weather Advisory for Fairfax County, with the National Weather Service predicting up to 2 inches of snow from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Earlier: All Fairfax County Public Schools students will participate in classes online tomorrow (Thursday) for the first time since February 2021.

News

Fairfax County starts to see decline in COVID-19 cases over snowy weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 18, 2022 at 2:00PM

Fairfax County COVID-19 cases over the past 180 days as of Jan. 18, 2022 (via Virginia Department of Health)

The peak of this winter’s omicron variant surge might be in the rearview mirror for Fairfax County.

After hitting an all-time high of 2,520 cases on Thursday (Jan. 13), the county’s COVID-19 caseload has dropped sharply over the past few days to a current weekly average of 1,919 new cases per day, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

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Snow and ice expected as Winter Weather Advisory takes effect this afternoon

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 16, 2022 at 11:30AM | Updated January 16, 2022 at 11:53AM

Expected snowfall for D.C. area on Jan. 16-17 (via National Weather Service/Twitter)

(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Fairfax County, as the D.C. area prepares for its second snowstorm of the year.

In effect from 1 p.m. today (Sunday) to 1 a.m. tomorrow (Monday), the alert warns of mixed precipitation that will create slippery, hazardous road conditions.

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Fairfax County prepares for more snow over MLK Day weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 14, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated January 14, 2022 at 9:48PM

Another winter storm is brewing, potentially bringing 3 to 4 inches of snow to Fairfax County on Sunday and Monday (Jan. 16-17).

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County. The alert will take effect at 1 p.m. on Sunday and last through 7 a.m. Monday, when the snow is expected to turn into a wintry mix with sleet and freezing rain.

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BREAKING: Fairfax County School Board takes sexual assault lawsuit to U.S. Supreme Court

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 13, 2022 at 2:00PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:45PM

Supreme Court (via SCOTUS)

(Updated on 1/14/2022 at 4:30 p.m.) The Fairfax County School Board has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a former student’s sexual assault lawsuit, a move that could reshape how the federal law against sexual violence in schools is interpreted.

A petition filed by the school board on Dec. 30 argues that public school systems can’t be held liable for sexual harassment and assault unless officials knew an assault took place and could have prevented it.

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Fairfax County seeks to break cycle of poverty with basic income pilot

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2022 at 3:30PM

Person counts dollar bills (via Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash)

A pilot program that will give monthly cash assistance to select low-income residents is in development in Fairfax County.

While eligibility criteria, payment amounts, and other details are still being determined, the county has allocated $1.5 million to the effort from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as noted in a stimulus update to the Board of Supervisors’ budget policy committee yesterday (Tuesday).

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Limited supply of Covid tests will be available at Fairfax County libraries tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 11, 2022 at 2:00PM

Friends of Reston Regional Library have dedicated grants for new materials.

Fairfax County Public Library has received a new shipment of rapid COVID-19 testing kits, but supplies are extremely limited, even compared to previous rounds of distribution.

Exactly 300 kits each will be available tomorrow (Wednesday) at the county’s Reston, George Mason, Chantilly, and Sherwood regional branches, FCPL announced this morning (Tuesday).

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Fairfax County sets new daily record for Covid cases, prepares for testing site

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 10, 2022 at 2:30PM | Updated January 11, 2022 at 12:25PM

Fairfax County COVID-19 cases over the past 180 days as of Jan. 10, 2022 (via Virginia Department of Health)

Fairfax County has a new single-day record for COVID-19 infections.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, the county reported 3,463 new cases on Saturday (Jan. 8), surpassing the previous daily record of 3,111 cases set on Dec. 31. Before Dec. 22, the county had only seen more than 1,000 cases in a day once — on Jan. 17, 2021.

News

FCPS commits to in-person classes, shares plan for handling staffing shortages

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 6, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated February 25, 2022 at 11:52AM

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand discusses plans to manage potential surges in COVID-19 infections when schools reopen (via FCPS/YouTube)

Updated at 4:05 p.m. — Fairfax County Public Schools will be closed again tomorrow (Friday) due to tonight’s anticipated snowfall, using its last allotted traditional snow day.

Fairfax County Public Schools reiterated its commitment to in-person instruction today (Thursday), even as it acknowledges that surging COVID-19 cases will likely result in staffing shortages.