Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

JUST IN: FCPS returns books challenged for sexual content to school libraries

Published November 23, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated August 29, 2022 at 7:35PM

Fairfax County Public Schools

(Updated at 10:55 a.m. on 11/24/2021) Fairfax County Public Schools has reinstated two books that were recently pulled from library shelves after some parents took issue with their sexual content.

“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe and “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison — both books that center on LGBTQIA+ individuals exploring their identities — will be returned to shelves based on recommendations from committees formed to review the materials, FCPS announced today (Monday).

News

With holiday season ahead, COVID-19 climbs back to early August levels in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 22, 2021 at 2:00PM

An illustration of a coronavirus (via CDC/Unsplash)

Booster COVID-19 shots are now available to all adults in the U.S. — just in time for what promises to be a busy holiday season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded eligibility for a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to everyone 18 and older early Friday night (Nov. 19), encouraging people to get the added protection before they gather for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.

News

Fairfax County residents worried about flooding and power outages from climate change, survey finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2021 at 2:00PM

Flooding, power outages, and other impacts from storms are among the top climate change-related concerns for Fairfax County residents, the recently released results of a county survey suggest.

606 community members participated in the survey that the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) conducted between June 8 and July 2 as part of its Resilient Fairfax initiative, which will produce a plan for how the county can withstand and adapt to the threats introduced by a warming planet.

News

Fairfax County sees uptick in COVID-19 cases as thousands of kids get first vaccine shot

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 15, 2021 at 2:00PM

First lady Jill Biden visited Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean to launch the national rollout of the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine (photo by Donnie Biggs/FCPS)

More than 16% of children in the Fairfax Health District have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine dose since the shots became available to them on Nov. 3.

As of today (Monday), 17,578 of the district’s over 108,000 residents between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their first dose of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech regimen, according to the Fairfax County Health Department’s vaccine data dashboard.

News

Fairfax County’s community COVID-19 transmission drops to “moderate,” but masks still recommended

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2021 at 2:00PM

An illustration of a coronavirus (via CDC/Unsplash)

For the first time since the end of July, Fairfax County is seeing only a moderate level of COVID-19 transmission in the community.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, the county reported just 41.8 new cases per 100,000 people during the week of Oct. 31 through Nov. 6, down from 50.2 cases over the previous seven days. That puts it in the 10-49 case threshold for a moderate level of community spread.

News

Fairfax County anticipates supply of COVID-19 vaccine for kids will meet demand in next few weeks

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 4, 2021 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County Government Center COVID-19 vaccination area signs (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County families interested in getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19 will have a variety of venues to choose from, but finding an available appointment may initially be challenging, the county health department said yesterday (Wednesday).

After months of anticipation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11 on Tuesday (Nov. 2), recommending a third of the dosage that everyone 12 and older has been able to receive since May.

News

Fairfax County reports solid morning turnout as Election Day continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 2, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:45PM

Reston Community Center Hunters Woods saw about 300 voters before 10:30 a.m. on Election Day (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Updated on Nov. 9 — The Fairfax County of Elections reported an estimated 26.1% turnout for Election Day, as of 3:45 p.m., pushing the total turnout to 49% overall.

Earlier: About 40% of Fairfax County voters have now cast a ballot in Virginia’s 2021 general election, which will determine the next occupants of the governor’s mansion and the House of Delegates.

News

Fairfax County COVID-19 cases keep falling, with vaccines for kids possibly coming this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 1, 2021 at 2:00PM

The Fairfax County Government Center's COVID-19 vaccine clinic (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After a grim 2020, a more festive winter holiday season could be in store this year, as Fairfax County’s third COVID-19 wave continues to ebb.

The 57 new cases reported today (Monday) are the fewest that the Fairfax Health District has seen in a single day since July 27, when there were 52 new cases and the Delta variant was just starting to emerge locally.

News

Potential for flooding high in Fairfax County into Saturday morning

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 28, 2021 at 4:30PM

Flooding on Old Courthouse Road (file photo)

Waters from the Potomac River could spill over into Fairfax County, with the D.C. area expected to get almost nonstop rain tomorrow (Friday), the National Weather Service warns.

A Coastal Flood Warning will be in place for Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, starting at 6 p.m. today (Thursday) until 8 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 30).

Opinion

Poll: Have you voted in Virginia’s 2021 general election yet?

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 27, 2021 at 9:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:45PM

November is on the horizon, and in Virginia, that means it’s almost time for another Election Day.

This year, voters will determine the Commonwealth’s future for the next four years, casting ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates.