Author: FFXnow.com

Plea Deal Rejected in Annandale Abduction Case — “A Fairfax County judge rejected a plea deal for a suspected child sex offender, saying it would put the community in danger. A man broke into an apartment in Annandale June 15 [2023], grabbed a 4-year-old girl from her bed and dragged her to the living room before her screams woke her mother, police said.” [NBC4]

Culmore 7-Eleven Focus of Police Crackdown — “The Mason Police District is cracking down on public drinking, drug abuse, and shoplifting at the 7-Eleven in Culmore, said station commander Maj. Erin Weeks. The police will be meeting with 7-Eleven officials to strengthen security and ban trespassing at the store at 3337 Glen Carlyn Drive.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax City Council Considers Pay Raises — “Mayor Catherine Read and members of the Fairfax City Council met at Historic Blenheim Tuesday night for their annual retreat. They discussed a variety of issues, including whether to enact raises for elected officials and to extend the terms of councilmembers from two to four years.” [Patch]

Capital Bikeshare Sets Monthly Ridership Record — “Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) broke the all-time monthly ridership record in May 2024, recording 515,394 trips across the Washington, DC, metro area. Annual ridership is up 31.3% through May 2024…The CaBi system has now seen year-over-year monthly increases in ridership for 29 consecutive months.” [Greater Greater Washington]

County Sets Mosquito Traps — “From May to October, Fairfax County’s Health Department is conducting mosquito surveillance, with 75 traps set all across the county weekly…So far the county hasn’t found anything unusual, but the species that typically transmit West Nile Virus will come later in the summer in August and September.” [WJLA]

Real Estate Company to Boost Tysons Office — “Divaris Real Estate has recruited a team of veteran brokers from Long & Foster Commercial as it seeks to beef up its retail and office brokerage business in Northern Virginia.” The Virginia Beach-based firm says the eight additional brokers will double the staffing at its office in Tysons (8150 Leesburg Pike, Suite 501). [Washington Business Journal]

Dulles Airport Has U.S.’s Most Expensive Domestic Flights — “For the third year in a row, it’s been named as the domestic airport with the highest average fares. Flights on average cost $488.40 out of Dulles, according to FinanceBuzz, which looked at 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation data on domestic airfares from the nation’s 45 busiest airports.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Public Art Reston Redesigns Website — Public Art Reston has launched a revamped website that highlights the nonprofit’s programs and a “catalogue of 90+ temporary and permanent public artworks around Reston, complete with images, detailed information, and maps so visitors can easily find them.” [Tysons Today]

It’s Thursday — Storms are expected throughout the day, especially between 11am and 5pm, and a high temperature near 84°F. There is a 70% chance of precipitation. At night, the chance of rain decreases to 30%, with partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F. [NWS]

Man Wins Lawsuit Against Tysons Bank — “A federal jury recently ruled that a Tysons Corner-based bank must repay a client $1.5 million over wrongful transfers. On Friday, the jury…handed down a verdict that favored 81-year-old Richard Bennett of Annandale in a trial against Old Dominion National Bank.” [WUSA9]

PSA on Bird Flu Outbreak — “There have been no reported H5N1 bird flu infections in dairy cows or people in Virginia,” but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring a “multistate outbreak” of infections in dairy cows that have led to three human cases. The Fairfax County Health Department has tips for owners of chickens and other birds, who may be at higher risk of infection. [FCHD]

VDOT Shares Planting Plan for 495 NEXT Project — “VDOT officials recently held several virtual and in-person sessions to update the community on its revegetation plans,” which will bring trees and greenery back to areas cleared for the Capital Beltway (I-495) widening. “Project officials are arranging for native trees, bushes and other plants to be installed along the project’s route.” [Gazette Leader]

Biotech Company Opens Office in Fairfax City — “Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED) announces the arrival of Genetix IQ, a leading biotechnology company, to its dynamic business landscape. This significant addition follows the recent modernization of Fairfax City’s zoning rules, marking a pivotal step in expanding the City’s technological and innovative ecosystem.” [FCED]

McLean to Celebrate Fourth of July in June — “The McLean Community Center’s annual Independence Day fireworks celebration will be held on Saturday, June 29 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Langley High School. ‘The whole family will enjoy music, food trucks, giveaways and, at dusk, a huge fireworks display,’ center officials said.” [Gazette Leader]

Local Companies Make Fortune 500 — Fortune’s annual ranking of the country’s highest-earning companies based on total fiscal year revenue includes three Tysons-based companies: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (jumping 42 spots to no. 406), Booz Allen Hamilton (no. 422) and Capital One (no. 91). “Reston homebuilder NVR Inc. slid 30 spots to No. 406.” [Washington Business Journal]

Private Jet Hangers Planned at Dulles Airport — “Phoenix, Arizona-based Sky Harbour Group Corporation has signed a lease with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to develop a Sky Harbour Home Base campus at Dulles.” The company said the 18-acre development “will create hundreds of jobs.” [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms, increasing in likelihood after 2pm with a high near 83°F. The chance of precipitation is 80%. Rain could continue at night, which will see a low around 71°F. [NWS]

Climate Activists Rally Against Data Centers — “Dozens of environmental activists took part in a rally June 2 in Reston to push for more state and local action to pause the out-of-control expansion of data centers…The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider proposed zoning changes on June 5 that would impose some restrictions on data centers, but the activists say they don’t go far enough.” [Annandale Today]

Reston Man Arrested on DUI — “A 24-year-old Reston man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol [on May 29] in Fairfax City. City of Fairfax Police responded around 2:36 a.m. for the report of a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Fairfax Boulevard and Fair Woods Parkway.” [Patch]

Housing to Open on Former Motel Site Soon — “Pulte Homes expects to have the first of its properties in the Overlook at Fairfax Boulevard development in Fairfax City available for purchase this summer, according to a BusinessWire report. The development is located on the former site of the Breezeway Motel on Fairfax Boulevard.” [Patch]

Afghan Refugee to Graduate from FCPS — “Four years ago, Samiullah Luddin was new to the U.S. His father had escaped the Taliban and brought him and his four siblings to Fairfax County from Afghanistan…Despite the learning challenges that came with a new country, a new school, new technology, and a pandemic, the Annandale student never gave up, and on June 3, he will graduate” from Annandale High School. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Vienna Replacing Park Merry-Go-Round — “It’s last call for those who over the past 40 years have loved the metal merry-go-around at Meadow Lane Park in Vienna…Town officials are planning a celebration on Tuesday, June 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. to say goodbye to the childhood favorite, in place since the early 1980s.” [Gazette Leader]

Metro Service Changes in Effect — As of Sunday (June 2), Metro has implemented “a minor service adjustment on the Orange Line during the weekend and off-peak on weekdays. On Metrobus, changes will take place on 31 routes starting on June 16, including expanded service on high-demand routes and schedule changes to improve reliability.” [WMATA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 86, but there’s a 20% chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Those will clear up before 8pm, with a slight possibility of showers resuming after 2am. Night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. [NWS]

Blood Drive in McLean Today — “The McLean Community Center is helping the American Red Cross with diverse blood donations. A donation drive will be held on Monday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center,” which is urging “donors of all ethnicities to support patients in need.” [Gazette Leader]

GMU Delays Diversity-Focused Course Requirement — “George Mason University announced it would postpone a ‘Just Societies‘ diversity-themed course requirement for incoming students that was initially set to take effect in the fall…Kenneth D. Walsh, George Mason’s interim executive vice president and provost, said the school would delay implementation of the courses to the 2025-26 academic year.” [CNN]

New Trial Sought in FCPS Sexual Assault Lawsuit — “The Fairfax County School Board is asking a judge to order a sexual abuse survivor to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in court fees…In April, a jury found the school board not liable. However, the former Fairfax County Public School student is asking a federal court to grant a new trial.” [WJLA]

Springfield Bicycle Store Burglarized Twice — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are investigating two bike store burglaries in North Springfield believed to be connected.” The Bicycle Pro Shop first had over $9,000 of merchandise taken around 4 a.m. on May 21, and it was hit again just after 5 a.m. on May 26, when nearly $2,000 was stolen. [FCPD]

Vienna Police Launch Stop Sign Enforcement Campaign — “The Vienna Police Department is launching its annual traffic safety campaign, focusing on enforcing all traffic laws, particularly those related to stop signs. Officers will be vigilant in issuing tickets and reminding drivers of the importance of coming to a complete stop when encountering a solid or flashing red light or a stop sign.” [Vienna Police]

Funds Approved to Upgrade Lincolnia Ballfield — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has awarded the Mason District Little League a grant for renovating the diamond infield at Parklawn Park in Lincolnia. The $12,945 Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant requires the MDLL to contribute matching funds to complete the $25,891 project.” [Annandale Today]

Pride Month Events at County Library — “Throughout the month, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is celebrating the contributions of members of the LGBTQIA+ community all month long with workshops, book discussions, trivia, crafts and more. Check out a small sample of what we have planned at a library near you.” [FCPL]

NFL Coach’s McLean Mansion for Sale — “The estate at 1060 Vista Dr. in McLean, Va., is a tale of twos: two primary bedroom suites, two lots and the juxtaposition of two approaches to residential design in Northern Virginia. The 9,300-square-foot French-Mediterranean villa…went on the market for $5.2 million after its owner, former NFL linebacker NaVorro Bowman, was hired in February as linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.” [Washington Post]

It’s Monday — It will be mostly sunny with a high near 84 and light wind. Monday night will also see a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, followed by partly cloudy skies and a low around 66. [NWS]