Author: FFXnow.com

TJ No Longer Ranked the Best U.S. High School — After three years in the top spot, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has dropped to fifth in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High School Rankings.” The data used for the 2023 list comes from 2018-2021, before the magnet school’s admissions policy changes took effect. [WTOP]

Potomac River Running Low on Water — “The Potomac River supplies drinking water to some 5 million people in the D.C. region, and right now, the river is running low. Water managers announced they may have to use water from backup reservoirs upstream — it would be the first time in more than a decade.” [DCist]

Emergency Task Force Called for Florida Hurricane — “VA-TF1 has been activated by @fema as an 80-person Type I urban search and rescue team in response to #Hurricane #Idalia. The team will leave to assist the affected region [Monday] evening.” [Virginia Task Force 1/Twitter]

Senior Housing Complex Opens in Kingstowne — Fairfax County and developer Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing recently celebrated the grand opening of Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences, a 150-unit apartment building for low-income adults aged 62 and older. Located at 5815 South Van Dorn Street, the development is aimed at seniors earning 60% of the area median income or less. [FCRHA]

Fire Burns Down Wolf Trap Area Home — “The Fairfax County Fire Department responded to a massive fire at a home in McLean Friday night. The home, located in the 1100 block of Windrock Drive caught fire shortly before 7 p.m. The dispatcher for the incident said the caller believed the house was struck by lightning. However, firefighters told 7News it’s too early to verify that.” [ABC7]

CIA Trainee Convicted of Assault at HQ — “[Ashkan] Bayatpour was convicted Wednesday of a state misdemeanor charge of assault and battery in a case that was remarkable for breaking through the CIA’s veil of ultra-secrecy and playing out in a public courtroom where it has emboldened a sexual misconduct reckoning.” [Associated Press]

Feedback Sought on Proposed South GW Parkway Changes — The National Park Service is seeking public input on its assessment of how proposed improvements to the southern George Washington Memorial Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail could affect cultural and historic resources. Comments on the project, which could add a road diet and crosswalks, are due Sept. 1. [Patch]

FCPD Mistaken in Saying Teen Died From Overdose — Vilma Gonzalez was shocked when Fairfax County police reported that her 16-year-old son died from a drug overdose in Bailey’s Crossroads on June 25. Almost two months later, detectives told her that initial autopsy results showed he instead “had a lethal level of carbon monoxide in his system.” [NBC4]

Tysons Media Company Sued for Diversity Efforts — “Gannett Co Inc (GCI.N), the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, is facing a lawsuit claiming its efforts to diversify newsrooms led to discrimination against white workers. The proposed class action was filed in Virginia federal court on Friday by five current and former Gannett employees who say they were fired or passed over for promotions to make room for less-qualified women and minorities.” [Reuters]

FCPD Searches for Reported Robber With Parrots — Fairfax County police are on the lookout for a man who allegedly robbed a victim with a knife at a McDonald’s in Seven Corners on Tuesday (Aug. 22). Police say “surveillance video from a nearby business shows the suspect as wearing a black cowboy hat with two parrots, a patterned shirt, and a third parrot on the shoulder.” [WTOP]