Author: FFXnow.com

Dems Reject More GMU Board Appointees — “On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections rejected 14 appointments: four for the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), four for the University of Virginia (UVA) and its affiliates and six for George Mason University (GMU).” GMU’s board of visitors now lacks the eight members needed for a quorum, stalling any potential action affecting President Gregory Washington. [Virginia Mercury]

Two-Alarm House Fire in Centreville — Fairfax County firefighters responded Sunday morning (Aug. 31) to a two-alarm house fire in the 15400 block of Meherrin Court. “Units arrived to fire showing from all levels and through the roof of the home.” No injuries were reported, but an investigation into the fire is still underway. There was also a fire at a townhouse in the Herndon area south of the Innovation Center Metro station on Saturday (Aug. 30). [FCFRD/Facebook]

New Contender for Possible Braddock District Race — “Sabrina Mattin, a small business owner and community activist, is running as a Democrat for the Braddock District seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. That position will be vacant if Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw is elected to Congress in a special election on Sept. 9.” [Annandale Today]

Feds Pause Charitable Campaign — “The Office of Personnel Management has paused, at least temporarily, the Combined Federal Campaign, a longtime program allowing federal employees to give part of their paycheck to participating nonprofits.” The Chantilly-based organization America’s Charities began warning its nonprofit partners that the program’s end might be announced after Labor Day, but an OPM spokesperson said Friday (Aug. 29) that “no decision has been made.” [Washington Business Journal]

Herndon Graduate Wins Pole Vault Championship — “Austin Miller, a 2012 graduate of Herndon High School and a 2016 graduate of High Point University, captured the USA Track and Field National Championship title in the pole vault. He will represent Team USA at the World Championships in Japan later this month.” [Reston Letter]

Bakery Opens in Fairfax City — “Tatte Bakery & Cafe took a different approach to celebrating the grand opening of its new location in Fairfax City on Wednesday [Aug. 27]. Rather than having a ribbon-cutting ceremony, city officials and business leaders helped the bakery’s staff to cut a garland to mark the occasion.” [Patch]

Reston Condos Add EV Charger — Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn recently “attended the ribbon cutting for the new electric vehicle charging station at the Midtown North Condos in Reston … This 75-unit condo association installed their new dual-port level 2 EV charger in their garage with help from Charge Up Fairfax.” [Hunter Mill District News]

Thumbs Up for Annandale Eatery — Despite her skepticism of its viral “walking taco,” Northern Virginia Magazine’s food critic has been won over by Flavor Hive’s first brick-and-mortar location, which opened in July near K Market in Annandale. “The thing that I’ll remember is the tingle of spice. Layers of piquancy build with each bite of chicken, sauce, marinated vegetables.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching a high near 78 degrees and a mild north wind around 6 mph. As for Tuesday night, the skies will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to a low around 58 degrees, accompanied by light and variable winds. [NWS]

Record Labor Day Weekend Travel Expected — “Labor Day weekend travel is expected to surpass last year’s record levels, with the Transportation Security Administration preparing to screen hundreds of thousands more passengers than during the 2024 holiday.” Today (Friday) is expected to be the busiest day with airports preparing for 2.91 million passengers. [Axios]

Early Voting Expands — An additional nine sites will be open for early voting in the 11th Congressional District special election, starting today through Saturday, Sept. 6. All locations will be available Monday through Friday from 1-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular polling places will open on the day of the Sept. 9 election, which will be a school-free day for Fairfax County students. [Fairfax County Government]

Cookie Shop Opens in Tysons Mall — “Chip City Cookies will be celebrating the grand opening of its new Tysons Corner Center location on Friday by giving a free cookie to the first 100 customers with any purchase. The doors will open at 11 a.m.” This is the oversized cookie company’s third Northern Virginia location and first in Fairfax County following openings in Arlington. [Patch]

Firefighters Train in West Falls Church Homes — “Before Fairfax County tears down nine houses on Barrett Road in the Falls Church area, the Fire Department is using the vacant houses for training exercises … On Aug. 26, a crew from the Edsall Road (#26) fire station was at Barrett Road to practice rescuing a firefighter trapped in a burning building – although they didn’t set the house on fire.” [Annandale Today]

Contract Dispute Heads to Trial — A legal battle involving two Reston-based federal contractors is likely heading for a jury trial following recent procedural rulings by a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge. CACI International sued Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in July 2024, alleging that the other company breached a joint U.S. Air Force contract by not paying CACI its full share and poaching employees. [Washington Business Journal]

Students Seek to Encourage Civil Discussions — After observing how often conversations about hot-button issues escalate into yelling, Peter Kisselev, “Sam Stankiewicz and Abhi Tiwari, students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia, launched ‘Normal Debate.’ The website, the three said, provides users with the opportunity to create posts about politics and other topics.” [WTOP]

Preview of Tysons Fall Market — The Tysons Mixed Market, now in its third year, will return this fall with a season-opening event next Thursday, Sept. 4. Hosted by The Boro and the Tysons Community Alliance, the market “brings together nearly 30 local vendors and artisans, small businesses, and more community-focused features all tucked in the middle of Fairfax County’s economic powerhouse that is Tysons.” [Out and About Fairfax]

Falls Church Festival Returning — “The annual Falls Church Festival is approaching, bringing back a day of live music, activities and tastings from local restaurants. Over 90 vendors and civic organizations will join the fun as the festival returns for its 49th year from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.” [ARLnow]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature near 80 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 9 mph. By Friday night, the skies will turn partly cloudy, while the temperature dips to a low around 57 degrees. A 6 mph north wind is anticipated throughout the night. [NWS]

Student Test Results Released — “Virginia students made slight gains on state tests last year, according to new data released Wednesday, the first using a revamped exams pushed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin … Still the pass rates on the exams have struggled to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.” [Washington Post]

State Medicaid Systems Outdated, Study Says — “With new federal rules requiring states to track enrollees’ work hours and conduct twice as many eligibility checks each year, Virginia is facing a potentially steep price tag to comply. Currently, only 11% of the state’s local social service agencies complete the majority of applications within the federally required 45-day timeline, according to the study.” [Cardinal News]

Great Falls Contractor Sentenced — “A 43-year-old Great Falls man who pleaded guilty in April to acting as an illegal agent of the Iranian government in the U.S. was sentenced Monday in federal court to 12 months in prison, according to court records … U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan also ordered Rahmati to serve three years of supervised release, court records say.” [Patch]

Spanberger Would End ICE Cooperation Order — “Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger says one of her first acts if elected would be to undo Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s February directive requiring Virginia law enforcement to help carry out federal immigration crackdowns — a policy she argues wastes local resources and undermines community trust.” [Virginia Mercury]

D.C. Tourism Drops — “It’s already been a tough year for D.C. tourism with a data firm projecting a 5.1% drop in international visitors this year. There’s concern the surge of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops could drive away more visitors … Destination D.C., the city’s tourism marketing organization, is attempting to reassure wary travelers.” [WTOP]

Va. Supreme Court Elects New Chief Justice — “A Black woman will serve as the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Chief Justice for the first time ever following a unanimous vote. The Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously elected Justice Cleo E. Powell as the court’s Chief Justice-elect, according to an Aug. 26 press release from the Virginia State Bar.” [WRIC]

Animal Shelter Waives Adoption Fees — “The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is thrilled to host a ‘Clear The Shelters’ fee-waived pet adoption event from Friday, August 29, through Sunday, August 31. Nearly 100 pets will be looking for homes, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits and more.” [FCAS]

Students Invited to Decorate Waste Trucks — “If you’re a kid with artistic talent, or know of any, help us spread the word about the first Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) Truck Art Design Contest. The contest challenges participants to raise awareness about the benefits of zero-waste practices.” The competition is open to all Fairfax County students with a submission deadline of Oct. 3. [DPWES]

It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 81°F and a calm wind transitioning to a southwest breeze of 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. As for Thursday night, anticipate partly cloudy skies, lows around 61°F, and a gentle south wind at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]

House Fire in Kings Park West — Firefighters responded to a fire at a single-family house in the 9600 block of Commonwealth Blvd around 1:45 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday). No injuries were reported, as four people in the house were alerted by a smoke alarm. “Preliminary investigation by the FCFRD Office of the Fire Marshal determined the fire originated on the outside of the house and was caused by an electrical event at the air conditioner unit.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

AI-Based School Coming to N. Va. — “The pitch by Alpha School is as innovative as it is sensational: For $65,000 a year, students study for just two hours a day using adaptive apps and personalized lesson plans and spend their afternoons on life skills such as learning to ride a bike or financial literacy.” The school anticipates opening for 25 students this fall at 4550 Walney Road in Chantilly. [Washington Post]

Virginia Prepares for Food Stamp Changes — “After a Republican majority in Congress passed a major reconciliation bill this summer, states are expected to potentially absorb additional costs for SNAP, and will likely impose additional verification requirements for recipients. A recent analysis from Voices for Virginia’s Children estimates nearly 447,000 families are at risk of losing at least some of their SNAP benefits.” [Virginia Mercury]

Au Pair in Double Murder Case Shares Story — “Recordings of the au pair’s interview were entered into evidence during a recent hearing, and [Brendan] Banfield’s attorney provided a copy to News4. In the video of the interview Oct. 25, 2024, the au pair explained what she says happened in the months and days leading up to the killings.” [NBC4]

Metro Unveils New Train Design — “After more than 20,000 votes from customers throughout the region, we have a winner. The public selected Option 3 as the updated livery design for Metro’s incoming rail fleet.” The design features a silver “M” intersecting with a train window with a brown background. [WMATA]

Funding Available for Affordable Housing Projects — “Fairfax County seeks affordable housing development and preservations partners to apply for more than $48 million of funding. Requests for Proposals are being accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are awarded. Interested partners can apply online.” [Fairfax County Housing and Community Development]

Traded Football Player Selling Great Falls Home — “Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was recently traded from the Washington Commanders to the Minnesota Vikings, taking a $51,000,000 three-year deal. And with that move, the pro footballer apparently no longer needs a mansion in Great Falls.” The home was listed for sale this week with a starting price of $4.25 million. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Back-to-School Party Coming to Tysons — “The Boro in Tysons is hosting a free night of family fun with the Back to School Boro Bash, featuring a night of crafts, an outdoor movie, refreshments and a school supplies drive. The Back to School Boro Bash will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.” [Patch]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 77°F, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 10 mph, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph. At night, clouds will increase, and the temperature will drop to around 59°F. The northwest wind will slow to about 6 mph. [NWS]