Author: FFXnow.com

Challenge to Felon Voting Ban Allowed — “The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear Virginia’s bid to scuttle a lawsuit challenging an 1869 state constitutional provision that imposes a lifetime voting ban on convicted felons, one of the toughest restrictions in the United States.” Attorney General Jason Miyares had appealed a lower court’s ruling that a lawsuit from two men represented by the ACLU could proceed. [Reuters]

Virginia to Phase Out Styrofoam — “Starting July 1, 2025, food vendors with 20 or more locations in Virginia must stop using containers made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as Styrofoam. By July 1, 2026, all other food vendors must follow suit.” The impending ban stems from legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2021. [FOX5]

Lawsuit Over GMU Board Appointees — “A Fairfax County court will soon weigh in on whether leaders at three of Virginia’s universities broke the rules by allowing rejected appointees to remain in their governing boards — despite Senate Democrats voting to remove them earlier this month.” The lawsuit takes issue with four George Mason University board members, including former state trade and commerce secretary Caren Merrick, as well as appointees to the Virginia Military Institute and University of Virginia. [Virginia Mercury]

Shredding Events Falsely Advertised — “Residents have recently reported arriving at Fairfax County facilities for shredding events that were falsely advertised on a suspicious website. These events are not associated with the county and we urge you to take steps to avoid misinformation and potential scams.” [Fairfax County Government]

Seafood Restaurant Coming to Fairfax City — “Diners will soon be able to enjoy wild-caught and farm-raised seafood at a new restaurant coming to the Kamp Washington Shopping Center. Property owner GRI-Regency Centers is currently working to refit the 3,030-square-foot space formerly occupied by Mod Pizza at 11048 Main St. for California Fish Grill Casual Kitchen.” [Patch]

Vienna Relocates Library Mural Event — Vienna has moved today’s farewell event for the “Liberty Amendments Month” mural on Patrick Henry Library to the council chambers at Vienna Town Hall due to the expected heat. “There will be an opportunity to take photos at the mural after the commemorative ceremony,” which will start at 3:30 p.m. [Town of Vienna/X]

Summer Safety Tips — “Whether you’re heading to the pool, walking your dog, or just enjoying the warm weather, safety is key. The Fairfax County Police Department is here to help you enjoy the season responsibly. Here are some simple, yet critical tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer.” [FCPD]

Kids Compete for Jr. Ranger Title — Layla Moore, a fourth-grade student from Burke, and Ivy Usher, a 7-year-old from the Woodlawn area, are both finalists in the National Wildlife Federation’s Jr. Ranger contest, whose winner will receive $20,000, among other rewards. Voting in the latest round is open online until 7 p.m. on Thursday (June 26). [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny and hot conditions with temperatures reaching a high near 97 and heat index values up to 107. Night brings a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8 pm and 2 am, with partly cloudy skies and a low around 76. Winds will be light and variable. [NWS]

Police Conduct Trainings in Fairfax City — “The City of Fairfax Police Department, City of Fairfax Fire Department, and George Mason University Police Department will be conducting trainings 7 to 11 a.m. Tues., June 24 through Fri., June 27 at JA Finance Park (4099 Pickett Rd.). Please do not be alarmed if you see activity in this area during these times.” [City of Fairfax Police/Facebook]

Early Voting Begins in Special Election Primaries — Starting at 3 p.m. today (Tuesday), Democrats can head to the Fairfax County Government Center to vote early in a “firehouse” primary to determine their party’s nominee for the 11th Congressional District special election. Republicans will have one day of early voting on Friday (June 27) before both parties hold their primary elections on Saturday (June 28). [WAMU]

I-495 Widening Project Makes Progress — “The final phase of the $660 million, 2.5-mile Capital Beltway expansion in Virginia is in the home stretch after nearly four years. Crews plan to mark another milestone on June 27 when they are scheduled to shift the Outer Loop southbound lanes to begin completion on a key phase of the project.” [WTOP]

Beyer Launches Reelection Bid — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) has announced that he is seeking reelection as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria. Beyer, who turned 75 on June 20, has been reelected five times to represent the district, serving since January 2015.” [ALXnow]

ICYMI: Harris Teeter Closing in Tysons — Harris Teeter confirmed last night (Monday) that it will close its store in the Lofts at Park Crest (8200 Crestwood Heights Drive) on July 20, one of five closures planned this summer. When it opened in January 2009, the grocery store was the first to serve Tysons in two decades. [FFXnow]

New Ramen Bar in Falls Church — “Honoo Ramen Bar, a new Japanese restaurant, is now open at the West Falls development in Falls Church. Offering a wide menu of ramen, sushi, cocktails and Japanese entrees, the new restaurant is currently soft opening at 153 W. Falls Station Blvd.” [ARLnow]

Dems Outpace GOP in Fundraising — “Democrats in Virginia have built up a hefty fundraising advantage for their effort to reclaim the governor’s mansion in a race seen as a bellwether for the party in power in Washington heading into the 2026 midterms.” [Associated Press]

Winter Flights Added at Dulles Airport — United Airlines “will launch two nonstop routes to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Vail/Eagle County, Colorado. Both are out of Dulles International Airport … They will operate weekly on Saturdays beginning on December 20 and run through April 4.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a sunny, hot day with temperatures reaching up to 101°F and heat index values as high as 111°F, accompanied by a 3 to 6 mph northwest wind. The nighttime will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 79°F and a light northwest breeze. [NWS]

County Activates Heat Plan — “Fairfax County has activated its Heat Plan for Monday, June 23” after the National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning that will take effect at 11 a.m. “When Fairfax County’s heat plan is activated, cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours for individuals needing relief from the heat.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

FCPD on Alert After Iran Strikes — “Fairfax County police will step up presence at religious institutions and public gathering places in the aftermath of Saturday’s U.S. military strikes against Iran … Police say there are no known threats to Fairfax County at this time.” [Inside NoVA]

Metro Service Changes In Effect — “Starting Sunday, June 22, Metro is enhancing the travel experience with new service improvements — including longer weekend hours, more frequent Red and Silver Line service during peak times, and new split Silver Line service … Metro is also rolling out its new rail maps for 2025 to reflect upcoming changes to the Silver and Yellow lines.” [WMATA]

Tysons Mall Shooter Back in Court — “Noah Settles, known as No Savage, served his three-year sentence but has a 10-year suspended sentence hanging over his head [after violating his probation]. At a court appearance in Fairfax County on Friday, his defense lawyer made an unusual request: He asked the judge to remove the condition that Settles cannot use marijuana.” [NBC4]

Tysons Firm to Invest in AI — “Consulting firm Guidehouse plans to spend $1.5 billion on artificial intelligence over the next three years in a bid to further embed the technology in the company and increase value for clients.” The company’s plans include a new AI center, acquisitions of AI companies, training for its 18,000 employees and expanded partnerships “with other companies to better meet customer needs.” [Washington Business Journal]

Inside DHS Recruiting Event in Chantilly — “Customs and Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service were all recruiting at the event, but ICE was the main draw. Far more applicants stood in line to submit their resumes for deportation officer than for any other position on offer in the cavernous room.” [n+1]

Learn About RTC North Plan — “Attend this community meeting for an update by Inova and Fairfax County staff on the joint rezoning for Reston Town Center North.” The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. today (Monday) in the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive). [Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office]

Korean Spa Opens in Vienna — Redwood K-Wellness will celebrate its grand opening at 110 Pleasant Street NW in Vienna with ribbon cutting tomorrow (Tuesday) from 5-7 p.m. Co-owner Micah Hopkins says the spa is “the first place in Virginia to only focus on scalp treatments” with the goal of “improving scalp health, promoting hair growth, reducing stress, supporting healthy skin, detoxification, improved immune functions and more.” [Redwood K-Wellness]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny and hot conditions with temperatures reaching near 100 degrees and heat index values as high as 110. A northwest wind will be blowing at 6 to 8 mph. By Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear and temperatures will drop to around 79 degrees with a light northwest wind. [NWS]