Author: Mary Stachyra Lopez

Mary Stachyra Lopez is a staff reporter covering business, public safety, education, and other community issues for Local News Now. She has previously worked at Patch.com, the Arlington Catholic Herald, and The Atlantic.

Countywide

Fairfax County School Board approves restrictions on generative AI, digital devices

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Side view of a yellow Fairfax County Public Schools bus parked in a lot, with the stop sign extended. Accessible text: 'Fairfax County Public Schools' along the side of the bus.
A Fairfax County Public Schools bus (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Going forward, Fairfax County Public Schools will prohibit the use of generative artificial intelligence by elementary school students, tablets and laptops in preschool and kindergarten, and student use of personal electronic communication and computing devices during instructional time.

The Fairfax County School Board approved the restrictions — which include a handful of narrow exceptions — at its July 16 meeting, along with several directives for the superintendent to report back to the board about the potential additional limitations on technology.

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Around Town

Vienna’s Clarity to open second restaurant in Reston tomorrow

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Facade of Clarity New American Restaurant with glass doors, blue sign, and potted plants outside.
Clarity at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The award-winning Vienna restaurant Clarity will finally open its long-awaited second location at Reston Town Center tomorrow (Friday).

The 4,500-square-foot restaurant at 1996 Opportunity Way in the town center’s expansion will have a grand opening at 11 a.m.

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News

FCPS teacher’s son honors her memory through Star Wars and STEAM education

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
A squad of battle droids (Courtesy Theresa Jacobs Foundation)

A Lake Braddock Secondary School art teacher spent 30 years sharing her passion for painting, photography, and pottery with students — a legacy that her family has carried on for nearly a decade through whimsical, often high-tech educational creations.

When Theresa Jacobs passed away from a fast-growing cancer in 2017, her son Eric Jacobs, a Fairfax County native, wanted to honor her love for learning and ignite that same spark in others.

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News

Chantilly man found not guilty due to insanity in Reston gym shooting

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Exterior of a Gold's Gym entrance with glass doors, brick walls, and a multicolored upper façade above the building.
Gold's Gym in the The Point at Rise apartment building in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Chantilly man has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in the 2024 shooting death of a man at a Reston Gold’s Gym.

Steve Taehee Ha, 45, entered his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in Fairfax County Circuit Court last Friday (July 17), according to court documents.

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News

FCPS approves boundary lines, phased enrollment plan for Skyview High School

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Skyview High School in Herndon (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools has officially adopted a boundary map for attendance at the new Skyview High School, which will draw in students from Westfield, Chantilly, and South Lakes high schools to alleviate overcrowding at several schools on the western side of the county.

The new school assignments — unanimously approved by the school board during its July 16 regular meeting — are expected to impact 2,544 students, including 1,159 who will be assigned next year to attend Skyview’s campus at 2949 Education Drive, in the Floris area south of Herndon.

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News

Fairfax City seeks voter referendum on sales tax to fund school improvements

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Fairfax City Hall (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Fairfax City voters will decide in November whether to approve a general retail sales tax increase of up to 1% that could generate up to $13.5 million to fund construction projects and long-term maintenance of the city’s schools.

The Fairfax City Council voted unanimously last Tuesday (July 14) to request that the Fairfax Circuit Court order a special election on Nov. 3 asking voters whether the city should levy the tax. Long sought by the city, the ability to implement the sales tax was authorized by the General Assembly’s new state budget late last month.

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News

Pedestrian dies from injuries weeks after Richmond Highway crash

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Richmond Highway sign (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

An Alexandria man has died from injuries he sustained while crossing Richmond Highway in the Hybla Valley area earlier this month, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Julio Quintanilla, 61, was struck by a 2025 Toyota Corolla heading southbound in the 7900 block of Richmond Highway on July 3 around 8:06 p.m. He was taken to the hospital, and though his injuries were initially believed to be non-life-threatening, the Medical Examiner’s Office informed police on Saturday (July 18) that Quintanilla had died.

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Countywide

Fairfax County school board voices support for sales tax referendum to fund construction projects

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
An electronic voting ballot marking device for people with disabilities (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County School Board recently passed a resolution affirming its support for a possible 1% sales tax to fund its $400 million backlog of maintenance and capital improvement projects.

In light of the new state budget adopted by the Virginia General Assembly late last month allowing local jurisdictions to increase their sales tax rate up to 1% to support education and transportation, the school board voted unanimously on July 9 to ask the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to place the issue before voters as a referendum during a general election.

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Around Town

Noodles & Company permanently closes Herndon restaurant

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Noodles & Company in the Village Center at Dulles in Herndon (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Noodles & Company has closed its Herndon-area restaurant, one of more than two dozen locations expected to shutter this year.

The fast-casual chain’s closure yesterday (Wednesday) at 2405 Centerville Road in the Village Center at Dulles leaves just a handful of open locations in Fairfax County. Some of the other locations closed in recent years include Chantilly, Vienna, and Hybla Valley.

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News

Police: Man found in life-threatening condition after assault in Idylwood

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
A Fairfax County police SUV with lights on (file photo)

Fairfax County police are asking for the public’s help to find information on a near-deadly assault on a man in the Idylwood area that occurred earlier this month.

Officers responded to the 3000 block of Graham Road in West Falls Church for a report of a suspicious event on July 5 around 11:30 a.m. When they arrived, they found an adult man “suffering from several injuries throughout his body,” police said yesterday (Wednesday) in a press release.

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