(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) The current admissions process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) does not discriminate against Asian American students, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has ruled.
A majority of the three-judge panel backed the Fairfax County School Board’s argument in support of admissions policy changes intended to increase diversity at the prestigious magnet school, reversing a lower court’s ruling that sided with the Coalition for TJ.
Reminder: Richmond Highway Speed Limit Lowered Today — The speed limit on Richmond Highway (Route 1) will decrease from 45 to 35 mph between I-495/I-95 and Mount Vernon Highway, starting today (Tuesday). The change is intended to improve safety on the roadway, which has seen at least 12 fatal pedestrian crashes since 2015. [DCist]
Missing Oakton Man Found Dead in Shenandoah — “The body of missing George Mason University student, Mateo Cobo Zevallos, 21, was believed to be found Sunday afternoon around 12:15 p.m. at Shenandoah National Park, according to the National Park Service.” The Fairfax County Police Department confirmed yesterday (Monday) that Zevallos was found deceased, with no foul play suspected. [WUSA9]
Fairfax Connector is shaking up its service along the I-66 corridor in anticipation of two major parking facilities finishing construction later this year.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has proposed adding or revising almost 30 routes in Tysons, Vienna, Springfield, Chantilly and Centreville, as it seeks to incorporate the upcoming Springfield and Monument Drive garages into its bus system.
GMU Graduates Protest Youngkin Speech — “About a dozen George Mason University students walked out of their graduation ceremony Thursday morning during Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s commencement speech…Of the graduates who did stay, some in the audience held signs reading ‘We will not debate humanity’ and ‘Mason demands action.'” [ABC7]
Democratic Committee Announces Endorsements — In this year’s school board races, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee has endorsed Ilryong Moon, Ryan McElveen, and Kyle McDaniel for the at-large seats, incumbent Melanie Meren for the Hunter Mill District and Mateo Dunne for Mount Vernon. More than 3,300 voters cast ballots in the committee’s first-ever endorsement caucus. [FCDC]
Local transportation officials are dreaming of a better future for Metrobus, including a 24-hour route connecting Tysons and Bethesda.
That route and others are part of Metro’s draft “Visionary Network,” an aspirational redesign of the 50-year-old bus network that will not be implemented — at least in full.
For years, Fairfax County leaders have been using carrots to encourage property owners to adhere to the county’s Human Rights Ordinance. Now, some of them want to start using the stick.
During a meeting on Tuesday (May 16) discussing the Metropolitan Washington Regional Fair Housing Plan, staff laid out how Fairfax County fits into a regional push for more affordable housing and better protections for residents.
Missing Oakton Man’s Car Found — “Shenandoah National Park announced Wednesday morning that a gray Honda belonging to Mateo Luis Cabo Zevallos, 21, was found in a parking lot at mile 21 on Skyline Drive. Zevallos was last seen May 5 leaving his home in Oakton en route to George Mason University.” [Inside NoVA]
First Ride Suggests I-66 Trail Criticisms Merited — The newly opened 66 Parallel Trail segment between the Vienna Metro and Cedar Lane is “not a very pleasant ride, but it’s not as bad as the pictures make it out to be,” DCist’s transportation reporter says. On the upside, the trail has “direct connections to places people want to go,” but concerns about noise and vehicle fume exposure in places next to the highway “bear out.” [DCist]
A board-commissioned workgroup is calling for changes to Fairfax County Police Department’s use of force policies and expanded independent oversight.
At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors safety and security committee meeting on Tuesday (May 16), a 10-member Police Reform Matrix Working Group (MWG) created by the board released a broad 46-page report that establishes the need for policy changes and additional accountability.
Capitol Police Push to Expand Presence After Assault — “The U.S. Capitol Police wants to increase the number of field offices it has around the country to investigate threats to members of Congress, as well as more funding to beef up cooperation with local police departments, the agency’s chief said Tuesday, a day after a man…attacked staff members of Rep. Gerald E. Connolly” [The Washington Post]
Sister of Man Killed by FCPD Speaks — Nechelle Lemagne, sister of the man shot and killed by police in Penn Daw on May 11, says her brother “was definitely murdered,” expressing bafflement at Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis calling the officers heroes. “Nechelle said she isn’t defending her brother’s actions but questions the way police handled it.” [ABC7]
The first segment of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s planned shared-use trail along I-66 has been completed.
State and Fairfax County officials will celebrate the milestone today (Wednesday) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by an inaugural bicycle ride or walk on the finished section, which starts east of the Vienna Metro station and extends to Cedar Lane near Merrifield.
