Countywide

FCPD Touts License Plate Reader Tech — “Fairfax County Police launched its license plate readers in November 2022 using technology from Flock Safety and Axon to help solve crimes and find missing persons. According to police department data, 335 cases have involved license plate reader technology in the first year of the program.” [Patch]

Urgent Care Center Coming to Penn Daw — “The South Alex mixed-use development in Penn Daw has landed its second retail tenant with the signing of a lease earlier this year between Combined Properties and Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care. The urgent care center will occupy a vacant space near the Aldi supermarket, which opened this past March.” [On the MoVe]

Abortion Rights at Center of Key Election Day Races — “The most-watched races in Tuesday’s off-year general election have all been dominated by the ongoing debate over abortion rights. From a reelection bid for governor in Kentucky to a statewide ballot measure in Ohio to state legislative elections in Virginia, access to abortion has been a frequent topic in campaign debates and advertising.” [Associated Press/WTOP]

Police Investigate Shooting in Bailey’s Crossroads — “Saturday at 4:50 p.m., officers responded to the 3300 block of Glen Carlyn Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads for the report of a shot person. Officers responded and found the victim, an adult man, with two gunshot wounds to his upper body. The man was transported to the hospital for injuries not considered to be life-threatening.” [FCPD]

McLean HS Graduate Wins World Series — “Congrats to McLean HS alum Josh Sborz, who threw the final strike to win the World Series with the Texas Rangers…Sborz also pitched for the University of Virginia, where he led the Virginia Cavaliers to the 2015 College World Series title and was named MVP.” [FCPS/Facebook]

Politicians Make Final Pre-Election Pitches — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared in Virginia “to urge Democrats to vote against the Republican legislative candidates championed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R)…Volunteers and campaign staffers fanned out in districts across the state Saturday, urging residents to cast ballots immediately on the last day of early voting or whipping them up to visit the polls Tuesday.” [Washington Post]

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday — “This weekend, as you move your clocks back one hour to mark the end of daylight savings, don’t forget to check your smoke alarms to ensure they work…If your alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.” [FCFRD]

Self-Driving Vehicles Tested in I-395 Express Lanes — Virginia Tech “researchers and an entourage of public safety, industry and highway officials have been using the stretch of toll road outside the nation’s capital this fall for self-driving demonstrations, hoping to develop solutions to common problems arising in the technology’s deployment. The simulations come three years into extensive research that has resulted in promising findings but has also come with moments of disappointment.” [Washington Post]

School Board Races Test “Parent Rights” Movement — “While Fairfax County tends to vote for Democrats, right-leaning parent activists here played an instrumental role in Youngkin’s surprise victory in 2021, which fueled a national GOP focus on culture war issues in education. Next week’s school board race, which is non-partisan, may test whether voters will reward the Democratic incumbents for holding the line against conservative policies — or whether the ‘parental rights’ movement remains a significant force.” [NBC News]

FCPS Investigating Release of Sensitive Student Info — “Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools has launched an investigation into the district’s release of tens of thousands of confidential documents containing sensitive student information to a parent advocate last month and has issued an apology to those affected.” [The 74]

Freeze Watch to Take Effect Tonight — “The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Watch from late Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Temperatures between 26 – 30 degrees are possible. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.” [Ready Fairfax/Twitter]

Renamed Seven Corners Fire Station Welcomes New Engine — “FS28, Fort Buffalo, held a push in ceremony for its new engine, E428. In Sept 2023, the Fairfax County [Board of Supervisors] accepted the recommendation of FS28 members to rename the station from Seven Corners to Fort Buffalo. This is the 1st piece of apparatus to carry the new name.” [FCFRD/Twitter]