Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced [on Tuesday] the commonwealth is joining 32 other states in a federal lawsuit against Meta over allegations its social media platforms are purposely harmful to children.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta knew about the extent of the psychological and health harms suffered by young users addicted to its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, but falsely assured the public they are safe and suitable for children and teens.
Students at schools across Fairfax County have or are planning to walk out this week in a show of solidarity with Palestinians suffering in the latest war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip.
Dubbed a “Humanitarian Walkout Week,” the demonstrations began last Friday (Oct. 20) at Annandale High School and continued on Monday (Oct. 23) at Justice High School in Lake Barcroft. Organizers at Oakton High School reported that at least 200 students participated in their walkout yesterday (Tuesday).
Gunfire Incidents in Springfield Under Investigation — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are investigating two reckless discharges of a firearm that occurred in Springfield. After midnight on October 22, officers responded to the 6900 block of Cabin John Road for the sound of gunshots in the area.” Gunfire was also reported on Oct. 13 around Highland Street and Channing Road. [FCPD]
Fairfax City Gets First Bikeshare Stations — “The first of 10 Capital Bikeshare stations in Fairfax City [were] installed Tuesday, Oct. 24, on Beech Drive near Draper Drive Park. Three more stations will be installed this week at Scout on the Circle, Foxcroft Colony condominiums, and the apartment complex on Layton Hall Drive.” [City of Fairfax]
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board will have more money for mental health services, thanks to recent state budget amendments.
The CSB provides services related to mental health, substance use and developmental disabilities. Additional funding could include $2.5 million to cover both staff pay increases and the state’s program to standardize behavioral health community services (STEP-VA).
Negotiations over pay, benefits and working conditions are underway for hundreds of Fairfax Connector employees.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 presented an initial proposal on Oct. 13 for a contract that would cover 546 members who work for Fairfax County’s bus system to Transdev, the company that operates the transit service, the union said in a press release yesterday (Monday).
Groveton Workforce Hub Contract Raises Questions — “Fairfax County awarded $2.5 million in tax dollars to a company named Melwood last year to build a workplace readiness center in Democratic Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk’s district, called the Workforce Innovation and Skills Hub (WISH).” However, the involvement of Lusk’s chief of staff in selecting the contractor has raised potential conflict-of-interest concerns. [WJLA]
Justice HS Students Walk Out in Support of Palestinians — “Students walked out of Justice High School in Falls Church, Virginia, on Monday morning to show support for Palestinians. ‘We’re sick of how two governments cannot deal with each other and we have to see innocent people die every day,’ a senior at the school told News4’s Joseph Olmo.” [NBC4]
The mental health crisis is costing the Northern Virginia region $8 billion a year in unrealized economic output, according to a new report from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.
The report from the foundation’s research arm, Insight Region, found that the economic loss caused by mental health has quadrupled since 2019, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020.
Officer Who Shot Timothy Johnson Appears in Court — “A former Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man suspected of shoplifting from the Tysons Corner Center mall has made his first court appearance on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm.” [WTOP]
McLean Road Reopens After Water Main Break — “Kirby Rd has been repaired and is now open.” Often used by commuters in McLean, the road closed between Sugarstone Court and Claiborne Drive on Friday (Oct. 20) after a water main break resulted in flooding and extensive damage. [VDOT/Twitter]
Halfway through Virginia’s review of whether millions of Medicaid enrollees are still eligible for coverage after the pandemic, nearly 160,000 Virginians have lost coverage — roughly 15% of the over 1 million members whose cases have been reviewed so far.
For the past three years, anyone who was enrolled in Medicaid was allowed to keep their coverage regardless of whether or not they still met eligibility requirements like income level. Now that the COVID-19 federal public health emergency is over, the Department of Medical Assistance Services is carrying out a redetermination — or “unwinding” — process to decide which members no longer qualify.
Homebuilder Arrested for Defrauding N. Va. Families — “Fairfax County Police confirmed to WUSA9, Craig Tadlock with T&S Homebuilders was arrested Thursday morning after several Northern Virginia families came forward alleging the homebuilder took their money and failed to successfully build their new homes, claims which the builder denies.” [WUSA9]
School Board Member Harassed While Campaigning — “Fairfax County School Board member Ricardy Anderson (Mason) says she was verbally assaulted while campaigning for re-election…Anderson had just pulled into a townhouse community on Meeting House Road in Lincolnia with plans to canvass voters when a large man approached her on the sidewalk and started screaming at her.” [Annandale Today]
