School Board Calls for Review to Address Drug Use — “As part of this review, the Board is asking the Superintendent to consider the merits of various initiatives, including creating a recovery high school, providing students and staff with access to fentanyl testing strips, placing naloxone in all classrooms with appropriately trained classroom-based staff, offering naloxone training to high school students” and more. [Karl Frisch]

Student Sports Officially Coming to Middle Schools — “For the first time, Fairfax County Public Schools is planning to launch an athletics program for middle school students. The program would start with cross country this fall. An outdoor track program would be offered in spring 2024. There would be no cost to students.” [Annandale Today]


Fairfax County’s zoning ordinance has officially been modernized — for good this time.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the code overhaul known as zMod on Tuesday (May 9) even after overwhelming opposition at the public hearing. The readoption took effect immediately.


Cats Rescued From Reston House Fire — Two people were displaced by a house fire in the 2300 block of Whitetail Court that started around 12:16 p.m. on April 29 due to an “electrical event involving a power strip” in a second-floor bedroom. Firefighters rescued two cats from the house, which totaled about $50,000 in damages. [FCFRD]

Homelessness Rates Rise Across D.C. Area — “The metropolitan Washington region experienced an 18% increase in homelessness between January 2022 and January 2023, the region’s Council of Governments announced Wednesday.” All nine jurisdictions, including Fairfax County, saw a rise, which is “pretty unprecedented,” COG’s housing program manager said. [DCist]


After more than three years, COVID-19 will officially cease to be a federal public health emergency in the U.S. tomorrow (Thursday), bringing an end to the days of free testing and vaccinations.

The Fairfax County Health Department will still provide free services by appointment to people who don’t have insurance or otherwise can’t pay, but private insurance companies and health providers will be allowed to start billing patients, the department explained in a May 5 announcement.


County Board Officially Adopts New Budget — “Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors Tuesday adopted a budget that lowers the property tax rate for homeowners and gives county employees raises, part of a larger effort to combat the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Northern Virginia.” [The Washington Post]

Terrorism Investigation Leads to Raid of Springfield Apartment — FBI agents recently raided an apartment on Kingsford Road and arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of providing financial support to ISIS members. Court documents filed on May 4 indicate that Mohammed Chhipa had been under investigation since 2021. [FOX5]


As Northern Virginia continues to cement its position as a global base for data centers, Fairfax County leaders say the time has come to reevaluate the impact of the facilities and, potentially, set some boundaries for the future.

At its meeting this morning (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors directed county staff to research environmental issues linked to data centers and what’s being done to address them. Staff will also develop guidelines for site locations and the process for approving them.


Fairfax County could be getting park rangers one day, but it won’t be this year.

With the police department’s staff stretched thin, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has proposed a new solution for addressing service calls in its system: a park ranger program.


Police Begin Speed Enforcement Campaign — “Officers from our district stations & traffic division will be conducting our ’50 means 50′ campaign on the Fairfax County Parkway from May 8-May 12. Drivers can expect extra attention this week as we seek to educate drivers, enforce good driving behavior, & reduce crashes.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Local Man Sentenced to Prison for Capitol Breach — “Hatchet Speed, 42, of Vienna, was sentenced to four years in prison by a judge in DC federal court” for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He “was previously sentenced to three years in prison in a gun silencer case in Virginia federal court.” [Patch]


Thanks to higher-than-anticipated revenue, Fairfax County gave a financial boost last week to its affordable housing goals, public library collections and park facilities, among other initiatives.

Before taking a preliminary vote on the next budget, which will be adopted tomorrow (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved nearly $10.7 million in changes to the current fiscal year 2023 budget — known as the third-quarter review — when it met on May 2.


Fox Mill Road Closed for Stormwater Pipe Replacement — Fox Mill Road (Route 665) will be closed to through traffic between Waples Mill Road and Vale Road from “Monday, May 8 through Wednesday, May 10 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day…Traffic will not be able to go beyond the point of pipe replacement (near 3283 Fox Mill Road, adjacent to Lake Edge Way) in either direction.” [VDOT]

Motorcyclist Killed in Route 1 Crash — “Around 5:40 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Fairfax County Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 1 and Birch Crest Way in Lorton, Virginia. Police say the driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead. Their identity has not yet been revealed.” [WUSA9]


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