Fairfax County’s libraries are set to expand their hours later this month after going a year with reduced hours due to staffing shortages.
Last week, the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) system announced it will move back to “normal operating hours” at all 23 branches starting Aug. 28.
Utility crews are still working to restore electricity to over 2,000 customers after last night’s storms.
As of 9 a.m., there were 2,545 people in the county without power, according to PowerOutage.US, which collects data from utilities across the country. That includes 1,672 Dominion Energy customers and 873 customers of the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC).
N. Va. Office Market Feels Impact of Remote Work — “More than a quarter of all office space is empty in Crystal City and in the nearby Ballston neighborhood — as is the case in smaller, more outlying office markets such as Oakton in Fairfax County. More crucial, Loh said, is the value of the space sitting vacant in some of those areas: nearly $8 million in Tysons and $2.78 million in Rosslyn” [Washington Post]
Police Civilian Review Panel Seeks More Authority — “Fairfax County supervisors on Aug. 1 lauded efforts by the Police Civilian Review Panel to investigate some complaints filed against county police, but were not eager just yet to expand the volunteer group’s powers.” The panel is seeking “the ability to monitor police cases falling under its purview.” [Gazette Leader]
(Updated at 8:05 p.m.) Thousands of people in Fairfax County have been hit by power outages in the wake of a thunderstorm that’s continuing to march eastward toward D.C.
As of 7:15 p.m., there were 16,029 customers in Fairfax County and another 1,770 customers in Fairfax City without power, according to Dominion Energy’s outage map, which shows 90 separate outages.
Updated at 5:35 p.m. — The storm has been deemed “destructive” for Clifton, Burke and Annandale, with the National Weather Service warning of “considerable damage to trees and power lines” and that “your life is at significant risk if outdoors.”
Earlier: A storm bringing intense winds and potentially even hail or a tornado is bearing down on the D.C. area.
Some more stormy weather could wash over the D.C. area later today.
A Tornado Watch has been issued for the region, including Fairfax County, by the National Weather Service, which has also designated most of the area as at “Moderate Risk” of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.
National and Dulles Airport Noise Complaints on the Rise — “Airplane noise complaints have rebounded at Reagan National and Dulles International airports after a pandemic-era lull, a rise that mirrors a resurgence in air travel. Residents in the Washington region filed more than 205,000 complaints…in 2022, according to an annual aircraft noise report this summer from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.” [Washington Post]
Vienna Little League Team Finishes Tournament Run — “Game over, and VA’s Big Red Machine (Vienna American) is headed home. The team fought a tough battle against TN in extreme GA heat today falling short of reaching the semifinals, 7-2, in the Southeastern Region Little League Tournament. Congrats BRM, on a thrilling season!” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
No Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday After ‘Oversight’ — “In Virginia, every year since 2015, the General Assembly has given folks a break on sales tax for back-to-school supplies and clothing for three days beginning on the first Friday in August.” However, this year, lawmakers neglected to include the break in the state budget, which is still the subject of negotiations. [Washington Post]
Fentanyl Found in Recent Herndon Drug Arrests — “Four suspects arrested in two separate incidents are facing multiple drug charges, according to Town of Herndon Police. In one incident, the arrest followed a traffic stop and the other concerned two people seen sleeping on a picnic table.” [Patch]
In the future, Fairfax County property owners planning to redevelop rental properties may be able to replace affordable housing units on-site with units in nearby locations.
Under drafted administrative guidelines, the county would only provide the option if it’s not “financially feasible” for the property owner to maintain the affordable units on the existing site.
Fairfax County will bolster its capabilities to respond to and resolve emergency calls related to mental health this fall.
The Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board presented plans to roll out a fourth co-responder team and a telehealth pilot program at a Board of Supervisors safety and security committee meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 1).
