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Morning Notes

Published December 23, 2022 at 7:30AM

A Christmas display inside Fairfax's Fair City Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Beware Hypothermia From Freezing Weather — “The National Weather Service forecast calls for overnight lows Friday and Saturday night reaching well below freezing. High temperatures this weekend are not expected to rise above 26 degrees, and wind could be a factor as well.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

No Lane Closures This Holiday — “With the holidays hopping and the new year around the corner, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)…will suspend most highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia for: Christmas, from noon Friday, Dec. 23 until noon Tuesday, Dec. 27 [and] New Year’s, from noon Friday, Dec. 30 until noon Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.” [VDOT]

Fairfax County’s 2023 delegate races hint at battles between Democratic incumbents

By Matt Blitz

Published December 22, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated August 13, 2024 at 12:31PM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

Seven incumbent delegates have confirmed to FFXnow that they are gearing up to run in 2023, the first election since redistricting.

With all 100 Virginia House of Delegate seats up for a vote next November, a number of incumbents representing parts of Fairfax County — all Democrats — have started making plans to run for reelection in the recently redrawn districts, including:

Federal funds secured for cycle path to Innovation Center Metro station

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 22, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated December 22, 2022 at 2:00PM

A walkway over Sunrise Valley Drive leads to the Innovation Center Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A cycle path to the Innovation Center Metro station is circling closer to construction.

Roughly $4 million in federal funding was secured for the project, which will include a cycle path from Sunrise Valley Drive to Innovation Metro Station, Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced yesterday.

FCPS collective bargaining proposal ready for school board consideration

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 22, 2022 at 9:30AM

SEIU Virginia 512 President David Broder and Fairfax Education Association President Leslie Houston urged the Fairfax County School Board to adopt a collective bargaining resolution at a Dec. 15 public hearing (courtesy David Broder/Twitter)

More than a year after Fairfax County government workers got collective bargaining rights, a proposal could extend the option to their public school counterparts.

After months of work, Fairfax County Public School administrators presented a draft resolution to the school board last week that would let employees organize and elect a union to negotiate labor contracts, setting terms for pay, benefits and work conditions.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published December 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

A holiday wreath hangs on a street lamp at the Vienna Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rainy Day Ahead — “Rain spreads over the area during the morning and becomes heavy at times during the midday to afternoon. Any isolated pockets of freezing rain well west or northwest dwindle quickly. Rain could even linger through the evening. Pretty much a washout.” [Capital Weather Gang]

New Park Now Open in Bailey’s Crossroads — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has achieved substantial completion on the development of Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church. The ADA-accessible park includes a picnic pavilion, open play area, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, playground, community gardens, trails and parking.” [FCPA]

JUST IN: Flood Watch issued for D.C. area as winter storm looms

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2022 at 3:45PM

Dec. 22 Flood Watch advisory area (via Fairfax Alerts)

A major winter storm is headed for the D.C. area, just in time to disrupt holiday travel.

While the snow and ice created by a “bomb cyclone” is expected to stay further west, Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area are in for a downpour, according to the National Weather Service.

Police catch loose llama near Fairfax County Parkway, leading to reunion with owner

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2022 at 9:30AM

Kolby the llama rests on hay in the Fairfax County Animal Shelter's barn (courtesy Fairfax County Animal Shelter)

A stray llama who was caught running on Fairfax County Parkway in the Fairfax Station area over the weekend has been reunited with her owner, the county’s animal shelter says.

Kolby, a 20-year-old female llama, was caught by Fairfax County Animal Protection Police near Popes Head Road Sunday evening (Dec. 18) after escaping her enclosure.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published December 21, 2022 at 7:30AM

Candy cane statues line the Four Seasons garden center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FBI HQ Search Almost Holds Up Bill to Fund Federal Government — “The biggest hold-up to releasing the text on Monday came, instead, from a dispute among Democrats…related to the location of the FBIs new headquarters.” Senators clashed over whether to add language that would favor Maryland in the site selection process or to stick with guidelines that would give Virginia an edge. [Politico]

Sushi Takeout Coming to Inova — Hissho Sushi Inc. “will launch five franchise locations at Inova Health System hospitals, including Inova Fairfax Hospital, where it applied in November to open a carryout only location serving more than 100 prepared meals a day, according to Fairfax County permit data. The first of the five is set to open next month at Inova’s Gallows Road campus” [Washington Business Journal]

Fairfax Connector will soon be half-price for low-income riders, but free fares tabled

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 20, 2022 at 2:15PM

A Fairfax Connector bus leaves the Dunn Loring Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County is poised to halve Fairfax Connector fares for low-income riders, beginning in February, through a pilot program.

The Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) is a state grant initiative that aims to increase transit ridership. Reduced fares would only apply to individuals whose annual income is at or below 225% of the federal poverty level by household size. That would put the eligibility cap around $29,000 for an individual or $59,625 for a family of four.

FCPS ‘assessing’ impact after Virginia settles lawsuit over end of universal masking

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 20, 2022 at 11:45AM

Face masks (via Mika Baumeister/Unsplash)

When Fairfax County Public Schools resumes classes in January, students and staff may once again be required to wear face masks — but only around students with disabilities who request the accommodation.

Virginia settled a lawsuit last week with parents of 12 immunocompromised students who argued that the end of Covid-related face mask requirements in schools violated their right to a free, appropriate public education.