Countywide | FFXnow

NEW: Fairfax County could end local Covid state of emergency next month

Published August 23, 2022 at 9:30AM

The Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

An end may be in sight for the local state of emergency that Fairfax County has had in place since the COVID-19 pandemic upended government operations and daily life in March 2020.

“A County Executive agenda item regarding ending the Local Emergency Declaration that was established to support response and recovery related to the COVID-19 pandemic will go before the Board of Supervisors at their next meeting on Tuesday, September 13,” Fairfax County Director of Public Affairs Tony Castrilli said in a statement.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 23, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated August 23, 2022 at 9:42AM

Vienna residents mingle for the town's "Chillin' on Church" block party last Friday (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Police Make Arrest in Reston Sexual Assault — “A man is in custody in connection to last night’s sexual assault in Reston. Charges are forthcoming. More information to follow at a press conference planned for [Tuesday] at PSHQ.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Students Return for First Day of School — “There were celebrations across Fairfax County this morning as students greeted their classmates and teachers and administrators welcomed them back to the classroom. Students arrived at Fairfax County schools this morning, excited and ready to learn!” [FCPS, The Washington Post]

JUST IN: Woman sexually assaulted in Reston apartment, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 22, 2022 at 4:10PM | Updated August 23, 2022 at 12:27AM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

Updated at 12:25 a.m. on 8/23/2022 — A man has been taken into custody, and charges are “forthcoming,” Fairfax County police said.

Earlier: A woman reported being sexually assaulted at knifepoint while in her apartment in the Shadowood area of Reston, the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Monday).

Mount Vernon Woods Park to get makeover with new playground and skate park

By Matt Blitz

Published August 22, 2022 at 3:00PM

Mount Vernon Woods Park sign (image via Fairfax County Parks Authority)

Mount Vernon Woods Park is set to add a playground, picnic shelter, multisport court, a field, and a skate park.

Design work is underway on the county-owned, 7-acre park on the southeast side of Huntley Meadows Park in Hybla Valley. The proposed improvements are based on the park’s 2015 master plan, which calls for a number of additions including a playground, a half-court, a skate park, on-site parking, a pavilion, and an open playing field.

Fairfax County creates monkeypox vaccine eligibility form as cases rise

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 22, 2022 at 11:50AM | Updated August 22, 2022 at 4:09PM

Monkeypox cases reported in the U.S. since May, as of Aug. 22 (via CDC)

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) More monkeypox cases have been reported in the Fairfax Health District than anywhere else in Virginia, as officials grapple with a national outbreak of the disease.

The district, which includes Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, has now seen 58 cases, as of Friday (Aug. 19), according to Virginia Department of Health data. That’s more than any region in the state other than Northern Virginia, which has 163 confirmed or probable cases overall.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

DXC Technology headquarters from across Tysons Blvd (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools Kick Off New Year — Led by new Superintendent Michelle Reid, FCPS administrators and staff welcomed students back in a video message. “I can’t wait to see our bright future taking shape in our Fairfax County Public School classrooms as we all come together to learn and innovate this year. Our staff and leadership has been working hard all summer, and believe me, we are ready,” Reid said. [FCPS/YouTube]

Fire Department Investigates Fairfax Area Arson — “Fire Investigators are seeking the public’s help in obtaining information regarding an arson that occurred in the basement of a home under construction sometime between the evening on Monday, August 15, and the early morning on Tuesday, August 16, in the 11500 block of Leehigh Drive in the Fairfax area.” [FCFRD]

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: Aug. 15-19

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 19, 2022 at 3:45PM

Construction continues on the Makers Rise development near the Innovation Center Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The weekend is almost here. Before you live up the last days of summer before school returns or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.

Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:

New Beltway ramp over I-66 to open in Dunn Loring next week

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 19, 2022 at 11:45AM

A new ramp from I-495 North to I-66 West is scheduled to open on Aug. 25 (via VDOT)

After enduring roughly four years of construction, drivers will soon get access to the first piece of the revamped I-66 and Capital Beltway interchange in Dunn Loring.

A new flyover exit ramp from the northbound Beltway, also known as I-495, to I-66 West is set to open next Thursday (Aug. 25) morning, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday (Aug. 17).

FCPS fires middle school counselor convicted of soliciting minor

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 19, 2022 at 11:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools

A counselor at Glasgow Middle School in Lincolnia has been fired after Fairfax County Public Schools officials learned he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a letter to families.

While not named in the letter, which went out on Aug. 18, FCPS identified the counselor in a statement to media as Darren Thornton, as previously reported by FOX5, NBC4, and WTOP.

FCPS will still provide free meals to students at 34 schools this year

By Matt Blitz

Published August 19, 2022 at 9:30AM

McNair Elementary School students pick up lunch on their first day of school for the 2021-2022 academic year (via FCPS)

While free school lunches ended nationally earlier this summer, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will still offer free meals to students at a select number of schools.

Earlier this month, FCPS announced that it will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which distributes breakfast and lunch to students attending schools in low-income areas at no cost.