Countywide | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published July 5, 2022 at 7:30AM

People watch fireworks at Vienna's 2022 Fourth of July celebration (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Springfield Motorcyclist Dies After Burke Crash — Becoming the sixth non-pedestrian killed in a vehicle crash this year, Nema Mirsaeedi, 31, of Springfield died yesterday after being thrown from his motorcycle in a crash with a car attempting to turn into a shopping center on Burke Center Parkway. The crash occurred at 6:39 p.m. on Sunday (July 3) and remains under investigation. [FCPD]

County Responds to Supreme Court Security Request — “Supreme Court Marshal Gail Curley originally penned the letter, asking that state and local law enforce their respective picketing laws near the homes of Supreme Court justices…Fairfax County officials say they already received the letter and that their stance remained unchanged.” [WTOP]

NEW: Fairfax County under Severe Thunderstorm Watch

By Brandi Bottalico

Published July 1, 2022 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch (via National Weather Service)

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Fairfax County.

The watch went into effect at 3:07 p.m. and is expected to last until 7 p.m. this evening (Friday). The forecast says heavy rain and scattered storms are possible tonight.

JUST IN: FCPD identifies Reston man fatally shot by police at Springfield Town Center

By Brandi Bottalico

Published July 1, 2022 at 3:10PM

Springfield Town Center's parking lot was partly blocked off after a fatal police shooting yesterday (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Fairfax County Police Department have publicly identified the 37-year-old man fatally shot by officers at the Springfield Town Center yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

Officers were attempting to locate Christian Parker, of Reston, around 4:30 p.m., because he was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny of a firearm, brandishing a firearm and discharging a firearm within a home, police said in a news release today (Friday).

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: June 27-July 1

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 1, 2022 at 2:15PM

Fireworks stall at Merrifield's Pan Am Shopping Center (photo by Amy Woolsey)

Independence Day weekend is almost here. Before you prepare for the oncoming barrage of fireworks 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:

Fourth of July 2022: What’s open and closed in Fairfax County for the holiday

By Brandi Bottalico

Published July 1, 2022 at 11:45AM

Closed sign (via Tim Mossholder/Unsplash)

While it won’t be quiet around Fairfax County on Monday with Fourth of July celebrations, many government offices and facilities will be closed.

Government offices, and some businesses, are closed for the Independence Day holiday. Public transportation schedules may be lighter and public services, like trash collection, may be changed. See our listing below to get details on what will be open and closed.

Metro remains noncommittal on opening date for Silver Line Phase 2

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 1, 2022 at 11:00AM

The area surrounding te Reston Town Center Metro station is slated for more activity and development (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Metro remains noncommittal on an expected opening date for when phase two of the Silver Line will begin operations.

The 11.4-mile extension from Reston into Loudoun County is expected to open this fall. However, the $2.8 billion project has repeatedly missed estimated targets for opening, leading the transit agency to take a cautious approach to sharing a timeline for when rail service will officially begin.

Fairfax County has ‘small amount’ of monkeypox vaccine, as state reports more cases

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 1, 2022 at 9:30AM

A map of countries where monkeypox cases have been reported, as of June 29, 2022 (via CDC)

Monkeypox hasn’t established a huge presence in Virginia, but it’s starting to make a little bit of noise, as the U.S. moves to contain an outbreak.

With five additional infections identified Wednesday (June 29), the Commonwealth has now reported a total of eight cases of the disease, six of them in the Northern region. The first case was confirmed in a Northern Virginia woman on May 27.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 1, 2022 at 7:30AM

The U.S. flag flies outside the Freeman Store and Museum in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FCPS Expands FOIA Staffing and Budget — “Fairfax County Public School added half a million dollars in this year’s budget to keep up with public records requests, which have more than tripled since 2016 and gotten broader in scope. The increase comes as the school system finds itself the subject of political vitriol over COVID precautions and racial equity programs, among other issues.” [DCist]

Vermont Senator Falls at McLean Home — “U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont was set to undergo surgery Thursday after he broke his hip in a fall at his home, according to his spokesman. The 82-year-old Democrat fell Wednesday night in McLean, Virginia, a statement Thursday morning said.” [Associated Press]

UPDATED: Man shot by FCPD officer at Springfield Town Center dies

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 30, 2022 at 5:40PM | Updated June 30, 2022 at 8:18PM

A Fairfax County police officer reportedly shot a man at Springfield Town Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 8 p.m.) A 37-year-old Fairfax County resident has died after he was shot by police at Springfield Town Center this afternoon (Thursday), the Fairfax County Police Department announced.

The shooting occurred outside Target in the 6600 block of Springfield Mall. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department transported the victim to a hospital, where he died.

FCPD can again stop drivers for loud exhaust systems, under new Virginia law

By Matt Blitz

Published June 30, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County police cruiser (via FCPD/Facebook)

A change in Virginia law will allow police to once again pull over vehicles with excessively loud exhaust systems, starting tomorrow (Friday).

At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (June 28), officials said the change was much needed, citing noisy cars as one of the top complaints they receive from constituents.