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JUST IN: Appeals court lets FCPS proceed with revised TJ admissions process

Published March 31, 2022 at 3:55PM | Updated April 1, 2022 at 10:15AM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County Public Schools can use its revamped admissions process to evaluate the next class of prospective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students, a federal appeals court ruled today (Thursday).

The overhauled admissions process, which replaced a standardized test with an essay, a higher grade-point-average requirement, and other criteria, is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit filed against the county school board by the Coalition for TJ, a parent and community group that opposes the changes.

Townhomes proposed near Westfield High School under county review

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 31, 2022 at 3:00PM

Open spaces are provided throughout the property (via Fairfax County Government)

A plan to bring 144 townhomes to Westfields will head to the Fairfax County Planning Commission this spring.

The developer K. Hovanian at Gallery Park filed a rezoning application in mid-May of last year to move forward with the project, which it says “will introduce meaningful residential while defining the entrance into Westfields.”

Wind Advisory, Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect in Fairfax County

By Brandi Bottalico

Published March 31, 2022 at 2:30PM

A severe thunderstorm warning and a wind advisory have been issued for Fairfax County

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Fairfax County and surrounding areas this afternoon (Thursday).

The Wind Advisory warns of winds between 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph and is in effect until 8 p.m., while the Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 p.m.

Virginia rail system looks to rebound from pandemic ridership nosedive

By David Taube

Published March 31, 2022 at 12:45PM | Updated April 1, 2022 at 11:54AM

A train passes the Burke station (file photo by David Taube)

(Updated April 1) Empty parking spaces have been common sights near Fairfax County’s five Virginia Railway Express stations over the last two years.

Like those of other transit agencies nationwide, the commuter railway service’s woes during the COVID-19 pandemic have been well-documented, but a new ad campaign airing this month and next is looking to regain riders.

Agreement to turn Fairfax County Government Center parking into affordable housing to be formalized

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 31, 2022 at 11:15AM

The site includes a community hall called Fairfax One (via Fairfax County Government/handout)

The county’s plan to convert parking lots at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax is nearing fruition.

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will hold a public hearing tonight (Thursday) on its agreement with Lincoln Avenue Capital to build roughly 275 units at the parking lot, otherwise known as the Residences at Government Center II.

Teen overdoses draw increased focus to opioid epidemic in Fairfax County

By David Taube

Published March 31, 2022 at 9:00AM | Updated November 2, 2023 at 5:16PM

Fairfax County Public Schools

Recent drug overdoses by teenagers in the Richmond Highway corridor and emergency care statistics have led Fairfax County officials to intensify their efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

Hospitals and urgent care centers in the county have seen nonfatal overdoses rise in the last three years, from 232 to 324 and 354 as of last year. Most of the opiate cases involve fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that’s 80-100 times more powerful than morphine, while heroin cases are declining, the county health department told FFXnow.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 31, 2022 at 7:30AM

Looking south to Falls Church over Washington Blvd. (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Health Department Updates Covid Data — The county’s dashboard for COVID-19 data will report the 7-day average number of daily cases instead of the number of new cases, and two other metrics were added to the dashboard. The additions are the 7-day average number of daily new deaths, and the current community level, including the metrics that determine the level (hospitalizations, hospital capacity and cases within a community). [Fairfax County Government]

FBI Relaunches New HQ Search — “President Joe Biden’s administration made it clear that the federal government would be consolidating the FBI’s headquarters outside of D.C. in the General Services Administration’s fiscal year 2023 budget request…The move has been in limbo for years. During then-President Barack Obama’s administration, the GSA had narrowed down potential locations to Greenbelt, Landover and Springfield.” [Bisnow]

Fairfax senator’s bill expanding use of facial recognition technology draws mixed reactions

By Rick Horner

Published March 30, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated March 30, 2022 at 5:21PM

Fairfax County police badge (via FCPD/Facebook)

(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) A new bill that would let Virginia law enforcement use facial recognition technology is headed to the governor’s desk.

Senate Bill 741, which was proposed by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-36), would let local law enforcement agencies use the technology to investigate specific criminal incidents related to certain acts of violence and to identify deceased individuals and victims of online child sexual abuse material.

Fairfax County plans new facility to store archaeological collections

By David Taube

Published March 30, 2022 at 2:15PM

A digital rendering shows the proposed collections facility (via Fairfax County)

A heating plant abandoned when the Lorton prison closed in 2001 could eventually host Fairfax County’s vast collection of artifacts and museum objects.

Located in the Workhouse Arts Center area, the building at 8941 Workhouse Road could be transformed with a second-level addition and upgrades to meet curation standards, allowing the county to hold over 3 million artifacts in a central location.

Merrifield autonomous shuttle hums along, thanks to new grant funds

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2022 at 1:30PM

The autonomous Relay shuttle travels between the Mosaic District and the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The autonomous Relay shuttle that has been puttering around Merrifield will stay in operation at least through the end of this year.

Fairfax County accepted additional funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation last week to extend its pilot project through December 2022, as it hopes the recent decline in COVID-19 cases will boost the shuttle’s ridership.