The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is pumping the brakes on consideration of a plan for the county government take over management of trash collection services for all single-family neighborhoods.
“We need to do some more work,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said at the board’s meeting today (Tuesday).
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has ordered state police to investigate explosive allegations from a conservative blog that Fairfax County Public Schools officials helped multiple underage girls obtain abortions in 2021 — a probe whose findings may not surface before Election Day but could still sway voters in the court of public opinion.
Virginia law requires minors to obtain either parental consent or a successful court petition to undergo the procedure. Such records are also exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
GMU President Disputes Finding — “Facing mounting pressure from the Trump administration, a lawyer for George Mason University President Gregory Washington told the board on Monday the leader had done nothing unlawful and would not apologize for his diversity, equity and inclusion policies, despite a call from the Education Department to do so.” [Washington Post]
Driver Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash — Fairfax County police officers responded yesterday (Monday) afternoon to a multi-vehicle crash at Sully Park Drive and Kamputa Drive in Centreville. “One adult male driver was transported to a local hospital in life-threatening condition.” The road reopened around 8:45 p.m., but an investigation is ongoing. [FCPD/X]
McLean Mansion Sells for Record Price — “The 22,000-square-foot mansion at 6431 Georgetown Pike sold Monday for $18.5 million,” making it “the most expensive home ever sold in Northern Virginia that doesn’t front the Potomac River.” Listed for $22 million in March, the estate formerly known as Chateau du Soleil first got a makeover to remove some gaudier touches, such as a mirrored ballroom ceiling. It still features a spa, gym, a lap pool, gardens, a jogging path, smart-tech systems, a 200-inch retractable TV and more. [Washington Business Journal]
Man Cited for Concealed Gun at Fairfax Park — “A 40-year-old Annandale man was cited for having a concealed firearm in a public park during last Friday’s Rock the Block event at Old Towne Square, according to authorities. Around 7:54 p.m., police responded for the report of someone carrying a concealed firearm while drinking.” The Fairfax City Council is considering expanding its restrictions on guns, which have been in place since 2021. [Patch]
License Plate Reader Company Pauses Work With Feds — “Flock Safety, whose cameras are mounted in more than 4,000 communities nationwide, put a hold last week on pilot programs with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and its law enforcement arm, Homeland Security Investigations, according to a statement by its founder and CEO, Garrett Langley.” [Associated Press/ABC News]
Police Warn About Romance Scams — “Our Financial Crimes Unit is seeing versions of the same pattern: a ‘perfect’ match starts a conversation, moves you to private messaging, avoids meeting in person or on live video, and eventually asks for money or sensitive information. Here’s how to spot the red flags and protect yourself and your loved ones.” [FCPD]
New FCPS Hall of Fame Members Announced — “Three Annandale High School graduates are among the 11 Fairfax County Public School’s Alumni Hall of Fame, Educate Fairfax announced on Aug. 22.” The new inductees, who will be honored at Wolf Trap next month, include CNN anchor Jim Acosta and Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay’s chief of staff, Amir Abu-El-Hawa. [Annandale Today]
Theater Coming to D.C. Area This Fall — “This fall, many exciting plays and musicals are being staged at theaters across the Northern Virginia area. Here are some highlights of the season’s must-see shows,” including “Fair Play” at the renovated 1st Stage in Tysons and NextStop Theatre’s production of “The Last Five Years” in Herndon. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high near 79 degrees with a northwest wind of 5 to 7 mph. On Tuesday night, it will be partly cloudy and the temperature will drop to around 59 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at about 6 mph. [NWS]
National Guard in D.C. Now Armed — “Some National Guard units patrolling the nation’s capital at the direction of President Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of his military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defense secretary.” [Associated Press]
Fire at Merrifield Shopping Center — Fairfax County firefighters responded to “reports of smoke coming from” the Providence Place shopping center in Merrifield around 4:15 a.m. on Friday (Aug. 22). “Arriving units located a fire in the kitchen of a restaurant in the shopping center … Smoke extended to two neighboring businesses. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.” [FCFRD/Facebook]
Algae Clears From Lake Accotink — “Lake Accotink is now clear of the reported blue-green algae. However, please remember that swimming and pets are not permitted in the lake. Algae blooms are normal and natural occurrences during the summer months depending on temperature, sunlight, and nutrient conditions. Please lookout for lakefront signs and advisories through September in the event of another bloom.” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]
FCPD Videos of Traffic Violations Go Viral — Since the Fairfax County Police Department’s communications director bought a pointer with a Mickey Mouse-like hand, “millions of people are viewing and engaging the videos with ‘Tappy,’ the pointer’s given name. In July, views reached 19 million on Facebook. The department has over 61,000 Instagram followers, a spike of over 200% since the beginning of January 2024.” [WTOP]
Regional Restaurant Week Extended — Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s (RAMW) annual Summer Restaurant Week was set to end yesterday (Sunday), but the organization “announced Thursday that more than 120 restaurants have opted to extend their restaurant week deals until August 31.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Virginia’s Largest-Ever Lottery Jackpot Claimed — “According to the Virginia Lottery, the winner in June 27’s Mega Millions drawing purchased one ticket that ended up being worth nearly $350 million … While we do not know their identity, the Virginia Lottery says the winner plans to buy a zero-radius riding lawn mower with their millions.” [WUSA9]
Fairfax City Man Owns World’s Largest Zelda Collection — “In July, the Guinness Book of World Records made it official, declaring software engineer Constantine Adams as the new world record holder for the largest collection of [Legend of] Zelda memorabilia, more than doubling the previous record of 1,816 held by Anne Martha Harnes of Norway.” [Patch]
It’s Monday — The weather will be sunny with a high temperature of around 83 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 10 mph. During Monday night, conditions will be partly cloudy with a low temperature of about 61 degrees, and the northwest wind will continue at approximately 7 mph. [NWS]
Man Detained by ICE Previously Charged in Fairfax — “Federal agents and D.C. police detained a man along the National Mall as he cried and screamed for help on Wednesday afternoon.” The man had been charged with sex crimes in Fairfax County in January, but Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano says the charges were dropped after the victim and her mother, whose cooperation was critical to the case, declined to move forward. [NBC4]
McLean Woman Dies From Beltway Fall — “A 36-year-old Virginia woman died Wednesday night after falling from an overpass on the outer loop of the Beltway near MacArthur Boulevard and Clara Barton Parkway in Bethesda, Maryland State Police said Thursday morning in a press release. State police are investigating the incident and have identified the woman who died as Madina Rhine of McLean, Virginia. The release did not state why or how Rhine fell.” [Bethesda Today]
Richmond Overtaking N. Va. in Data Center Growth — “The Richmond region is becoming the fastest-growing data center market in the country … Northern Virginia’s ‘Data Center Alley’ being close to capacity is driving developers south, according to a report this month from real estate services firm Avison Young.” [Axios Richmond]
Brothel Charge Against Spa Dropped — Fairfax County prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor charge of “keeping, residing in, or frequenting a bawdy place” against a massage spa in West Falls Church on Tuesday (Aug. 19) as part of a plea agreement. The business pleaded guilty to operating a massage parlor without a license, a violation that carries a $500 fine, but police say it “remains under active investigation.” [Washington Examiner]
Court Rejects Felon Voting Rights Case — “The Fourth Circuit rejected a challenge to Virginia’s singular voting rights restoration process Tuesday, ruling the system isn’t a licensing scheme subject to scrutiny under a First Amendment doctrine. George Hawkins, convicted as a minor of attempted murder and aggravated malicious wounding in 2010, challenged the system after Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin declined to restore his voting rights in 2023.” [Courthouse News Service]
Poll Finds Support for Housing Reform — “A survey of about 1,300 Virginia voters found that the vast majority of respondents — about 73% — believe that the state lacks enough homes that people can afford to rent or buy.” A majority of Northern Virginia respondents showed support for building affordable housing, allowing homes on smaller lots, capping rent increases for older properties and other legislative changes. [ARLnow]
Tysons VC Firm to Fund Veterans-Led Startups — “Investment firm Veteran Ventures Capital has raised $60 million to deploy equity investments into more than a dozen defense and civilian technology startup companies in the next few years.” The firm, which moved its headquarters from Tennessee to The Boro in April 2024, is looking to support companies involved in space, drones, robotics, cybersecurity, computing, and A.I. and machine learning. [Washington Business Journal]
Reston Town Center Hosts Back-to-School Bash — “BXP, Ted’s Bulletin and Shake Shack in Reston Town Center will be hosting a Back-to-School Bash on Saturday.” Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the pavilion, the event will include live performances, arts and crafts, a Children’s Entrepreneur Market, giveaways, information about educational programs and more. [Patch]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of around 83°F and a gentle north wind at about 6 mph. The night will be clear, and temperatures will dip to around 62°F, accompanied by a southeast wind blowing at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) has been ranked the fifth best high school in the county and the first in Virginia in a new U.S. News & World Report ranking.
Released on Tuesday (Aug. 19), the ranking highlighted the magnet school’s unique, STEM-focused program offerings and amenities, including its 15 specialized research labs, courses like DNA science and advanced marine biology, and a student-led academic journal.
How Medicaid Changes Could Affect Va. — “Three major changes will land especially hard in Virginia, some experts believe. Modeling from KFF, an independent health research group, suggests that Virginia could lose just over a fifth of the Medicaid funding it currently receives from the federal government over the next ten years — one of the steepest reductions faced by any state in the country.” [WAMU]
Clifton Man Charged With Seeking Sex From Minors — “On July 5, at 12:45 a.m., officers responded to the 13000 block of Laurel Rock Drive in Clifton for a sex offense report. The complainant reported that the two juvenile victims were walking when a suspect approached them and solicited sexual acts.” A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child. [FCPD]
Federal Grant for Addiction Recovery Nonprofit Cut — “Ginny Atwood, co-founder of The Chris Atwood Foundation, said she recently learned a multiyear, $200,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services has been ‘wiped out overnight.’ It was COVID-related funding, Atwood said.” The nonprofit fears it could “potentially lose” its recovery community center in Fairfax if it isn’t able to replace the lost funding. [WTOP]
D.C. Marketing Agency Moving to Fairfax — “SweetScience Marketing is relocating its local operations from The Wharf in D.C. to the Mason Enterprise Center in Fairfax. The move for the tech-forward marketing agency is being supported by a grant from Fairfax City Economic Development.” The company anticipates moving into its new office at 10300 Eaton Place in the redeveloping WillowWood Plaza by Oct. 1. [Washington Business Journal]
GMU Catholic Chapel Addition Proposed — “The Catholic Diocese of Arlington recently filed a special permit amendment application with Fairfax County, seeking approval to build an addition to the chapel that serves students at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.” The new space for the St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel would be used for offices and meeting rooms. [Patch]
End in Sight for Columbia Pike Roadwork — “Years of construction on Columbia Pike are finally nearing a conclusion, with county staff targeting ‘substantial completion’ by the end of this year.” Improvements include “wider sidewalks, street trees, new streetlights and better traffic signals,” including a new one at the S. Rolfe Street intersection near the pike’s east end. [ARLnow]
Reston Count Finds Uptick in Dragonflies — “The unusually pleasant August weather helped provide nice results and certainly kept the volunteers from fatiguing early. The final tally was 721 individuals from 16 species of dragonflies. For the last fifteen years, the average individual count has been around 440 dragonflies. The last time the count exceeded 700 was in 2020.” [Reston Association]
Art Installations to Beautify Annandale — “Two noteworthy art experiences will hit Annandale in the next couple of weeks. A new Artopolis show at Beanetics highlights stunning mixed-media and collage works by Theresa Martin, while renowned DC Comics artist Matt Johnston applies his mural skills to Flavor Hive, our new hot dining spot.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Thursday — There’s a 20% chance of showers both before noon and after 1pm, accompanied by a cloudy sky and a high near 76 degrees. At night, clouds will gradually clear to become partly cloudy, and the temperature will dip to a low of around 64 degrees. [NWS]
Yesterday (Tuesday) marked a major milestone in the future of Fairfax County’s emergency response: one of the agency’s first uses of artificial intelligence.
For a brief period of time that day, the county’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) tested an AI system to triage select calls for service to the non-emergency line, officials announced.
The Trump administration appears to be following through on its threat to withhold federal funds from public schools in Northern Virginia after they refused to roll back policies that support transgender and gender non-conforming students.
The U.S. Education Department announced yesterday (Tuesday) that it has placed Fairfax County Public Schools and the school systems in Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William and Loudoun on “high-risk status,” a move that it claims lets it attach specific conditions for releasing funding.
Hurricane Could Affect Virginia Coast — “Hurricane Erin will pass well offshore the Mid-Atlantic but close enough to generate strong winds and dangerous seas and surf for Virginia, Maryland and Delaware beaches, particularly Wednesday and Thursday. Conditions may remain perilous into the weekend … and many beaches are already closed.” [Capital Weather Gang]
Va. Lawmakers Consider Regulating Chatbots — “As more Virginians turn to artificial intelligence for simple tasks or even companionship, lawmakers are exploring policy ideas to address how AI chatbots are influencing residents’ health and well-being, as well as their privacy and security.” The General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) heard an overview of the technology and potential policy concerns on Monday (Aug. 18). [Virginia Mercury]
11th District Candidates Discuss Priorities — “Congressional candidates James Walkinshaw (D) and Stewart Whitson (R) clashed on Medicaid cuts, immigration, tariffs, crime, and much more in an online forum hosted by the League of Women Voters on Aug. 18.” [Annandale Today]
Poll Shows Tightening Governor’s Race — “Democrat Abigail Spanberger holds a 7-point lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the race for Virginia governor, according to a new Roanoke College Poll that shows the contest tightening since the spring … The numbers mark a closer race than in May, when Roanoke’s poll showed Spanberger ahead 43%-26%.” [Virginia Mercury]
Petition Seeking Transgender Girls Ban Accepted — “The Virginia State Board of Health unanimously voted Monday to accept a petition that could lead to regulations banning transgender girls and women from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.” The petition filed by three college swimmers, also called for trans girls and women to be barred from spaces “where females are likely to be in any state of undress.” [WTVR]
New Security Scanners Coming to DCA — “CLEAR and the TSA are piloting biometric ‘eGates’ at three major U.S. airports ahead of a nationwide rollout, the identity verification company told Axios exclusively.” The gates, which will be deployed at Reagan National Airport next week, use “real-time biometric verification, matching a traveler’s face to their ID and boarding pass.” [Axios]
GMU Hires Former Governor — “The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University welcomes former Virginia governor Robert F. (Bob) McDonnell to the faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice … McDonnell served as the 71st governor of Virginia from 2010 to 2014.” [GMU]
NOVA Senior Olympics Accepting Athletes — “The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics are set for September 13 to 28, marking the 43rd year of the regional games that celebrate health, competition, and community among older adults. Registration is open now through August 29, and organizers expect more than 1,100 participants, a turnout that would make it the largest in the event’s history.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Wednesday — Expect patchy showers and possible thunderstorms after 2pm, with clouds gradually clearing to mostly sunny skies and a high near 85°F. Precipitation chances stand at 30%. At night, skies will be mostly cloudy with a low around 70°F. [NWS]
