How many Northern Virginia residents have lost their jobs as part of federal cutbacks and their ripple effects on the economy? Nobody seems to know for sure — including members of the U.S. Senate.
“We’re still trying to get the right numbers,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) board of directors at a meeting last Wednesday (June 11).
Primary Voting Begins — “Ready to vote in the Democratic primary? Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17. You’ll need to go to the polling place for the precinct where you live, even if you plan to register that day. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m., you’ll be able to vote.” [Fairfax County Government]
Arrest Made in Groveton Stabbing — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau arrested a man for a fatal stabbing that happened on June 10 that left one man dead in Groveton.” The 56-year-old man was detained at the Huntington Metro Station by Metro police on Sunday (June 15) and later taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with second-degree murder. [FCPD]
Update on Herndon Double Murder Case — Prosecutors are seeking to use a video-recorded interview of Brendan and Christina Banfield’s 4-year-old daughter in their case alleging that her father killed her mother and a stranger, Joseph Ryan. “A judge must decide whether to allow the child’s statement to be played during her father’s trial without requiring her to testify or face cross-examination.” [Washington Post]
Federal Budget Could Raise Airport Costs — “Currently, MWAA pays about $7.5 million a year to operate the otherwise federally-owned [Dulles and National] airports. Over time, that number will go up, but under the proposal coming from Congress, it would double starting in 2027. MWAA would have to renegotiate the lease every 10 years going forward, raising those costs on an annual basis.” [WTOP]
Affordable Housing Becoming Harder to Find — “Falls Church-based Homestretch released new data showing that finding affordable housing in the region has become increasingly difficult for many residents.” According to the nonprofit, workers need to earn $38.73 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Falls Church — more than five times the federal minimum wage. [ARLnow]
Upgrades Coming for Annandale Trail — “The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to begin construction on the Phase 2 improvements to the Long Branch Stream Valley Trail in late June or early July. The project focuses on improving the trail segment between Woodland Way and Wakefield Chapel Road.” [Annandale Today]
No Tourism Bump From WorldPride — “WorldPride in D.C. drew less robust attendance than anticipated, according to Destination D.C.’s chief executive, though there were bright spots for hotels in the city.” Officials say hotel bookings saw “pretty significant” momentum until President Donald Trump took office in January, attributing the lower-than-expected turnout to the new administration’s “rhetoric” and people being “concerned about coming into the U.S.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Tuesday — Scattered rain until 2pm could be followed by storms, while patchy fog clears before 9am. The mostly cloudy day will have a high near 82, with a 30% chance of precipitation. At night, anticipate a mostly cloudy sky, a low around 71, and a 50% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Apartment rental prices continue to rise across Fairfax County, even as they cool nationally, and nowhere in the county is pricier for renters than Tysons.
With a median rental price of $2,450 for one-bedroom apartments and $2,938 for two bedrooms, Tysons topped Fairfax County in May and was second only to Arlington regionally, according to new data from Apartment List.
An abundance of rain in recent weeks has alleviated the drought plaguing Northern Virginia, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says.
The department announced this morning (Monday) that it has lifted drought advisories for the entire Commonwealth, including a drought watch for Fairfax County and the rest of Northern Virginia that had been in place since September.
Fairfax Residents Join Anti-Trump Protests — “Large crowds of protesters gathered at street corners and along roads across Fairfax County on Saturday to exercise their First Amendment right to peacefully demonstrate against the policies of President Donald Trump.” [Patch]
Speed Cameras Start on Fairfax County Parkway — “Work zone cameras will be installed along a stretch of Fairfax County Parkway between Popes Head Road and Burke Center Parkway. A 30-day warning period begins June 15. Starting July 15, violators will be subject to fines up to $100, sent in the mail.” [Fairfax County Government]
Detour on Route 123 in Vienna — “This Monday, June 16, at 7 a.m., crews will begin replacing the handicap ramps and brick crosswalks at the intersection of Maple Avenue and East Street. Traffic will be impacted, and a detour will be in place from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. daily.” [Town of Vienna/X]
Annandale Pickleball Facility Opens — “Down the Line, a state-of-the-art pickleball facility in Annandale, will have a soft opening on Sunday, June 15. It’s located in a completely renovated building at 4311 Ravensworth Road that had been vacant for years since Kid’s Choice Sports Center closed.” [Annandale Today]
Talk About FBI Academy Relocating — “The Washington Post reported an anonymous source claims that FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is considering plans to relocate its National Academy” from Quantico to Huntsville, Alabama. “The rumblings are drawing concern and opposition among Virginia lawmakers, who cite the loss of jobs to the area and the cost of relocating the academy.” [Potomac Local News]
Fort Belvoir Celebrates Army’s B-Day — “Fort Belvoir commemorated the United States Army’s 250th birthday Thursday with a celebration and messages of heritage, honor and commitment … The event brought together military leaders, local officials and community members to reflect on the Army’s journey since its founding in 1775.” [Inside NoVA]
What to Know About Democratic AG Primary — “Jay Jones, a former state lawmaker from Norfolk, and Shannon Taylor, the longtime elected prosecutor in the Richmond suburb of Henrico County are running.” With primary voting coming tomorrow (Tuesday), two reporters “take a closer look at the candidates and break down whether there’s much difference between them.” [WTOP]
Meet McLean Entrepreneur Behind Sweet Leaf — “Sweet Leaf co-founder Arita Matini, 37, was just 21 when she opened her first restaurant back in 2009 … Sweet Leaf now has six locations — five in NoVA and one in DC — and Matini says she’s constantly looking for new opportunities to expand.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Monday — Showers are most likely between 2pm and 4pm, with cloudy skies and temperatures reaching around 73°F. The chance of precipitation is 50%. At night, expect another chance of showers after 8pm, as it remains cloudy with lows near 66°F. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation during this time. [NWS]
The Fairfax County Police Department is boosting patrols near the homes of legislators in the wake of the fatal shooting of a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota.
From the FCPD:
By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press
A panel of experts called Wednesday for policy and cultural changes to prevent deaths linked to heat and exertion at the nation’s police academies, and insisted that urgent action is needed to save the lives of recruits.
Fairfax County supervisors wrapped up the 2024-2025 Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) cycle at their meeting on Tuesday (June 10) with a few tweaks to recommendations from the Planning Commission.
Projects that made the cut will now be placed on a county staff work plan for further review and community outreach. Rejected submissions can return in the next cycle, expected to start in about 18 months.
There’s a chance it might rain on the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday parade in D.C. tomorrow (Saturday).
Scheduled to roll down Constitution Avenue starting at 6:30 p.m., the military parade championed by President Donald Trump will follow a full day of festivities — and protests — that could be hit by a storm system expected to pass through the region this weekend.
Harmful Algae in Burke Lake — A blue-green algae bloom that could pose health risks to people and animals has been identified at Burke Lake, prompting the Fairfax County Park Authority to advise avoiding contact with the water “until further notice.” The park authority says it’s “monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and local health officials.” [FCPA/Facebook]
ICE Arrests in Annandale — “Four people were arrested by ICE on June 10 inside the immigration court in Annandale. They had been waiting for their cases to be heard, reports John Cano, a senior organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center … As of [Wednesday], there was no information on whether the individuals taken by ICE had their cases dismissed or where they live.” [Annandale Today]
Anti-Trump Protests Coming — “The protests coincide with the day of Trump’s planned military parade in DC. The parade, celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday, is being held on the same day as Trump’s birthday.” More than a dozen protests are planned in Northern Virginia, including in Fair Lakes, Alexandria and Arlington. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Falls Church Movie Theater Opens — “A new movie theater in Falls Church is opening its doors tomorrow (Friday). The new Paragon Theaters at 112 Founders Avenue will offer $8 movie tickets now through June 30 to welcome its first guests. The location originally planned to open over Memorial Day weekend.” [ARLnow]
New Restaurants Along Richmond Highway — “First Watch, a restaurant chain specializing in made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch, opened its new Alexandria location in Groveton June 9, according to a company spokesperson.” Over in Penn Daw, prolific D.C.-area chef Peter Chang has leased space for a restaurant at South Alex. [On the MoVe]
Planned Bicycle Path Wins Support — “A proposal to add a 10-foot-wide path for bicyclists along Haycock Road has won informal support from the Falls Church Planning Commission … The effort is being conducted in coordination with transportation-safety improvements along Shreve Road just to the south, also under the direction of Fairfax County officials.” [ARLnow]
Positive Start for Automated Metro Trains — “The safety oversight panel monitoring Metro’s rail system said in the first 10 days of automated train operation on the Green and Yellow Lines, there have been significantly less station overruns than when the system was implemented earlier on the Red Line.” [WTOP]
It’s Friday — Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly after 3pm, with a partly sunny high of 89°F and south winds of 3-6 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation at night, which will be mostly cloudy with a low of 71°F. [NWS]
