Local superstar Ilia Malinin and other figure skaters will convene in D.C. next month to pay tribute to the victims of last week’s airplane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport.
Set for Sunday, March 2, at Capital One Arena, the “Legacy on Ice” benefit will raise funds to support the families and loved ones of the 67 people killed in the Jan. 29 crash, while serving as a showcase for the American figure skating community, which lost 28 members.
If it seems like you know or have encountered more sick people this winter, it might not be your imagination.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church, is experiencing high levels of respiratory illnesses, driven particularly by influenza, according to the Fairfax County Health Department.
ICE Arrests Annandale Residents — “ICE agents arrested six men outside Fairmont Gardens in Annandale [Wednesday] morning. The men were spotted walking down Little River Turnpike in handcuffs. The men were waiting for jobs. One was released because he had a work permit, says Nayely Lopez of FACETS.” [Annandale Today]
Driver Killed in I-95 Crash — “Virginia State Police are investigating a crash that happened just after 2:30 p.m. on [Tuesday, Feb. 4 in] the southbound 95 Express Lanes at the 151 mile marker in Prince William County,” creating traffic delays from Dumfries to Lorton. A Lexus driver died at the scene, and a passenger in the vehicle was taken to a hospital. [WTOP]
Health Centers Closing Due to Funding Freeze — “Half of Virginia’s community health centers have been cut off from federal grant money, forcing some to stop providing certain services and others to close branches.” Even though a judge stayed the Trump administration’s funding freeze last week, 16 of the state’s 31 Federally Qualified Health Centers have been unable to access funds used to pay their employees. [VPM]
Arrest Made in Chantilly School and Church Thefts — A Chantilly man has been charged with burglary, property destruction and petit larceny after he allegedly stole from a church donation box and burglarized a school. “The two separate incidents happened at the end of January 2024, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.” [DC News Now]
Police Investigate Vehicle Part Thefts — Fairfax County police are looking for an Ohio man who they say was involved in catalytic converter thefts in Woodlawn on Jan. 5. “The complainant reported seeing two men carrying tools and attempting to break into vehicles. Officers located several catalytic converters, the suspects’ vehicle, and tools nearby.” [FCPD]
Lincolnia Credit Union Robbed — The Navy Federal Credit Union in Barcroft Plaza was robbed yesterday (Wednesday) shortly before 11:30 a.m. “The suspect entered the bank, at 6343 Columbia Pike in Lincolnia, and demanded money, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The suspect did not display a weapon. No one was injured.” [Annandale Today]
Falls Church to Wait and See on Deer Management — “Deer culling efforts are unlikely to get off the ground in Falls Church any time soon, city leaders indicated this week.” At a Monday (Feb. 3) night work session, the city’s animal control officer said complaints about deer have been minimal, but city council members suggested keeping an eye on local populations. [ARLnow]
Murals Could Beautify Route 1 Construction — “As more and more buildings along Richmond Highway are demolished in preparation for construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) is hoping to improve the appearance of the corridor with more artwork.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 1pm, with a high temperature near 49°F. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. For Thursday night, it’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 40°F. [NWS]
Fairfax County Public Schools will clear school grounds early tonight (Wednesday) and start classes late tomorrow (Thursday) in anticipation of some wintry weather.
FCPS announced that all activities on school grounds, including sports practices and extracurricular activities, must wrap up by 9 p.m. In addition, schools will start on a two-hour delay tomorrow with a mix of snow and sleet expected to freeze overnight.
With the federal government slashing its workforce and attempting to freeze billions in funding, Virginia lawmakers are bracing for impact. House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) on Tuesday evening announced the formation of an Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, a bipartisan panel tasked with assessing the economic fallout and crafting solutions to protect the commonwealth.
“This is not about politics — it’s about protecting Virginia’s workforce, economy, and essential services,” Scott said in a statement. “With nearly 145,000 federal civilian employees and even more federal contractors calling Virginia home, we depend on a strong partnership with the federal government to provide critical services. The federal administration’s announced plans to ‘drain’ the federal workforce and the pause in federal funding raise serious concerns for Virginia’s economy and the ability to maintain essential services.”
Candlelight Vigil Tonight for DCA Crash Victims — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) invites the community to a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the 67 lives lost in the tragic American Airlines crash at National Airport last week. The gathering will take place Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m., at Rivergate City Park, 2 Montgomery St., on the Alexandria waterfront.” [Annandale Today]
Concerns About Crowded Airspace Have History — “With a preliminary NTSB report not expected for several weeks, Arlington’s federal representatives have ventured few opinions on what factors may have contributed to last week’s crash. However, local advocates’ concerns about the number of flights at DCA stretch back years.” [ARLnow]
Route 28 Bypass Project Officially Dead — The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 5-3 yesterday (Tuesday) to cancel a planned road extension that would’ve diverted traffic off of Route 28 (Centreville Road) before reconnecting north of Bull Run Stream in Fairfax County. Approved in 2020, the bypass proposal faced various challenges, including a “lack of buy-in from Fairfax County.” [WTOP]
Lawmakers Could Regulate License Plate Readers — “Virginia lawmakers are moving to regulate automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) for the first time, but privacy advocates warn that the legislation could expand surveillance rather than rein it in.” The House of Delegates passed a bill yesterday that would limit police data storage and authorize VDOT to issue permits for the devices’ installation. [Virginia Mercury]
Loudoun to Consider Dulles Airport Noise Mitigation — “As residents near Dulles International Airport continue to voice concerns over noise from aircraft flying over their homes, a community-involved process to consider mitigation methods will kick off this spring … A virtual community kick-off meeting is envisioned for April to provide an overview of the project.” [Loudoun Now]
Update on FCPS Athletics Policy Review — “Months after Hayfield Secondary School’s football team withdrew from the playoffs, Fairfax County Public Schools is crafting a plan that it hopes will improve its athletic processes and transparency ahead of the next school year.” The plan is being developed by a working group in collaboration with the Virginia High School League. [WTOP]
Secret Service Cracks Down on ‘Card Skimmers’ — “A U.S. Secret Service task force cracked down on a card-skimming scheme that targeted people who rely on government assistance … The unit visited 879 businesses in the D.C. area, inspected 6,561 devices and found 24 skimmers.” [NBC4]
Hunter Mill District Invited to Town Hall — “Do you want to know more about the proposed casino or have other questions or issues you want to discuss with me? Let’s talk!” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn will host a town hall tomorrow (Thursday) from 7-8:30 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive) in Reston. [Walter Alcorn/Instagram]
It’s Wednesday — There’s a 30% chance of precipitation during the day, with an increased likelihood of combined snow and sleet after 1 p.m. At night, though, the chance of preciptation is 100%, with sleet transitioning to freezing rain and sleet from 1-4 a.m. The high temperature will be around 37 and the low near 32. [NWS]
Legislation that would give Fairfax County the authority to ask voters to allow a casino is heading to the Virginia House of Delegates.
After a passionate debate that split Fairfax County’s typically unified delegation, the contentious bill from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add the county to the short list of localities eligible to host a casino passed the state Senate today (Tuesday) by a 24-16 vote.
Fairfax County is launching a public outreach campaign ahead of a June Board of Supervisors hearing on its plan to take over management of residential trash collection.
The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services introduced its plan for Unified Sanitation Districts (USD) in December. The proposal would shift the county from a waste collection system where most single-family homeowners hire private haulers to a county-managed model that would assign private companies to specific collection zones.
Democrats Counter Youngkin Budget Proposal — “Virginia Democrats have slammed the brakes on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s push for tax cuts, rejecting most of his budget proposals — including a car tax credit that would have phased out the widely unpopular levy. Instead, House and Senate budget plans unveiled Sunday take a different route, prioritizing faster, more targeted tax relief while pumping funds into education, housing, and healthcare.” [Virginia Mercury]
Police Help Catch Escaped Horses — “Alexandria and some neighboring jurisdictions had to hoof it to catch some escaped horses on Telegraph Road [on Sunday]. Fairfax County Police Department helped the Alexandria Police Department secure the horses. Both horses were safely returned to custody in ‘stable’ condition.” [ALXnow]
Inova Launches Mobile Cancer Screening Clinic — “Early detection of cancer saves lives — this week, the Inova Schar Cancer Institute is launching a mobile cancer screening clinic to reduce health care barriers in underserved communities.” The clinic will work with partner community organizations to bring its services to their clients. [WTOP]
Route 29 Construction to Block Road — “Willowmeade Drive (Route 5407) between Route 29 and Knight Arch Road (Route 7699) will be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 until 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 to install a water main as part of the Route 29 widening project … Traffic will be detoured via Route 29, Meadow Estates Drive (Route 7885) and Knight Arch Road back to Willowmeade Drive.” [VDOT]
Reactions Mixed to Honorary Annandale Street Name — “About 70 people came to a community meeting at the Mason Government Center on Jan. 30 to learn about and express their opinions on a proposal to rename a portion of Little River Turnpike to honor the contributions of Korean Americans. Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stressed that the name change would be totally honorary.” [Annandale Today]
Va. Senate Passes Bill to Help CBD Retailers — “A bill that would help CBD retailers sell their goods at farmers markets and community events around the state passed the Virginia Senate on a 39-9 vote on Monday afternoon.” The bill from local state Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Saddam Salim will eliminate a $1,000 registration fee currently required to sell CBD products at temporary locations. [Patch]
Black History Month Events in Fairfax County — “This February, we’re proud to host a variety of events in honor of Black History Month, offering you a chance to engage with the rich and diverse threads of African American history and culture.” Options include a celebration at the Fairfax County Government Center, an interpretive sign unveiling, musical performances and more. [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching around 53°F accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. At night, cloud coverage will increase, and temperatures will drop to about 31°F. The north wind will maintain a gentle 5 to 8 mph breeze. [NWS]
A new relief fund has emerged to supplement the patchwork of GoFundMe pages and meal trains created to support the families of those who died in last week’s airplane and helicopter crash into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.
The Capital Area Community Foundations, a partnership of D.C.-area nonprofits that includes the Oakton-based Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, launched a DCA Together Relief Fund on Friday (Jan. 31) to raise money for the families, first responders and organizations providing mental health services and other recovery resources.
