Fairfax County supervisors and advocates on Tuesday (Sept. 9) celebrated the progress in integrating local residents with disabilities into the elections process.
The Board of Supervisors designated this week (Sept. 8-12) as Disability Voting Rights Week in Fairfax County, recognizing the need to make voting accessible to the roughly 15% of the local electorate that face disability-related challenges.
The travel agent who pretended to organize a preseason trip to the Bahamas for the George Mason University men’s basketball team will spend the next 13 months behind bars.
Maurice Eugene Smith, 44, was sentenced today (Thursday) to one year and one month in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud back in April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.
Herndon’s tree canopy coverage isn’t bad for a town of its size, but it notably lags behind some of its neighbors, town staff say.
At a work session on Tuesday (Sept. 9), arborist Nick Maletta told the Herndon Town Council that the town currently has 26% canopy coverage, which falls within a standard range but at the lower end of that spectrum.
A physical therapist employed by Inova Health System has been charged with sexually assaulting one of his patients.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, officers were called to Inova’s Center for Personalized Health campus on Innovation Park Drive in Merrifield at 12:28 p.m. on Monday (Sept. 8) after a woman reported being sexually assaulted by her physical therapist during an appointment.
Fairfax County police are investigating an apparent case of deadly domestic violence that occurred in West Falls Church late last month.
Ana Maria Mena Membreno of Alexandria died last week (Sept. 5) after being transported to a local hospital in life-threatening condition days earlier, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
The U.S. Army’s annual Ten-Miler Expo is relocating from D.C. to Springfield this year as a result of the National Guard’s continued presence in the nation’s capital.
The Army Ten-Miler announced earlier this week that its 2025 expo will be held at The St. James (6805 Industrial Road) in Springfield on Oct. 10-11 “due to the unavailability of the DC Armory” — the event’s traditional location.
County Board Schedules Special Meeting — “The Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 9 a.m. to authorize the County Attorney’s Office to petition the Circuit Court, which will then set the date for a special election.” The election would fill the Braddock District supervisor’s seat vacated by James Walkinshaw, who was sworn into Congress yesterday (Wednesday). [Fairfax County Government]
GMU Board Head Rejects Call for Resignation — “George Mason University Rector Charles Stimson informed Democratic leaders in the Virginia Senate that he will not step down from his post on the school’s governing board despite their request for him to do so.” Sens. Scott Surovell, L. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke argued Stimson’s role as an advisor to the president of the Heritage Foundation is a conflict of interest as Mason faces federal investigations into its diversity policies. [Virginia Mercury]
Two Arrested for Carjacking — A 20-year-old man from Alexandria and a 17-year-old are facing criminal charges in connection with an armed carjacking that occurred in Woodlawn on Monday (Sept. 8). “The victim reported he met with a buyer to sell clothing he advertised online when a second suspect approached him, displayed a firearm, and the two stole his vehicle.” [FCPD]
Swim Club Cell Tower Voted Down — The Mantua Swim and Tennis Club (MSTC) won’t move forward with a proposed project to allow a Verizon cell tower on its property after members declined to approve a necessary amendment to its bylaws, the board of directors said in a statement. “We thank all members who participated in the process and appreciate the engagement from our broader community.” [MSTC]
Mahjong Studio Open in Falls Church — “Local mahjong player Tori Rittinger, who launched Talk Tiles to Me at 113 Rowell Court last week, said she fell in love with the game when a friend got her hooked in 2021.” The new mahjong studio offers lessons for newcomers to the Chinese game, open play hours, event rentals and league nights. [ARLnow]
Tysons Club Plots Return — “Tower Club Tyson’s Corner, the old-school standby in the sky for NoVa’s business types with big wallets, will resurface in late October following a lavish renovation. Around since 1989, the club’s needed makeover to the tune of $1 million includes the addition of two restaurants.” [DC Eater]
Parents Warn About Opioid Overdoses — “Cayden Foster, Sean and Afrodita’s only child, died of a fentanyl overdose in early 2023 at 18 years old. Afrodita found him dead in his bed one morning when he should have been getting ready for school.” The parents have now spoken to thousands of students about the dangers of opioids and stay in contact with the Fairfax County Police Department’s overdose task force. [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high around 80 degrees and a gentle north wind at 6 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with lows near 60 degrees, as the northeast wind around 5 mph becomes calm in the evening. [NWS]
The main question surrounding the special election yesterday (Tuesday) wasn’t whether Democrats would hold onto Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, but by how much.
Even in an area as deeply blue as Fairfax County, a 50-point victory came as a welcome surprise for James Walkinshaw, who secured just under 75% of the vote to best Republican nominee Stewart Whitson, according to unofficial results.
Fairfax County leaders have put in writing their concerns about the possibility of the Space Shuttle Discovery moving from Chantilly to Texas.
The Board of Supervisors voted 10-0 on Tuesday (Sept. 9) to send a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, asking him to carefully consider whether a move is in best interests of the nation.
A Vienna family is in mourning after the father was killed in a vehicle crash on I-95 this past Saturday (Sept. 6).
Contracted by the Virginia Department of Transportation as a Safety Service Patrol member, Michael C. Freeland, 48, was helping the driver of a disabled Audi when the driver of a Chrysler 300 sedan “lost control, crossed all lanes of travel, and struck both the patroller and the Audi driver,” the Virginia State Police said.
