Houston, we have a problem.
President Donald Trump’s federal tax and spending bill allows for, among other things, the relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly to the Johnson Space Center in Texas.
News
The I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project will introduce another change to the traffic patterns in McLean tonight (Wednesday).
Construction crews are scheduled to begin work this week on an extension of the northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Inner Loop) ramp to southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway (GW Parkway), requiring the highway to be narrowed.
Unhealthy Air Expected — The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is forecasting a Code Orange air day today (Wednesday) in D.C., Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland, meaning the air will be unhealthy for older adults, children and other sensitive groups. A Heat Advisory will also take effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. due to expected extreme heat. [COG]
ICE Arrests in Fairfax Courthouse — “Pictures shared with News4 by witnesses appear to show ICE agents detaining multiple people inside the Fairfax County courthouse, which is new within the last couple of weeks, according to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.” The sheriff’s office says its deputies haven’t assisted with any arrests, but they “may stay in the vicinity of the agents in case there is a security issue.” [NBC4]
Fairfax Judge Blocks University Board Appointees — “A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday granted a temporary injunction suspending eight gubernatorial appointees from serving on governing boards at the University of Virginia, Virginia Military Institute and George Mason, the latest development to rock Virginia’s higher education landscape this summer.” [Virginia Mercury]
Springfield Woman Killed in Crash — Cassandra Ann Signet, a 22-year-old woman from Springfield, “was killed in a Monday afternoon tractor-trailer crash on Vint Hill Road in Nokesville. Police said the driver of a 2016 Jeep Renegade was making a left turn from Owls Nest Road onto westbound Vint Hill Road at 12:53 p.m., when the SUV crossed paths in front of an International HV507 truck traveling east.” Signet, who was driving the Jeep, died at the scene, Prince William County police said. [Inside NoVA]
Inova Tops Hospitals Ranking — “For the fifth year in a row, Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church has taken the top spot for Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region on U.S. News and World Report‘s annual list of the nation’s best hospitals.” Arlington-based VHC Health, which has been expanding its Fairfax County presence recently, came in fourth in Virginia. [Virginia Business]
Protest Against Social Security Layoffs — “Although the temperature in Reston at 10 a.m. on Tuesday was 87 degrees, a small group of demonstrators had gathered along Sunrise Valley Drive to protest the layoffs of thousands of Social Security Administration employees since the Trump administration took office in January.” The local Defend Democracy Indivisible group has organized protests outside the office at 10800 Parkridge Blvd every Tuesday since April 4. [Patch]
Free Speech Advocates Question Social Media Law — “A new Virginia law requiring a child under the age of 16 who meets certain criteria must be compensated when taking part in content creation, known as SB 998, went into effect July 1. The law aims to protect young people from being exploited by adults in creating popular social media content … But according to experts, there may be some unintended consequences as well.” [WTOP]
Free Food Promo From Annandale Eatery — “Residents are invited to drop by L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Annandale on Friday, Aug. 8, for a free Spam musubi from noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 8 is annual SPAM® Musubi Day, a holiday launched by L&L and officially established by the governor of Hawaii in 2021. The date, 8/08, pays homage to Hawaii’s 808 area code.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny, hot conditions with temperatures reaching a high near 98 and heat index values up to 103. A calm wind will shift to 5 to 7 mph from the south in the afternoon. For Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of around 77 and a south wind at 6 mph. [NWS]
Local Republicans have their first candidate for a potential vacancy on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Ken Balbuena, who bills himself as a “common sense community leader,” announced his candidacy today (Tuesday) for Braddock District supervisor — should incumbent James Walkinshaw win election to Congress.
The two major party candidates seeking to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District made their case to voters yesterday (Monday).
Speaking at the Reston Community Center in Hunters Woods, Democrat James Walkinshaw and Republican Stewart Whitson discussed a variety of topics ahead of September’s special general election.
Three months after it was put on hold, a divided Fairfax City Council has brought the $6 million Pickett Road Connector Trail project back to life.
After Mayor Catherine Read cast the tiebreaker in a 4-3 vote last week, planning will restart on the proposed 1,260-foot trail running south from Fairfax Blvd to Thaiss Memorial Park on the east side of Pickett Road.
FCPS Pride is urging Northern Virginia school districts to hold their ground after the Department of Education accused the schools’ trans-inclusive policies of violating Title IX.
Last week, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found Fairfax County Public Schools and nearby Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William and Loudoun school divisions in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The findings argue that letting students use bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex.
Plans to redevelop the Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center near Old Town Fairfax were put on hold last week, giving city officials and the developer more time to find compromises on the overall proposal.
“Being good partners requires flexibility not just from the developer, but from the city as well,” Fairfax City Councilmember Anthony Amos said at the July 22 meeting, where council members voted 5-1 to defer final consideration until Oct. 28.
A planned mixed-use development in Vienna could provide new homes for residents as well as its builder.
Sekas Homes intends to revitalize the former Truist bank building at 515 Maple Avenue East by refreshing the commercial space on its ground floor and adding residential condominiums on its upper levels.
Driver in Fatal Crash Identified — “On July 25 at 4:09 p.m., officers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Fairfax County Parkway near Old Keene Mill Road in Burke involving a 2022 Mack truck that left the roadway and struck a jersey wall. The driver, Kenneth Davis, 57, of Amissville, was declared deceased on the scene. Preliminary, detectives do not believe alcohol or speed are factors in the crash.” [FCPD]
Search and Rescue Task Force Returns — “Virginia Task Force 1 (VA TF-1), the commonwealth’s specialized search and rescue team, is back home from working victim recovery operations following deadly floods in Texas. The crew of four people and three dogs returned to their home base in Chantilly just before noon Monday after a 17-day deployment.” [DC News Now]
GMU Faculty Resolution Draws Scrutiny — George Mason University’s faculty senate approved a resolution last Thursday (July 24) denouncing the Trump administration’s recent investigations as a “politically motivated attack” similar to the pressure campaign that led University of Virginia president Jim Ryan to resign. The Justice Department is now seeking drafts of the resolution and communications between those who drafted it and GMU President Gregory Washington’s office. [New York Times]
Vigil for Still-Missing Former Inova Nurse — “During a peaceful gathering early Sunday in front of the Prince William County judicial center in Manassas, Sunita Basnet paused for a moment to reflect, reminiscing on the hardship of the past 365 days. July 27 will mark the one-year anniversary of the day Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a Manassas Park nurse and mother, was last seen at UVA Prince William Medical Center, where she worked.” [Inside NoVA]
Hunter Mill Town Hall Tomorrow — “Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill), who represents the Town of Vienna, Reston and other surrounding parts of Fairfax County, will host the town hall. The meeting is planned Wednesday, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Vienna Elementary School cafeteria (128 Center St S, Vienna, VA).” [Patch]
New Attractions Planned for Taste of Annandale — “This free, family-friendly community festival is Sept. 20, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space, 7200 Columbia Pike in the heart of Annandale.” Additions for 2025 will include a petting zoo, an eating contest, a new route for the 5K, additional crafts and artisans, and possible shuttle bus service. [Annandale Today]
RCC Board Candidates Wanted — “Reston Community Center (RCC) is seeking interested candidates to run for seats on its Board of Governors, a nine-member body responsible for oversight of RCC … This year’s Preference Poll will fill three positions for three-year terms. Online and in person voting will take place from September 5 through September 26 until 5:00 p.m.” [RCC]
It’s Tuesday — The weather will be mostly sunny and hot, reaching a high near 98 and heat index values up to 102. The wind is expected to be light and variable. As for Tuesday night, it will start off mostly cloudy and gradually clear up, with a low temperature of around 77. A south wind of 3 to 5 mph is anticipated. [NWS]