The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
A Maryland man who struck and knocked unconscious a gate agent at Dulles International Airport earlier this year pleaded guilty today (Thursday) to interfering with security screening personnel.
Christopher Stuart Crittenden faces a maximum of 10 years for the crime, though federal prosecutors will recommend a sentence no greater than the low end of sentencing guidelines, according to the terms of a plea agreement.
White Oaks Elementary School in Burke (via Google Maps)
A former teacher at White Oaks Elementary School in Burke will surrender her teaching license amid accusations that she physically assaulted students at the school.
Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, who previously worked as a special education teacher at the school, entered an Alford plea on June 18 to two misdemeanor counts of assault & battery, allowing her to plead guilty while maintaining her innocence.
Sign advertises available housing for seniors at MetroWest in Oakton, seen in 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Housing costs are daunting for Fairfax County residents in general, but for seniors with limited financial resources, even subsidized housing options are becoming increasingly beyond their means, county staff say.
“We’re starting to see some disconnect,” Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Director Tom Fleetwood said, describing the “emerging challenges” to the Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (July 8).
The Capital Bikeshare docking station on Hilltop Road in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
After years of planning, the Town of Vienna is finally kicking its Capital Bikeshare program into gear.
The Vienna Town Council voted unanimously on Monday (July 7) to award $231,000 in state grant funds toward the purchase and installation of four bicycle-sharing stations, with an option to add a fifth station in the future.
A sign for the Waples Mobile Home Park outside Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The first major rewrite of zoning rules governing Fairfax’s manufactured home communities since the 1970s soon could head to county supervisors by the end of this year.
If approved, the new regulations would guide future development at the seven existing residential parks, which are mostly located in the Route 1 corridor. They also potentially would provide more protections for residents in cases of redevelopment or other displacement.
A cardinal sits on a power line in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Families Challenge Army Response to DCA Crash — “The Army has avoided accountability and shirked oversight months after the deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter in Washington, dozens of family members said in a letter to the Army’s top official, calling for action and greater transparency.” [Washington Post]
WNBA Game at Mason to Bring Traffic — “Due to a WNBA game at EagleBank Arena w/5k attendees expected, there will be an increased volume of traffic on/around GMU’s campus + increase in on-campus parking on Thursday, July 10, from 4-10pm. Subscribe to Mason alerts (ready.gmu.edu/masonalert) for details on high impact areas + alt routes.” [Supervisor James Walkinshaw/Bluesky]
Algae Spotted in Reston’s Lake Anne — “RA watershed staff members have observed a small occurrence of potentially harmful blue-green algae on Lake Anne. While swimming is never permitted in the lake, it is additionally recommended to keep dogs from the lake water at this time. ” Blue-green algae was also seen earlier this month in Lake Audubon. [Reston Association]
Local Activist Group Plans Rally — “In honor of civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Herndon Reston Indivisible is hosting a Good Trouble Lives On rally on Thursday, July 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Baron Cameron Park, which is located at 11300 Baron Cameron Ave. in Reston.” The group previously drew an estimated 2,000 people to its “No Kings” rallies on June 14, part of a nationwide anti-Trump protest movement. [Patch]
Falls Church Considers Parking Ticket Aides — “Falls Church officials are considering whether to allow public safety aides to issue parking tickets, direct traffic and respond to abandoned vehicles. Under current Falls Church city code, only sworn law enforcement officers have the ability to conduct parking and traffic control.” [ARLnow]
When Mount Vernon Mansion Might Reopen — “Visitors at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate will have to wait until this December to see the founding father’s fully renovated mansion.” Sections have been closed since last November as part of a multi-year, comprehensive restoration project that began in 2019. The mansion will be open, except for the cellar, during the final phase of work from December through September 2026. [ALXnow]
Adult Education Scholarships Available — “Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education (FCPS ACE) invites students interested in careers in the skilled trades to apply for a scholarship. Current and prospective FCPS ACE students can apply for a $1,000 scholarship that can be used toward upcoming apprenticeship classes starting this fall. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.” [Annandale Today]
Free French Fries at Big Buns — Reston-based Thompson Hospitality’s burger chain, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, will celebrate National French Fry Day — a relatively new occasion organized by Checkers and Rally’s — by offering free regular or Cajun fries with any burger, sammie or bowl purchase tomorrow (Friday). “Just use code FRYORCRY25 online or mention it in-store. This deal is only valid July 11th, so don’t let this FRYday pass you by.” [Big Buns]
It’s Thursday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected throughout the day. The sky will be mostly cloudy, with a high temperature near 85 and a 60% chance of precipitation. At night, chances of showers and thunderstorms decrease to 30%, with a low temperature around 72. [NWS]
Radar shows storm entering Fairfax County on July 9, 2025
Update — More than 10,000 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County have lost power as thunderstorms sweep through the D.C. region.
As of 7:20 p.m., the outages appear to be concentrated in the south central part of the county, from Newington up to the Falls Church area, according to the utility’s outage map.
University Drive blocked for Fairfax City's 2024 Asian Festival on Main (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
How do you like walking around Fairfax City? A new study could redesign the city’s streets to improve the pedestrian experience with a particular emphasis on safety.
The City of Fairfax was awarded a federal grant to develop a citywide safety action plan, a circulation study for Old Town Fairfax, and a citywide pedestrian master plan — all under the umbrella of an initiative called Move Fairfax City.
Tom Fleetwood, director of the Department of Housing and Community Development (screenshot via Fairfax County)
Fairfax County’s efforts to support additional affordable housing may have received an unexpected boost from the recently passed federal budget reconciliation act.
County officials are working through the details, but the changes in federal law could represent “a significant step forward” in financing affordable housing, Tom Fleetwood, director of the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development, told the Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday).
Police say they have connected Edward Eugene Pottmyer, 58, of Chantilly to two sexual assaults and an exposure case (courtesy FCPD)
A Chantilly man could serve 10 years in prison after admitting to his involvement in three cold cases that date back to the late 1990s.
Edward Eugene Pottmyer, 58, pleaded guilty earlier this month (July 2) to one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of abduction, both stemming from a 1998 incident on a Fair Lakes bicycle path, according to court records.