The Town of Vienna plans to stick with its current real estate tax rate, breaking from the hikes floated by many of its neighbors in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon and Fairfax City.
However, rising property values will still result in higher bills for most residents, while enabling the town to fund employee pay raises, an initial allocation toward a potential swimming pool and fitness center, and other priorities, according to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released on March 5 by Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton.
Stock and crypto market trends (via Maxim Hopman on Unsplash)
A Great Falls businessman has been ordered to serve prison time and pay restitution for stealing nearly $4.5 million from the IRS and his customers.
A federal judge sentenced Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, on Friday (March 14) to six years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and intentionally failing to report and pay taxes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.
Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — A northern Virginia judge determined embryos are not property that can be divided up, rejecting a previous analysis by the court saying such fertilized eggs could be considered divisible “goods or chattel” based on 19th-century slave law.
Cars pass District Taco on Prosperity Avenue near the Dunn Loring Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Supervisor Herrity Recovering FromSurgery — Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity underwent surgery on Thursday (March 13) for a hereditary heart condition discovered after he experienced medical issues earlier last week. Herrity, who hopes to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, says he’s expected to fully recover but will be “sidelined from the campaign trail” for a few weeks. [Pat Herrity/Facebook]
Trump to Halt FBI HQ Move Again — “In a speech Friday at the Department of Justice, President Donald Trump (R) said he would stop plans to build the new FBI headquarters in Maryland because it’s ‘three hours away’ from the agency’s current site.” Maryland leaders said they will continue fighting for a relocation to Greenbelt, which was chosen over potential sites in Springfield and Landover. [Maryland Matters]
Man Banned from Flying United After Punching Dulles Worker — “A Frederick man punched a United Airlines gate agent at Dulles International Airport Thursday night, hospitalizing him. The shocking swing was caught on camera in a video shared with WUSA9.” The 54-year-old man has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct. [WUSA9]
WaPo Sportswriter Dies in McLean — “John Feinstein, a Washington Post sportswriter who became the best-selling author of more than 40 books, including “A Season on the Brink,” an inside look at volatile Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bob Knight, died March 13 at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia. He was 69.” [Washington Post]
Local Contractor Charged with Fraud — “A Fairfax County, Virginia, contractor faces criminal charges for allegedly taking money from clients but never doing any work.” The owner of Capital Pro Services is facing six criminal charges related to three cases, including two involving homeowners they paid for construction that was never started. [NBC4]
D.C. Area Population Is Growing — “The Washington metro region is growing faster than the country overall, per the U.S. Census Bureau. The number of DMV residents dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Census data, hurting everything from the office market to the restaurant scene. But the region has since bounced back — and then some.” [Axios DC]
Vienna Man Bites Officer, Police Say — “Officers responding to the report of an intoxicated man located the man lying on the ground. The man aggressively ran toward one of the officers attempting to assault him. As the officer was taking him into custody, the man bit the officer.” The 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer and obstructing justice. [Vienna Police]
Speed Humps Planned for Mount Vernon Road — “Slowly but surely, Radford Avenue — a residential road connecting Richmond Highway with the neighborhood of Mount Zephyr — is getting safer. The section of Radford between Route 1 and Jackson Place, an approximately one-third-mile segment of road, is getting two speed humps, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT).” [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high around 56°F, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 15 to 17 mph, and gusts peaking at 28 mph. As night falls, the sky will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to about 36°F. [NWS]
Body camera footage taken during the arrest of a teen accused of vandalizing property in Burke (photo via FCPD)
A teenager believed to be behind more than 50 graffiti incidents in Burke was caught this week by Fairfax County police.
Responding to the 9500 block of Burke Road for multiple reports of vandalized property around 11:20 p.m. last night (Thursday), officers located a 16-year-old suspect who was covered in spray paint, police said.
Cyclist on the Cross County Trail (photo via Fairfax County Park Authority)
Starting next week, a portion of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail near Newington will be closed as part of a major wastewater rehabilitation project from Fairfax County.
The Fairfax County Park Authority said a portion of the trail in Pohick Stream Valley Park will be closed starting Monday, March 17, between Cliff Forest Drive and Wadebrook Terrace.
Vape accessories at AJ Tobacco & Mini Mart at 1037 W. Glebe Road in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum/ALXnow)
A staff proposal to restrict future sales of cigarettes and vapes near Fairfax County schools and child-care facilities has drawn a mixed reaction from county supervisors.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed staff in December to study options for regulating tobacco, nicotine and hemp products after the Virginia General Assembly adopted a law last year allowing localities to restrict sales from new businesses within 1,000 feet of a school or child care facility.
The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (file photo)
A Dumfries man will serve nearly 20 years in federal prison, primarily for his involvement in four different armed robberies in Fairfax County.
Dwayne Selman-Neville, 38, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday) to 19 years and two months of incarceration after pleading guilty on Oct. 11 to charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Local colleges have joined the rush to support workers affected by the Trump administration’s broad purge of the federal government’s ranks.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the biggest public higher education institution in Virginia, launched a NOVA New Employment, Exploration and Transition program (NOVAnext) on Wednesday (March 12) that will give laid-off federal workers and contractors free access to select classes and employment workshops.
New Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak (courtesy Town of Herndon)
Maggie DeBoard is officially out as head of the Herndon Police Department.
The Town of Herndon announced yesterday (Thursday) that Captain Steven T. Pihonak has been appointed as its new police chief, just over a month after DeBoard was placed on administrative leave for reasons the town declined to disclose. Pihonak was serving in the role on an acting basis since Feb. 12.
