New research shows that thousands of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church deeds from the early-to-mid 20th century had language barring people of certain races, nationalities, or religions from buying property.

Researchers contend that these practices, known as restrictive covenants, play a major role in the segregation of neighborhoods throughout the county and across Northern Virginia, the effects of which are still evident today.


Deal Reached on State Budget — “Budget negotiators in the Virginia General Assembly have reached a bipartisan deal, ending a lengthy standoff over the spending plan and avoiding a highly unusual state government shutdown. Lawmakers will be back in Richmond on Monday to vote on the deal during a special legislative session.” [WTOP]

Pedestrian Safety Measure Approved — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on May 7…updated the county code to match the state code requiring drivers to stop — not just yield — for pedestrians at unsignalized intersections. It also prohibits drivers from overtaking vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Violators can be charged up to $500.” [Annandale Today]


(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) Police are investigating a fatal crash on the Dulles Toll Road along the Reston and Herndon border.

The crash involved two vehicles that collided around 11:20 a.m. near Fairfax County Parkway, according to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) spokesperson.


The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will soon unveil its proposals for transforming Wiehle Avenue in Reston into a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly street.

The department will host a community meeting at Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) on Thursday, May 23, from 7-9 p.m. to share three concepts for possible future improvements to the roadway.


A redevelopment of McLean Professional Park as condominiums will move forward with Fairfax County’s approval.

The Board of Supervisors gave a unanimous thumbs up on Tuesday (May 7) to property owner T&M McLean Ventures’ proposal to replace half of the office park’s 12 commercial townhouses with 104 for-sale residential units in a single, five-story building.


(Updated at 11:50 a.m. on 5/13/2024) Fairfax County police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that shut down Georgetown Pike in Great Falls for hours early Thursday morning (May 9).

First responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Falls Chase Court for a crash near the Great Falls Church of Christ at 12:21 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.


Megan Hargan’s 2017 murder of her mother and sister will take center stage in a new podcast series from the team behind the true-crime TV show “48 Hours.”

Produced by CBS News and Paramount Audio, the miniseries “Blood is Thicker: The Hargan Family Killings” will release the first of six planned episodes on the double murder case next Wednesday (May 8).


(Updated at 10:05 a.m.) A now-former Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputy was arrested earlier this week for allegedly assaulting a person being booked into the county jail in January.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, Nicholas Vaszil, a 28-year-old Annandale resident, “assaulted an inmate” in the booking area of the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on around 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 1 “following a verbal altercation.”


Cookie Baked in Space to Be Displayed in Chantilly — “The first food ever baked in space is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia — and it’s a chocolate chip cookie…The dough was provided by McLean-based Hilton, the same cookie dough used to baked the warm chocolate chip cookies given at check-in to guests at its DoubleTree hotels.” [WTOP]

Longtime Hybla Valley Vacuum Store to Close — Sun Sew Vac will close on June 29 after nearly five decades of business. First opened in Mount Vernon Plaza in 1975 before moving to 7770 Richmond Highway in 2013, the vacuum and sewing machine store experienced a boom during the pandemic, but owner Robert Hines Jr. has now opted to retire. [On the MoVe]


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