News | FFXnow - Part 427

Police: Man steals ambulance after being hospitalized by I-66 crash

Published February 20, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated February 20, 2024 at 8:18PM

A white vehicle is about to crash off of the Route 50 ramp to I-66 in Fair Oaks (courtesy Statter911/Twitter)

(Updated at 8:15 p.m.) Fairfax County police combed Annandale last night for a man who reportedly stole an ambulance while getting treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital after a vehicle crash off I-66 near Fair Oaks.

The crash occurred at the eastbound Route 50 ramp to westbound I-66 around 12:30 p.m. yesterday (Monday) when officers attempted to stop a 2015 Toyota Corolla that was identified as stolen from another jurisdiction, according to the Fairfax County Police Department and scanner traffic on Open MHz.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published February 20, 2024 at 8:15AM

The Trillium Tysons is taking shape in the next phase of The Boro (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Another Pedestrian Killed in Richmond Highway Crash — “A man is dead after a hit-and-run crash Sunday night in Fairfax County, Virginia. Police said it happened just before 10:45 p.m. on Richmond Highway at Buckman Road in Woodlawn…Police told WTOP that witnesses described the striking vehicle as a white Lexus. Officers found the car and the man about two miles away from the scene and arrested him for felony hit-and-run.” [WTOP]

No Metro Funding in Senate’s Budget Proposal — “Democrats who control Virginia’s General Assembly set out battle lines with Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Sunday over the state budget and teed up their own conflict between the Senate, which did not include budget plans for the Metro transit system or a sports arena in Alexandria for the Capitals and Wizards, and the House of Delegates, which did.” [Washington Post]

Langley boys repeat as state swimming and diving champion

By GazetteLeader

Published February 19, 2024 at 6:00PM | Updated September 30, 2024 at 10:24PM

Virginia title was team’s third in program history

It was a repeat state-championship performance in essentially the same manner for the Langley Saxons.

Flint Hill boys return to top of league throne in swim & dive

By GazetteLeader

Published February 18, 2024 at 6:00PM | Updated September 30, 2024 at 10:25PM

Talented and speedy brothers lead the Huskies

Led by the talented and experienced Bermudez brothers and numerous younger and, at this point, less tested freshmen, the Flint Hill Huskies won the recent Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference boys swimming and diving team title.

Northern GW Parkway to close with snow expected Friday night

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 16, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated February 16, 2024 at 5:03PM

A U.S. Postal Service truck in Vienna during the Jan. 19, 2024 snowstorm (photo by Amy Woolsey)

(Updated at 5 p.m.) The northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway will close tonight (Friday) in anticipation of some snowfall, the National Park Service says.

The closure will start at 7 p.m. and extend from the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean to Spout Run in Arlington.

County considers permits for residents to bypass cut-through traffic restrictions

By Acacia James

Published February 16, 2024 at 11:00AM

Traffic on Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) facing Seven Corners (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is continuing talks on a proposal that could allow some residents to better access their homes in areas with certain traffic restrictions.

Cut-through mitigation restrictions prohibit turns into neighborhoods from major transit corridors during rush hour. While the restrictions aim to prevent local roads from getting jammed by drivers trying to evade traffic, it can make it challenging for residents to legally access their homes on those streets.

Renovated Vienna library will be named for desegregation advocates

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 16, 2024 at 10:15AM

Patrick Henry Library in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna’s future library will bear a name with close ties to its past.

Fairfax County Public Library’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved “Vienna-Carter” as the new name for Patrick Henry Library at its meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 14). The name change will officially take effect once the library reopens after an expansion project that’s expected to start later this year and finish in fall 2026.

New Dulles Airport concourse, now under construction, gets lift from federal funds

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 16, 2024 at 9:30AM

A rendering of the 14-gate concourse now under construction at Dulles International Airport (courtesy MWAA)

A planned 14-gate concourse at Dulles International Airport received a major federal lift this week.

Yesterday, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced that the Tier 2 Concourse East project will get $35 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Congress passed in 2021.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published February 16, 2024 at 8:15AM

Chain Bridge Road crosses over Accotink Creek in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Snow Likely Tonight — “Forecast confidence is increasing for a light-to-moderate snowfall in the D.C. area Friday night.” As of yesterday afternoon, areas north and west of D.C. are predicted “to see 2 to 4 inches,” while areas to the south could get 1 to 3 inches of snow. [Capital Weather Gang]

Woman Hit by Metro Train in Tysons — A woman was hospitalized on Feb. 8 after being struck by a Silver Line train at the Spring Hill station around 8:30 p.m. The woman “was trespassing in a restricted track area” and “intentionally” got in front of the train, a Metro spokesperson said. She was “conscious and alert” when responders arrived, but the extent of her injuries is unclear. [Gazette Leader]

Restonian wins essay contest celebrating national parks

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 15, 2024 at 3:30PM

Reston resident Tracey Long won a Recreation.gov contest with her essay about whitewater rafting on the Colorado River (via Tracey Long)

After triumphing over the Colorado River, a local Restonian has won an annual, nationwide contest for her account of the experience.

Recreation.gov, the federal government’s travel planning and reservation platform, invites amateur writers to share stories of their experiences with national parks, forests and other federal recreation locations.