News | FFXnow - Part 480

Morning Notes

Published June 7, 2023 at 7:30AM

Crossing Grand Commons Avenue in Fairfax Corner (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Traffic Enforcement Campaign Underway — “This week, the Fairfax County Police Department has started our second ‘Road Shark’ campaign throughout the county. Road Shark is a high-visibility and coordinated enforcement and education effort to deter aggressive driving, reduce crashes, and change driving behavior.” [FCPD]

Fairfax HS Locked Down Over 911 Hangup — “Police put the high school located at 3501 Lion Run in Fairfax City on lockdown around 1 p.m., in order to investigate a 911 hang-up call. Matt Kaiser, a spokesman with Fairfax City, told Patch that the police response and lockdown were standard procedure for any 911 call received from a school.” Police later determined there was no threat. [Patch]

Four arrested after police pursuit for alleged theft at Tysons Nordstrom Rack

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 6, 2023 at 3:45PM

Nordstrom Rack in Tysons (via Google Maps)

Kilmer Middle School was briefly put on alert this afternoon (Tuesday) while Fairfax County police searched Tysons for suspects in an alleged theft and hit-and-run at Nordstrom Rack.

Officers with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Tysons Urban Team responded to the clothing store at 8027 Leesburg Pike around 1:25 p.m. for a reported larceny, though an officer initially told the dispatcher that there was “no confirmed theft.”

FCPD adds tool to solicit community feedback based on census data

By Vivian Hoang

Published June 6, 2023 at 3:00PM

FCPD Chief of Police Kevin Davis announces a partnership next to Zencity Chief Strategy Officer Michael Simon (via FCPD/Facebook)

The Fairfax County Police Department is partnering with Zencity to roll out a community survey tool that markets itself as a way to “reimagine” local policing.

Chief of Police Kevin Davis described Zencity Blockwise as a tool to measure public sentiment and build trust in the community at a press conference yesterday (Monday) to provide more information about the new countywide initiative. He was joined by Zencity Chief Strategy Officer Michael Simon.

Funeral home appeals Herndon denial of plan to demolish old buildings

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 6, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated June 6, 2023 at 2:43PM

The main Adams-Green Funeral Home structure is located in downtown Herndon (courtesy Town of Herndon)

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) The future of two structures built on Elden Street around 1888 is now in limbo.

The longstanding Adams-Green Funeral Home is appealing the Town of Herndon’s decision to deny an application to demolish two homes on 725 Elden Street. The Herndon Town Council will consider the appeal at a work session tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m.

Merrifield’s self-driving shuttle will transport its final riders this month

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 6, 2023 at 1:30PM

The autonomous, electric Relay shuttle at the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is winding down its groundbreaking experiment with self-driving public transportation.

The autonomous, electric Relay shuttle will cease operations after June 23, concluding almost three years of bussing passengers around the Dunn Loring Metro station and the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

Man arrested for Newington gun store burglary, but dozens of firearms still missing

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 6, 2023 at 11:45AM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A man from Maryland was recently arrested in D.C. in connection with a gun store burglary in Newington, the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Monday).

Arrested by Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents on May 22, the 20-year-old is one of four men suspected by police of stealing 53 firearms from Dominion Defense (7200 Fullerton Road) between 3-4 a.m. on April 29.

Reston Hospital Center to expand neonatal intensive care unit

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 6, 2023 at 11:00AM

Reston Hospital Center will expand its NICU by the end of the year (Photo courtesy RHC).

In response to burgeoning needs, Reston Hospital Center is poised to expand a key facility that serves its youngest patients.

The center will expand the capacity of its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) this year from 16 to 29 patient beds. The expansion is also intended to provide more privacy for patients and their families.

Robert Hanssen, double agent who used Vienna park as dead drop site, dies in prison

By Vernon Miles

Published June 6, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated June 22, 2023 at 1:11PM

Robert Hanssen, former Vienna resident and convicted spy (image via FBI)

Spy Robert Hanssen, a former Vienna resident who passed along secrets to the Soviet Union and Russia via a nearby park, died yesterday (Monday) in a Colorado federal prison.

Hanssen, 79, was an FBI counterintelligence agent who was sentenced to life in prison in 2002 for passing classified information to Soviet (later Russian) intelligence.

Firefighters contain large blaze at Lorton landfill off Richmond Highway

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 6, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated June 6, 2023 at 12:38PM

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responds to a landfill fire in Lorton (via FCFRD/Twitter)

(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) A massive fire broke out last night (Monday) at the Rainwater Landfill on Richmond Highway in Lorton, occupying Fairfax County firefighters for hours.

As of 9 a.m., the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department remains on scene in the 9900 block of Richmond Highway after units were dispatched to a reported outside fire at 11:03 p.m.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 6, 2023 at 7:30AM

Fairfax County's Orange Line Metro stations are closed for a rail replacement project (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Dulles Toll Road Ramp to Beltway Closed Overnight — “Between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. starting Monday, June 5, and continuing nightly through Friday, June 9, 495 NEXT project crews will close the ramp from the westbound Dulles Toll Road to northbound I-495. The nightly ramp closure is necessary to safely allow crews to conduct joint repairs at the top of the ramp to the Beltway lanes.” [VDOT]

Metro Halves Fares for SNAP Recipients — “Low-income residents who are enrolled in SNAP benefits will qualify for a new Metro half-off fare discount. The program, called Metro Lift, starts June 20…The transit agency estimates more than 90,000 riders will benefit from Metro Lift, which is estimated to cost about $4 million, but is expected to generate an additional 1.6 million trips.” [DCist]