News | FFXnow - Part 535

Morning Notes

Published April 10, 2023 at 7:30AM

A turtle on a log in Wolftrap Creek (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Driver Hospitalized After Mount Vernon Crash — “Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department are investigating the single vehicle crash that occurred on Sacramento Drive near Bedford Terrace on Saturday. Police say the driver was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries following the collision.” [WUSA9]

Man Shot in Kingstowne — Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting on Friday (April 7) near Barclay Drive and King Centre Drive. Police say a man was found with a gunshot wound to the upper body and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe preliminarily that it was “an isolated incident.” [FCPD/Twitter]

As staffing challenges continue, FCPD partners with GMU to study officers

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 7, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated April 7, 2023 at 3:52PM

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and GMU professor Dr. Cynthia Lum announce a long-term study of local police officers (via FCPD/Facebook)

(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) The Fairfax County Police Department and George Mason University have joined forces with an Arlington-based think tank to study how the attitudes and behavior of police officers evolve over the course of their careers.

Touted as the first of its kind in the U.S., the long-term or longitudinal study is intended to give the FCPD and other police departments a better understanding of how to address staffing challenges by following a select group of officers, potentially over decades.

Town of Herndon’s Friday Night Live! to kick off in May

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 7, 2023 at 1:15PM

Kat Dillon of The Reflex sings to the crowd as kids play with bubbles on June 24, 2022 at Herndon's Friday Night Live! (photo by Laura B. Poindexter)

The popular outdoor concert series, Friday Night Live!, will return to the Herndon Town Green on May 5.

Organizers released the schedule for the program’s 29th season earlier this week.

Discovery of hawks nest puts Oakton stormwater pond repairs on hold

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 7, 2023 at 11:15AM

Two hawks have a nest in a tree at the Circle Woods stormwater pond in Oakton (courtesy DPWES)

Maintenance work on the Circle Woods stormwater pond in Oakton will have to wait until this summer — or until the hawks nesting in a nearby tree take their leave.

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) shared on Monday (April 3) that its contractor had encountered an “active hawks nest” in a tree that has been slated for removal.

UPDATED: Construction on I-495 toll lanes can continue during lawsuit, judge says

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 7, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated April 7, 2023 at 2:11PM

I-495 North approaching the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike exits (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Construction on the widening of the Capital Beltway (I-495) can continue while a lawsuit filed by McLean residents works its way through the court system, a federal judge ruled this morning (Friday).

The Northern Virginia Citizens Association had urged U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema to issue a preliminary injunction against the project that would halt all work until further environmental analysis is conducted.

UPDATED: Pedestrian killed in crash at Richmond Highway near Fairfax County Parkway

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 7, 2023 at 8:30AM | Updated April 7, 2023 at 7:56PM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 7:55 p.m.) A pedestrian was killed this morning (Friday) in a crash on Richmond Highway (Route 1) near Fairfax County Parkway in the Fort Belvoir area.

Phillip Hester, 62, was walking on Richmond Highway at Anderson Lane when the driver of a 2008 Chevrolet Impala headed south hit him at 5:57 a.m., the Fairfax County Police Department reported.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 7, 2023 at 7:30AM

The Water Mine at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Deep Dive Into the Fight Over the FBI HQ — “What both delegations agree on is that this is a once-in-a-generation contract that could serve as a 50-year anchor for either community, potentially bringing tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the winner. There are political legacies at stake here. Plus, there’s the CIA angle, which no one can talk about.” [Slate]

Lake Barcroft House Fire Starts in Jeep — “A fire caused by an electrical issue with a Jeep parked outside a Fairfax County home is responsible for a resident being displaced and thousands of dollars worth of damage.” One firefighter got “a minor injury” while responding to the fire in the 6300 block of Cavalier Corridor on March 31. [FOX5]

Vienna police officers awarded for response to 2021 shooting outside Navy Federal Credit Union

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 6, 2023 at 2:15PM

Vienna police officers are recognized at the 45th annual Fairfax County Valor Awards (courtesy Vienna Police Department)

A pair of Vienna police officers won an award last week for helping turn the tables on a shooting suspect back in October 2021.

During a March 30 ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, officers Emily Lichtenberg and Alex Murray received a Silver Medal of Valor at the 45th annual Fairfax County Valor Awards, which recognize achievements by local first responders.

EXCLUSIVE: Abrar Omeish bows out of school board race to work with youth-focused legal nonprofit

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 6, 2023 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County School Board At-Large Representative Abrar Omeish at a Girl Scouts President's Circle dinner (courtesy Abrar Omeish)

The Fairfax County School Board will have a lot of new faces next year — and perhaps, a couple of members reemerging from its past.

The latest member to opt out of a reelection bid is at-large member Abrar Omeish, who told FFXnow that she has instead accepted a job with a nonprofit that focuses on youth law and advocacy.

Herndon staff recommends denying plan to demolish historic structures at funeral home

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 6, 2023 at 11:45AM

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

The Town of Herndon is considering a proposal to demolish two historic structures on the Adams-Green Funeral Home property.

At a Historic District Review Board work session yesterday (Wednesday), staff recommended denying the proposal to demolish a historic house at 724 Elden Street and and a historic carriage house near the primary house.