News | FFXnow - Part 639

Morning Notes

Published October 12, 2022 at 7:30AM

Development emerges near the Innovation Center Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Centreville Man Charged in Fairfax Hit-and-Run — “City of Fairfax Police arrested a 34-year-old Centreville man for driving away from a multi-car crash on Saturday afternoon, according to the weekly crime report. Responding around 1:03 p.m for the report of a crash, officers found two vehicles that had sustained significant damage at Main Street and Judicial Drive.” [Patch]

Metro Plans Bus Network Redesign — “Metro is going on the road with Better Bus, a new initiative to rethink, redesign, and revitalize bus service. In a bold inaugural effort to redesign the current bus network, Metro is holding events across the region to hear from customers and the community.” [WMATA]

Fairfax County plans to let outdoor dining continue beyond pandemic

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 11, 2022 at 3:00PM

The Burger 7 at Avenir Place has a tent extension and movable tables and chairs for outdoor dining (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The end of Fairfax County’s state of emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic won’t mean the end of expanded outdoor dining.

At a land use policy committee meeting last week, the Board of Supervisors indicated strong support for permanently relaxing the county’s permitting rules to let restaurants and other food and drink service establishments set up temporary outdoor dining areas.

JUST IN: Gas leaks reported in Vienna and Burke after workers hit pipes

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 11, 2022 at 12:45PM | Updated October 11, 2022 at 5:45PM

Workers hit a gas line in the 100 block of Tapawingo Road in Vienna for gas leak (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 5:45 p.m. — The gas leak in Vienna was stopped around 1:30 p.m., the county fire department said. The cutoff caused an outage for seven customers, who are now in the process of being reconnected, according to Washington Gas.

Earlier: Fairfax County firefighters are currently responding to two separate gas leaks in residential neighborhoods, one in the Town of Vienna and another in Burke.

New Lorton Community Center is now open, joining renovated library and park

By Matt Blitz

Published October 11, 2022 at 11:45AM

The new Lorton Community Center (image via Fairfax County)

The doors of the $18 million Lorton Community Center are now open, ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for this coming weekend.

The 30,000-square-foot facility on Richmond Highway is combined with a renovated and expanded Lorton Library as well as the new 1.7-acre Lorton Park.

Chairman McKay calls Springfield a ‘no-brainer’ choice for FBI HQ

By Vernon Miles

Published October 11, 2022 at 11:00AM

GSA warehouse in Springfield (image via Google Maps)

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay says Springfield would be an ideal choice for a new FBI headquarters — or would be if another agency wasn’t involved in an underhanded attempt to play favorites.

While it’s not exactly shocking that the county’s top elected official thinks Fairfax would be a good choice for the new FBI headquarters, McKay has gone a few steps past that and accused Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) of putting a finger on the scales.

Legal issues, staff review could delay ‘ambitious’ rewrite of Reston’s comprehensive plan

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 11, 2022 at 10:15AM

The area surrounding te Reston Town Center Metro station is slated for more activity and development (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A major rewrite of Reston’s central planning document — the Reston Comprehensive Plan — could take additional time for review due to pending legal issues and concerns flagged by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

At the board’s land use policy meeting last week, county staff noted that the update to the plan — which was led by a 31-member task force over the last two years — contains language that is at odds with some countywide policies. The county’s attorneys office is reviewing the draft, which was written by the task force, for legal issues.

Teen in hospital with serious injuries from accidental BB gun shooting in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 11, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated October 11, 2022 at 2:38PM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 10 a.m.) A teenager ended up in the hospital over the weekend after another teen accidentally shot him with a pellet gun.

Fairfax County police officers were dispatched a home in the 6300 block of Georgetown Pike in McLean at 12:51 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 8) in response to the reported shooting, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 11, 2022 at 7:30AM

Capital One Center past I-495, seen from Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Task Force Returns From Hurricane — “Today we warmly welcomed back VA-TF1 from their remarkable service to the victims of Ian. As always, the brave women, men and K9s of @VATF1 came through when the call to help arrived. They stand ready for the nation and the residents of Fairfax County.” [Jeff McKay/Twitter]

U.S. Opposes FCPS in Sexual Assault Case — “A recent filing in the U.S. Supreme Court supports a former Oakton High School student’s Title IX lawsuit against Fairfax County Public Schools over claims the student was threatened with discipline if she reported she was raped on a school outing.” [Patch]

Fairfax County School Board commits to supporting transgender students, as community speaks out

By Matt Blitz

Published October 10, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated October 10, 2022 at 4:01PM

Transgender pride flag (via Alexander Grey/Unsplash)

The Fairfax County School Board reaffirmed its support for transgender students last week as community members spoke out against policies proposed by the state that would limit their rights.

At a meeting on Thursday (Oct. 6), members issued a statement reiterating Fairfax County Public School’s commitment to policies that “will continue supporting our transgender and gender-expansive students, staff, and families”:

Woman killed in crash near Fairfax Towne Center, capping deadly week for local pedestrians

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 10, 2022 at 11:45AM

Southbound West Ox Road at Legato Road outside Fairfax Towne Center (via Google Maps)

A 63-year-old woman from Fairfax died yesterday (Sunday) after a driver hit her while she was crossing West Ox Road near Fairfax Towne Center, police reported.

Ligia Jeannette Herrera Betbeder was crossing from east to west on West Ox north of Legato Road when the driver of a 2015 Honda Civic traveling south struck her at 5:54 a.m., according to the Fairfax County Police Department.