News

Call for More Sewer Funding After Potomac Spill — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) was among 14 members of Congress from the region who requested federal funding today (Tuesday) to rehabilitate and modernize the burst Potomac Interceptor. The delegation is also seeking additional funds for wastewater infrastructure nationwide following a recent briefing on efforts to repair the sewer line and mitigate health risks.” [ARLnow]

Man Charged With Threatening Metro Riders — A 37-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (Feb. 21) after allegedly brandishing a knife at other passengers on a Silver Line train heading from Herndon to Ashburn. “Deputies met the train at Ashburn Station and evacuated the affected train car. While on the train, deputies encountered the suspect and learned that he had also allegedly touched a 6-year-old child inappropriately.” [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]

Cat Cafe Open in McLean — “A nonprofit cat café, MeowTown Lounge, is holding its grand opening in McLean on Saturday, February 28, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.” Located in the Salona Village Shopping Center at 1345 Chain Bridge Road, the lounge is currently home to 14 different cats. Since its soft opening back in January, MeowTown has helped place 10 cats in their forever homes.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Town Hall Planned on Centreville Gas Leak — “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will host a virtual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, to provide the community with updated information regarding the recent incident in Centreville. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will offer residents an opportunity to … learn about ongoing response and recovery efforts, and ask questions.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Bill to Reduce Development Lawsuits Postponed — Del. Marcus Simon agreed to hold House Bill 447 for further deliberation over the next year after the Hanover County NAACP worried it would make it harder to challenge encroachments on historic Black neighborhoods. The bill aimed “to curb people filing lawsuits to stall housing developments by fine-tuning requirements for legal challenges against local government land use decisions.” [Virginia Mercury]

Maryland Rolls Out Beltway Sensors — “After years of testing, the Maryland State Highway Administration announced that ramp metering signals along northbound I-270 are fully operational. The new signals aim to streamline merging and cut morning commutes by up to 30 minutes.” [WUSA9]

How ICE Activities Shaped Virginia Bills — “As the 2026 General Assembly session began, state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D–Fairfax) introduced bills to put restrictions on federal immigration enforcement in Virginia, framing them as a response to the growing fear in immigrant communities.” While Democratic leaders were initially hesitant to center the bills, they gained urgency as ICE activities increased across the country. [VPM Media]

Springfield Gas Station to Add Convenience Store — “Demolition is expected to start in about two weeks on a project at the Ravensworth Shell service station to convert the auto repair shop to a convenience store. The auto repair business closed on Feb. 22.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — There’s a slight chance of rain between 8 and 10am. The sky will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, and the temperature will reach a high near 55. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 37, as the west wind shifts to 5 to 7 mph and becomes calm after midnight. [NWS]

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Woman Found Dead in Hybla Valley — Fairfax County police are investigating the death of a woman who was found with wounds to her upper body near a bus stop at Richmond Highway and Arlington Drive around 7:20 p.m. yesterday (Monday). “Call 911 with info,” police said. [FCPD/X]

Va. Could End Data Center Tax Breaks — Senate Democrats proposed ending a sales tax exemption for data centers to fund the state budget for the next two fiscal years, while their counterparts in the House of Delegates Senate “put forth more modest spending for key items.” Both plans would fill gaps left by the federal government for food assistance benefits and Affordable Care Act subsidies, among other priorities. [VPM Media]

Progress on Potomac Pipeline Repairs — “Work to repair the collapsed section of the Potomac Interceptor is moving ahead, and with help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, D.C. Water crews are working to stay on track toward restoring full flow by mid-March.” [WTOP]

Economic Development Leader Plans Exit — “The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) Commission announced [yesterday] that President and CEO Victor Hoskins will be returning to the private sector this fall” after leading the organization for six years. FCEDA board chair James Quigley told the Washington Business Journal that the authority is planning a “pretty aggressive local search” for a successor, who is expected to be announced later this year. [FCEDA]

Senators Hint at Bill to Reduce DCA Flights — “Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are throwing their support behind the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report into the January 2025 midair collision near” Reagan National Airport, saying in a statement that they “will be working on legislation to reduce slots at DCA and meet the NTSB’s other safety recommendations.” [ARLnow]

Poll on Gun Laws and Redistricting — “A new statewide poll shows most Virginians support stricter gun laws and favor keeping the commonwealth’s current redistricting system, even as many question whether tougher firearms restrictions would make them safer and express deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the country.” [Virginia Mercury]

Pizzeria Opens in Lincolnia — “Pizzato Pizza, a brand-new casual eatery at Landmark Plaza, offers some innovative pizza varieties, such as butter chicken pizza, vodka crispy chicken pizza, and chicken tikka pizza. It’s located in a former Pizza Hut at 6226 Little River Turnpike, Lincolnia.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax Senator Dropped From Key Committee — “The Virginia Senate shuffled key committee assignments Friday following Sen. Adam Ebbin’s departure to join the Spanberger administration, triggering a shake-up that included Sen. Dave Marsden’s, D-Fairfax, removal from the powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee and Sen. Bryce Reeves’, R-Orange, ouster from Commerce and Labor.” [Virginia Scope]

GMU Launches Teaching Scholarships — “George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) has announced a new Future Ready Teachers initiative” that will provide full scholarships to cover tuition and the cost-of-living for aspiring educators. “It will also provide mentorship, a three-year induction program, and preparation for technology-enabled environments.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high near 39 today, accompanied by a northwest wind of 7-11 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Moving into night, there’s a 30% chance of snow after 1 am, turning into a rain mix after 4 am. Clouds will increase, and the temperature will drop to around 32. [NWS]

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