News

Democrat Wins State Senate Election — “Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) is getting a promotion in Richmond. Voters in [Tuesday’s] special election gave the Democrat a sweeping victory against Republican Julie Robben Lineberry … setting her up to succeed Sen. Adam Ebbin as he joins Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.” [ALXnow]

Prosecutor Fired After Removal From Case — After being cited for public drinking and getting removed from the high-profile murder case against Brendan Banfield, senior deputy prosecutor Eric Clingan was fired by the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office on Jan. 12 — days before the trial began. “Clingan said he was ‘wrongfully and unfairly terminated and pursuing litigation.'” [WTOP]

Groveton Fatal Shooting Still Unsolved — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are seeking the community’s assistance in solving a murder that occurred in Groveton more than four years ago.” Ronald Worthy Jr., a 19-year-old Virginia State University student, was found dead with “apparent gunshot wounds” in the Beacon Hill apartment where he was living for the summer with his grandmother on July 27, 2021. [FCPD]

Post-Winter Storm Thaw Finally Begins — “That ‘snowcrete‘ — named for its rock-hard consistency — is finally poised to begin a long, slow fade. Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing each day in the D.C. area for the foreseeable future, with some days next week reaching the 50s or higher.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Bill Could Shift Energy Costs to Data Centers — The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed a bill on Monday (Feb. 9) that “would effectively require, with approval from state regulators, new data centers and other high energy use facilities (HEUFs) to cover more of the costs required to serve them.” State Sen. Louise Lucas proposed the amendment to her own bill, which originally focused on energy assistance programs and a push for Dominion Energy to underground its power lines. [VPM News]

Culmore Library Programs Move to Church — “Now that the Culmore Community Library is closed for an HVAC replacement project – and isn’t expected to reopen until January 2027 – library programs will be held at the Culmore Church in Bailey’s Crossroads. According to updated plans for the pop-up library, it won’t have books, said FCPL Marketing and Communications Director Sara Prohaska.” [Annandale Today]

Reston School Helps Student Artists Flourish — “For decades, as part of [Hunters Woods Elementary School’s] artist in residence program, sixth graders have worked with a local artist to produce artwork that gets displayed in the library, hallways or outside the school building. The school’s PTA covers the program costs and the artwork remains there permanently, offering students an opportunity to establish their legacy before leaving for middle school.” [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 44 degrees and winds potentially gusting up to 32 mph. The nighttime will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 29 degrees. [NWS]

Trump Wanted Dulles Airport Renaming — The Trump administration suggested it would release funding for a rail tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to have Dulles International Airport and Penn Station in New York City renamed after President Donald Trump. “Schumer (D-N.Y.) declined the offer, according to two people with knowledge of the request.” [Politico]

Bill to Decriminalize Homelessness Set Aside — “In 2024 the US Supreme Court okayed the use of criminal penalties for homelessness. And Thursday morning, an effort to block Virginia localities from doing so was killed in a House of Delegates subcommittee,” which sent it to a housing commission for review. Patron Del. Joshua Cole said he hopes to bring the bill back in 2027. [WHRO]

One Injured in Ice Bank Crash — “One person sustained minor injuries after an overturn crash in Tysons on Sunday, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). Police responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash shortly after 6:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of Tysons Blvd. There, investigators found that a car had overturned after striking an ice bank.” [DC News Now]

Arrest in Smash-and-Grab Burglaries — “A man was arrested and charged for a series of smash-and-grab burglaries targeting phone stores in Fairfax County. Surveillance video shows the man using a rock and a hammer to break into the store and take items inside.” Most of the targeted stores were along the Richmond Highway corridor, but a Metro by T-Mobile on Arlington Blvd in West Falls Church was also hit, police said. [WUSA9]

Construction to Close Worldgate Drive Lane — “On Tuesday, February 10, a lane closure will be in effect on Worldgate Drive due to crane installation” for contractor Peraton’s new office. “Routes 921 and 952 will be impacted. Bus Stops #3824 and #3825 will be temporarily closed during this work. Passengers may use Bus Stop #6356 as an alternate stop.” [Fairfax Connector/X]

Correction: FFXnow initially suggested the crane installation is for BXP’s planned redevelopment of vacant offices along Worldgate Drive, but a spokesperson for the developer says it’s related to the new office building for Peraton.

Vienna Ice Skater’s Backflip Was Historic — “His moves in Milan aren’t just awe-inspiring, but historic: [Ilia] Malinin is the first person to legally land a backflip at the Olympics in five decades.” The move was banned from 1977 until 2024, partly due to safety concerns, but French skater Surya Bonaly performed a backflip at the 1998 Olympics out of a desire “to make her mark on history,” despite knowing it would cost her points. [NPR]

Braddock Supervisor Highlights Priorities — “Rachna Sizemore Heizer, the newly installed Braddock representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, told residents at an open house on Feb. 4 that her top priority is constituent services … Other priorities include helping small businesses, economic development, and support for education, parks, and trails.” [Annandale Today]

Minneapolis Mayor Grew Up in Oakton — “There’s no denying that Minneapolis is making headlines lately. And come to find out, the city’s 44-year-old mayor, Jacob Frey, grew up in Northern Virginia. We spoke with Frey about his NoVA upbringing and ties to the area.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies today, a high near 48, and a south wind at 3-7 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The south wind will increase to 7-9 mph before turning northwest after midnight. [NWS]