News

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Close the cover on the CIA World Factbook: The spy agency announced Wednesday that after more than 60 years, it is shuttering the popular reference manual.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools will start classes two hours late for the rest of this week, as lingering “snowcrete” continues to hinder travel.

“As we look to the rest of the week and the persistent presence of snow and ice on many of our sidewalks and bus stops, we feel the safest thing to do for our students and staff is to continue with our delayed start times,” FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a message to families.


Countywide

Fairfax County officials are asking the Spanberger administration to make the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) more responsive to housing developments it must review.

In a letter to three new Virginia cabinet secretaries, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay expressed concern that current VDOT review process for new housing has placed roadblocks in the way of adding both market-rate and committed-affordable units:


News

Vienna officials are expecting a year-end budget deficit as a result of rising retirement costs, overtime pressures and limited staff vacancies.

According to a mid-year budget update presented to the town council on Monday (Feb. 2), Town of Vienna Finance Director Steven Barlow outlined the $450,000 deficit anticipated in the $34.7 million general fund budget when fiscal year 2026 ends on June 30.


Event

BrownTown returns to the DC Improv with headliner Nina Kharoufeh; also featuring Badar Tareen, Yasmin Elhady, Mahmoud Jaber, and Mike Kurtz. Come for stand-up, stay for a civil-rights lawyer grilling a white comedian about race. Every show has sold out—get tix now!


News

Fairfax County’s independent police auditor has recommended that the role of police officers on mental health crisis-related calls be reconsidered.

Richard Schott, who has served as the police auditor since the role was created in 2017, suggested the county reevaluate how it approaches behavioral health calls as part of his review of a fatal shooting by police in Reston in September 2024.


Around Town

Fairfax City’s annual Chocolate Lovers Festival is returning for its 34th year later this week, assuming the weather is more cooperative than it was for the McLean Chocolate Festival.

Kicking off with a free concert on Friday (Feb. 6) and continuing through Sunday (Feb. 8), the festival will feature a variety of tasting opportunities, culinary crafts, entertainment and — in a new addition for this year — a 1-mile run for charity.


Countywide

Fairfax County supervisors in coming days will be compiling a list of positives and negatives related to the local and state response to late January’s crippling snow and ice storm.

Their comments and questions will then be forwarded to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and other agencies responsible for clearing snow.


News

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will be off limits to visitors for a third consecutive spring to allow more sewer upgrades.

The park at 7400 Georgetown Pike in McLean is scheduled to close on Monday, Feb. 16 for an “urgent” project to rehabilitate a siphon facility that carries wastewater across the Potomac River to D.C. Water’s Potomac Interceptor in Maryland, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.


News

A Mount Vernon church suffered a roof collapse Monday (Feb. 2), as Northern Virginia continues to navigate the aftermath of a winter storm and historic freeze.

Fairfax County firefighters responded to St. George Tigray Orthodox Tewahdo Church on Cooper Road shortly before 5:20 p.m., and were greeted by a “roof and floor failure” of the two-story building.