Countywide

Discussion of legislation permitting a referendum on a Tysons casino has moved to the powerful House Committee on Appropriations.

Members of the House Committee on Local Government were directed by Speaker Don Scott (D-88) yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to send the bill to the chamber’s appropriations committee without acting on it.


Countywide
Drivers in snow approach a Washington & Old Dominion Trail crossing in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

National Airport Runways Reopen — “Two runways were reopened at Reagan National Airport and a section of the Potomac River was restored Tuesday following a deadly midair collision last month, according to officials … In addition to the reopening of Runways 4/22 and 15/33, the Federal Aviation Administration has increased the hourly arrival rate to 28 aircraft for DCA.” [WTOP]

VHSL to Ban Transgender Female Athletes — “The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has announced that it will comply with the executive order banning transgender athletes assigned male at birth from competing in girls’ sports … This announcement comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin posted on Facebook urging the league to comply” with the order signed by President Donald Trump on Feb. 5. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Bird Flu Spiking in Virginia — “Virginia is facing the worst bird flu spike since the nationwide outbreak started in 2022, USDA data shows … The Commonwealth has the seventh highest number of birds in the U.S. affected by avian influenza, per confirmed reports from Jan. 4 to Feb. 3.” [Axios Richmond]

Carjacking Attempted Near Huntington Metro Station — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau have charged a 30-year-old man with carjacking in Huntington. On February 9, at 10:45 p.m., officers responded to the 5700 block of Metroview Parkway in Huntington for a robbery. The victim reported that a man assaulted him and attempted to take his vehicle.” [FCPD]

Fresh World Supermarket Nears Opening — “The much-anticipated international supermarket at the Mount Vernon Square retail center is officially slated to open the second week of March, said Joshua Kim, property manager of Mount Vernon Square … More details on the grand opening will be forthcoming.” [On the MoVe]

County Offers Free Tax-Prep Resources — “Eligible residents and their families can get free assistance filing their federal and state income taxes at locations around the county through the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.” [Fairfax County Government]

Environmental Improvements Recommended for Mason District — A Greener Mason Advisory Committee convened last April presented a final report at a community meeting on Monday (Feb. 10). “The committee was charged with proposing both long-term and short-term actions for making the environment in Mason District more sustainable, greener, healthier, and more attractive.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Snow, freezing rain, and sleet are expected, with rain becoming likely after 4pm. The day will be cloudy with a high near 36. Precipitation probability is 70%. For Wednesday night, rain will persist mainly before 4am, with a low around 34 and a 100% chance of precipitation. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Tuesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 11, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌨️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 1pm, transitioning to rain, snow, and sleet between 1-4pm, and likely rain after 4pm. Cloudy conditions with a high near 35 and an east wind around 8 mph. A 70% chance of precipitation, with little to no ice and less than half an inch of snow/sleet accumulation. Wednesday night, rain is mainly expected before 4am, with a low around 34 and an east wind at 3-7 mph. A 100% chance of precipitation and new amounts between a quarter to half an inch are possible. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


Countywide

With winter weather currently blanketing the D.C. region, Fairfax County Public Schools has declared tomorrow (Wednesday) a snow day.

All schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, and activities on school grounds have been canceled. Students were dismissed three hours early today (Tuesday) in anticipation of snow starting to fall this afternoon into the evening.


Event

Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.

Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.


News

Virginia’s attorney general is apparently seeking to revive a Fairfax indecent exposure case against a person who was subsequently charged with allegedly exposing himself in a girls’ locker room at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.

In a Feb. 11 letter to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, Attorney General Jason Miyares accused the county’s top prosecutor of undermining public safety after a case charging Richard Kenneth Cox with indecent exposure at a Planet Fitness in Fairfax City was dismissed last summer.


News

Its future remains uncertain, but legislation in Richmond could bring the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton more money to spend on environmental and social-service initiatives.

A bill patroned by Del. Marty Martinez (D-29) would allow Virginia towns to get a portion of the plastic bag tax revenue collected by their surrounding county. After passing the House of Delegates on a 52-45 vote on Jan. 23, the measure advanced from a Senate Committee on Local Government on a party-line tally of 8-7 on Monday (Feb. 10).


News

A recent online operation conducted by child exploitation detectives resulted in seven arrests, including that of a Falls Church High School teacher, the Fairfax County Police Department announced this morning (Tuesday).

Richard Berkowitz, a health and physical education teacher at the school in West Falls Church, was arrested on Jan. 29, two days into the operation, but Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid was asked to hold off on notifying the community so the operation could continue, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a press conference.


Sports

The West Springfield Spartans have again claimed a significant swimming and diving team championship, despite winning few, if any, events.

The latest title won by the high school boys’ squad was the 6C North Region Occoquan competition, where they amassed 367 points on Friday, Feb. 7. The Lake Braddock Bruins finished second in the region with 310 points.


Countywide

A new program launched by the Fairfax County Police Department hopes to take advantage of the increasing popularity of Ring doorbells and other at-home security systems.

Connect Fairfax County, announced by the department at the end of January, will allow law enforcement to leverage surveillance cameras to hopefully speed up investigations.