News

With development continuing to emerge around Reston Town Center, Fairfax County is making a new push to obtain funding for a long-planned extension of the Town Center Parkway.

The proposed Dulles Toll Road underpass, which will connect Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road, is one of four major projects that the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) plans to submit for state funding from Virginia’s FY 2026- FY2031 Smart Scale Program.


News

One of the best brews in the country can be found right in Fairfax County at Caboose Brewing Company, according to the judges of the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

The brewery, which owns and operates Caboose Tavern (520 Mill Street) in Vienna and Caboose Commons (2918 Eskridge Road) near the Mosaic District in Merrifield, won a gold medal at the national competition, which announced winners in dozens of categories on July 9.


News

After a several-month-long search, the Reston Museum Board of Directors announced that Lisa Watts will be its new executive director starting this month.

Watts, previously a Recreational Program Manager at Bull Run Academy of Gymnastics, will succeed Alex Campbell, the museum’s previous executive director.


News

In a bid to cut energy costs by tens of thousands of dollars, the Fairfax County School Board finalized a deal with a local solar developer last month to outfit nine elementary schools across the county with 250-kilowatt (kW) solar panels.

The solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) comes years after the school board approved a series of much larger solar projects that were halted after Dominion Energy introduced new interconnection rules that substantially increased project costs, rendering the projects economically unfeasible.


Countywide

When the 2024 Olympic Games begin in Paris, France, next week, there will be a few athletes competing to bring a medal back to their homes in Fairfax County.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced on July 10 that 529 athletes have qualified to represent Team USA at the Olympics, including McLean rower Claire Collins, Clifton soccer player Griffin Yow, and diver Greg Duncan and fencer Hadley Husisian, who are both from Oakton.


Countywide
Matthew Duffy’s “Mutual Understanding, Mutual Respect” sculpture outside the North County Governmental Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

County Activates Heat Plan — With a Heat Advisory issued for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., “Fairfax County has activated its Heat Plan for Wednesday, July 17. When Fairfax County’s heat plan is activated, cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours for individuals needing relief from the heat.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Police Department Shares Quarterly Crime Report — The Fairfax County Police Department has issued its First Quarter 2024 Crime Report for the period from Jan. 1 through March 31. Notable findings include an increase in traffic fatalities, declines in motor vehicle part thefts and carjackings, and an uptick in assaults. [FCPD]

Youngkin Speaks at Republican Convention — “With the 2024 talk fully behind him, the 74th governor of Virginia started anew — by appearing to lay the groundwork for a potential run in 2028. At least that’s how political analysts saw his speeches Tuesday to party activists in South Carolina and California over breakfast at their suburban Milwaukee hotels.” [Washington Post]

Virginia Backs Challenge to Transgender Rights — “Attorney General Jason Miyares is spearheading an amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme Court hear a case centered on protecting parental rights to ‘make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.'” A group of Wisconsin parents filed the lawsuit in a bid to overturn a school division’s policy “allowing students to change their gender identity at school without parental consent or notification.” [Virginia Mercury]

Route 28 Project Gets More Funding — “Transportation planners have approved a second round of funding in long-range plans to improve the commute on Virginia Route 28 between Manassas Park and Fairfax County.” The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has allocated $40 million for road improvements between Manassas and Yorkshire. [WTOP]

County’s First Black High School Marks 70th Anniversary — “Reaves and Taylor were among the alumni who came to Luther Jackson Middle School on July 14 for the school’s 70th anniversary celebration.” The occasion featured a “living wax museum,” a student art exhibit, music, games and “discussions of the school’s history.” [Annandale Today]

Langley HS Hires New Baseball Coach — Rob Hahne, who led the Westfield Bulldogs to a regional championship last year, was hired on July 11 as the new head coach for Langley High School’s baseball team. “Hahne had unique interest in the position because he graduated from Langley in 1987, where he was a standout player, plus he grew up in that neighborhood.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms starting at noon, with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 107. At night, the low will be around 74, with southwest winds at 5-7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. [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 — Jul 16, 2024.

📅 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 scattered showers and thunderstorms from noon, with possible showers and thunderstorm after 2pm, a high near 96, and heat index values up to 105. Southwest winds will be at 5-8 mph, with an 80% chance of precipitation and potential rainfall between a quarter and a half of an inch. Wednesday night, anticipate showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, possibly between 11pm and 2am, with scattered showers after 2am, a low of around 73, southwest wind at 5-7 mph, an 80% chance of precipitation, and potential rainfall between a half and three quarters of an inch. 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.


News

Hahne played for the Saxons and for local youth-league teams

Rob Hahne had not planned to return to coaching high-school baseball so soon, if at all. But plans changed when the only position he said he’d consider making such a quick comeback for became vacant in recent weeks.


Countywide

The price of taking Fairfax Connector is officially going up.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the bus system’s first fare increase in seven years without discussion at a meeting today (Tuesday). Starting on July 29, fares will jump about 12% from $2 to $2.25 for the base rate and from $4.25 to $4.80 for express fares.