Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for May 28, 2024

By FFXnow.com

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 — May 28, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Showers and thunderstorms are likely, with a possible thunderstorm after 4pm and a high near 77. Expect a northwest wind around 7 mph and an 80% chance of precipitation. New rainfall amounts will be less than a tenth of an inch, with higher amounts in thunderstorms. Wednesday night will see scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly before 8pm, gradually becoming partly cloudy later on, and a low around 56. A northwest wind around 8 mph will persist, with a 30% chance of precipitation. 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

GMU lands $5M donation to help renovate Fairfax performing arts hall

By Angela Woolsey
George Mason University's Center for the Arts at night (photo by Daniel Schwartz)

George Mason University is planning a new look and name for its Center for the Arts.

The GMU College of Visual and Performing Arts announced today (Monday) that it has received a $5 million gift to support a “reimagining” of the performing arts venue (4373 Mason Pond Drive) at its Fairfax campus. The donor was the Peterson Family Foundation, a regular supporter of the college and recipient of this year’s Jinx Hazel Award from ArtsFairfax.

Go to GMU lands $5M donation to help renovate Fairfax performing arts hall Read more
News

Tysons-based Capital One pursues historic $35 billion merger with Discover Bank

By James Jarvis
Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

One of the largest bank mergers in U.S. history may be happening in Fairfax County’s backyard.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — the federal agency that regulates national banks — announced plans to hold a virtual public meeting on July 19 at 9 a.m. on Capital One Financial Corporation’s proposal to acquire Discover Bank.

Go to Tysons-based Capital One pursues historic $35 billion merger with Discover Bank Read more
News

New traffic signal incoming on north side of Reston Town Center

By Angela Woolsey
Traffic signals are being installed at the New Dominion Parkway and Explorer Street intersection near Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Work is underway to signalize the New Dominion Parkway and Explorer Street intersection on the north side of Reston Town Center.

Mast arms for the long-awaited traffic lights have been erected on all four sides of the intersection, and construction on the curbs, including improved accessibility aprons, are mostly complete, according to Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) Executive Director Robert Goudie.

Go to New traffic signal incoming on north side of Reston Town Center Read more
Countywide

Fairfax supervisors balk at cost of flood prevention programs amid budget constraints

By James Jarvis
Wolftrap Creek frequently floods Old Courthouse Road at Besley Road (file photo)

Fairfax County staff are seeking additional funding to hire more personnel who could help expedite ongoing and future flood mitigation projects across the county.

However, with the county facing increasing financial challenges, worsened by inflation and reduced commercial tax revenue, some members of the Board of Supervisors said at a recent land use committee meeting that they are reluctant to commit to expanding the budget’s list of indefinite expenditures.

Go to Fairfax supervisors balk at cost of flood prevention programs amid budget constraints Read more
News

Northbound GW Parkway to close in McLean this weekend

By Angela Woolsey
Northbound GW Parkway will temporarily close in McLean for rehabilitation work (via National Park Service)

An upcoming GW Parkway ramp closure suggests the end of Memorial Day weekend will likely bring little relief from traffic in McLean.

The northbound exit ramp from the George Washington Memorial Parkway to the Capital Beltway (I-495) will be closed throughout this coming weekend, the National Park Service recently announced. The closure is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Friday (May 31) and remain in place until 5 a.m. next Monday (June 3).

Go to Northbound GW Parkway to close in McLean this weekend Read more
News

Herndon set to create ‘streetery’ pilot program for outdoor dining

By Jamie Rogers
An outdoor dining area on King Street outside The Creamery in Alexandria City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Herndon is poised to become the latest locality in the D.C. region to test the concept of a “streetery.”

The Herndon Town Council is scheduled to vote today (Tuesday) on a resolution to adopt a new pilot program that would allow businesses to create temporary outdoor dining areas in public spaces, such as sidewalks and on-street parking spots.

Go to Herndon set to create ‘streetery’ pilot program for outdoor dining Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com
People line up at an ice cream stall on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail during ViVa Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Voter Registration Deadline Is Today — “The deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration for the Democratic & Republican primaries is Tuesday, May 28. Note: You may register after May 28, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot.” [Fairfax County/Twitter]

Body Pulled From Potomac River Near Great Falls — “A body recovered from the Potomac River on Monday is believed to be a young man who went missing last Friday while attempting to swim from Virginia to Maryland. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer told WTOP two swimmers near Great Falls tried to cross from Virginia into Maryland on Friday evening.” [WTOP]

Hidden Cameras Found in Falls Church Cafe — “Falls Church police are investigating hidden cameras found in the bathrooms of Northside Social. Police say someone placed cameras in two first floor restrooms, facing the toilets, at the popular Clarendon cafe’s Falls Church outpost, which opened in 2018 at 205 Park Avenue.” [ARLnow]

Arrest Made in 2013 Sexual Assault — “After over a decade on the run, a 2013 sexual assault suspect was arrested in El Salvador and extradited back to Fairfax County to face justice. On October 21, 2013, officers responded to the 7200 block of Commerce Street in Springfield for a sexual assault report. The victim was sexually assaulted by an unknown male while inside a residence.” [FCPD]

Solar Projects Hampered by New Rules — “Fairfax had completed six projects before Dominion Energy changed the requirements for midsize solar in December 2022. Since then, the county has downsized two projects to fall below the requirements’ parameters, while five others — including a police station, stormwater complex and library — are on hold.” [Washington Post]

County Affected by Dental Hygienist Shortage — “Dentists across Virginia are scrambling to fill a statewide shortage of dental hygienists. The gap is most acute in Northern Virginia, according to the Virginia Dental Association. ‘There’s a huge imbalance in the number of hygienists to dentists right now and Fairfax County is feeling it the worst,’ Dr. Justin Norbo, the association’s president-elect” said. [WTOP]

Food Delivery Driver Assaulted in Springfield — “A man has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly assaulting a food delivery driver in a road rage incident in Fairfax County…[The driver] is still shaken up after the suspect strangled him near a Wendy’s in Springfield” on the night of Monday, May 20.” [FOX5]

New Tysons Firm Lands Big Investment — “Veteran Ventures Capital (VVC) secured a $10 million institutional investment from Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC). This investment fuels VVC’s Veterans Fund II,” which will support veteran-owned companies. The venture capital firm relocated from its original home in Tennessee to The Boro in Tysons in April. [FCEDA]

It’s Tuesday — There is a slight chance of showers from 2pm to 5pm, followed by possible storms after 5pm. With sunny skies, the high temperature will be near 83°F. Precipitation chances are 20%. For Tuesday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low of around 61°F. [NWS]

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