Don Beyer | FFXnow

Fort Belvoir wildlife crossing touted as solution to animal-vehicle collisions

Published November 4, 2024 at 2:30PM

Rep. Don Beyer speaks to crowd under new Fort Belvoir wildlife crossing (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Beneath a bustling stretch of Fairfax County Parkway lies a little-known wildlife crossing that might hold the key to reducing animal-vehicle collisions in Virginia.

Last Wednesday (Oct. 30), Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and State Sen. David Marsden (D-35) toured the underpass nestled between Davison Army Airfield and Fort Belvoir. Constructed in the 1990s and still one of the state’s few such installations, the 192-foot-long, 20-foot-high structure facilitates safe migration for species from deer and bears to snakes and turtles.

Countywide

Fairfax leaders stay mum after another call to support Mideast ceasefire

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 29, 2024 at 8:15AM

Najla Drooby urges the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to publicly support a ceasefire in the Middle East (via Fairfax County government video)

Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors seem to be standing firm in staying out of political and military issues in the Mideast.

But that hasn’t stopped community members seeking support for a permanent ceasefire between Israel, Hamas and related players to continue pressing their efforts.

Countywide

Democrats hold cash-on-hand advantages in local congressional races

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 24, 2024 at 3:45PM

Congressional districts in Northern Virginia (via Virginia Department of Elections)

Democratic candidates maintain cash-on-hand advantages in two of three significant Northern Virginia races for the U.S. House of Representatives.

With Election Day looming on Nov. 5, the financial margin is closest in the 10th District, where Democrat and current state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam held a robust but not overwhelming cash-on-hand lead at the start of October over Republican Mike Clancy, a lawyer, according to the latest figures from the Federal Election Commission as reported by the Virginia Public Access Project.

Countywide

Rep. Connolly, Va. senators react to President Biden ending bid for reelection

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2024 at 10:30AM

The White House (via René DeAnda on Unsplash)

After weeks of speculation and reported angst within the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden announced yesterday (Sunday) that he will no longer seek a second term, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his party’s nominee.

Reps. Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer, who represent parts of Fairfax County in the House, and Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner quickly expressed support for Biden’s “difficult decision” and joined him in backing Harris.

News

Federal research nonprofit opens lab for evaluating artificial intelligence at Tysons HQ

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2024 at 1:30PM

Elected officials and Mitre leaders cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of Mitre's AI Discovery and Assurance Lab in Tysons (courtesy Office of Senator Mark Warner)

When you have concerns about an artificial intelligence-based technology, who are you going to call? For many federal government agencies, the answer is now the Mitre Corporation.

The not-for-profit research organization launched a new AI Assurance and Discovery Lab at its Tysons headquarters yesterday (Monday) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and Reps. Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer.

News

Merits of road widening projects debated as Richmond Highway land acquisitions continue

By Vivian Hoang

Published July 24, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 24, 2024 at 5:08PM

Cars head south on Richmond Highway (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

(Updated 10:55 a.m. on 7/26/2023) The ongoing redevelopment of Richmond Highway (Route 1) in Fairfax County has sparked a larger discussion over whether the benefits of road widening projects outweigh their potential harm.

The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to bring improvements to a three-mile stretch in the Richmond Highway corridor in two phases: first from Jeff Todd Way to just north of Frye Road, then from just north of Frye Road to Sherwood Hall Lane.

News

Proposal to add long distance flights at National Airport fails to take off

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 21, 2023 at 1:30PM

Washington Reagan National Airport (file photo)

A proposal to add long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport has officially failed, to the relief of area representatives who feared it would undermine Dulles International Airport.

The House of Representatives rejected the proposal — which was included in a package of changes to the Federal Aviation Administration’s policies that passed overall — by a 229-205 vote on Wednesday (July 19).

News

Bijan Ghaisar’s family settles civil suit over five years after fatal shooting by Park Police

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 1, 2023 at 10:15AM

A U.S. Park Police cruiser in McLean (file photo)

The federal government has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by the parents of McLean resident Bijan Ghaisar, who was shot and killed by two U.S. Park Police officers in Fort Hunt more than five years ago.

The settlement will allocate up to 25% of the total — or $1.25 million — to the family’s lawyers with the remaining money going directly to James and Kelly Ghaisar, according to court documents.

News

Beyer staffer Jeremy Allen launches campaign for Mason District supervisor

By Matt Blitz

Published January 10, 2023 at 3:30PM

Jeremy Allen, vying to represent the Mason District on the Board of Supervisors (photo courtesy of Friends of Jeremy Allen)

Another new candidate has joined the increasingly crowded contest for Penny Gross’s job on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Democrat Jeremy Allen has declared he’s running to be the next Mason District supervisor. Currently a staffer working in constituent services for Rep. Don Beyer (D-8), he has lived in the county for six years, per his campaign website.

News

Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit study now fully funded, thanks to Congress

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 28, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated January 3, 2023 at 4:25PM

The Route 7 bus rapid transit service from Tysons to Alexandria (via NVTC/Twitter)

(Updated at 4:25 p.m. on 1/3/2023) An ongoing study of the possibility of having bus rapid transit (BRT) service from Tysons to Alexandria can now proceed confident that the planning will be seen through to completion.

The $1.7 trillion federal spending bill that Congress approved on Friday (Dec. 23), just in time to avert a potential government shutdown, included $2 million to complete all planning and environmental studies needed for the project, known as Envision Route 7.