Annandale House Fire Under Investigation — “Dozens of Fairfax County firefighters responded to a large fire early Monday morning that tore through a house in Annandale, Virginia. Initial 911 calls from neighbors just before 4 a.m. reported the sound of an explosion along with the fire in the 4200 block of Ann Fitz Hugh Drive,” but investigators said they haven’t found evidence of an explosion. [WTOP]
Five Caught Breaking Into Langley HS — Fairfax County police responded to the high school in McLean at 2:33 a.m. on Sunday (March 17) after school security reported “multiple activation alarms inside the school. When officers arrived, they found the school had no damage.” With the help of a helicopter, police caught five juveniles seen fleeing on foot in security videos. Petitions are pending for the juveniles, who were released to their parents. [FCPD]
County Launches Resource Portal for Business Owners — “Fairfax County officials on March 12 launched a new portal, Fairfax CORE (Connecting Opportunities & Resources for Entrepreneurs), which provides information and support to business owners of all ages.” The portal provides free resources from over 115 organizations about “counseling, support, education and even events.” [Gazette Leader]
Prank Planned for YouTube Leads to Arrests — Fairfax City police officers were called on March 5 “for the report of a person with their mouth covered in duct tap and wrists bound together lying inside the trunk of a vehicle in the Lowes parking lot.” Police determined that the person in the trunk and two people outside the vehicle “were recording a prank that they were going to post on YouTube.” [Patch]
Bill to Ban Invasive Vine Has Died — “Efforts to stem the spread of English Ivy in…Virginia continue on several fronts, despite the Virginia governor’s recent rejection of a bill introduced by a local legislator. Delegate Paul Krizek’s bill would have allowed local governments like Fairfax County to ban the sale of the plant,” but another bill that would require invasive species to be labeled is still awaiting a decision by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. [On the MoVe]
Hunter Mill Budget Town Hall Tomorrow — “I want to hear from you about the county executive’s proposed budget. Attend my in-person town hall this Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m., at the Patrick Henry Library. Or join the virtual town hall on March 25 at 7 p.m.” [Walter Alcorn/Twitter]
N. Va. Maintains Lead in Data Centers — “Northern Virginia remains, by far, the largest data center market in the world, according to a new report from real estate firm JLL, but the market is facing growing constraints — specifically land and availability of power…Data center leasing activity in 2023 reached a record high.” [WTOP]
Student Raises Money With Art Exhibit About A.I. — “Leah Zhang, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, organized pop-up exhibition at Reston Art Gallery and Studios earlier this month that raised more than $3,000 to help people with disabilities. The exhibit, entitled ‘AI & Us,’ featured 22 works that were submitted by 15 artists that addressed the impact of artificial intelligence.” [Patch]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies, reaching a high of 55 degrees during the day, accompanied by 10-14 mph west winds and gusts up to 23 mph. As for Tuesday night, skies will be partly cloudy, dipping to a low of 40 degrees with a calming southwest wind around 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
Woman Fatally Shot Near Inova Fairfax Hospital — “A man shot and killed his ex-girlfriend in a parking lot in Northern Virginia, and police arrested the suspect in Maryland after a short manhunt Friday evening, police said. The victim had a protective order against the suspect, but he showed up outside the medical office in Annandale where she worked, police said.” [NBC4, WUSA9]
Metro Police Start Fare Evasion Crackdown in D.C. — “Metro police will crack down on fare evasion in the District starting Monday, issuing fines of up to $100 or arresting people who refuse to pay for rides. Until now, Metro Transit Police officers have only been able to ask fare evaders to pay their fare or leave the station, according to Metro.” [Washington Post]
Warm Weather Leads to More Pollen — “This year, abnormally warm weather has boosted average tree pollen counts to near-record levels in the D.C. area. The counts have already climbed into the high range on eight days this year. So far, the peak daily count was 1,171 pollen grains per cubic meter of air measured in early March.” [Washington Post]
County Seeks Input on Bicycle Parking Updates — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a virtual meeting on the updated Bicycle Parking Guidelines on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 6 p.m.” The county is developing guidelines for “rate of short-term to long-term bike parking spaces, acceptable rack and facility design and location guidance, and optional enhancements to improve user comfort.” [FCDOT]
Senators Warn Against Adding Long National Airport Flights — “The four U.S. senators from Virginia and Maryland are urging Congress to keep the current rules for long distance flights from Reagan National Airport (DCA) as they are.” The senators reiterated that the airport is “already overburdened” and adding more long-distance flights could affect the larger Dulles and Baltimore airports. [WTOP]
Transportation Officials Give Update on Richmond Highway Projects — “Vanessa Aguayo, project manager of the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, and Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Dan Reinhard, lead project manager for the Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements project, provided updates March 14 at the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast.” [On the MoVe]
Former McLean HS Student Publishes Debut Novel — “Small-town skullduggery, eccentric characters, humor and a gritty tone are staples of Southern crime fiction and former Great Falls resident Peter Malone Elliott was happy to indulge in them all in his debut novel, ‘Blue Ridge.'” [Gazette Leader]
Local Volunteers Bonded by Helping Feed People — “It may look like Mona Tatum works at an outdoor market along Route 1 in Alexandria. But the bounty in front of her of fresh fruits, vegetables, protein, and so much more, stems from a remarkable story of friendship between Ed Moore and Deacon James Myers…A friendship that blossomed four years ago during the pandemic’s darkest days.” [WJLA]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 51, with a west wind blowing between 9 and 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. In the evening, the sky remains mostly clear with a low temperature around 34. A northwest wind of 11 to 13 mph will continue, gusting as high as 22 mph. [Weather.gov]
Pilot on Flight to Dulles Tried to Open Airplane Door — “A student pilot tried to open the door of an Alaska Airlines cockpit multiple times while the plane was in the air…The flight was traveling from California to Virginia on March 3, according to an affidavit filed by federal air marshal Thomas G. Pattinson and reviewed by CBS News.” [CBS News]
Senior Living Apartments Now Open in Tysons — “Mather…earlier in March opened the doors on its eponymous The Mather, 670,000 square feet of side-by-side glass towers rising as high as 27 stories at 7929 Westpark Drive.” The Chicago-based not-for-profit organization is “actively reviewing sites” for a possible expansion in Northern Virginia, but CEO Mary Leary “wouldn’t say precisely where.” [Washington Business Journal]
Condo Project in McLean Gets Endorsement — “A proposal to rezone and redevelop McLean Professional Park with a 104-unit condominium building received strong support March 6 from the McLean Citizens Association’s (MCA) board of directors…The proposed development would straighten out the site’s entranceway, which is shared with adjacent Sunrise of McLean Village,” according to MCA’s planning and zoning committee chair. [Gazette Leader]
D.C. Region Population Growing After Pandemic — “The D.C. area’s rebound from the pandemic continued last year as the District and its surrounding counties continued to see steady growth — and their most significant population gains since 2018 — even as other major American cities contracted, according to estimates released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.” [Washington Post]
Park Authority Introduces Summer Intern Program — The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking applicants for its new summer internship program, which is open to high school and college students, recent graduates, people looking for a career change and anyone else interested in gaining experience in marketing, history, nature and other areas. It could lead to seasonal, part-time or full-time employment. [FCPA]
Reston Climate Tech Firm Partners With Panda Express — “GridPoint Inc., a Reston company that develops technology to help businesses reduce their energy costs, has brought in three new executives to help guide it through its next growth phase…GridPoint recently expanded its partnership with Panda Express from a 200-store pilot program to a national rollout of about 2,500 locations in the coming years.” [DC Inno]
Fairfax HS Reverses Plan for Graduation — “After an apparent backlash from Fairfax High School families over a change in venue and the number [of] tickets that would be available for the school’s June 4 graduation, Principal Georgina Aye announced that the ceremony would be held at the school’s football stadium.” City of Fairfax Public Schools said earlier that the ceremony would be “moved inside due to construction at Stalnaker Field.” [Patch]
Reston Software Company Celebrates 20th Anniversary — “ScienceLogic recently celebrated its 20th anniversary at an event for employees, customers, and partners. At the event, co-founders Dave Link and Richard Chart shared some of their favorite memories, looking back at two decades of ScienceLogic’s success as a pioneering software and services provider.” [Fairfax County EDA]
It’s Friday — Expect showers with a possible thunderstorm after 2pm and a high around 74°F. An 80% chance of precipitation is forecast with less than a tenth of an inch of rain. At night, anticipate showers and potentially a thunderstorm before 8pm. Nighttime lows will be around 48°F. [Weather.gov]
Man Charged in Beltway Tractor-Trailer Crash — “A 28-year-old man has been charged after a multi-vehicle crash shut down a portion of southbound Interstate 495 in Fairfax County for several hours Wednesday morning…Troopers responded to a crash in the southbound lanes of I-495 where a passenger vehicle and two tractor-trailers collided near Exit 45.” [WJLA]
Annandale Man Killed in Maryland Robbery — “Annandale resident Mohammad Hanif, 50, was murdered following a robbery at the convenience store he owned in the 900 block of Larchmont Avenue in Capitol Heights, Md., on March 5. The Prince George’s County Police Department is offering up to $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.” [Annandale Today]
Regional Cycling Group Rolls Out Crash Tracker — “The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) announced a new crash tracker that lets Alexandrians and residents of other nearby localities track and report dangerous situations.” Northern Virginia, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and D.C. residents can report traffic crashes, near-misses, cars parked in bicycle lanes and “dangerous street locations. [ALXnow]
D.C. Cherry Trees to Be Cut Down for Repairs — “As part of a multimillion dollar rehabilitation project to address flooding issues, officials say 140 of D.C.’s famed cherry trees will be cut down along the Tidal Basin and Potomac River.” The project won’t affect the upcoming 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival, but the National Park Service “is encouraging visitors to come see the flowers before construction kicks off later this spring.” [WTOP]
Fort Hunt ES to Launch Principal Search — “Fort Hunt Elementary School is about to start the search process for a new principal following the departure of the school’s top administrator, Lawrence Caines…Mattie Fallen has stepped in as interim principal effective March 6…and Fallen will remain the school’s top administrator until further notice.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Group Calls for Look at County Pensions — “Worried about increasing unfunded liabilities for Fairfax County’s three pension plans despite increased county contributions each year, the McLean Citizens Association’s (MCA) board of directors on March 6 passed a resolution calling on county officials to submit those plans to independent, in-depth ‘stress tests.'” [Gazette Leader]
Students and Sheep Help Clean McLean Park — “A huge shoutout to the student volunteers from Mclean High School’s History Honors Society for rolling up their sleeves and helping us remove invasive plants from the grounds of Clemyjontri Park…Thanks to LambMowers.com for bringing their sheep to provide natural lawn care!” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]
County Puts Out Call for Summer Workers — “Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is now hiring summer leaders! Positions include a $500 sign-on bonus, up to $500 in retention bonuses and the opportunity to transition to year-round employment.” Available positions include summer camp, recreation and food access program leaders. [NCS]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature around 77 degrees, with a calm morning wind turning southwest at around 6 mph. As evening approaches, the sky will be partly cloudy and the temperature will dip to a low of around 58 degrees. [Weather.gov]
County to Update Zoning for Data Centers — “Several board members expressed concern that some zoning districts currently allow for the development of data centers by right…Committee Chair Karen Smith (D-Sully) suggested that the board begin the process of updating the zoning ordinance at its next meeting on March 19, which received unanimous support from the other board members.” [Patch]
Covid Survivors Revisit Inova Fairfax Hospital — “This week marks four years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and 7News Health and Wellness Reporter Victoria Sanchez caught up with two survivors after first sharing their stories in 2020. Titou Phommachanh and Rodrigo Valderrama greeted each other with a hug in front of Inova Fairfax Hospital. Before the two became the faces of COVID-19 in Northern Virginia four years ago, the men had never met.” [WJLA]
McLean Resident Details IVF Experience to Senator — Sen. Tim Kaine hosted a roundtable in Ballston on Friday (March 8) to hear from advocates, doctors and other stakeholders about the importance of in vitro fertilization as an option for prospective parents. Participants included McLean resident Jay Timmons, who used IVF and surrogacy to have children with his partner. [ARLnow]
Annandale Mourns Community Leaders — “Two people well-known in the community who helped make Annandale a better place passed away in recent days. Everett (Kip) Germain III, the president of the Annandale Boys & Girls Club, died suddenly on March 6 at the age of 67. Don DiSpirito, a longtime volunteer with the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), passed away on Feb. 26, at the age of 90.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Residents Meet New School Board Rep — “The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) welcomed new School Board member Robyn Lady (Dranesville District) to its March 6 board meeting and promptly peppered her with questions on school renovations, safety and enrollment.” Topics included the planned Dunn Loring elementary school. [Gazette Leader]
Warm Weather Accelerates Cherry Blossom Blooming — “Boosted by exceptionally mild weather, the cherry blossom buds continue to race toward peak bloom at near record speeds. On Tuesday afternoon, the National Park Service announced that the blossom buds reached Stage 4 out of 6, or ‘peduncle elongation’…This means we could be close to peak bloom by the weekend and hitting peak early next week.” [Washington Post]
New Vienna Restaurant Wins Over Post Critic — “Right this minute, though, the place I’m most smitten by unfolds in a former Greek diner in the Virginia suburbs. Named for the street it’s on in Vienna, the Maple Room is brought to you by real estate developer Christos Sarantis and his wife, Effie, who also own four casual SouvlakiBar establishments in the area.” [Washington Post]
Coffee Vendor Sets Up Off-Season Shop in Hybla Valley — “The McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market won’t officially reopen until April 17, but vendor Brandon Berryhill of the Traveling Shepherd Coffee Company faithfully shows up every week in the offseason to provide customers with their favorite brews.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high around 71 degrees and a west wind of 5 to 8 mph. The evening will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of around 47 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind of 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]
South Lakes HS Wins State Basketball Title — South Lakes High School’s varsity boys team handily defeated Patriot High School 65-39 on Saturday (March 9) to win the Class 6 state boys basketball championship. The Seahawks won with a “stellar supporting cast” led by junior guard Jordan Scott, who scored a game-high 23 points. [Washington Post, Inside NoVA]
Virginia’s Prison Population Drops — “Virginia’s prison population shrank 10.5% between 2021 and 2022, per the latest Justice Department data…That’s the greatest decline of any state during a period when the U.S. was seeing its prison population increase for the first time in nearly a decade.” [Axios Richmond]
Justice HS Searches for New Principal — “Fairfax County Public Schools has begun the process of finding a new principal for Justice High School, following the announcement that Tiffany Narcisse is leaving. FCPS Region 2 Assistant Superintendent Megan Vroman will host a virtual meeting for staff and community members on Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m., to discuss the hiring process and answer questions.” [Annandale Today]
Elected Representatives Highlight Legislative Wins — “Several members of the U.S. Congress and Virginia General Assembly who represent local districts recently highlighted their legislative successes,” including funding for a “Mason Neck Trail — Northern Segment” project in Lorton and a bill signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin that codifies the right of LGBTQ Virginians to marry. [On the MoVe]
Former Congressman Buys McLean Mansion — “A former Missouri congressman who made the successful leap to lobbyist life recently plunked down $2.95 million for a 10,000-square-foot McLean mansion. Alan Wheat, chairman of D.C.-based Wheat Shroyer Government Relations, acquired a seven-bedroom, 10-bath home on Alvermar Ridge Drive in late February.” [Washington Business Journal]
Area Restaurants Offer Special Meals for Ramadan — “Ramadan just began and several D.C. restaurants are serving special meals” through April 9, including Fava Pot in the Shops at West Falls Church. Ticketed dinners at Joon in Tysons and the Marriott in West Falls Church will, respectively, raise money to help Syrians in need and provide aid in Gaza. [Axios DC]
Reston Association Corrects Board Candidate Statements — “Reston Association Elections Committee Chair Ed Abbott today issued a statement regarding candidate profiles in the current 2024 Board of Directors Election.” A sentence in one profile “was inadvertently omitted in candidate information that was sent to RA voters in their ballot packets,” Abbott said. [RA]
Meet Dulles Airport Security Dogs — “Airport security dogs play a vital role in maintaining the safety and security of airports everywhere, including at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. They have a remarkable sense of smell, allowing them to sniff out even the faintest traces of explosives, narcotics or other prohibited substances.” [WTOP]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high around 68 degrees, accompanied by west winds ranging from 9 to 14 mph and gusts reaching 22 mph. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy with a low near 45 degrees, as west winds decrease to 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
General Assembly Approves State Budget — “Virginia lawmakers wrapped up their 60-day legislative session Saturday by approving a two-year budget that includes pay raises for teachers and state employees, increases education funding and extends the state sales tax to cover digital services.” [Associated Press]
Man Gets Prison for Killing Lorton Landlord — “A Prince William County man was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison for slaying his 72-year-old landlord in Lorton. Brian Sayrs Jr., 28, pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder and concealing a body in the June 2021 killing of Emily Lu, who was found dead about 50 days after she vanished following what authorities said was a rent dispute with Sayrs.” [Washington Post]
County and Herndon Police Chiefs Clash — Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard asked last week for graduation certificates for her officers to be reissued with an English signature after Fairfax County Police Criminal Justice Academy head Maj. Wilson Lee signed them in Chinese. DeBoard says Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis “inappropriately accused me of being racist,” while the FCPD said it doesn’t plan to reissue the certificates. [NBC4]
Man Sentenced to Prison for Tysons Carjacking — “A Maryland man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a series of carjackings and an attempted carjacking in 2022.” The 22-year-old man from Hagerstown pleaded guilty to carjacking four people at gunpoint between May 15 and June 1, 2022, including one incident in Tysons, and attempting a fifth carjacking on June 6. [WTOP]
Architecture Firm Moves Out of Tysons Office — “This week the firm [KTGY] began working out of the 15,000-square-foot home it designed for itself in Alexander Court, 2001 K St. NW, cementing a long-planned move from Northern Virginia that firm leaders say will play a role in reinvigorating downtown.” The company’s D.C. area office had been at 8609 Westwood Center Drive since 2010. [Washington Business Journal]
Volunteers Wanted for Earth Day Celebration — “Join us for Fairfax County’s largest official Earth Day Event on Saturday, April 20, at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly…The event attracts nearly 5,000 people from across Fairfax County annually. Volunteers are needed to fill shifts throughout the day in a variety of capacities.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Former Tysons Area Delegate Honored — Former delegate Mark Keam returned to the Virginia State Capitol on Friday (March 8) when his successor, Del. Holly Seibold presented a resolution “commending” his 13 years as a state legislator. Keam says he “can’t thank my Delegate enough for being so thoughtful and kind to do this, even though it was not at all necessary.” [Mark Keam/Facebook]
Fairfax Symphony Premieres New Composition — “Among the things to admire about the [Fairfax Symphony Orchestra] is its commitment to variety…Saturday night’s concert at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts represented a particularly well-struck balance: two sizable portions of music from Syrian American composer Malek Jandali, including the world premiere of his ‘Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra,’ followed by a heroic dose of Beethoven.” [Washington Post]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high of 53 degrees, accompanied by strong northwest winds of 26 to 28 mph, and gusts reaching up to 47 mph. The clear night will bring a low temperature of around 40 degrees, with west winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 24 mph. [Weather.gov]
Prospect Iffy for Wiz and Caps Stadium in Alexandria — “A visibly frustrated Gov. Glenn Youngkin made a last-minute appeal to the Virginia legislature to support the Potomac Yard arena ahead of the General Assembly adjourning on Saturday…Senate Finance and Appropriations Chairwoman L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) told the Washington Post [on Wednesday] that the Potomac Yard arena won’t be in the budget compromise.” [ALXnow]
Design of Route 1 BRT Stations Under Revision — Fairfax County’s “Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project team continues to work on art design concepts for five of the nine future BRT stations…The county finalized artwork for windscreens to be located at the Lockheed, Hybla Valley, Woodlawn and Fort Belvoir stations” based on concepts submitted last year by high school students. [On the MoVe]
How FCPD Defused Barricade Situation — “It was a bitter cold February night, and the townhouse community along Butterfield Lane in Annandale was flooded with officers…responding to a call of shots fired inside of one of the homes that quickly escalated into a barricade situation. The first responders on the scene, however, were not alone in de-escalating the situation.” [WJLA]
FCPS Adopts Guidelines for Meditation Spaces — “FCPS has developed a regulation to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division.” The regulation took effect on March 1 and sets guidelines for designated areas where students and staff can “engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
GMU Gets Donation for Domestic Violence Research — George Mason University “received a $4.85 million gift to help continue…research in detecting injuries caused by domestic violence, which will now include the use of artificial intelligence…The anonymous donation will allow researchers to build a new AI software that can help identify bruising injuries with a database of different skin colors.” [WTOP]
Vienna Council Reverses Rejection of Sidewalk Project — “The Vienna Town Council, in an unusual third vote taken one week after two previous tallies came up short, voted 5-2 March 4 to proceed with design work for a sidewalk on Johnson Street, S.W.” The council previously voted against awarding a contract, with opposing members “citing opposition to the project from some residents on the street.” [Gazette Leader]
Tree Rescue Event Coming to Park Near Lake Barcroft — “Community members are invited to gather in Sleepy Hollow Park on Sunday, March 10, 12-2 p.m., to learn how to rescue trees being strangled by invasive vines…Participants will learn how to save trees in their yards and take the first steps toward doing this restorative work in local parks. All are welcome; you don’t need experience.” [Annandale Today]
Prep for St. Patrick’s Day With Dancing in Fairfax — “On March 10, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish social dancing. From 3-5:30 p.m., dancers of all levels are invited to step onto the Sherwood Center’s dance floor to live music by the Shepherd’s Pie Ceili Band…Cost is $12/adults, $6/youths” [City of Fairfax]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures reaching a high near 59 degrees. An initial northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph will shift to southeast in the afternoon. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of showers after 1am, and the cloudy conditions will continue with a low around 43 degrees. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax Connector to Restart Service Friday — Fairfax Connector workers represented by ATU Local 689 voted yesterday (Wednesday) to ratify a new contract with bus operator Transdev, ending their strike after 15 days, the union announced. The bus system will officially resume service on Friday (March 8). [FFXnow]
Annandale Man Charged in Baby Son’s Death — “Detectives from the Mason Police District arrested Shane Frye, 37, of Annandale, in connection with the overdose death of his 4-month-old son. Officers responded to the 4200 block of Americana Drive in Annandale on June 15, 2023, for an unresponsive baby, who was being cared for by Frye.” [Annandale Today]
Casino Opponents Got Help From MGM Owner — “A coalition of political and business leaders, including the owners of MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino in Maryland, paid for a phone survey and provided buses to take Tysons casino opponents to Richmond.” Leaders of opposing community groups say they were already organizing volunteers to testify before state lawmakers when a PR firm tied to MGM offered to help with expenses. [Patch]
Animal Shelter Needs Help Getting Dogs Adopted — “We currently have over 100 dogs in our care, and our shelters are quickly running out of space. We need our community’s assistance in finding loving homes for these wonderful pups. With so many adorable faces waiting to meet you TODAY, there has never been a better time to adopt!” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Facebook]
County Board Appoints Police Review Panel Liaison — “Craig Miles has been appointed Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel (PCRP) liaison by the Board of Supervisors (BOS), effective Monday, March 11.” Replacing the panel’s one-time executive director, the liaison will advise, support and coordinate activities with the panel and manage “the intake process for complaints against officers and employees of the FCPD.” [Fairfax County Government]
Police Warn About Cryptocurrency Scams — “Detectives and investigators with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Division warn community members of Bitcoin and crypto-related scams being reported within the county. Criminals are exploiting people into depositing money into crypto ATMs and defrauding them of their money, police said.” [Gazette Leader]
Tysons Hotelier to Sponsor Golf Competition — Hilton McLean Tysons will be the official hotel for the 2024 Solheim Cup, a biennial women’s golf competition that “pits the best U.S. players against their European counterparts.” Hilton Worldwide Holdings has signed on as a global partner for the event, which will be held Sept. 10-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville. [Washington Business Journal]
Vienna Sets Date for July 4 Fireworks — Vienna will hold “its Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show on July 2 at Yeonas Park…Like several other Northern Virginia communities, Vienna in recent years has been holding its Independence Day celebration earlier than the traditional July 4 because of difficulties in securing fireworks vendors.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Thursday — There’s a 20% chance of rain before 10am, and skies will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures reaching up to 61°F. There’s a 20% chance of precipitation. The skies will be partly cloudy at night with the temperature dropping to about 43°F. [Weather.gov]
ICYMI: Fairfax Connector Workers to Vote on Contract — Members of ATU Local 689, the union that represents Fairfax Connector bus drivers and mechanics, will vote today (Wednesday) on whether to ratify a tentative contract agreement with operator Transdev. If the deal is approved, it would end a nearly two-week-long strike that disrupted travel for thousands of bus riders. [FFXnow]
Ohio Murder Suspect Arrested in Springfield — “A man wanted on murder charges in Columbus, Ohio, was arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Monday night after police said he fled from a traffic stop and struck multiple police vehicles before authorities took him into custody.” Police said the man and “multiple police officers sustained minor injuries during the arrest.” [WTOP]
Police ID Suspect in 1989 Homicide — “Police in Stafford and Fairfax counties say they arrested a suspect in the slayings of 18-year-old Amy Baker and 32-year-old Jaqueline Lord in 1989 and 1986, respectively.” Baker, a Stafford resident, disappeared while visiting family in Falls Church on March 29, 1989. Her family found her body two days later near the I-95 exit ramp to Backlick Road in Springfield. [Potomac Local News, FCPD]
Driver in Fatal Route 29 Crash Charged — A 22-year-old Fairfax resident has been arrested on DUI-related manslaughter and reckless driving charges for a fatal crash that occurred on Dec. 5 at the intersection of Route 29 and Clifton Road near Centreville. Police say the man was drunk and driving over 110 mph when he crashed into a Hyundai, killing Manassas resident Sohail Iqbal. [FCPD]
Dentist to Open Practice in Fort Belvoir — “Gentle Dental Fort Belvoir…will open soon at Belvoir Square and hold a ribbon cutting ceremony with refreshments March 16 at noon. The practice’s founder and general dentist, Dr. Duy Nguyen, graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke.” [On the MoVe]
Local Women-Owned Restaurants Join Festival — “More than 40 bars and restaurants around the D.C. region are celebrating Women’s History Month together…The third annual Women’s History Month Festival is the biggest celebration to date. It’s organized by the nonprofit group Regarding Her, which started in Los Angeles and now includes the women who own bars and restaurants in D.C.” [WTOP]
Rep. Don Beyer Proposes A.I. for Suicide Prevention — “The congressman said that he is trying to figure out a way to use artificial intelligence to improve suicide hotlines. After enrolling part-time at George Mason University to pursue a master’s in AI, to learn how to regulate its use, he said he realized that AI could be beneficial in other areas.” [ARLnow]
It’s Wednesday — Expect rain to begin mainly after 1pm, with patchy fog clearing by 8am and a high near 58°F. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with up to half an inch possible. Rain will continue mainly before 1am on Wednesday night, dropping to a low around 51°F. [Weather.gov]