morning notes

Study Authorized on Schools Funding Formula — “A state legislative subcommittee on Monday approved a plan to hire an expert to study a new school funding formula for Virginia, with up to 24 months to complete the work … A December 2023 study showed that Virginia local governments spend far more on K-12 education than the state, underscoring the need for a clearer approach.” [Virginia Mercury]

Scott’s Run Hiker Rescued — “On October 25, at 10:10 a.m., #FairfaxsBravest responded to a report of a person who fell and possibly broke their leg on the Potomac Trail in Scott’s Run Nature Preserve near McLean. Units arrived to find the patient in a steep, wooded ravine that could not be reached by vehicle.” After ruling out a water rescue, responders developed a rope system that enabled them to get the woman into a Stokes basket, which was then hoisted up by a helicopter. [FCFRD/Facebook]

Trump Arch Would Cast Shadow on Cemetery — “Over the course of a year, the shadow of the triumphal arch would touch burial sites in Arlington National Cemetery on 284 days, The Post found. It would briefly cover Kennedy’s eternal flame on 18 days, and it would shade the former president’s memorial on 50. It would darken the Military Women’s Memorial on 109 days.” [Washington Post]

New Health Director Appointed — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has appointed Dr. Parham Jaberi as director of the Health Department, effective Nov. 14. Jaberi, who currently serves as the department’s deputy director for medical services, succeeds Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, who is retiring after 23 years as director.” [Fairfax County Government]

GMU Renaming Nursing School — George Mason University will officially rename its School of Nursing in Fairfax after Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry on Nov. 15 in honor of the pair’s recent $15 million donation to the school, the largest gift in the College of Public Health’s history. The funds will go toward new educational and training opportunities for students as well as support for staff. [GMU]

Sign for Displaced Community Unveiled — “A few decades ago, there was a thriving close-knit Black community called The Pines in what is now Pine Ridge Park on Woodburn Road in Annandale … On Oct. 25, former residents of The Pines and descendants of the families who lived there gathered for a ceremony to unveil an interpretative sign recognizing a community that now only exists in people’s hearts and memories.” [Annandale Today]

Waymo Mapping Arlington Roads — “Waymo is now mapping Arlington’s residential streets, the robotaxi company confirmed. ARLnow spotted one of the self-driving car company’s mapping vehicles in a residential part of Arlington this past Friday (Oct. 23), and a reader separately reported seeing another on a local street.” [ARLnow]

Drug Take Back Day Results — “This past Saturday, our district stations partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other Fairfax County agencies for the 31st Annual National Drug Take Back Day. Together, we collected 1,071 pounds of expired or unused medications from community members across Fairfax County.” [FCPD]

It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy with a high near 68. Calm winds will become easterly around 5 mph in the afternoon. Clouds will gradually clear at night, with a low around 52 and a light southeast wind. [NWS]

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Two Shot in Hutchison — Police responded last night to a “domestic-related shooting in the 2200 block of Astoria Circle in Hutchison” just west of Herndon. “Officers located two adult male victims with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect has been identified and is known to one of the victims.” [FCPD/X]

Person Injured in Metro Train Incident — Firefighters responded to the Wiehle Metro station at 8:39 p.m. yesterday (Monday) for a report of a pedestrian getting hit by a train. “Arriving units determined a patient had been caught between a Metro Rail car and the platform. The patient was able to free themselves prior to FCFRD arrival.” They were transported to a local hospital for care. Trains temporarily single-tracked between Wiehle and Spring Hill. [FCFRD/Facebook]

State Reviews License Plate Reader Use — “A Virginia prosecutor’s recent decision not to charge a police officer for sharing license plate reader data with federal authorities without authorization could spur reform efforts in the commonwealth … Although the recent data-sharing case in Isle of Wight was intended to support an investigation, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said localities should face penalties if they don’t share data the right way.” [Virginia Mercury]

Primary Challenger for Vivian Watts — “John Michael Forrest, a Democratic candidate running for the Virginia House of Delegates in 2027, is focusing on reducing the costs of rental housing, enacting stricter rules on campaign financing, and regulating AI. Forrest is the first candidate to announce plans to go up against Del. Vivian Watts in a Democratic Primary expected to be held next spring.” [Annandale Today]

Region Makes Progress on Ozone — “After decades of efforts to reduce pollution, the DC region has finally met federal air quality standards for ozone. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments announced Thursday that the region is now in compliance with the 2015 federal ozone standard and has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency for formal recognition.” [Capital Weather]

Cause of Lorton Townhouse Fire Found — A townhouse fire that occurred on Oct. 18 at the intersection of Hagel Circle and Richmond Highway was sparked by “an electrical event” in the home’s second-floor bedroom, investigators found. One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and two residents were displaced as a result of the fire, which caused an estimated $143,150 in property damages. [FCFRD]

Tysons Diamond Retailer Sold — Mervis Diamond Importers is being acquired by Atlanta-based Solomon Brothers Jewelers, but its three D.C.-area showrooms, including the flagship in Tysons, will remain intact with no name change. Brothers Zed and Ronnie Mervis say the deal will give them more resources to expand their product offerings and compete against larger chains, while allowing them to keep “serving the loyal customers and friends who have supported Mervis” since it launched in Rockville in 1981. [Washington Business Journal]

Woman Charged With Assault at Wawa — “A Fairfax woman faces a felony charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor charges after police said she resisted arrest at a Wawa early Oct. 20.” Officers responded to the convenience store at 9700 Fairfax Blvd after receiving a report of a woman previously trespassed from the business returning. [Patch]

It’s Tuesday — Sunny with a high near 69 and a light northeast wind around 3 to 6 mph. Night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 50 and a light east wind. [NWS]

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Dominion Sues Over Rejected Substation — “Dominion Energy has filed a lawsuit against Prince William County, challenging its decision to oppose a plan to overhaul an existing substation. The utility company is arguing the Vint Hill substation project is needed to maintain regional grid reliability, and that the Board of Supervisors’ decision warrants additional review.” [WTOP]

Push for Kennedy Center Records — “President Donald Trump’s administration is withholding records documenting the scope of his influence over management of the Kennedy Center, according to attorneys for a Democratic lawmaker challenging the Republican president’s plan to close the performing arts center for renovations.” [Associated Press]

Local Airports Rank High for Flight Disruptions — “A recent report by research and advocacy firm ConsumerAffairs ranked Reagan National Airport the worst large airport in the U.S. for ‘flight disruptions.’ Among the 29 large airports ConsumerAffairs ranked, DCA ranked worst, Dulles Airport ranked 9th worst, and BWI Marshall ranked in the middle of the pack at 16th.” [WJLA]

Annandale Jewelry Store Burglarized — “Three men broke into Lambros Goldsmith in Annandale and stole $2 million worth of jewelry, reports store owner and award-winning jeweler Lambros Magiafas. Surveillance video shows the suspects wearing masks and dressed in black using a hammer to break the glass door, smashing the display cases, and shoving jewelry into bags at about 5 a.m. on Sept. 28.” [Annandale Today]

Bill Aims to Help Renters Exposed to Mold — “Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, wants to strengthen tenant protection laws for renters whose living conditions include mold. Price pitched a bill to do so in 2025, and it is due to be deliberated again in the upcoming 2027 legislative session.” [Virginia Mercury]

Area Restaurateur on Inflation — Dan Simons, co-owner of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group, says “costs are up across the board,” including for fuel and meat. “He estimated he’s spending about two and a half times more than he had budgeted for fuel this year.” [WTOP]

School Board Member Donates Car — “South Lakes High School automotive students have another vehicle to learn on after Fairfax County School Board member Kyle McDaniel donated his car to the program. McDaniel, an at-large board member, said the donation was intended to highlight career and technical education and the opportunities those courses offer students.” [Patch]

It’s Monday — Sunny with a high near 70 and calm winds becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Monday night will be clear with a low around 50, with calm winds becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. [NWS]

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Bid to Stop Trump Arch Construction — “Plaintiffs in a lawsuit trying to stop the Trump administration from building a triumphal arch along the Potomac River asked a federal judge on Thursday to halt all construction plans, one day after the National Park Service signaled it would begin work Nov. 5.” [Associated Press]

Armed Robbery in Lorton — Fairfax County police officers responded yesterday morning (Thursday) to a reported armed robbery at the intersection of Laurel Crest Drive and Douglas Fir Drive. “Preliminarily, the suspect displayed a knife, stole property and fled the scene. The adult female victim was not injured.” [FCPD/X]

Bear Spotted in Centreville — “A bear has been spotted wandering through two communities in Centreville, prompting a reminder for residents to secure their trash and avoid leaving food sources accessible. The bear has been seen at Sequoia Farms and Belle Pond Farm, where it has reportedly gotten into trash cans and visited porches.” [WUSA9]

Va. Elections Chief Prepared for Midterms — “Virginia’s top elections official says voters can have confidence in both the integrity of the Nov. 3 midterms and the results, even if President Donald Trump or his allies challenge Republican losses or attempt to interfere with the election process.” [Virginia Mercury]

New Va. Program to Reduce Health Care Costs — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger, other state officials and community leaders rallied at Gethsemane Community Church in Norfolk to tout efforts to decrease health insurance costs ahead of the start of the state exchange’s open enrollment period.” The Virginia General Assembly has created a $150 million fund to subsidize health care coverage for those who left the market after federal subsidies expired earlier this year. [WHRO]

McElveen Honored for Supporting Student Journalists — Fairfax County School Board at-large member Ryan McElveen says he “was deeply honored to stand with our student journalists as I received the 2026 Virginia Administrator of the Year Award from the Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisors this week.” [Ryan McElveen/Facebook]

Free Cultural Festival Coming to Lake Anne — “More than 70 vendors offering international foods, clothing, jewelry and other goods will transform Lake Anne Plaza into a bustling marketplace for a free cultural festival on Sunday. Arabian Nights 2026, presented by Arabian Mosaic LLC, will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza, located at 1609 Washington Plaza N. in Reston.” [Patch]

Halloween Events this Weekend — Halloween celebrations will be in full force in Fairfax County starting today (Friday), with events planned through the weekend at The Boro in Tysons, Frying Pan Farm Park, Reston Town Center and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. Other seasonal happenings include fall festivals at Tysons Corner Center and Reston Station. [Out & About Fairfax]

It’s Friday — Sunny with a high near 63 and northeast winds around 6 to 8 mph. Night will be clear, with a low around 40 and a light northeast wind. [NWS]

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Early Voting Sites Expand — “From Annandale to Burke, Centreville to Great Falls, 13 additional early voting locations open Thursday. Thursday marks the start of 10 consecutive days to vote early, which ends Saturday, Oct. 31″ ahead of the Nov. 3 general elections. [Fairfax County Office of Elections/Bluesky]

Falls Church Moves Red Light Cameras — “Red light cameras went live today (Wednesday) at two of the most hazardous intersections in Falls Church. A 30-day warning period has begun for violators at the intersections of E. Broad Street with Washington Street and Roosevelt Street.” [ARLnow]

Fundraiser to Help Townhome Fire Victims — “A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the residents of a townhome in Springfield recover from a devastating fire on Oct. 18. The campaign was posted by a family friend, who says Nina Garcia, her two children, and her mother are ‘in urgent need of financial assistance as they begin to rebuild their lives.'” [Annandale Today]

State Faces Road Maintenance Gap — “Virginia needs to take significant resources from the state’s new construction budget to maintain its roads according to the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Transportation. Blame was put on the previous administration at a Senate Finance meeting Tuesday.” [WVTF]

Community Center Upgrades Planned — “The Minnie Peyton Community Center in Bailey’s Crossroads is getting an update.” The “piece-meal modifications,” including a conversion of locker rooms into storage space, LED lighting retrofits and a customer service desk replacement, are focused on supporting programs and bringing the building into compliance with current building codes. [Annandale Today]

Udvar-Hazy Adds Plane to Collection — “After a storied career, an F-117 Nighthawk is now on display at the National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The aircraft arrived in Chantilly last week. Public viewing opened on Wednesday.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Signs Honor Black Community — “The Fairfax County Park Authority, in partnership with stewards of The Pines heritage, will unveil new interpretive signage honoring The Pines, a historically Black community established in Annandale in the early 1900s. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. at Pine Ridge Park, located at 183 Woodburn Road in Annandale.” [FCPA]

Land Use Database Going Briefly Dark — “Fairfax County’s Planning and Land Use System (PLUS) will be offline Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5 p.m. to Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 a.m., while it transitions to a new cloud-based platform … During the transition, no applications or services will be available.” [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Thursday — Sunny with a high near 66 and a north wind around 8 to 10 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with a low around 47 and a north wind around 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]

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Va. Creates Medicaid Assistance Coalition — “Virginia is bringing healthcare and workforce organizations together to help residents keep their health coverage and navigate new federal requirements for Medicaid and other assistance programs.” The new Virginia United Coalition will focus initially on raising public awareness and “adding staff or training to help organizations and agencies make referrals.” [Virginia Mercury]

Police Seek Vehicle Possibly in Hit-and-Run — “Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are seeking the community’s assistance in locating a vehicle believed to be involved in the October 4 fatal pedestrian hit-and-run crash in Springfield. Detectives are searching for a 2017–2022 white Nissan Rogue missing its driver’s side mirror and black fender guards from the front driver’s side wheel well.” [FCPD]

N. Va. Congressmen’s Offices Evacuated — “U.S. Reps. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va.-10th, and Eugene Vindman, D-Va.-7th, both received letters with an unknown substance on them. The letter sent to Subramanyam was delivered to his district office in Leesburg Monday, while the correspondence to Vindman arrived at his office in the Woodbridge area Friday. Both buildings were deemed safe after brief evacuations.” [Inside NoVA]

County Executive Stopped by Police — “On Oct. 16, a Fairfax County police officer pulled over Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill on Sully Road” for not having a front license plate on his vehicle, prompting a testy exchange. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis defended the officer, while Hill later apologized for creating any difficulties, stating that he has since fixed his license plate’s placement. [WJLA]

Big Cost for Filling Child Care Gap — “Closing Virginia’s child care affordability gap would require up to $4.5 billion annually over the next decade, according to the Virginia Department of Education — an investment that, under one scenario, would also raise annual pay for 43,000 educators by an average of $17,000.” [Virginia Mercury]

Economic Concerns Driving Voters — “With 14 days until Election Day, voters are already casting ballots and weighing the issues they want elected officials to address, from the cost of living to health care and the reliability of political information … Nicholas Goedert, an associate professor of political science at Virginia Tech who studies American politics and legislative elections, said economic concerns remain a major factor for voters.” [WUSA9]

Merrifield Bank of America Plan Advances — “A former Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant in Fairfax County could be replaced with a new Bank of America branch with a drive-through ATM, according to a proposal that recently cleared a county planning hurdle. The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 10-0 on Oct. 14 to recommend approval of the project at 3058 Gate House Plaza.” [Patch]

Tips for Halloween Celebrations — “It’s time for scary, silly and all kinds of costumes in all corners of our community. Here are a few things to know about Halloween in Fairfax County,” including when to expect trick-or-treaters, tips for safely navigating dark streets, and advice for homeowners and pet owners. [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Wednesday — Sunny with a high near 65 and a north wind of 8 to 10 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with a low around 46 and a northwest wind around 6 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.