morning notes

Virginia U.S. Attorney Appointee Disqualified — “A federal judge has thrown out the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that President Donald Trump’s handpicked prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed to the role when she single-handedly secured the indictments.” [Politico]

State Budget Challenges Expected — Virginia General Assembly legislators gathered at Radford University last week to hear forecasts for the 2026 budget. “Democrats, who are now in control of all three branches of Virginia’s government thanks to a record win by Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, are bracing for stark cuts and a slowed economy.” [WVTF]

Va. GOP Grapples With Post-Election Future — “After Democrats swept all three statewide offices in November 2025 and picked up more than a dozen seats to solidify a 64-seat House of Delegates majority, Buchanan’s concerns have become the center of a widening debate inside a party struggling to process the magnitude of its losses — and to figure out what comes next.” [Virginia Mercury]

Metro Awarded Hybrid Bus Funding — The Federal Transit Administration announced last week that Metro will receive a $50.3 million grant to help it “procure 50 new 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses, replacing aging vehicles that have exceeded their useful life. The new buses will be deployed throughout the region and will enhance Metro’s ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable service for riders.” [WMATA]

Friends Open Pottery Studio — “Reston neighbors and friends Jennie Persson and Paola Lluberas first tried making pottery on a beginner wheel in Lluberas’ back yard. The two wanted a creative outlet, but they found that pottery classes and studios in the area often had long waitlists or strict requirements. Their solution? The two opened their very own studio, Potters Union, in Herndon in October.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Falls Church Considers Affordable Housing Plans — “The city, through its Economic Development Authority, already owns nine small apartment properties in the Virginia Village community near Annandale Road. At a Nov. 19 meeting between elected officials and staff, discussion turned to moving forward on a consolidated plan for housing the neighborhood.” [ARLnow]

Parade to Honor McLean Youth Sports Supporter — “The McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC) is pleased to announce that longstanding McLean youth sports leader Wayne Loving will be honored as the Grand Marshal of the McLean Winterfest Parade, to be held on Sunday, December 7 in Downtown McLean.” [Press release]

Winter Reading Program Starts Soon — Fairfax County Public Library is inviting community members to participate in its Winter Reading Adventure, which will kick off on Dec. 1 and continue through Jan. 31, 2026. Readers interested in taking on the challenge can pre-register through Beanstack now or pick up paper logs at their local branch once the program starts. [FCPL]

It’s Tuesday — Expect rain to begin after 3pm with a high temperature near 57. The precipitation probability is 80%, with less than a tenth of an inch expected. Rain will continue at night, with a low temperature around 52 and south wind at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]

Man Hospitalized After Metrobus Fight — “A Metrobus ride turned violent Saturday [Nov. 22] after an argument escalated into a brutal beating, leaving a man hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to the Metro Transit Police Department … MTPD and Fairfax County Police officers responded to the bus in Falls Church for reports of a fight on board.” [WJLA]

Woman Who Chained Children Sentenced — A Groveton woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty in July to assault and abduction charges. “Police called to an apartment in Groveton in August 2024 found two brothers, ages 7 and 9, with red marks on their ankles. Investigators seized chains and padlocks that had been used to restrain them while their mother, Wendi Del Cid Rodriguez, was at work.” [NBC4]

Lawmakers Seek Trump Call Transcript — “U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman on Friday led a press conference urging President Donald Trump to release the transcript of Trump’s 2019 phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. The issue relates to the crown prince’s involvement in the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Northern Virginia resident and Washington Post journalist.” [Inside NoVA]

Centreville Fun Land Faces Lawsuit — “Annandale residents Ellen and Michael Smith say a faulty go-kart caused severe injuries to their adult daughter, Chloe Elizabeth Smith. They have filed a $1 million personal injury lawsuit against Fun Land in Fairfax, The Independent reported. Chloe is autistic and is under the legal guardianship of her parents.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

FroYo Shop Opens in Annandale — “A frozen yogurt shop called Yomo opened Nov. 15 at 7406 Little River Turnpike in Annandale in the former Casa d’Mama Pizzaria spot. In addition to self-serve frozen yogurt, Yomo offers smoothies and Nutella crepes. Additional crepe varieties will be added later.” [Annandale Today]

Buckle Up for Thanksgiving Travel — “The holiday travel season is nearly upon us and Virginia State Police is asking everyone to buckle up every time you enter a vehicle. During the last two Thanksgiving holidays, more than half of the fatal crashes involved someone not wearing a seatbelt, or seatbelt use could not be determined.” [Press release]

Teacher Nominated for National Award — Laure Grove, an early childhood inclusion teacher at Terra Centre Elementary in Burke, has been nominated for a National Wildlife Federation award for her work leading sustainability initiatives. “What started as a small project to get the gardens ready for use again evolved into a schoolwide approach to get students involved and excited about protecting the environment.” [WTOP]

Holiday Donation Drives Underway — “There are many ways to support your neighbors and community this holiday season. We’ve rounded up a list of giving opportunities right here in Fairfax County,” including the annual Toys for Tots campaign and several food and winter clothing drives. [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high of 55 degrees with a northwest wind around 6 mph, calming in the afternoon. By Monday night, skies will become mostly cloudy and the temperature will drop to around 41 degrees. The calm wind will shift to the south at about 6 mph after midnight. [NWS]

Harris Teeter Plans Layoffs — “North Carolina-based supermarket chain Harris Teeter will permanently close a fulfillment center in Fairfax County on Feb. 1, 2026, resulting in layoffs of 91 employees. Harris Teeter notified the state of the closure and layoffs on Tuesday,” indicating that delivery operations from the site at 6306 Gravel Avenue in Franconia “may begin to wind down in early to mid-January 2026.” [Virginia Business]

Deep Dive Into Virginia Election Data — While the results of Virginia’s Nov. 4 elections won’t be officially certified until Dec. 1 “enough dust has settled since the polls closed on Election Day that we can look at some of the commonwealth’s interesting voting trends in 2025.” The data confirms that voters heavily favored Democrats, with all 133 jurisdictions in the state moving further left compared to the 2021 gubernatorial race. [VPM Media]

Driver Hospitalized After Bailey’s Crossroads Crash — “An adult male is in the hospital in a life-threatening condition following a crash in the 3400 block of Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads shortly before 4 p.m. on Nov. 19.” Police say the man was driving a BMW “at a high rate of speed toward Leesburg Pike when he struck a bollard and lost control of the vehicle.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax Man Charged with Child Porn — “A 19-year-old Fairfax City man is facing 29 charges of possession of child pornography, according to authorities.” The man was arrested on Wednesday (Nov. 19) following a search of his home “in connection to an unnamed incident that occurred on Sept. 28, according to court documents.” [Patch]

Driver Crashes into Tysons Store — ” A woman has been cited for reckless driving after crashing into the American Girl doll store at Tysons Corner and injuring a wheelchair user Wednesday afternoon, according to police.” [WUSA9]

New Tool Helps With Food Donations — “Fairfax County has developed a new tool to help residents support food distributions in their communities. The Emergency Food Access Providers Application has added a ‘donate’ geolocation tool to allow users to see which food distribution sites need donations and the types of donations they are accepting.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]

Bagel Deli Legal Fight Brewing — The owners of Call Your Mother, the D.C. deli that now boasts three Fairfax County locations, filed a lawsuit this week “against Bubbi Bagels — also known as Call Your Bubbi — a bagel shop that opened on the Jersey Shore last year.” Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira argue that the New Jersey shop’s continued use of the name Call Your Bubbi and a similar bagel-focused logo infringes on their trademark. [Washingtonian]

Winter Lantern Festival Returns — “Hundreds of lanterns light the night sky in Tysons for the holiday season,” as the Winter Lantern Festival returns to Lerner Town Square (8025 Galleria Drive) for a fourth year. Featuring light displays, food and entertainment, the festival will open tomorrow (Saturday) and stay through Jan. 20, per its online calendar. Tickets start at $18. [Out and About Fairfax]

It’s Friday — Rain is expected mostly after 1pm, accompanied by mostly cloudy conditions and a high temperature near 56°F. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation. Friday night will see temperatures drop to 49°F with a 90% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Va. Democrats Unveil Initial Agenda — Minimum wage increases, the creation of a recreational cannabis market, constitutional amendments on abortion rights and marriage equality and other proposals stalled under Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin will be priorities for Virginia Democrats when they take control of the state government in 2026. Cost of living is a major focus of the first pre-filed bills. [Washingtonian]

Tysons Metro Station Manager Threatened — “Metro Transit Police Department said its officers, along with the Fairfax County Police Department, responded to the Tysons Corner Metro station [yesterday] after a woman allegedly threatened a station manager. She was placed under arrest for assault, disorderly conduct, and fare evasion.” [DC News Now]

$300K Income Needed for N. Va. Home — “The National Association of Realtors says the average first-time home buyer is now 40, an all-time high. The path to homeownership could be even tougher if you live in Northern Virginia.” Homebuyers need to earn roughly $300,000 to afford a single-family house in Northern Virginia, with median prices nearing or surpassing $1 million, Bright MLS economist Lisa Sturtevant says. [NBC4]

Metrobus Introduces Contactless Payments — “On Tuesday, WMATA launched Tap. Ride. Go. to make paying for bus fare easier on the Metrobus … Riders can now get a transfer discount between Metrorail and Metrobus by using the same card when transferring.” The system, which lets riders pay by tapping a credit card, debit card, or Google or Apple Pay, has been in place for trains since May. [WUSA9]

New Opening Date for Aldi — After previously displaying a Nov. 20 opening date on its website, Aldi announced yesterday that its new store at the West Springfield Shopping Mall (6230 Rolling Road) will in fact celebrate its grand opening on Dec. 4. The launch will include assorted giveaways and promotions, along with a “sneak peek” the preceding day. [FFXnow]

Merrifield Italian Store Braces for Tariff — “A proposed tariff on Italian pasta that could take effect in January may cause you to lose your appetite. Vally Graham, the general manager of Olio2go, a specialty Italian store in Fairfax County, Virginia, says if the tariff takes effect, it will jack up prices significantly.” [WTOP]

Astronaut Visits Former Elementary School — “Blue Origin astronaut George C. Nield visited his elementary school alma mater, North Springfield Elementary School, [on Nov. 18] to talk with students about his experience traveling to space.” The visit was part of a week-long Space in the Community program that also included a community night held yesterday (Wednesday) at Dogwood Elementary School in Reston, among other activities. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

When to Travel for Thanksgiving — “There’ll be a record-breaking 81.8 million Americans leaving town for Thanksgiving this year, AAA predicts … The DMV’s worst Turkey Day traffic will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving around 4:30pm on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway heading out of the D.C., per INRIX.” [Axios DC]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature near 52 degrees accompanied by a light and variable wind. Thursday night will also be mostly cloudy, while the temperature drops to around 43 degrees and a calm wind prevails. [NWS]

Milder Winter Expected — “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its winter weather outlook for 2025-2026, and this winter could look different from what we’ve seen in recent years … Fairfax County falls within the region expected to see warmer-than-average temperatures this winter.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Key Vote on Energy for Data Centers Set — Some D.C.-area lawmakers are urging PJM Interconnection, the electrical grid operator for the region, to adopt a proposal “that, among other things, incentivizes data center owners to provide for their own power, cooling and other infrastructure resources, rather than relying solely on a utility grid.” PJM’s board of directors is scheduled to vote on how to manage data center connections today (Wednesday). [WTOP]

FCPD Sees Increase in Seized Guns — “Since its official launch on January 1, 2024, the Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) Operation Press Check (OPC) has delivered measurable success in keeping firearms out of the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them.” The county has seized 112 firearms and successfully prosecuted 104 cases involving felons possessing firearms over the past two years. [FCPD]

Fairfax City Hires New Manager — “Fairfax City Council voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Tuesday night to hire Daniel C. Alexander as the city’s new permanent city manager … Alexander succeeds acting City Manager Melanie R. Zipp, who was appointed to the role following the Oct. 31 retirement of the previous acting City Manager Bryan Foster.” [Patch]

Residents Oppose Justice Park Sidewalk — “Residents who live near Justice Park in Seven Corners say a sidewalk planned along Peace Valley Lane is not needed and urge the county to cancel the project. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is proceeding with the development of an 825-foot sidewalk” that will reportedly require the removal of “several large, mature trees.” [Annandale Today]

Restaurants Object to Inclusion in Food Hall’s App — “Wonder, the new food hall expanding rapidly in the D.C. region, added dozens of restaurants across Greater Washington to its offerings without their knowledge or permission.” While some restaurants welcomed the added visibility of inclusion on Wonder’s GrubHub delivery platform, the company behind Founding Farmers argued the food hall is taking advantage of its established reputation. [Washington Business Journal]

House Addition Sparks Neighbor Complaints — “A three-story construction project on a single-family home in Greenbriar is drawing sharp criticism from neighbors who said the structure is out of place and inconsistent with surrounding homes.” Springfield District Supervisor “Pat Herrity raised the issue during a county board meeting on Tuesday, urging a review of zoning ordinances that regulate building heights.” [DC News Now]

Toys for Tots Campaign Returns — “#FCFRD is participating in the 2025 TOYS FOR TOTS Campaign! TOYS FOR TOTS collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to deserving children. All Fairfax County fire stations will be accepting donations through Friday, December 12.” [FCFRD/X]

It’s Wednesday — Patchy fog is expected to clear by 9am, giving way to mostly cloudy skies with a high around 51. A calm wind will shift to the north at 5 to 7 mph in the morning. As for Wednesday night, expect mostly cloudy conditions, a low of 41, and a north wind at 5 mph calming down by evening. [NWS]

Peak Flu Season Coming — “It could be a cold-season double whammy, with a new flu strain and a chillier-than-normal winter forecast for D.C.” Due to the government shutdown, data is limited on the new H3N2 strain, which emerged over the summer. The Virginia Department of Health’s dashboard says overall respiratory illness activity in the state is currently “low” but “trending up.” [Axios DC]

Man Injured in Red Bull Truck Crash — “A man was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries in Fairfax County on Monday, police said.” Traffic camera footage shows the crash occurred when a Red Bull vehicle collided with another box truck on Richmond Highway at the North Kings Highway intersection in Groveton. [DC News Now]

Supreme Court Passes on University Board Lawsuit — “The Virginia Supreme Court has refused to take up a case that suspended multiple appointees by Gov. Glenn Youngkin from serving on three Virginia university governing boards. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares appealed to the court after the Fairfax County Circuit Court suspended eight governing board appointments from serving at George Mason University, Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia.” [Virginia Mercury]

Election Cleared Way for Cannabis Sales — “During her campaign, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, elected governor two weeks ago, pledged to sign legislation establishing a regulated retail system — reversing the impasse that kept marijuana sales in limbo since Virginia legalized possession and home cultivation in 2021.” A final proposal is expected next month from a joint commission chaired by Fairfax Del. Paul Krizek, who will carry the legislation in 2026. [Virginia Mercury]

ATM ‘Jackpotting’ Under Investigation — “Detectives from our Financial Crimes Unit are actively investigating a series of ATM thefts after Apple Federal Credit Union reported that $175,000 was stolen from one of its Fairfax branch ATMs last month.” Police say the suspects approached the drive-up ATM in the 4200 block of Members Way near Fair Oaks multiple times overnight on Oct. 3-4, installing malware that rigs the machine to “dispense large amounts of cash.” [FCPD]

Reston Parkway Ramp Closes for Bridge Repairs — “The southbound Reston Parkway (Route 602) ramp to the eastbound Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) will have nighttime closures Monday night, Nov. 17, through Thursday night, Nov. 20, for repairs to the northbound Reston Parkway bridge over the Dulles Toll Road.” The ramp will be closed each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. [VDOT]

Dulles Airport Offers Parking Reservations — “Travelers at Dulles International Airport now have the option to book premium parking spaces for a higher fee. The airport sent an email announcing that it would begin offering PassPark Premium parking options.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Nonprofit Sees Drop in Food Donations — The 25th Project, a nonprofit that will provide 2,500 free meals at Burke Community Church on Thanksgiving and Christmas, “has noticed a slowdown in donations compared to last year,” according to founder Jay Herriott. “He suspects that is because of the recent 43-day government shutdown, which was the longest in U.S. history.” [WTOP]

It’s Tuesday — Rain is likely after 1pm, with increasing clouds and highs around 50°F. Afternoon winds will come from the southwest at around 5 mph. Precipitation chances are 50%. For Tuesday night, rain is expected mainly before 1am, with lows around 41°F and southeast winds at 3 to 5 mph. Precipitation chances rise to 90%, with new amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. [NWS]

FCPS Expands Weapons Detectors to Football Games — Fairfax County Public Schools started using weapons detectors at high school football playoff games this past weekend “following a string of incidents around the D.C. region during the fall athletic season … Schools are advising sports fans to come early and to purchase their tickets online.” [WTOP]

State Senator Proposes End to Parking Mandates — “Some Falls Church leaders are expressing concern over a possible General Assembly measure that would take away local power to regulate parking in development projects. Such a measure could be introduced by Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37), who represents the city in the upper house of the legislature.” [ARLnow]

How Federal Cuts Affected Va. Food Banks — “More than  1.7 million pounds of food aid earmarked for Virginia’s seven main food banks was canceled between May and August, according to data obtained by ProPublica. Among the lost shipments was about 550,000 pounds of chicken. Based on average consumption, the federal cuts translate to no chicken for nearly 6,400 typical households for four months.” [Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO]

Holiday Market Coming to Fairfax Corner — After setting up at Tysons Corner Center last year, Creative Collective’s annual Holiday Pop Up market is heading to Fairfax Corner this year, starting “from Friday, November 21, to Wednesday, December 24. Throughout the holiday shopping season, guests will be able to explore goods from more than 30 small businesses across the region.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Reston Row Office Space Leased — “Comstock Cos. has leased 310,000 square feet at two new trophy office buildings at Reston Row, the real estate firm announced Thursday … The company did not name the tenant or tenants, but it said the leases included the entire 210,000 square feet at 1870 Reston Row. Comstock also leased three floors — roughly 100,000 square feet —at sister building 1800 Reston Row.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Class of Police Recruits Graduate — “After completing six weeks of training, ten experienced officers have graduated Option 5 and will be starting their assignments in Fairfax County and around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our four graduates bring a wide range of experience, education, and military service to the Fairfax County Police Department.” [FCPD]

ArtsFairfax Awards Grants — “As part of the nonprofit’s funding opportunities, ArtsFairfax awarded $160,000 in Project Support Grants to 13 local arts organizations to encourage wider participation in the arts through unique cultural programming.” [ArtsFairfax]

Rec Center to Revise Hours — “The George Washington Rec Center is updating its operating hours starting Thursday, Jan. 1. The new schedule provides access for fitness and recreation opportunities throughout the week while accommodating additional facility needs.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 50 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 11 to 17 mph, and gusts reaching up to 30 mph. Night will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 33 degrees. [NWS]

Trump Nominee Opposes Dulles Mobile Lounges — Former White House personnel office deputy director Trent Morse wants Dulles International Airport to eliminate its people movers, “saying the passenger-transport shuttles that drew headlines this week for a crash that sent 18 people to the hospital are slow, outdated and dangerous.” Morse’s nomination to the MWAA board is being considered by the Senate Commerce Committee in Congress. [Washington Post]

Man Charged With Threatening CIA Head — “A man armed with a box cutter who is accused of threatening to kill CIA Director John Ratcliffe was stopped on Nov. 5 by police as he tried to enter the agency’s headquarters in McLean, according to court documents.” The man was charged the following day with making threats against a federal official and was denied bond on Monday (Nov. 10). [Patch]

North Shore Drive Residents Frustrated by Crashes — “A drive along North Shore Drive in Reston shows one damaged car after another. Car parts and other debris line the side of the roadway. Fairfax County police say that in the past two years, 31 accidents and an additional 15 hit-and-runs have been reported along the well-traveled stretch.” [FOX5]

Virginia Introduces Digital IDs — “Virginians can now use a digital version of their driver’s license at the DMV, TSA, some ABC stores and a handful of police departments … Virginia is the first state in the nation where a digital ID will be accepted in lieu of a physical ID in multiple places, Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles announced this week.” [Axios Richmond]

Community College Students Walk Out — “Dozens of students staged a walkout at Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus Nov. 12 to protest NOVA’s plan to convert the Humanities Building into HR and administrative offices … Students suspect NOVA’s goal is to cut costs by moving more courses online,” though NOVA President Anne Kress says the college has “no desire to displace classrooms.” [Annandale Today]

New Candidate for Potential Braddock School Board Race — “Annandale resident Alexa Krezel has announced plans to run for the Braddock District seat on the Fairfax County School Board, assuming current school board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer wins the special election for Braddock supervisor on Dec. 9.” Krezel and previously declared candidate Tom Dannan are both seeking an endorsement from the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. [Annandale Today]

Potomac River Cleanup Progress Stalls — “It’s not fishable or swimmable yet, but according to the Potomac Conservancy, the Potomac River earned a grade of ‘B’ for the fifth year in a row.” While the river’s water quality has come a long way from the “D” it earned in 2011, officials identified “development that results in the loss of forest land” as one hurdle keeping the region from achieving an “A” rating. [WTOP]

Wellness Expo Returns to Vienna — The Vienna Business Association’s “Wellness Wonderland” expo will return for a third year this Saturday (Nov. 15) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. The event will include a resource fair with 50 health, wellness and fitness exhibitors as well as presentations by experts, including a keynote address by author and chef Amy Riolo. [Press release]

It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of around 58 degrees and a west wind of 6 to 9 mph. For Friday night, the weather will be mostly cloudy with a low of approximately 43 degrees, accompanied by calm wind conditions. [NWS]

Federal Government Shutdown Ends — “The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families,” including their pets. [Associated Press/ARLnow]

Economic Challenges Await New Governor — “The strains resulting from federal cuts to the social safety net will likely be the biggest challenge facing the new Democratic leadership in Richmond. After Democrats’ resounding wins on Election Night last week, what to do about it will fall to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.” [WAMU]

Fairfax City Affordable Housing Plan Unveiled — “Many City of Fairfax residents said they had faced affordable housing challenges over the previous year, according to a new Affordable Housing Strategic Plan presented to the Fairfax City Council last Tuesday.” Nearly half of all renters and 13% of homeowners reported experiencing affordability challenges over the past year. [Patch]

Utility Work to Close West Springfield Road — “Taft Drive (Route 4167) between Rolling Road (Route 638) and Smithfield Avenue (Route 4147) will be closed from 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, to 4 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, for water main tie-in work as part of the Rolling Road widening project … Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]

Kingstowne Condiment Maker Files for Bankruptcy — “Alexandria condiment company True Made Foods Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it faces a lawsuit filed by snack food manufacturer and distribution partner PIM Brands Inc.” True Made, whose products can be found in many area grocery stores, says the lawsuit over a 2020 distribution contract is “baseless,” but “the legal costs are too high” for the company to continue fighting it. [Washington Business Journal]

Annandale Fashion Boutique Closed — “Thauma, the Korean fashion boutique at 7224 Columbia Pike in Annandale, closed at the end of October, and the property is available for lease. Thauma owner Yoon Lee is focusing on her small shop, K Fashion, at the food court inside the K Market grocery store on John Marr Drive.” [Annandale Today]

Meet WaPo’s New Food Critic — Elazar Sontag, formerly the restaurant editor for Bon Appétit, introduced himself this week as the Washington Post’s new food critic, taking over a position held for 25 years by Tom Sietsema. Among Sontag’s first meals for his new gig was an “over-order of such hilarious proportions at Mama Chang in Fairfax, that my next five breakfasts were all lion’s head meatballs and glossy seafood-rice stew.” [Washington Post]

Veteran Oversees Reston Hospital Heart Surgeries — “Twenty miles outside the nation’s capital, Reston Hospital Center is developing a world-class cardiac surgery program with a decorated Army veteran at the helm. 7News Anchor Victoria Sanchez spoke with Dr. William Cooper about how his decades of military service and clinical work will help reshape Northern Virginia.” [WJLA]

New Legal Notice — Salt + Light Hair Co. seeks ABC Marketplace license for a Fair Lakes location; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 56°F. Northwest winds will blow at 7 to 14 mph, and may gust up to 26 mph. In the evening, the sky will be mostly clear, and the temperature will drop to around 35°F. A gentle west wind at approximately 6 mph is expected. [NWS]

FCPD Helicopter Visits Middle School — “On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Katherine Johnson Middle School will host their annual career day. As a part of this year’s career day, Katherine Johnson Middle School has arranged for a Fairfax County Police Department helicopter to land and take off on the school’s athletic field. The helicopter will be in the area from approximately 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.” [City of Fairfax Police]

Stabbing Victim Was a Teacher — “A young teacher who was stabbed to death on Friday had just wrapped up a home session with a student in Annandale, Virginia. Fairfax County police were called to the 3900 block of Terrace Drive. They found 26-year-old Isha Koroma with several stab wounds to the face and neck, police said.” [NBC4]

Rescue Team Returns From Jamaica — Virginia Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue returned to Fairfax County Monday night (Nov. 10) after spending 10 days in Jamaica to assist with the emergency response to Hurricane Melissa, which resulted in at least 98 deaths on that island and in Haiti. “During the task force’s deployment, they helped to clear storm debris, assisted with food and water delivery, worked on reconnaissance missions and more.” [DC News Now]

New I-495 Toll Lanes to Open Next Week — “The northern extension of the 495 Express Lanes is on track to open on Saturday, Nov. 22 — ahead of the design-build contract schedule and the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period — pending no weather delays or unforeseen circumstances.” The new toll lanes will extend from Tysons to just south of the American Legion Bridge in McLean. [VDOT]

Delegate Partially Settles Defamation Lawsuit — “Days before the June 2024 Democratic primary for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, allegations surfaced that Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, had sexually assaulted a woman. Helmer, who finished second in the crowded contest, later filed a defamation lawsuit claiming the allegations were false and politically motivated.” As of late October, two of the three defendants in the lawsuit have settled out of court. [Virginia Mercury]

DMV Honors Purple Heart Recipients — “The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be setting aside a parking space for Purple Heart recipients at 16 different locations,” including centers in Alexandria, Fairfax and Tysons.” Announced on Veterans’ Day, the “initiative is part of the national Purple Heart Parking Project, which aims to honor and raise awareness of the sacrifices made by service members.” [WJLA]

Fairfax City Finishes Playground — “We’re excited to share that the new Pat Rodio Park playground is officially open and ready for play! Please note — the temporary fencing currently in place will remain while we finish final touches, including the new walkway, permanent fencing, and landscaping.” [Fairfax City Parks and Recreation/Facebook]

FCPS Views Girls’ Flag Football as Success — “Fairfax County Public Schools is putting its first girls flag football season in the win column. This sport was offered for the first time this year at all of FCPS’s 25 high schools, and more than 770 girls participated.” FCPS Executive Director of Student Activities and Athletics Tom Horn says the sport will be offered again next fall. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 58 degrees, with southwest winds of 10 to 13 mph shifting to west in the afternoon and gusts up to 24 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 39 degrees and west winds between 6 and 9 mph. [NWS]