morning notes

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]

Spanberger Discusses Initial Priorities — Following her election as Virginia’s next governor last Tuesday (Nov. 4), Abigail Spanberger says she intends to sign executive orders on her first day in office that deal “with high costs and overall issues of affordability, particularly in housing and health care and in energy.” She also says a top priority right now is advocating for an end to the federal government shutdown. [WTOP]

Suspect Arrested in Annandale Stabbing — A 42-year-old man from Maryland is expected to be charged with second degree murder after allegedly fatally stabbing a woman in Annandale on Friday night (Nov. 7). Police say the stabbing doesn’t “appear to be a random act as the suspect and victim are believed to be known to each other.” [FCPD]

Furloughed Fed Starts Food Pantry — “Inside the Landsdowne Community Pool House, shelves are stacked with sauce, soups, beans even diapers and period products. The mastermind behind it [is] Katrina Ksander a furloughed federal employee. When the government shutdown left her without a paycheck,  she decided she wasn’t going to wait for help,  she was going to create it.” [WUSA9]

Meetup Group Offers Solace During Shutdown — “Every Friday starting at 7 a.m., you can find Abraham Walker with a group of fathers at the Panera in Kingstowne. Even for a few hours, the weekly meetup group is an opportunity for community. Amid the government shutdown, it has also become a saving grace.” [WUSA9]

New 24-Hour Gym Open in Vienna — After some delays, Pump24 is now open for business in the Vienna Shopping Center (136A Maple Avenue). “Co-owner Nash Cook shared that the decision to open in Vienna was intentional. ‘Vienna residents really support local businesses — and we can’t wait to be part of that,’ he said.” [Town of Vienna Economic Development]

Vegetarian Eatery Coming to Chantilly — “Chay is coming to a large end-cap unit in the Westfields Restaurant & Retail Park off State Road 28 at Westfields Boulevard. The spot used to be a Moe’s Southwest Grill. This will be the second location for Chay” after the Vietnamese restaurant made its debut a couple of years ago in Falls Church. [The Burn]

County Pumpkin Composting Underway — “Used Halloween pumpkins can get a second, Earth-friendly life as compost in Fairfax County’s annual Pumpkin Palooza collection drive, now underway until the end of November. Again this year, the county’s Solid Waste Management Program will turn your post-Halloween pumpkins and other gourds into compost gold.” [DPWES]

Reston Association Seeks Board Candidates — “Reston Association is calling for candidates to run in the 2026 Board of Directors election. The RA Elections Committee is seeking candidates to fill a total of four seats on the RA Board of Directors,” including one at-large director, directors for the Hunters Woods/Dogwood and Lake Anne/Tall Oaks districts, and an apartment owners’ representative. [RA]

It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high of 49 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 11-16 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. Night will be mostly clear with a low of 29 degrees. On Veterans Day, it will be sunny and breezy, with a high near 45 degrees and a west wind at 15-20 mph, gusting as high as 33 mph. [NWS]

FFXnow Takes a Break on Veterans Day — Since it’s a federal holiday, FFXnow will take a day off tomorrow (Tuesday), with the exception of any urgent, breaking news. Our regular publishing schedule will resume on Wednesday (Nov. 12).

House GOP Accuses GMU President of Lying — “A Republican-led House committee is accusing George Mason University’s president of lying to the panel when he testified in September about diversity policies the Trump administration say amount to racial discrimination.” A lawyer representing Washington disputes the claim, saying “his client did not say ‘one syllable of untruth during his testimony.'” [Washington Post]

I-495 Lane Closures Coming Up — “A single lane will be closed in both directions on I-495 … between the Dulles Corridor Interchange and American Legion Memorial Bridge this Saturday, Nov. 8, and next Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. These extended daytime closures are needed for crews to complete paving work associated with the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project.” [VDOT]

Farmers Markets Offer Extra Food Benefits — “Virginia Fresh Match (VFM) is offering enhanced produce benefits at participating Fairfax County farmers markets and select grocery stores during November. At farmers markets, SNAP shoppers will receive an extra $20 in free tokens to use on fruits and vegetables — no minimum purchase required.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Outgoing and Incoming Governors Meet — “Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Gov. Glenn Youngkin stepped out of the Executive Mansion on Thursday with their spouses, smiling as they paused to talk with reporters. The couples had just shared a lunch of crab cakes and ‘Virginia wine,’ Youngkin said, as he and Spanberger discussed their transition of power in the months ahead.” [Virginia Mercury]

Burger Truck Launching in Reston — “S&P Burger announced it will be launching its new food truck this weekend in Reston. The food truck will be holding a soft launch on Saturday, November 8, at The Spectrum at Reston Town Center. S&P will be serving up its press’d patties and sweets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Signature Apartments Reportedly Sold — “A partnership between New York-based Sterling Investors and Denver-based Simpson Housing has agreed to purchase the 508-unit Signature apartment towers, Green Street’s Real Estate Alert reported, citing anonymous sources.” The reported price range of around $240 million “would set a record for a Reston apartment sale, according to Real Estate Alert.” [Bisnow]

Braddock Candidates Participate in Forum — “The three candidates running for Braddock District supervisor participated in a candidate forum Wednesday night, where they discussed funding for public schools, the impact federal layoffs and furloughs have had on the local economy, and the preservation of Lake Accotink.” [Patch]

Sentence in Capital One Data Breach Reimposed — “A federal judge has reimposed a sentence on Paige Thompson, the former Amazon Web Services engineer convicted in the 2019 Capital One data breach that compromised the personal information of more than 100 million people.” [Cyberscoop]

It’s Friday — Clouds will increase, reaching a high of around 61°F, accompanied by south winds of 8-15 mph and gusts up to 29 mph. There’s a 60% chance of rain Friday night, primarily before 1am, as it becomes mostly cloudy with lows around 53°F. [NWS]

Va. Constitutional Amendments Loom — “Four proposed amendments to Virginia’s state constitution could reach voters as early as the spring, after Tuesday’s election gave Democrats a bigger edge in the House of Delegates.” Measures to enshrine the right to reproductive freedom, prohibit denials of marriage licenses for same-sex couples, restore felons’ right to vote and allow redistricting could be on the ballot if they pass the General Assembly a second time. [WTOP]

N. Va. Support Decisive for Spanberger — “In the region’s four counties and five cities, Spanberger, the Democrat, won 72.3% of the total vote to just 27.4% for her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Across the rest of Virginia, the margin was much tighter, with Spanberger winning 51.2% to 48.7% for Earle-Sears.” [Inside NoVA]

South Lakes Alum Elected NJ Governor — “Mikie Sherrill was elected to be New Jersey’s next governor, and she was born right in Northern Virginia … Sherrill was born in Alexandria in 1972 and grew up in NoVA. She graduated from South Lakes High School in Reston in 1990.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Reston Contractor Leaders Take Pay Cuts — ICF International executives agreed to temporary 20% pay cuts “to show support for affected federal employees and clients” during the government shutdown. The company estimates it will lose $8 million in revenue due to the shutdown, on top of a nearly 30% year-over-year decline attributed “to contract funding curtailments and a slower pace of new requests for proposals.” [Virginia Business]

Reston Company Considers Layoffs — “Data analytics provider Qbase LLC, an affiliate of Reston technology contractor Tyto Athene LLC, announced it could lay off up to 60 employees” starting on Dec. 30, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification dated Oct. 31.” A spokesperson declined to comment on the reason for the filing, which could be rescinded if contract funding is restored. [Washington Business Journal]

Lawyers Road Closure Planned — Lawyers Road will be closed for a second consecutive weekend for construction work to replace drainage pipes. Through traffic will be detoured around the closure, which will be in place between Hunter Mill Road and Garrett Street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Saturday (Nov. 8). [VDOT]

HVAC Issues Close Vienna Library — The temporary Patrick Henry Library at Cedar Park Shopping Center has been closed in recent days due to an HVAC issue. “Temperatures in the public area were too cold to comfortably open. It is likely going to be completely resolved today or tomorrow,” a Fairfax County Public Library spokesperson says, though patrons are advised to check the library website for updates. [FCPL]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 57 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. As for Thursday night, the weather will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to a low of about 38 degrees, with a light and variable wind. [NWS]

Dems Sweep N. Va. House Seats — “Democratic candidates won all 30 of Northern Virginia’s seats in the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday as the party seemed likely to significantly expand its 51-49 majority in the state’s lower chamber. As of 9 p.m. Democrats had already picked up four seats statewide, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.” [Inside NoVA]

Virginia Launches Statewide Food Drive — “Building on a temporary state-level version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) announced last week, state agencies are collaborating on a food drive effort to further bolster food-insecure communities around Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday morning.” [Virginia Mercury]

DCA Flight Evacuated for Bomb Threat — “All flights were grounded at Reagan National Airport midday Tuesday while a United Airlines jet was evacuated over a reported security threat … The main runway reopened at 12:50 p.m. but many flights were delayed by about an hour ‘due to security,’ according to the FAA.” [ARLnow]

Bus Driver Crashes on Dulles Toll Road — “Crews with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded to a crash involving a bus at around 6 a.m. on Route 267, just before the Wiehle Avenue exit.” The Fairfax Connector bus had hit a guardrail, and the trapped driver had to be extracted before getting taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No passengers were on board, as the bus wasn’t in service at the time. [DC News Now]

Former Va. Rep. Weighs in on Shutdown — Former Virginia Rep. Tom Davis, “a Republican who served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and preceded the late Rep. Gerry Connolly in Congress, said the House of Representatives has done its part to try and end the shutdown by passing a continuing resolution. But, he said, the Senate needs to take action, which would require ‘bipartisan buy-in, and at this point, we don’t have it.'” [WTOP]

Fairfax City Names New Schools Head — “At Monday night’s regular meeting, the City of Fairfax School Board announced that it will be appointing Dr. Dustin Wright as the new superintendent, effective Dec. 1. He will succeed former Superintendent Jeff Platenberg, who retired in July.” [Patch]

Algae Bloom Spotted at Reston Lake — “Lake Thoreau is experiencing a minor algae bloom impacting cove areas in the areas surrounding South Lakes shopping center. RA Environmental staff members are testing the area and advise people and animals avoid contact with the water at this time.” [Reston Association]

McLean Student Tests Drinking Water — “Virginia high schooler Hera Lu-Yang set out in the spring to determine how safe drinking water is in Northern Virginia by conducting tests in numerous localities, including Alexandria, for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, also called PFAS.” The BASIS Independent School student found “that Alexandria’s water contains a high level of PFAS chemicals — almost three times that of neighboring localities.” [Alexandria Times]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 70, accompanied by a southwest wind of 7 to 16 mph, with gusts reaching up to 32 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 45. The southwest wind will blow at 13 to 16 mph but will shift to the northwest after midnight, with potential gusts as high as 43 mph. [NWS]