morning notes

Brace for Extreme Cold — “The National Weather Service warns that temperatures and wind chills are projected to plunge below zero this week and will likely remain below freezing through at least Friday night. These temperatures will create hazardous conditions, which will impact road/sidewalk clearing and water main issues.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

No Fairfax Connector Bus Service — After initially planning to provided limited Sunday service, Fairfax Connector announced last night that it will suspend service today (Monday) based on challenging road conditions after Winter Storm Fern. “Service decisions are subject to change as road conditions require. Please visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/operatingstatus for additional service status updates.” [Fairfax Connector]

Free School Breakfast Bill Advances — “Senate Bill 4 by Sen. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, and House Bill 96 by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, narrows the scope of free meals provided to students to just breakfast, and would have the state reimburse reimburse each school for the breakfasts they provide. After clearing the Senate and Education Committee unanimously on Thursday, it will be further deliberated in the Finance and Appropriations Committee.” [Virginia Mercury]

Bill Calls for Study of Snow Treatment Alternatives — “A bill from Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas) would direct the Virginia Department of Transportation to study the pros and cons of salting methods and alternatives. Many options have been proposed around the country, such as calcium or magnesium chloride and mixtures including sand, cat litter and even beet juice.” [VPM News]

Va. Could Rejoin Emissions Reduction Compact — “Virginia’s newly elected Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones took action Thursday that creates a pathway for Virginia to rejoin the carbon market called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI.” Jones filed a motion that could allow the state to settle or withdraw from a lawsuit over then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s withdrawal from the multi-state initiative. [Inside Climate News]

Lawsuit Over Solitary Confinement Allowed — “A class action lawsuit alleging that the Virginia Department of Corrections has violated its ‘Step Down’ program by arbitrarily keeping people confined solitarily for long periods of time will be allowed to move forward, a federal district judge ruled this week.” Vienna Del. Holly Seibold (D-12) said she was concerned about the treatment of people in restorative housing after visiting Red Onion State Prison last year. [Virginia Mercury]

Hawk Freed From Batting Cage Jam — “A hawk was rescued from a park in Annandale after it got caught in a batting cage. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter said animal control officers responded to a call last week that a hawk got stuck in a batting cage at Pine Ridge Park … Officers quickly helped to free the hawk and safely released it back into the wild.” [DC News Now]

Affordable Housing Waitlists Opening Soon — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) is opening the application waitlist for the Project-Based Voucher units from Feb. 2 through Feb. 8. Properties accepting waitlist applications are part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) – Project-Based Voucher program,” which “generally serves households with … up to 50 percent of the median income.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 27 degrees and winds ranging from 11 to 16 mph, potentially reaching 28 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with lows near 2 degrees and wind chills as low as -7. The west wind will blow at 7 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. [NWS]

Residents Stock Up Ahead of Snowstorm — “The latest forecast predicts 10 inches of snow falling on the Washington, D.C. region, bringing cold temperatures with it. In anticipation, Fairfax County residents began flocking to area hardware stores to stock up on shovels, bags of salt, and sleds.” [Patch]

Man Guilty of Murder at ATM — “Winston Nathaniel Lark IV was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony” for fatally shooting Nelson Alexander at an ATM in West Falls Church on Oct. 20, 2021. “A sentencing date has not been set yet. Lark faces 20 years to life on the first-degree murder conviction.” [NBC4]

Redistricting Referendum Date Proposed — “The House of Delegates Appropriations Committee voted 15–7 on Thursday to move forward a bill introduced by Chair Luke Torian (D–Prince William) that would set April 21 as the date for a ballot referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment that passed through the legislature on a partisan vote last week.” [VPM News]

Updates Underway at Bailey’s Homeless Shelter — “Since FACETS took over management of the troubled Bailey’s Shelter in late 2025, the nonprofit has taken steps to resolve the problems stemming from New Hope Housing’s mismanagement.” In addition to introducing more staff, the new shelter operator is working to upgrade its security system and has rejoined Fairfax County’s Operation Stream Shield litter pick-up program. [Annandale Today]

Homeowner Appeals Denial of Addition — A homeowner on Marble Lane in the Greenbriar area has turned to the Board of Zoning Appeals after Fairfax County staff ordered him to stop construction on a three-story addition found to be a few inches too close to a neighbor’s property line. Intended for the resident’s parents, the expansion sparked neighbor complaints and discussions of a zoning ordinance amendment that could “accelerate later this year.” [Washington Business Journal]

Parents Lobby for More Child Care Support — “Kaila Brewer, a Chesapeake mother and special education teacher, had to leave her job during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for her five-year-old son, who is autistic … That experience spurred her to advocate alongside other parents and supporters at the state Capitol on Wednesday and urge lawmakers to expand early childhood care options.” [Virginia Mercury]

Nonprofit Rolls Out Mobile Bathrooms — A Mobile Outreach Unit with private bathrooms, including hot showers, from Fairfax-based Pathway Homes will soon travel to sites in Northern Virginia and D.C., providing services to people experiencing homelessness. “According to Pathway Homes, only two of the 41 homeless shelters in Northern Virginia offer drop-in shower services for people not living in the shelter.” [WTOP]

Feedback Wanted From Military Community — “The Fairfax County Veterans and Military Families Commission is conducting a survey to identify gaps in serving county veterans and military community … The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. The survey will close on Feb. 16, 2026. The feedback will be used to help inform county policy and practices.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]

It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 44, as west winds increase to 12-17 mph in the afternoon, with gusts up to 24 mph. Friday night will be partly cloudy and colder, with lows around 10 and wind chill values as low as -7. Blustery conditions will prevail, featuring a north wind of 18-25 mph and gusts up to 36 mph. [NWS]

Nonprofit Shut Down for Candy Bar Sales Scheme — “Attorneys General from D.C., Maryland and Virginia announced on Tuesday that two local non-profits will shut down permanently for exploiting kids from low-income neighborhoods selling candy bars door-to-door without proof of compensation.” An investigation found that leaders of Maryland Youth Club and Virginia Youth Club, which is based in Fairfax County, was using the funds raised for their personal benefit. [WUSA9]

Defense Calls Witnesses in Double Murder Trial — “The defense attorney for Brendan Banfield, accused in the murder of his wife and a stranger in an alleged plot to end up in a relationship with the family au pair, started calling witnesses, including experts in digital forensics, to testify early Wednesday.” Judge Penney Azcarate noted at the end of the day that the courthouse could close early next week if there’s a lot of snow this weekend, but the trial remains “ahead of schedule.” [DC News Now]

Voting Access Bills Advance — “With the 2026 General Assembly session in full swing, Democrats on Tuesday advanced a slate of voting and campaign finance measures aimed at expanding access to the ballot box and increasing transparency in elections,” including one sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek that would establish an online campaign finance portal similar to the platform currently offered by the Virginia Public Access Project. [Virginia Mercury]

New Va. Attorney General Outlines Vision — “Jay Jones took swift action after taking the oath of office on Saturday and becoming the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 49th attorney general. The Democrat joined on to several existing state lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration and reversed several opinions issued by his Republican predecessor,” following through on a campaign promise to “push back against federal overreach.” [VPM News]

Former Reality TV Star Challenges Warner — “Another candidate has entered a challenge against Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) in the lawmaker’s first primary election in his 18 years on the Senate. Mark Moran, a former reality television star and Wall Street investment banker who lives in Falls Church,” says he would prioritize cost-of-living issues if elected and support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, among other plans. [ARLnow]

Theft Reported at Home Depot in Fairfax — “City of Fairfax police are asking the public’s help in identifying two men who they say stole $1,284 worth of merchandise from a city business on Friday. On Tuesday, police released photos of the two men who stole the merchandise from the Home Depot store located at 3201 Blenheim Blvd.” [Patch]

Police Facility Nearing Construction Finish — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s new building for its Operations Support Bureau is expected to open in February, says project manager James Sun. That’s three years after the facility, at 3911 Woodburn Road in Annandale, was originally supposed to be completed.” [Annandale Today]

Burlington Possibly Coming to Chantilly — “A new store is planned for Chantilly Crossing. The shopping center will soon be home to Burlington, which is set to take over part of the space previously occupied by Office Depot and Party City,” according to a site plan from property owner Kite Realty Group Trust. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 51, with southwest winds at 7 to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon and gusting up to 20 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low around 29 and a light northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

N. Va. Democrats Hopeful After Inauguration — “Northern Virginia Democrats were in high spirits at the inauguration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger this weekend, looking toward new opportunities for a variety of bills held back by the previous administration. Legislators and political observers expect fewer vetoes and more collaboration with Democratic policymakers.” [ARLnow]

Big Snow Storm Possible This Weekend — “Confidence is increasing that there will be a ‘significant’ winter storm Saturday into Sunday along the Interstate 95 corridor, including the D.C. region and the rest of the mid-Atlantic, according to the National Weather Service … The storm is on track to begin in the D.C. region Saturday afternoon, peak Saturday night into Sunday, and end Monday.” [WTOP]

Virginia U.S. Attorney Ousted — “Lindsey Halligan, a Trump administration lawyer who was named head of a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia last year with instructions to seek criminal charges against President Donald Trump’s political adversaries, left her post at the Justice Department on Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.” [Washington Post]

New Members Appointed to GMU Board — “Shortly after being sworn in on Saturday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger appointed members to the Boards of Visitors for George Mason University, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Military Institute. She also ordered a review of the higher-ed board confirmation process, which was the center of contention between lawmakers and the previous gubernatorial administration last year.” [Virginia Mercury]

Progress on American Legion Bridge Overhaul — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore say they’ve “made significant progress” on an agreement to accelerate rebuilds of the Francis Scott Key and American Legion bridges. For the American Legion Bridge in particular, they say they will “leverage innovative approaches like a public private partnership” to move the project forward. [FOX5]

Dog Reunited With Family After Almost Three Years — “A dog was reunited with his family in Maryland last week after he went missing almost three years ago. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter said animal services officers responded to a call about a stray dog and ‘they had no idea they were about to help reunite a long-missing pet!'” [DC News Now]

Reston Native Coaches College Championship Team — “A former NFL coach from Reston was one of the coaches that helped lead the Indiana University football team to its first national championship on Monday night. The Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 27-21, and finished the season with a perfect 16-0 record.” A graduate of South Lakes High School, Ola Adams was in his second season as Indiana’s safeties coach. [Patch]

Ethiopian Market Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “An Ethiopian food shop called Nazret Market #4 is expected to open in Bailey’s Crossroads next month, says owner Aftataw (Mamush) Muluneh. The shop, at 5810 Seminary Road, will offer spices, meat, grains, and other items imported from Ethiopia.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Clouds will gradually increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 40°F, accompanied by a southeast wind that will shift south at 9-14 mph in the morning and gust up to 25 mph. At night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 33°F. [NWS]

New Governor’s First Executive Orders — Following her inauguration on Saturday (Jan. 17), “Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed 10 executive actions that broadly targeted affordability and pushed the commonwealth away from former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s approaches to education, immigration and race.” [VPM News]

Polls Open for House District 17 Election — “Residents in parts of Fairfax County will head to the polls on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to fill a vacancy in the District 17 House of Delegates seat. District 17 includes communities in Franconia, Huntington, Kingstowne, and Rose Hill.” Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. as Democratic nominee Garrett McGuire and Republican Christopher Cardiff compete to succeed longtime delegate Mark Sickles. [WUSA9]

Gun Brandished at Springfield Town Center — “Springfield Town Center in Virginia was locked down for 45 minutes Saturday night after an individual showed a gun during an incident. Police said they got a report of a ‘domestic-related brandishing’ incident just before 8:10 p.m.” There was no evidence any shots were fired. [WTOP]

Trooper Injured in American Legion Bridge Crash — “A Virginia State Police trooper and police dog suffered minor injuries in a crash during a pursuit Friday morning on Interstate 495. At approximately 3:38 a.m., the trooper spotted a vehicle on Interstate 95 northbound near Fairfax County Parkway traveling at 90 mph, Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein said in a news release.” [Inside NoVA]

DOJ Sues Va. for Voter Data — “The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday sued Virginia for not handing over state voter data, the latest among several states the department has targeted in an effort to retrieve registration information from individuals across the country since last year.” [The Hill]

Cause of Burke Centre House Fire Found — A house fire that occurred on New Year’s Day in the 5500 block of Corot Court was caused by an “electrical event” in the home’s basement, Fairfax County fire investigators have determined. No injuries to firefighters or the three occupants were reported, but “sadly, two cats died in the fire,” which resulted in an estimated $147,750 in property damages. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

Former NBA Player Arrested — “Former NBA player Delonte West, who once played a key role on the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, has been arrested and charged with robbery and assault in Fairfax County, Virginia. West, 42, was arrested after the reported assault and robbery on Dec. 21 around 6:40 a.m. in the 5900 block of Richmond Highway in Belle Haven.” [WTOP]

FCPS Teacher Joins 5th House District Race — “Voters in [today’s] Democratic firehouse primary will have four candidates to choose from after Fairfax County Public Schools teacher Gregory Darrall entered the race this weekend … The candidates are competing to run for Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat” after she resigned to campaign for outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin’s 39th Senate District seat. [ALXnow]

Recommendations for Reston Visitors — “Today, it’s noted for its open-air town center, green spaces, arts and culture, and walking and biking trails that make it easy to get around Reston. Book a room at the Hyatt Regency Reston to be at the center of the action when you come to explore. Here’s what to do on your next visit to Reston.” [Southern Living]

It’s Tuesday — The weather will be sunny, reaching a high of 29 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 9 to 11 mph and gusts up to 24 mph. The night will be mostly clear with a low temperature of 17 degrees and light variable winds. [NWS]

Early Voting for School Board Election Begins — Early voting starts today (Friday) at the Fairfax County Government Center for the Braddock District school board special election, which has Democratic-endorsed candidate Tom Dannan and independent candidate Saundra Davis squaring off. In addition, tomorrow is the last day to vote early in the Jan. 20 special election for the 17th House District. [Fairfax County Office of Elections/Bluesky]

Virginia Child Dies From Flu — “Flu season has taken a grim turn in Virginia, as the state’s health department has reported the first death of a child caused by complications associated with influenza. In order to protect the family’s privacy, the only information the Virginia Department of Health is releasing about the child is that they were age 4 or younger and that the death was reported in the eastern region.” [WTOP]

Pimmit Hills Apartment Complex Sold — “An affiliate of Brookfield, Wisconsin’s MLG Capital acquired PeachTree of McLean on Peach Orchard Drive in a deal that closed in mid-December, according to public records.” The $100 million sales price exceeds the property’s assessed value of $81.7 million. “Bozzuto announced in early January it had taken over management of the property.” [Washington Business Journal]

Right-to-Work Repeal Unlikely This Year — “Representatives of both the business community and organized labor voiced skepticism at a recent forum that an end to Virginia’s right-to-work law is on the horizon for 2026 … Despite the views of those leaders, Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-33) has introduced legislation to effectively eliminate Virginia’s restrictions impacting unionization in the commonwealth.” [ARLnow]

Private School Expansion Approved — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved a project to expand the Phillips Programs, a nonprofit that operates a private school in Annandale for students with behavioral health challenges and developmental disabilities.” [Annandale Today]

McLean Therapy Provider Lands Funds for Expansion — “Positive Development Inc. has secured $45 million in new funding, just six months after raking in more than $50 million to expand its autism therapy to more kids. The company said the latest capital injection positions it to accelerate a national expansion.” It’s also expanding locally with centers coming to Fairfax, Woodbridge and Springfield as well as Maryland locations. [WBJ]

First Hike People’s Choice Winner Chosen — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is thrilled to announce Nathan Kennedy as the winner of the People’s Choice Award for the 2026 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest. His captivating photo, taken at Huntley Meadows Park, received the highest number of online votes submitted by residents from across the county.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Park Authority Seeks Earth Day Vendors — “Join us for Fairfax County’s largest Earth Day celebration! The annual event, which draws thousands of visitors, will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston. Applications are now being accepted” for retail vendors and exhibitors until Feb. 23, though the window for food vendors has already closed.” [FCPA]

New Legal Notice — Public hearing on school boundaries January 22, 2026, 6:15 p.m. [Public Notices]

It’s Friday — Clouds will increase today, bringing a high temperature near 37 degrees and a southern wind of 7 to 10 mph. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of snow showers after 1am, with the clouds continuing to increase. The low temperature will be around 32 degrees, accompanied by a southern wind at 8 mph. [NWS]

FBI Searches WaPo Reporter’s Home — “Hannah Natanson, who has been covering President Donald Trump’s transformation of the federal government, had a phone, two laptops and a Garmin watch seized in the search of her Virginia home, the Post reported.” The Justice Department said the search was “part of a leak investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of taking home classified information,” but Post Executive Editor Matt Murray called the action “deeply concerning” in a message to employees. [Associated Press]

Democrats Choose 39th Senate District Nominee — “Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) has been declared the winner in a firehouse primary for Virginia’s 39th District Senate seat, defeating three opponents with 70.6% of the 4,647 ballots cast.” A special election to choose a successor to state Sen. Adam Ebbin, who will resign on Feb. 18, has been set for Feb. 10. [ALXnow]

Va. House Passes Constitutional Amendments — “Virginia House Democrats wasted little time flexing their new majority on the opening day of the 2026 General Assembly, pushing through four proposed constitutional amendments Wednesday aimed at” protecting abortion rights, restoring voting rights for people convicted of felonies, removing a defunct ban on same-sex marriage and setting up a voter referendum on mid-cycle redistricting. [Virginia Mercury]

Wanted Man Arrested After I-495 Chase — “A man arrested after a brief car chase with Fairfax County police on Tuesday was previously wanted on several charges, including a felony, according to police officials.” The man was spotted on I-495 in the Huntington area in a car with a female driver. “Officials said the man was wanted for felony abduction and several other charges, while the woman faces an alluding charge.” [WJLA]

McLean Company to Support NASA — “NASA has selected a McLean-based company to provide launch range operations support at its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia … Under the contract, ARES Technical Services Corporation, which is headquartered in McLean, will provide technical and operational support for launch range activities at Wallops.” [Center Square/Inside NoVA]

Dulles Adding Nonstop Taiwan Flights — “EVA Airways [on Monday, Jan. 13] announced that it plans to launch a new flight service to Washington in July, making it the first Taiwanese carrier to provide direct flights to the US capital. The airline plans to provide four flights to Washington in the initial stage using Boeing 787-9s, EVA Airways president Clay Sun told reporters in Taipei.” [Taipei Times]

Metro Swag in Demand — “While the Commanders flounder and Nats rebuild, our transit system is winning — breaking record ridership numbers and releasing merch that’s hotter than a Red Line rail at rush hour … Demand for Metro merch was up 300% in 2025, year over year, according to WMATA.” [Axios DC]

Art Contest to Encourage Glass Recycling — “Fairfax County is launching an art contest with the goal of educating kids in Mason District about the benefits of recycling glass. The contest is open to students in grades 6-12 who attend a school in the Justice, Annandale, or Falls Church high school pyramids.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 32 degrees with a west wind at 17 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 22 degrees, a west wind of 9 to 14 mph, and gusts up to 26 mph. [NWS]

Hunters Woods Village Center Sold — “Edens has offloaded Hunters Woods Village Center in Reston, more than 15 years after acquiring the Safeway-anchored retail center as part of a larger expansion.” Fairfax County property records show an affiliate of J.C. Bar, a Pennsylvania-based real estate company, bought the site for almost $30.5 million on Dec. 18. The center is 88% leased with almost 14,900 square feet of vacant retail space. [Washington Business Journal]

Two Arrested for Annandale Carjacking — According to Fairfax County police, “around 1:45 a.m. on Jan. 11, officers responded to the 7400 block of Little River Turnpike for the carjacking. The victim reported that a ‘known suspect’ had been riding in their vehicle when he brandished a gun and demanded that the victim get out of the car after an argument.” A 19-year-old man from Annandale and a 17-year-old boy were arrested after “a short chase.” [DC News Now]

No Injuries in Centreville House Fire — Firefighters responded around 5 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) to a fire at a single-family home in the 15300 block of Harmony Hill Court. “Crews arrived to heavy smoke coming from the front door. The fire is under control. No civilian or firefighter injuries … Thank you to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and Prince William County Fire & Rescue System for assisting.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

More Tension in U.S. Attorney’s Office — “The Justice Department has fired the No. 2 official in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia after he declined to lead the controversial prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey.” Robert McBride’s removal came on the same day that Lindsey Halligan defended continuing to act as the U.S. attorney despite a federal judge ruling that her appointment was illegal. [MS Now]

Man Charged With Stealing Power Tools — “On December 30, 2025, officers responded to a larceny from a vehicle in the 4500 block of Roundhill Road in Rose Hill. The suspect forced entry into the van and stole multiple power tools around 4:45 p.m. A witness observed a subject removing items from a work van and took photos of the suspect and the vehicle.” The 58-year-old man initially eluded officers at a traffic stop before he was located and arrested in Fair Haven. [FCPD]

Japanese and Korean Restaurant Opening in Annandale — “Pike Chicken is expected to have a soft opening this Thursday afternoon and a grand opening on Friday. The restaurant, located at 7023 Columbia Pike in the former O’My Chiq space, features Japanese and Korean food. Diners can order sushi and nigiri from the Roll Play menu or stone pot bibimbap and other items from Bowl Play.” [Annandale Today]

McLean Cafe Plans Drive-Thru Location — “Sweet Leaf Cafe is coming to 603 W. Broad Street, the former location of a drive-thru Smoothie King. According to the business, this is the first new Sweet Leaf to open in five years.” Aiming for a summer launch, the new site will be the McLean-based company’s first with a drive-thru. [ARLnow]

Inside Tysons’ Japanese-Brazilian Steakhouse — “At Tysons’ swanky new Japanese-Brazilian steakhouse Churasuko, you can get wagyu carved tableside, sashimi skewered like meat, and a seafood tower with both dry ice and flames. As far as owner Derek Liu is aware, it’s the first restaurant in the country combining the two cuisines.” [Washingtonian]

It’s Wednesday — There is a 20% chance of rain in the morning and late afternoon, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 52. The chance of rain jumps to 70% tonight, with snow possible after 1 am, though little or no accumulation is expected. The low will be around 25. [NWS]

Investigation Into FCPS Abortion Claims Finished — “Allegations that a Fairfax County school social worker facilitated student abortions are untrue, Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a letter to Centreville High School families on Friday.” A finished investigation reaffirmed initial findings that determined “the allegations to be … based on statements that were ‘misinterpreted, mistranslated, taken out of context, or in some cases knowingly fabricated.'” [WTOP]

Forum Held for Democratic Primary Candidates — Candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for today’s 39th Senate District firehouse primary “fielded several questions during a packed public forum [last night], with topics ranging from the primary’s scheduling to affordability, right-to-work and more.” [ALXnow]

Feedback Wanted on Trash Districts — “The Board of Supervisors in August deferred action on a proposal for Unified Sanitation Districts (USDs) to evaluate alternative options. The USD concept has now resurfaced, and the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services has scheduled two meetings to solicit feedback.” [Annandale Today]

Community Members Share Boundary Change Concerns — “Dozens of parents and students in Fairfax County were up early Saturday morning at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia, to express their concerns over proposed school boundary changes … FCPS leaders say the boundary changes would address overcrowding and reduce the amount of split feeder schools.” [NBC4]

Traffic Stop Leads to Gun and Drug Charges — “Three men from Alexandria are facing charges after a traffic stop led to the seizure of firearms and the discovery of narcotics distribution evidence, police said.” Patrol officers initially pulled over a car near Russell Road and Norwood Drive on Jan. 6 “for having a loud, modified exhaust.” [DC News Now]

Local ‘Quad God’ Secures Olympics Spot — “Vienna-based figure skater ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin will head to next month’s Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, U.S. Figure Skating announced Sunday. The news comes after Malinin spun more gold on Saturday night at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Falls Church Grocery Schedules Opening — “Grocery Outlet, the replacement for a shuttered small-format Target store at 500 S. Washington Street, plans to open on Feb. 12, the company announced in a press release today (Monday). This will be Grocery Outlet’s first store in Virginia, but it’s expected to ‘kick off a series of openings across the state,’ the press release says.” [ARLnow]

Retired Capitals Star Sells McLean Home — “Nicklas Backstrom ditched the DC area for his native Sweden last year, capping a 17-season career as a center for the Washington Capitals. In April, he listed his ritzy McLean mansion for sale at $14.99 million … The property sold on Wednesday for $11 million.” [Washingtonian]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 50, along with a calm wind turning south at 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. At night, the sky will be mostly cloudy, accompanied by a low around 40. A southwest wind will blow at 8 to 11 mph, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph. [NWS]

Fatal Fairfax County Parkway Crash — “According to Fairfax County Police, officers responded [on Jan. 10] to a fatal crash at Fairfax County Parkway and Huntsman Boulevard in Springfield. Police said the driver, an adult female, was pronounced deceased at the scene.” [FOX5]

Survey Shows Child Care Challenges — “Virginia’s employers say the lack of affordable, high-quality child care is hurting businesses, with 88% of survey respondents reporting employee lateness or absences, and 65% reporting reduced work hours, according to results published last month by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, the Richmond Fed and the Virginia Chamber Foundation.” [Virginia Mercury]

Drone Helps With Crisis at Fair Oaks Mall — “After receiving multiple reports of a man armed with a bow and arrow threatening people outside the mall, police activated a drone as part of its Drone as First Responder initiative.” The drone showed the man was only holding a stick while experiencing a mental health crisis, so officers could “dial down their response,” Police Chief Kevin Davis told ABC 7News. [Patch]

Tysons Company Moves HQ to Alexandria — “A financial planning firm headquartered in Tysons Corner will soon be relocating to Old Town. Pillar Wealth Partners will embark on its next chapter when it opens in the Atrium Building at 277 S. Washington Street on Feb. 1. An office warming and ribbon cutting will be held Feb. 10 to celebrate.” [ALXnow]

Smoothie Cafe Under Construction — “A Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe is coming to a long-vacant building in Bailey’s Crossroads. Fairfax County issued a building permit for a commercial addition/alteration for the property at 5807 Leesburg Pike on Jan. 1, stating the tenant will be Bora Bora.” The manager at the Tysons location told FFXnow the Bailey’s Crossroads one is expected to open in a couple of months. [Annandale Today]

Sports Card Shop Owner Retired From Pentagon Police — Before opening Goatz Sports Cardz in Herndon on Jan. 3, owner Bryan Janick served for four years in the Marine Corps and 12 years with the Pentagon police. While he had been a sports card collector since he was a kid, he “got back into it, hard core” during the pandemic and “jumped at the chance” to retire and open his own store when the Trump administration began offering “deferred retirement options” last year. [Washington Business Journal]

Vienna Wawa Paid With Prop Bill — A customer at Wawa in Vienna paid for a purchase “using a fake bill that was marked ‘Movie Prop Use Only'” on Jan. 4, police say. “The man later returned to the store, stating that he realized he had paid with a fake bill, and he wanted to pay for his earlier purchase. The store did not suffer any monetary loss, and the fake bill was turned over to the police department.” [Vienna Police]

Reston Represented at Capitals Youth Hockey Night — “On Jan. 3, the Capitals hosted Youth Hockey Night ahead of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena, part of Youth Hockey Weekend in the nation’s capital region. Reston was represented at Washington Capitals Youth Hockey Day by … Stephen Reider, a Herndon–South Lakes varsity high school player, and Paxton Worthy, a 14U player from the Reston Raiders.” [Reston Letter]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs reaching around 46 degrees, accompanied by west winds at about 8 mph that will shift southwest later in the afternoon. The night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to about 31 degrees; southwest winds around 6 mph will become calm as the evening progresses. [NWS]