morning notes

Man Detained by ICE Previously Charged in Fairfax — “Federal agents and D.C. police detained a man along the National Mall as he cried and screamed for help on Wednesday afternoon.” The man had been charged with sex crimes in Fairfax County in January, but Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano says the charges were dropped after the victim and her mother, whose cooperation was critical to the case, declined to move forward. [NBC4]

McLean Woman Dies From Beltway Fall — “A 36-year-old Virginia woman died Wednesday night after falling from an overpass on the outer loop of the Beltway near MacArthur Boulevard and Clara Barton Parkway in Bethesda, Maryland State Police said Thursday morning in a press release. State police are investigating the incident and have identified the woman who died as Madina Rhine of McLean, Virginia. The release did not state why or how Rhine fell.” [Bethesda Today]

Richmond Overtaking N. Va. in Data Center Growth — “The Richmond region is becoming the fastest-growing data center market in the country … Northern Virginia’s ‘Data Center Alley’ being close to capacity is driving developers south, according to a report this month from real estate services firm Avison Young.” [Axios Richmond]

Brothel Charge Against Spa Dropped — Fairfax County prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor charge of “keeping, residing in, or frequenting a bawdy place” against a massage spa in West Falls Church on Tuesday (Aug. 19) as part of a plea agreement. The business pleaded guilty to operating a massage parlor without a license, a violation that carries a $500 fine, but police say it “remains under active investigation.” [Washington Examiner]

Court Rejects Felon Voting Rights Case — “The Fourth Circuit rejected a challenge to Virginia’s singular voting rights restoration process Tuesday, ruling the system isn’t a licensing scheme subject to scrutiny under a First Amendment doctrine. George Hawkins, convicted as a minor of attempted murder and aggravated malicious wounding in 2010, challenged the system after Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin declined to restore his voting rights in 2023.” [Courthouse News Service]

Poll Finds Support for Housing Reform — “A survey of about 1,300 Virginia voters found that the vast majority of respondents — about 73% — believe that the state lacks enough homes that people can afford to rent or buy.” A majority of Northern Virginia respondents showed support for building affordable housing, allowing homes on smaller lots, capping rent increases for older properties and other legislative changes. [ARLnow]

Tysons VC Firm to Fund Veterans-Led Startups — “Investment firm Veteran Ventures Capital has raised $60 million to deploy equity investments into more than a dozen defense and civilian technology startup companies in the next few years.” The firm, which moved its headquarters from Tennessee to The Boro in April 2024, is looking to support companies involved in space, drones, robotics, cybersecurity, computing, and A.I. and machine learning. [Washington Business Journal]

Reston Town Center Hosts Back-to-School Bash — “BXP, Ted’s Bulletin and Shake Shack in Reston Town Center will be hosting a Back-to-School Bash on Saturday.” Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the pavilion, the event will include live performances, arts and crafts, a Children’s Entrepreneur Market, giveaways, information about educational programs and more. [Patch]

It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of around 83°F and a gentle north wind at about 6 mph. The night will be clear, and temperatures will dip to around 62°F, accompanied by a southeast wind blowing at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]

How Medicaid Changes Could Affect Va. — “Three major changes will land especially hard in Virginia, some experts believe. Modeling from KFF, an independent health research group, suggests that Virginia could lose just over a fifth of the Medicaid funding it currently receives from the federal government over the next ten years — one of the steepest reductions faced by any state in the country.” [WAMU]

Clifton Man Charged With Seeking Sex From Minors — “On July 5, at 12:45 a.m., officers responded to the 13000 block of Laurel Rock Drive in Clifton for a sex offense report. The complainant reported that the two juvenile victims were walking when a suspect approached them and solicited sexual acts.” A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child. [FCPD]

Federal Grant for Addiction Recovery Nonprofit Cut — “Ginny Atwood, co-founder of The Chris Atwood Foundation, said she recently learned a multiyear, $200,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services has been ‘wiped out overnight.’ It was COVID-related funding, Atwood said.” The nonprofit fears it could “potentially lose” its recovery community center in Fairfax if it isn’t able to replace the lost funding. [WTOP]

D.C. Marketing Agency Moving to Fairfax — “SweetScience Marketing is relocating its local operations from The Wharf in D.C. to the Mason Enterprise Center in Fairfax. The move for the tech-forward marketing agency is being supported by a grant from Fairfax City Economic Development.” The company anticipates moving into its new office at 10300 Eaton Place in the redeveloping WillowWood Plaza by Oct. 1. [Washington Business Journal]

GMU Catholic Chapel Addition Proposed — “The Catholic Diocese of Arlington recently filed a special permit amendment application with Fairfax County, seeking approval to build an addition to the chapel that serves students at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.” The new space for the St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel would be used for offices and meeting rooms. [Patch]

End in Sight for Columbia Pike Roadwork — “Years of construction on Columbia Pike are finally nearing a conclusion, with county staff targeting ‘substantial completion’ by the end of this year.” Improvements include “wider sidewalks, street trees, new streetlights and better traffic signals,” including a new one at the S. Rolfe Street intersection near the pike’s east end. [ARLnow]

Reston Count Finds Uptick in Dragonflies — “The unusually pleasant August weather helped provide nice results and certainly kept the volunteers from fatiguing early. The final tally was 721 individuals from 16 species of dragonflies. For the last fifteen years, the average individual count has been around 440 dragonflies. The last time the count exceeded 700 was in 2020.” [Reston Association]

Art Installations to Beautify Annandale — “Two noteworthy art experiences will hit Annandale in the next couple of weeks. A new Artopolis show at Beanetics highlights stunning mixed-media and collage works by Theresa Martin, while renowned DC Comics artist Matt Johnston applies his mural skills to Flavor Hive, our new hot dining spot.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 20% chance of showers both before noon and after 1pm, accompanied by a cloudy sky and a high near 76 degrees. At night, clouds will gradually clear to become partly cloudy, and the temperature will dip to a low of around 64 degrees. [NWS]

Hurricane Could Affect Virginia Coast — “Hurricane Erin will pass well offshore the Mid-Atlantic but close enough to generate strong winds and dangerous seas and surf for Virginia, Maryland and Delaware beaches, particularly Wednesday and Thursday. Conditions may remain perilous into the weekend … and many beaches are already closed.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Va. Lawmakers Consider Regulating Chatbots — “As more Virginians turn to artificial intelligence for simple tasks or even companionship, lawmakers are exploring policy ideas to address how AI chatbots are influencing residents’ health and well-being, as well as their privacy and security.” The General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) heard an overview of the technology and potential policy concerns on Monday (Aug. 18). [Virginia Mercury]

11th District Candidates Discuss Priorities — “Congressional candidates James Walkinshaw (D) and Stewart Whitson (R) clashed on Medicaid cuts, immigration, tariffs, crime, and much more in an online forum hosted by the League of Women Voters on Aug. 18.” [Annandale Today]

Poll Shows Tightening Governor’s Race — “Democrat Abigail Spanberger holds a 7-point lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the race for Virginia governor, according to a new Roanoke College Poll that shows the contest tightening since the spring … The numbers mark a closer race than in May, when Roanoke’s poll showed Spanberger ahead 43%-26%.” [Virginia Mercury]

Petition Seeking Transgender Girls Ban Accepted — “The Virginia State Board of Health unanimously voted Monday to accept a petition that could lead to regulations banning transgender girls and women from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.” The petition filed by three college swimmers, also called for trans girls and women to be barred from spaces “where females are likely to be in any state of undress.” [WTVR]

New Security Scanners Coming to DCA — “CLEAR and the TSA are piloting biometric ‘eGates’ at three major U.S. airports ahead of a nationwide rollout, the identity verification company told Axios exclusively.” The gates, which will be deployed at Reagan National Airport next week, use “real-time biometric verification, matching a traveler’s face to their ID and boarding pass.” [Axios]

GMU Hires Former Governor — “The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University welcomes former Virginia governor Robert F. (Bob) McDonnell to the faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice … McDonnell served as the 71st governor of Virginia from 2010 to 2014.” [GMU]

NOVA Senior Olympics Accepting Athletes — “The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics are set for September 13 to 28, marking the 43rd year of the regional games that celebrate health, competition, and community among older adults. Registration is open now through August 29, and organizers expect more than 1,100 participants, a turnout that would make it the largest in the event’s history.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Expect patchy showers and possible thunderstorms after 2pm, with clouds gradually clearing to mostly sunny skies and a high near 85°F. Precipitation chances stand at 30%. At night, skies will be mostly cloudy with a low around 70°F. [NWS]

Watch for Returning Students — “As students across Fairfax County head back to school on Monday, August 18, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) encourages families and community members to participate in Walk, Bike & Ride to School Safely Day. Whether students walk, bike, ride the bus, or are dropped off, their safety starts with all of us.” [FCPD]

Va. National Guard to Deploy — “About 60 Virginia National Guard members will be deployed around the state as early as September to support immigration enforcement agents … Immigrant advocacy groups, including Ayuda — which provides legal, social and language access services to low-income immigrants in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — have condemned Youngkin’s plan.” [VPM News]

Teen Reported Missing Found Dead — An 18-year-old who was last seen driving in the 9500 block of Old Creek Drive around 6 a.m. on Saturday (Aug. 16) “was found deceased in another jurisdiction,” police said yesterday (Sunday). “Our thoughts are with his friends and family. No foul play is suspected.” [FCPD/X]

NOVA Parks Chooses New Leader — “Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson has been selected as the next executive director of NOVA Parks, the regional park authority announced Friday.” He will officially assume the role “beginning Oct. 6, succeeding Paul Gilbert, who announced his retirement in April after 20 years leading the organization.” [ALXnow]

Mars to Introduce ‘Natural’ Dyes for Candy — “McLean-based food and pet care company Mars Inc., Greater Washington’s largest private company, will … release natural-dye options for its M&M’s, Skittles, Starburst and Extra Gum Spearmint products” starting in 2026. The company made the announcement on July 24, shortly after leaders met with Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, but it hasn’t committed to a timeline for phasing out artificial dyes yet. [Washington Business Journal]

Menswear Store to Open in Falls Church — “Withered Fig, an online menswear retailer, is coming to Falls Church in 2026 … This will be Withered Fig’s first brick-and-mortar location. The new storefront will be located in West Falls at the base of The Oak at West Falls.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Rec Center Pools Temporarily Close — “Projects at Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers will result in temporary closures for pools and spas.” In addition to the Franconia facility’s previously reported closure, the pools at the Oakmont, Audrey Moore, Cub Run, George Washington and Spring Hill rec centers will shut down for varying periods to allow repairs and system maintenance. [FCPA]

McLean Native Develops Resale App — “When McLean, Virginia native Sophia Kianni and her roommate Phoebe Gates (yes, that Gates) asked their classmates at Stanford University if they shopped secondhand, they were shocked to see only two people raise their hands … Kianni and Gates came up with an idea for an app that compares prices on items across many retailers and secondhand shopping sites.” [NBC4]

It’s Monday — Showers are most likely between 2pm and 5pm, with cloudy skies and a high temperature near 79°F. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. For Monday night, expect another chance of showers mainly after 8pm, mostly cloudy conditions, and a low temperature around 68°F. [NWS]

Reston Row Bakery Now Open — “Tous Les Jours, a French-Asian bakery café chain, has officially opened its doors in The Row at Reston Station … Opening [Thursday] at 1800 Reston Row with a soft launch at 10:00 AM, the bakery is now serving customers daily as the team prepares for a grand opening celebration in September featuring special promotions and giveaways.” [Comstock]

Mold Reported at Hayfield School — Parents and students who recently returned to Hayfield Secondary School for band practice and other activities saw they encountered mold and visible water damage. One parent says they were told that the school’s drains got backed up during heavy rain over the summer, but she feels efforts to dry out the building with fans and air purifiers were inadequate. [NBC4]

Top Issues in Va. Governor’s Race — “Recent polling shows Virginia voters are heading into the 2025 governor’s race with three issues top of mind: The cost of living, reproductive rights and immigration …  Some voter priorities have already majorly shifted from a VCU Wilder School poll earlier this year, which suggests that Virginians are reacting to real-time pressures.” [Axios Richmond]

Police Investigate Indecent Exposure — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are asking for the community’s help to identify a suspect believed to be responsible for an indecent exposure. “On August 7, shortly after 9:00 a.m., officers responded to Sprague Avenue and Hammersmith Lane in Oakton” after someone reported seeing a man “masturbating” nearby. [FCPD]

Udvar-Hazy Adds Fighter Jet to Collection — “A McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle arrived at the National Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly [on Aug. 13], where it will become part of the museum’s permanent exhibit.” The first fighter plane of its kind to be acquired by the Smithsonian, the F-15C Eagle was introduced “in the early 1970s, when the Air Force was looking to improve its air-to-air combat capabilities,” a curator said. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Falls Church Settles on Possible Trash Fees — “After nearly two hours of trash talk, Falls Church City Council leaders have settled on two potential options for funding future garbage collection and recycling services.” Council members decided to advertise two possible fee structures: charge households $292 per year for a 35-gallon bin and $327 for a 65-gallon bin, or $236 and $336, respectively. [ARLnow]

Firefighters Hand Out School Supplies — Yesterday, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department “hosted its annual Backpack and School Supply Distribution at FS11, Penn Daw. Firefighters, retirees, and volunteers worked together to distribute 1,600 backpacks filled with school supplies to families, schools, and nonprofits throughout the county. A huge thank you to all who helped make the event a success!” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Park Volunteer Award Winners Revealed — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards, recognizing exceptional service and contributions to the county’s parks, natural and cultural resources and recreational opportunities. The awardees will be honored during a recognition ceremony on Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — There’s a 30% chance of rain, with possible showers between noon and 2pm, followed by potential showers after 2pm. Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 88. Friday night holds a 20% chance of showers before 11pm. The night will be partly cloudy with a low of 72. [NWS]

Virginia Loses Solar Power Funding — “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Virginia $156 million last year through Solar for All, a $7 billion program launched under the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s signature climate legislation.” After the Trump administration announced last week that it’s canceling the grant funding, Virginia Energy confirmed that it received a termination notice and removed the program’s webpage. [WHRO]

Firefighters Injured in Springfield House Fire — A two-alarm house fire in the 5900 block of Amherst Avenue on July 27 was caused by an “electrical event” on the home’s patio, the Office of the Fire Marshal found. Two firefighters and one resident were treated for injuries, and two pets were found dead inside the home. The fire resulted in an estimated $697,986 in property damages. [FCFRD]

N. Va. Hit Hardest by Federal Worker Cuts — The D.C. region has shed roughly “20,000 federal government jobs so far this year while federal government contracts and grants procured by companies in the region fell by $1.7 billion or 13% since the start of the year, according to CBRE’s research.” Northern Virginia saw the biggest drop in federal employment, while contract and grant terminations have especially shaken suburban Maryland. [Washington Business Journal]

Beyer Primary Challenger Emerges — “Former Alexandria City Councilman Mohamed “Mo” Seifeldein announced Tuesday to reporters that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, challenging five-term incumbent Rep. Don Beyer and positioning himself as a voice for economic change.” [ALXnow]

Fairfax City Police Chief Sworn In — “Raul Pedroso, Fairfax City’s new chief of police, was sworn in Monday during a ceremony at the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center, which is located just across the parking lot from police headquarters.” Formerly an assistant police chief in Alexandria City, he took over from interim chief Capt. Natalie Hinesley after former Chief Erin Schaible retired. [Patch]

No More Flights to New Delhi — “Air India … is pulling out of Dulles International Airport as it suspends nonstop service to New Delhi next month despite recent passenger growth along the route.” Set to end on Sept. 1, the three-times-a-week route is the only nonstop option between the D.C. region and the Indian subcontinent. The airline says the change was needed due to a $400 million process to update some of its Boeing aircraft and Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian carriers. [WBJ]

Pro Women’s Baseball League Holds Tryouts — “The first women’s professional baseball league in more than 70 years is hosting historic tryouts in D.C. next week … Women’s pro sports are surging nationwide — and the new Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is among the few with DMV ties.” [Axios DC]

It’s Thursday — Expect showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 89. Light northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. On Thursday night, a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, followed by a slight possibility of showers until 2am. Partly cloudy skies with a low around 73 and light, variable winds. [NWS]

Va. National Guard to Train With ICE — “The Virginia National Guard says solders will begin training with Immigration and Customs Enforcement later this month. In a statement, the Guard said the soldiers will deploy with ICE in early September to ‘provide administrative and logistics support’ to the federal agency.” [WVTF]

White House to Review Smithsonian — “The White House is ordering a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country’s 250th birthday with a goal of aligning the institution’s content with President Donald Trump’s interpretation of American history.” The eight museums subject to the initial review include the National Air and Space Museum, whose Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly. [Associated Press]

Fairfax Man Charged in Fatal Crash — “A Fairfax driver has been charged in a crash killing a motorcyclist and injuring two others in Nokesville Monday, according to Prince William County Police.” An 18-year-old driver of a 2012 Mazda 5 has been charged with reckless driving for allegedly failing to yield the right of way on a left turn, which caused a motorcyclist to crash into a Jeep Wrangler. [Patch]

Dems Push for Indigenous People’s Day — “State Democrats plan to make Indigenous People’s Day an official holiday in Virginia and will discuss the proposal in the next legislative session in January, a state delegate said over the weekend. The measure could face opposition from Republicans and others because it would mean replacing Columbus Day.” [Virginia Mercury]

Beyer Clashes With DHS — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security “publicly criticized U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D) in a press release after he visited Farmville Detention Center on Friday. It accused him of prioritizing detainees with criminal convictions over crime victims.” Beyer’s spokesperson responded with criticism of the conditions at the immigration detention center. [ARLnow]

Arrest Made in 7-Eleven Robberies — “A man being held without bond in the Alexandria jail faces robbery charges for allegedly walking into convenience stores in Alexandria and Fairfax County with a hammer or tire iron and stealing cigarettes from behind the counters.” [ALXnow]

Changes to Expect in New School Year — “It’s back-to-school season already, and many NoVA families will notice some significant changes.” For Fairfax County Public Schools, notable changes will include an expansion of weapons scanners to all high and middle schools, new cell phone restrictions, and additional speed cameras. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Free Car Wash for School Workers — “In celebration of the start of the new school year, Mr Wash Car Wash is offering free car washes for all school employees on Thursday, Aug. 14 at all of its Northern Virginia locations, including the Mr Wash Car Wash at 8218 Leesburg Pike in Tysons.” [Patch]

It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a high temperature around 89°F. The 60% chance of precipitation declines to 40% at night, with showers and thunderstorms possible before 2am. Anticipate a mostly cloudy evening with the temperature dropping to around 73°F. [NWS]

Lawmakers Criticize Trump Move on D.C. — “Alexandria’s congressional delegation joined a chorus of regional lawmakers Monday condemning President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize Washington D.C.’s police department and deploy National Guard troops, with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine calling the move a ‘waste of taxpayer dollars’ designed to distract from other issues.” [ALXnow]

Virginia Shares Personal SNAP Info — “The Virginia Department of Social Services is sharing the personal information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants with the federal government, a VDSS spokesperson confirmed to VPM News Friday.” Names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses and other data were requested in May by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump. [VPM News]

Reston Man Sentenced on Child Porn Charges — “A 52-year-old Virginia man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 188 months in prison on child pornography charges, according to court records.” The man pleaded guilty in April to possessing hundreds of videos and images that were found on his phone by police, who arrested him at Dulles International Airport last year. [Patch]

Amtrak Hits Record Ridership — “Amtrak Virginia’s ridership numbers continue to show increases, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. Ending fiscal year 2025, more than 1.4 million passengers traveled on state supported rail service — an increase of 4.8% compared to the same time last year.” [Virginia Mercury]

Inova to Add Hospice Care — “Falls Church’s Inova Health System has teamed up with a Baltimore-area hospice and palliative care provider to bring its end-of-life services into Northern Virginia.” Expected to begin in early 2026, the new service from Gilchrist Hospice Care will be available to patients in Inova’s hospitals and senior living facilities as well as their own homes, addressing “an unmet need” in a region where 18% of the population is older than 60. [Washington Business Journal]

Cheese Shop Coming to Falls Church — “Contractors are currently building the storefront for The Cheese Cartel at 922 W. Broad Street, founder Alyssa Romashko told ARLnow. The new small business plans to carry a rotating selection of meats, cheeses, wines and bread.” [ARLnow]

Vienna Baker Frosts Cupcake Delights — “Adam Wald, a Giant associate for eight years, has captured the hearts of the Vienna community with his elaborate pull-apart cupcake creations. Wald transforms simple treats into dinosaurs, dragons, unicorns, and firetrucks. What started as a small creative experiment during the pandemic has grown into a full-blown bakery sensation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect patchy fog to clear by 8am, making way for partly sunny skies and a high near 91. A calm wind will pick up from the south around 6 mph in the afternoon. As for Tuesday night, it’ll be partly cloudy with a low of 74, and the south wind will continue at around 6 mph. [NWS]

Free Advice on Fighting Mosquitoes — “In Fairfax County, Virginia, the health department is working to ‘fight the bite’ of mosquitoes by visiting residents’ homes and providing advice on how to reduce the pests. Through Fairfax County’s free inspection program, Andy Lima visits homes and scours the property for mosquito havens.” [NBC4]

Man Dies After Jumping From High-Rise — “A man died Friday morning after jumping from a 15th-floor balcony while FBI agents were attempting to serve a criminal arrest warrant at the Alexander Apartments on King Street.” A neighbor told NBC4 that he “woke to the sound of banging” and shouts of “FBI” before hearing someone running and shouting “No! Don’t!” [ALXnow]

Clifton House Fire Extinguished — Fairfax County firefighters responded Saturday (Aug. 9) to “a house fire in the 13000 blk of Sturno Drive in the Clifton area of Fairfax County. Units arrived with fire showing from a rear deck attached to the home. Crews were able quickly extinguish the fire preventing any extension to the home. No firefighter or civilian injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Dollar Tree Opening New Fairfax Store — “The new Dollar Tree store coming to the Shops at Fairfax/Boulevard Center is hiring sales associates and has hung a ‘Grand Opening’ sign … Located at 10700 Fairfax Blvd., the new Dollar Tree will be located adjacent to Panera Bread in the storefront formerly occupied by Party City.” [Patch]

Potomac River Water Supply Doing Well — “Above average rainfall in the area in May, June and July is contributing to the positive outlook and resulted in the drought watch for our area being dropped in late June, after being in place for more than a year … The seasonal outlook calls for a continued likelihood of above-normal rainfall.” [WTOP]

Metrobus Riders Weigh in on Changes — “The 51st heard about how it’s going from more than 30 bus riders who shared their experiences with the new system. The verdict? Well, it’s mixed. While some commuters say they’ve benefited from new connections and more frequent service, others say the overhaul has involved more confusion than clarity.” [The 51st]

Annandale Bowling Alley to Rebrand — “The Bowlero bowling alley in Annandale will soon be renamed Lucky Strike. The change follows the move by the Bowlero Corp. last December to rebrand as Lucky Strike Entertainment, reflecting its expanded mission to offer more than traditional bowling.” [Annandale Today]

Police Academy Welcomes New Recruits — On Friday (Aug. 8), “Assistant Chief Eli Cory welcomed 51 recruits at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, marking the start of their 25-week basic training and the initiation of their careers in law enforcement … Session 90 includes a diverse group of recruits and is comprised of individuals from all walks of life.” [FCPD]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures peaking at around 88°F, accompanied by calm winds that will gradually shift to the southeast at around 6 mph in the afternoon. Towards Monday night, the sky will remain predominantly clear with lows settling at roughly 71°F and south winds blowing at a gentle 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]