Park space for the Parker development near Huntington Metro Station (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Cases of Viral Disease Rising — “Over the last two months, there has been an increase in the number of people seeking emergency care for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), especially involving young children, ages 0 to 4-year-olds in Fairfax County.” The Fairfax Health District has seen six outbreaks of the viral disease so far this year, including five reported within the past two months. [Fairfax County Health Department]

Agriculture Dept. Moving D.C.-Area Jobs — “The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will relocate about 2,600 jobs out of the D.C. area and vacate the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center building in Prince George’s County. The positions are more than half of the agency’s workforce in the region,” where about 4,600 employees live. [NBC4]

Washington Gas Bills to Go Up — “The utility said in a statement to customers that due to above-average temperatures from October 2024 to May 2025, it collected lower revenues than approved by the State Corporation Commission. Therefore, Washington Gas said, the utility will be collecting additional charges from Virginia customers during the billing months of August, September and October.” [WTOP]

Virginia Braces for Medicaid Changes — “As Virginia lawmakers heard from state health officials Wednesday about potential effects of federal healthcare funding changes approved by Congress earlier this month, it became clear to Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News: ‘we at this time do not have a true sense of what we’re up against.'” Virginia Medicaid Director Cheryl Roberts said the 600,000-plus people who became eligible for Medicaid starting in 2018 will be most affected. [Virginia Mercury]

‘Walking Taco’ Eatery Now Open — “Flavor Hive, the beloved food truck that turned heads with its viral walking taco, is officially opening its first brick-and-mortar location [Thursday] in Annandale.” Located at 4260 John Marr Drive, the restaurant serves Mexican and Middle Eastern-style food, such as “quesadillas, loaded fries, rice bowls, pita pouches, pita melts, and falafel pieces.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Medical Office Buildings Acquired — “Chicago’s Remedy Medical Properties and Los Angeles-based Kayne Anderson Real Estate recently acquired eight medical office buildings in Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria.” The sales include the Children’s National Health System building (3023 Hamaker Court) in Fairfax, Prosperity Medical Center (8501, 8503 and 8505 Arlington Blvd) in Merrifield, Woodburn Medical Park (8289-99 Woodburn Road) in Annandale, and Metro Park III (6354 Walker Lane) in Springfield. [Washington Business Journal]

New Athletic Field for Annandale School — “Sixteen years after the Westminster School purchased an adjoining property on Gallows Road in Annandale, it’s clearing the site for a full-size athletic turf field. The field will be used for soccer, lacrosse, and softball. Tree clearing is expected to be done next week, and the field should be completed in January 2026, says Nancy Schuler, head of the highly acclaimed private school.” [Annandale Today]

Registration Coming for Fall Camps and Classes — “Registration for FCPA classes opens Tuesday, July 29 at 9 a.m. Don’t wait, explore the full lineup today at by visiting the Parktakes website. Register by Aug. 8 and save $8.” The Fairfax County Park Authority will also host camps for kids throughout the fall on topics from sports to the performing arts. [FCPA]

It’s Friday — There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2pm and 5pm. Despite increasing clouds, temperatures will reach a scorching high of 98 with a heat index up to 106. Friday night, more precipitation is possible before 7pm, followed by partly cloudy conditions and a low of 77. [NWS]


A temporary Patrick Henry Library is now open at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

D.C. Leads Nation in Traffic — A new report from Consumer Affairs has ranked D.C. as the city with the worst traffic in the U.S., putting it above Los Angeles, which previously held the no. 1 spot. “The average commute to work in DC is 33.4 minutes — the longest in the U.S. On an average weekday, traffic congestion lasts more than 6.5 hours. That’s the equivalent of spending 71 days in traffic each year.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

GMU Professors Criticize Board — “A group of George Mason University professors declared that the Board of Visitors had failed to defend President Gregory Washington and the institution from political attacks in a vote of no confidence.” The vote was “overwhelmingly approved” by the GMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors (GMU-AAUP) as the university faces a series of investigations launched by the Trump administration. [Virginia Mercury]

More Data on ICE Arrests — “Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of people without criminal charges or convictions have jumped in D.C., Virginia and Maryland … In Virginia and D.C., people without criminal charges or convictions made up an average of 60% of daily ICE arrests in early June, per agency data obtained by the UC Berkeley School of Law’s Deportation Data Project.” [Axios DC]

Man Wanted for Hit-and-Run Arrested — According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, a 29-year-old man was pulled over by deputies on Tuesday (July 22) after he was seen drifting out of his lane on I-95, forcing another driver to swerve to avoid a collision. Showing signs of intoxication, the man is wanted by Fairfax County on a felony hit-and-run charge and was previously convicted of a DUI in 2018, the sheriff’s office says. [DC News Now]

Metro Investigates Duplicate Charges — “It’s been about two months since Metro gave riders the option to pay by simply tapping a contactless credit card or using Apple Pay at the gates, but rider Tanya Lervik — who commutes from College Park to Gallery Place — recently noticed some strange charges on her credit card account … She quickly started wondering how she could have been charged on the credit card even though she only uses her SmarTrip to pay.” [NBC4]

Stream Restoration Underway — “A stream restoration project underway in Seven Corners is aimed at reducing erosion in the Long Branch stream within the Hollybrooke community, between Patrick Henry Drive and Arlington Boulevard … Work on the $1.3 million Patrick Henry Outfall Restoration Project started in June and is expected to be completed in September.” [Annandale Today]

Drug Maker Plans Va. Facility — “In a vote of confidence for Virginia’s growing life sciences sector, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced plans to build its largest drug manufacturing facility in the world somewhere in the commonwealth — marking the company’s single biggest investment ever.” The facility will be part of a planned $50 billion expansion in the U.S. for the U.K.-based company [Virginia Mercury]

Temporary Library Open in Vienna — A temporary Patrick Henry Library opened Monday (July 21) at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna, offering limited services with construction on a permanent library expected to begin this fall. Local officials welcomed the facility at 262C Cedar Lane SE with a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday (Wednesday) that included free samples from nearby Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream and an open house. [Fairfax County Public Library]

Free Trees Available for Planting — “Community-based organizations in Fairfax County can apply to receive free trees for planting on private properties, through a program by Fairfax County’s Urban and Community Forestry Division (UCFD) of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.” The program aims to increase tree coverage “in economically disadvantaged communities.” [DPWES]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 90 degrees, accompanied by a south wind of 3 to 8 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 74 degrees, and the south wind continuing at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]


The office building at
1660 International Drive and The Boro in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Medicaid Cuts Could Affect Hospitals — “Virginia hospitals will lose out on $26 billion over 14 years under changes to the Medicaid program in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law, according to new state estimates … The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates it will lead to 10 million fewer people with health insurance in 2034.” [Virginia Public Media]

Driver Killed in I-495 Crash Identified — “The Virginia State Police provided more information on the beltway crash on July 21 that resulted in the death of a driver … According to the VSP, five vehicles were involved, not four as initially reported. Suzzane K. Colbert, 60, of Arlington, the driver of a Scion XB, was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.” [Annandale Today]

Immigration Lawyer on ICE Arrests — Fairfax-based immigration lawyer Ofelia Calderón “says that since Donald Trump took office for his second presidential term in January, she has had about the same number of clients but she’s getting a lot more calls from clients in ‘drastic situations.'” She advises documenting everything if people see ICE agents in their neighborhood. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Lawsuit Challenges Felon Voting Ban — “In a high-stakes voting rights battle with roots in the Reconstruction era, civil rights groups on Friday filed two new motions in a federal lawsuit that could restore voting rights to thousands of Virginians with felony convictions.” A bid for class-action status would expand the case’s impact beyond its plaintiffs to the “more than 300,000 Virginians who they say remain disenfranchised.” [Virginia Mercury]

Mental Health Center Opens — “On Tuesday, Dominion Hospital cut the ribbon on its new Fairfax Mental Health Assessment Center in Fairfax City, providing individuals ages 5 through adulthood with timely evaluations and care recommendations for free … Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., the Fairfax Mental Health Assessment Center is located at 10721 Main St., Suite 1300.” [Patch]

Parking Ticket Fight Leads to Charges — “A grand jury indicted a 29-year-old Virginia woman after she allegedly robbed a parking enforcement officer of their ticket machine in late June.” The Annandale woman allegedly took the D.C. officer’s machine after a “verbal altercation” over a ticket issued to her sister for not moving out of a “no parking zone.” [WJLA]

Fairfax City Economic Development Head to Leave — “After nearly a decade of leading Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED), Christopher Bruno will step down as CEO and Director in late August. Bruno will join New York Law School as its inaugural Chief of Economic Development Programs and Strategies and as a member of its Senior Leadership Team.” [FCED]

Tysons Contractor Boosts Startups — “McLean, Virginia-based government contracting giant Booz Allen Hamilton has tripled its commitment to investing in promising startup companies, specifically in cybersecurity, defense and intelligence. Booz Allen Ventures, launched with $100 million in 2023, has invested in 17 startups to date.” [WTOP]

Bank Eyes N. Va. Expansion — “Powhatan-based, New Horizon Bank has hired two local bankers from M&T Bank to help build a book of business in Northern Virginia as it eyes a branch opening in the region in the next 12 to 18 months.” The company hasn’t identified a location yet but aims to draw “$20 million and $30 million in deposits and $50 million in loans” in the region over the next year with a primary focus on real estate deals. [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 87 degrees, accompanied by a calm wind that will shift to the southeast at 5 to 7 mph in the morning. On Wednesday night, the skies will be mostly clear as the temperature drops to around 69 degrees, with a south wind of 5 to 8 mph. [NWS]


Cyclist on the W&OD Trail heading toward Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Arrest in Bus Driver Assault — An 18-year-old man from Lorton was arrested in Loudoun County on Saturday (July 19) after police identified him as the passenger who allegedly assaulted a Fairfax Connector bus driver on July 8. The man has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding after the driver reportedly suffered serious, though not life-threatening, injuries. [FCPD]

IKEA Looking at Possible Chantilly Restaurant — “Swedish furniture company IKEA recently submitted a food permit application in Fairfax County noted as “IKEA Chantilly,” the Washington Business Journal reported. The application is for a 142-seat, full-service restaurant at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Dr. at the Dulles Expo Center.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Guilty Verdict for Deadly Propane Explosion — “A Loudoun County, Virginia, jury has found former propane service technician Roger Bentley guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the February 2024 home explosion that killed volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown … Prosecutors told jurors in closing arguments that Bentley’s ‘actions and failures to act’ caused the Feb. 16, 2024, explosion that killed Brown and injured 14 others.” [WTOP]

Lake Accotink Fix Likely Years Away — “Three studies are underway on Lake Accotink, but it’s going to be years before any action is taken to preserve the lake at a smaller size … The public got a chance to learn about those studies and talk to experts at an open house on July 19 at Kings Glen Elementary School in Springfield.” [Annandale Today]

Local Man Arrested on Drug Charges — “A 33-year-old man, formerly a resident of Alexandria, is being held without bond for multiple narcotics possession charges.” The man was arrested on drug possession charges in December, released on bond and then arrested again on June 11 after a worker at the UPS store in Annandale “reported to police that he was receiving packages of drugs, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.” [ALXnow]

Former Capitals Stars List McLean Homes — Newly retired Washington Capitals forward TJ Oshie and his family moved out of their McLean home, listed for $9.85 million, and returned to Minnesota on Sunday (July 20), the fan blog Russian Machine Never Breaks says. Meanwhile, longtime Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom has moved to his native Sweden and is looking to sell his McLean mansion for just under $12 million. [Washingtonian]

Fairfax Nonprofit Reopens Dental Clinic — Last Thursday (July 18), “the Lamb Center celebrated the grand re-opening and dedication of its on-site dental clinic, a critical resource that will provide compassionate, comprehensive dental health care to 100’s of vulnerable City of Fairfax residents — many of whom are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.” [Patch]

Seafood and Ramen Restaurants Open — “Sea Friend, a carryout-only establishment serving fully cooked seafood, has opened in the former Father & Son Seafood shop at Gunston Plaza in Lorton.” Also in the Route 1 corridor, Yi Do Ramen and Sushi opened June 26 at Belle View Shopping Center. It’s the second location for the Japanese restaurant, which can also be found in Tysons. [On the MoVe]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high of around 85 with a gentle northeast wind at 6 mph. Moving onto Tuesday night, the sky will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 68. The east wind at 6 mph will become calm as evening progresses. [NWS]

Correction: The man arrested on drug possession charges did not work for UPS as initially stated. The drugs were allegedly mailed to the Annandale store, and a worker there reported them to the police.


Pink crepe myrtle flowers in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

CD 11 Candidate Forum Scheduled — “The Reston Citizens Association is hosting an 11th Congressional District Forum featuring candidates James Walkinshaw (D) and Stewart Whitson (R) on Monday, July 28, at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. WJLA TV will be live-streaming the forum, which will be rebroadcast in the days following.” [Patch]

Change Name Back, Trump Tells Football Team — “President Donald Trump is threatening to hold up a new stadium deal for Washington’s NFL team if it does not restore its old name of the Redskins, which was considered offensive to Native Americans.” Whether Trump actually has any authority to hold up a stadium deal is unclear, seeing as President Joe Biden signed a bill in January transferring the land from the federal government to D.C. [Associated Press]

Watch for Road Closures — “Weather permitting, Popes Head Road (Route 654) will have one lane of alternating traffic via flagging just west of Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) Monday, July 21, through Thursday, July 24, for work related to the Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road interchange project.” A segment of Oakton Road will also be closed on those days for a drain pipe replacement. [VDOT]

Longstanding Pizzeria Closes — “Casa D’Mama Pizzaria, an Annandale mainstay for the past 45 years or so, appears to be permanently closed. The family-operated restaurant at 7406 Little River Turnpike specialized in New York-style pizza, subs, calzones, and Italian and Greek entrees.” [Annandale Today]

Dulles Greenway Toll Increase Denied — “The Supreme Court of Virginia has upheld the State Corporation Commission’s September 2024 decision denying a toll increase for the Dulles Greenway, the 14-mile stretch of roadway that links Leesburg to the Dulles International Airport … The court found that the rate increase was neither reasonable nor beneficial to drivers, according to a news release.” [WTOP]

Falls Church Domino’s Moving — “The only Domino’s in Falls Church will soon relocate to a shuttered bike shop, possibly making way for another pizzeria to set up shop.” The pizza chain is expected to move to the former Bike Club storefront at 438 S. Washington Street in mid-November, according to operations manager Himel Uddin. [ARLnow]

Falls Church Foodie Challenge Underway — “Get your passport ready. You’ll need it for the inaugural Greater Falls Church Foodie Trek taking place now through the end of August. The food challenge, held in a dozen local dining destinations, offers prizes and discounts if diners eat at participating restaurants.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Warehouses to Replace Fuel Tank Farm — “On a unanimous vote, the five members of the Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review approved a plan Wednesday night that will see two warehouse buildings replace 10 fuel tanks at the Pickett Road tank farm within the next two years.” Property owner Brookfield hopes to bring “Fortune 500 companies, like Target, like Walmart, and Pepsi” to the area, a legal representative said. [Patch]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 85°F and a northward wind at about 6 mph. In the evening, there will be clear skies, and temperatures will drop to around 66°F with a gentle northeastward breeze between 3 and 5 mph. [NWS]


Vehicles on Jermantown Road in Oakton after rain (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Two Injured in Tysons Crash — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded yesterday (Thursday) afternoon to “a two vehicle accident with one vehicle into a pole in the 8100 blk of Jones Branch Drive in Tysons. Crews arrived and assessed two patients. One patient was transported with non-life-threatening injuries.” [FCFRD/X]

House Fire in Franklin Farm — Firefighters were also dispatched yesterday to “a house fire in the 3000 blk of Jeannie Anna Ct in Herndon. Crews arrived to fire showing from an attached garage. The fire is under control. One occupant was transported for non-life-threatening injuries. No firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/X]

Summer Has Been Especially Humid — “Summers in Washington are known for their humidity, but this one ranks among the muggiest in recent decades … From June 1 through July 16, dew points in D.C. reached 70 or higher for 573 hours, second-most on record since 1945, only trailing 1994 (603 hours).” The 15 Flood Watches issued since May have also been the most that the region has seen in a three-month period since 2007. [Capital Weather Gang]

Dulles Airport Construction Hits Milestone — Construction crews were scheduled to “install the final steel beam for Concourse E on Thursday morning. Set to open in fall 2026, the new concourse will feature 14 gates, a United Airlines lounge, state-of-the-art restrooms, and direct AeroTrain access. It is expected to replace the aging C/D concourse.” [FOX5]

Ruling on Dominion Energy Plan — The State Corporation Commission ruled on Tuesday (July 15) that Dominion Energy’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan — which outlines how the utility intends to meet energy demands and emission reduction goals — is “legally sufficient,” but still raised concerns about its continued reliance on fossil fuels and spending plans that could “significantly impact” the monthly electric bills paid by residents and businesses. [Virginia Mercury]

Research Project Looks at Occoquan Water Supply — “The Occoquan Reservoir supplies water for a million people in Northern Virginia and right now, it exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant levels for potentially dangerous chemicals.” An Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory led by Virginia Tech professor Stanley Grant is investigating “how this group of chemicals, known as PFAS, keep showing up in the water supply.” [WTOP]

Falls Church Adds Outreach Specialist — “Falls Church has hired its first outreach specialist for the city’s Vietnamese communities. Following city leaders’ promises to improve engagement with Vietnamese-American residents and businesses, Le Nguyen, a veteran journalist with local ties, started work on July 10.” [ARLnow]

Park Authority Honors Volunteers — “On Thursday, July 10, the Fairfax County Government Center Ellipse came alive with music, gratitude, and community spirit during the Evening on the Ellipse celebration recognizing the 2025 Outstanding Volunteers and officially proclaiming July as National Park and Recreation Month in Fairfax County.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

It’s Friday — There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm today, with partly sunny skies and a high near 87. Tonight, the showers and thunderstorms might occur after 8pm, leading to mostly cloudy skies and a low around 73. A light southeast wind will accompany the 40% chance of precipitation. [NWS]


Water fountains in front of Plaza America office buildings (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Heat Advisory in Effect — “The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for … much of the D.C. area. Heat index values are expected to reach around 105 degrees Thursday, creating potentially hazardous conditions for outdoor activities.” Fairfax County has activated its emergency heat plan for the day, establishing cooling centers where people can find water and other supplies. [ARLnow]

GMU Students Concerned by Federal Probe — “When student Hanaan Kazia first heard about the federal civil rights probe into George Mason University, she wasn’t surprised. But the junior political science major and member of the school’s Political Science Honor Society says the implications still scare her.” Kazia and other students, faculty and lawmakers have spoken out in support of GMU, championing its diversity and calling the investigation “baseless and politically motivated.” [Virginia Mercury]

Contractor Moving to Reston Town Center — “Noblis has inked a lease to take virtually the entirety of 12050 Inspiration St., a roughly 90,000-square-foot office that is part of BXP Inc.’s Reston Next extension of Reston Town Center.” Starting in September 2027, the nonprofit will occupy 74,681 square feet, a “significant downsize compared to the 160,000-square-foot, two-building lease” signed a decade ago for its current headquarters at 2002 Edmund Halley Drive. [Washington Business Journal]

Great Falls Road to Temporarily Close — “Weather permitting, Walker Road (Route 681) will be closed to through traffic between Colvin Run Road (Route 743) and Georgetown Pike (Route 193) for two weeks due to work related to the Walker Road over Piney Run bridge replacement project.” The closure is scheduled to last from 10 p.m. this Friday (July 18) until 9 p.m. on Aug. 1, requiring drivers to take a detour. [VDOT]

Seven Corners Offices Sold — “The two high-rise office buildings at the Seven Corners intersection recently sold for 13 percent less than what they were acquired for six years ago, the Washington Business Journal reports. Sage Ventures bought the two 13-story office towers at 6400 and 6402 Arlington Blvd. from BoundTrain Real Estate in June for $33.7 million.” [Annandale Today]

Virginia Partners With Google on A.I. — Visiting the tech company’s Reston offices, “Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Tuesday that Google will partner with his administration to provide free and low-cost artificial intelligence certification courses to Virginians as part of his office’s ongoing effort to connect citizens to new jobs amid changes to the state’s economy.” [Associated Press]

Fliers Anxious After DCA Crash — “Ruffini and her cohort aren’t the only passengers experiencing emotional turbulence related to DCA. Following the midair collision over the Potomac River that claimed 67 lives, fliers shared with Washingtonian that they’re experiencing heightened flight anxiety — especially when it comes to traveling through Reagan National.” [Washingtonian]

Deadline to Pay Real Estate Taxes — Fairfax County has mailed bills for the first installment of this year’s real estate taxes, which are due July 28. “If you have not yet received your bill, you may find the taxes owed on our website. If you plan to pay via smartphone or online, you will need this year’s stub number from your real estate tax bill.” [Department of Tax Administration]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms starting around 5pm, accompanied by mostly sunny weather and a high near 95. The heat index may reach as high as 105, with a southwest wind around 10 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 77. [NWS]


Internal road blocked near Seasons 52 at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Parkway Speed Cameras in Full Effect — “Work zone speed cameras along Fairfax County Parkway between Popes Head Road and Burke Center Parkway are now live. Drivers who speed in the work zone will receive fines up to $100.” The speed limit in that stretch of road has been lowered to 45 mph while construction continues on multiple road widening projects. [Fairfax County Government/X]

Comstock Responds to Lawsuit — In a statement shared yesterday (Tuesday), Comstock Companies CEO Chris Clemente called allegations in the Town of Herndon’s lawsuit over the stalled downtown redevelopment project “inaccurate and without merit.” The developer says it was unable to meet deadlines imposed last year by the town, but remains interested in implementing the project or transferring the land to another developer. [FFXnow]

Lack of Information on Immigration Arrests — “While the governor’s office has described the 2,512 people arrested [in Virginia] as ‘violent criminals who are illegally in the United States,’ neither Youngkin’s office nor state or federal agencies involved in the operation have provided any documentation about those arrested to be able to verify who they are, what they were charged with or whether they’ve been deported.” [Virginian-Pilot]

Virginia Schools Remove Library Books — “Virginia school divisions are removing books from library shelves with minimal state guidance — in some cases, while incorrectly citing state law — according to a report issued by the General Assembly’s research arm Monday. Thirty-two school districts removed 223 books from libraries a combined 344 times between July 2020 and March 2025,” JLARC reported. [VPM]

Men Charged With Assaulting Police Officers — “City of Fairfax Police arrested two Fairfax men for assaulting a law enforcement officer in two separate incidents over the weekend, according to authorities. Around 4:50 p.m. on Saturday, officers were called to the Wawa at 9700 Blvd. for the report of a man harassing customers.” The other incident occurred on Sunday (July 16) during a traffic stop near Fairfax Blvd and Chain Bridge Road. [Patch]

New Pizzeria Coming to Lincolnia — “Pizzato Pizza, an Italian restaurant in Arlington, plans to open a second location on Little River Turnpike in Lincolnia next month. A sign on the storefront promises pasta, wings, Philly steaks, and salads, as well as pizza. The restaurant will be located in Landmark Plaza between Total Wine and Subway.” [Annandale Today]

ArtsFairfax Names New Board Chair — “ArtsFairfax, the local arts agency serving Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church … announces new members and new officers to its Board of Directors, including Michael Liberman as Board Chair.” Liberman worked for Fairfax County for over 33 years, retiring as director of the Department of Cable and Consumer Services and chair of the County Arts Committee in 2022. [ArtsFairfax]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5pm, with partly sunny skies and a high near 89. The heat index may reach 100. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation. At night, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 8pm, followed by mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 76. [NWS]


Sunlight peeking through clouds over Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Storm Floods Fairfax County Roadways — “In Fairfax County, Virginia, flash flooding and runoff caused creeks to spill over roadways, such as U.S. Route 50 between Prosperity Avenue and Cedar Lane.” Videos shared on social media showed drivers mired in high water in McLean and the frequently flooded Besley and Old Courthouse Road intersection in Wolf Trap. [WTOP]

More on Herndon v. Comstock Lawsuit — The Town of Herndon alleges in a complaint filed in Fairfax County Circuit Court last Friday (July 11) that Comstock Companies is declining to return the downtown property it was slated to redevelop in an effort to get the town to cover certain costs. The developer hasn’t responded to requests for comment. [FFXnow]

Va. Turns to A.I. to Reduce Regulations — “The new AI pilot, officials say, is a first-of-its-kind effort at the state level. The technology will comb through existing regulations and guidance documents to flag conflicting language, suggest clearer phrasing, and help agencies that haven’t already met” the 25% benchmark set by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. [Virginia Mercury]

N. Va. Economic Challenges Could Ripple Through State — “An office complex in Fairfax County recently changed hands, and taxpayers across rural Virginia ought to be alarmed … If Northern Virginia’s economy stalls, that’s less money to Richmond and less going out to rural localities, which means if those places want better schools, they’d have to raise their local taxes.” [Cardinal News]

Ramp Closures on I-66 — “Weather permitting, the I-66 and Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) interchange will have nighttime ramp closures for paving Tuesday night, July 15, through Thursday night, July 17, and Sunday night, July 20, through Wednesday night, July 23 … Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]

Local Couple Marries in Arlington Library — “Over the weekend, Fairfax couple Katie Lettie and Vincent Bauer exchanged vows inside the library after winning a contest for a free, all-inclusive wedding. And no, this wasn’t a private affair as hundreds of community members showed up to watch love take center stage between the stacks.” [WUSA9]

Costs Rise for Falls Church Road Project — “An 82% increase in estimated costs has led Falls Church officials to rethink plans to improve a key city byway. As a result, it appears likely that transportation and stormwater improvements along Lincoln Avenue will be phased in over time.” [ARLnow]

Area Teen Trains for American Ninja Warrior — “I was at Baron’s ninja gym — Vertex Labs Academy, a low-slung warehouse space in a Lorton industrial park — where he’d set up an obstacle course, a baby version of the ones on the show. There would be jumping and hanging and swinging and leaping. I wasn’t sure I could do any of it at all.” [Washingtonian]

It’s Tuesday — The weather will be mostly cloudy, reaching a high of approximately 87°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation. For Tuesday night, temperatures will drop to around 74°F under mostly cloudy skies, with a 60% chance of precipitation. [NWS]


Hills along Arlington Blvd approaching Nutley in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Task Force Deployed to Texas Floods — “Capt. Marc Campet, the search team leader with Virginia Task Force 1, is taking a search and rescue team from Fairfax and Montgomery counties to Texas to help after disastrous floods last weekend left over 120 people dead or missing … They left Friday evening and hoped to be ready to work Saturday morning.” [WTOP]

Federal Funding for FCPS Frozen — “Over $13 million in federal funding for Fairfax County Public Schools has been frozen while the U.S. Department of Education reviews the grants, a step that school leaders said could impact teachers and multilingual learners. Superintendent Michelle Reid said she learned about the funding freeze in a message from the Virginia state superintendent’s office this week.” [WTOP]

Vienna Killings Still a Mystery — “Imagining the final moments of Bobby and Patricia Quisenberry’s lives still haunts their son, Clint Quisenberry, 28 years later … Quisenberry said he saw his parents not long before police say they were killed in July 1997. Investigators believe they were shot sometime after midnight in a random attack and burglary at their Vienna, Virginia, home.” [NBC4]

Metro Buys New Railcars — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced Thursday that the agency has purchased hundreds of new 8000-series railcars that are expected to be delivered in the coming years … While announcing the purchase, WMATA shared details about the railcar design, including gangways, digital displays and more handholds.” [WUSA9]

Opioid Makers Settle Lawsuit — “In another major legal win in the fight against the opioid crisis, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Thursday that the commonwealth could receive up to $16.4 million as part of a sweeping $720 million multi-state settlement with eight generic drug manufacturers accused of flooding communities with addictive painkillers.” [Virginia Mercury]

Korean Cafe Now Open in Falls Church — “Semicolon Cafe, a small New York City-based chain that also offers classic cafe beverages and pastries, opened late last month at 103 Founders Avenue … The new cafe is Semicolon’s only Virginia location. Its previous location in a Chantilly food hall closed about a year and a half ago.” [ARLnow]

Local Business Owner Featured on TV Show — “Melissa Romano, co-owner of Nordic Knot Scandinavian Pretzels and Lake Anne Brew House in Reston, was recently featured on ‘The Blox: The Greatest Show On Entrepreneurship.’ Romano was one of the season seven cast members on the self-proclaimed ‘Largest Competition TV Show On The Planet For Startups.’ All eight episodes from season seven are available to view on BetaBlox, Prime, and Facebook.” [Patch]

Delayed Openings for Some Reston Pools — “North Shore Pool will open 1 hour late at 1:00pm on Tuesday, July 15th. Lake Newport Pool will open 5 hours late at 5:00pm on Wednesday, July 16th. Both of these delayed openings are to perform routine maintenance. We do not anticipate these times to change.” [Reston Association/Facebook]

It’s Monday — Mostly cloudy skies and a high near 89, with a 70% chance of precipitation after 2 p.m. At night, the chance of precipitation ticks up to 80% with temperatures dropping to a low of 73. [NWS]


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