morning notes

VHSL to Vote on Transgender Athlete Restrictions — “Even after Virginia imposed a new ban blocking transgender students from girls’ sports, advocates are making a last-ditch push this week to sway high school sports leaders — challenging a decision that others have applauded.” The Virginia High School League is scheduled to ratify its policy change at a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday). [Virginia Mercury]

Army Helicopter Flights Halted Near DCA — “The Army is pausing helicopter flights near a Washington airport after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon … The pause comes after 67 people died in January when a passenger jet collided in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan airport.” [Associated Press]

Rock Used in Hybla Valley Business Burglaries — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying a suspect responsible for multiple burglaries in Hybla Valley.” Police first responded to a burglary call at La Taza Panaderia on April 17 where the suspect reportedly used a rock to break in. [FCPD]

Shooting Survivor Shares Story — “Her own cellphone video captured the start of the terrifying gunfire that changed Esther’s life forever. The six gunshots left her with permanent injuries and, for now, tethered to a tracheostomy tube she must use to speak … Collins Agyei, her son’s father and the man who nearly killed her, was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Thursday.” [NBC4]

New Bank to Open in Annandale — “The new Chase Bank branch at 4250 John Marr Drive in Annandale is expected to open on May 20. New customers who open a personal or business account at the Grand Opening will receive a coupon for $300, says Catherine Morrison, market director for consumer banking at Chase.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax Connector Service Changes Coming — Fairfax Connector will implement changes to some bus routes starting May 17. “Key adjustments include the introduction of two new routes – Route 652 and Route 670 – designed to improve connectivity and meet emerging transit demands. In addition, Route 599 will be discontinued to optimize system efficiency.” [Fairfax Connector]

New Tech Used to Treat Parkinson’s Disease — “Rick Schena, of Alexandria, Virginia, and his doctor at MedStar Health, in McLean, have begun using the latest technology — adaptive deep brain stimulation — in his treatment for Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder.” Schena is the first Parkinson’s patient in the D.C. area to be treated with the technology. [WTOP]

It’s Tuesday — There’s a 60% chance of precipitation today, with potential thunderstorms starting at 11 am and temperatures peaking at 75. At night, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 11pm, with increasing clouds and lows around 57. [NWS]

Abduction Charges Dropped After Judge Rejects Plea Deal — “A Virginia man accused of trying to abduct a 4-year-old girl was freed from jail Friday after almost two years. The Fairfax County commonwealth’s attorney dropped charges against Hyram Baquedano Rodriguez after a judge refused to sign off on a guilty plea with a two-year sentence.” [NBC4]

Data Center Regulation Bill Vetoed — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill with bipartisan support Friday that would have required data center applicants and energy utilities to disclose information to local governments on noise and environmental impacts of the project.” [WTOP]

FCPD Shares Latest Road Shark Campaign Data — “Between April 21 and April 27, officers issued more than 8,250 citations and warnings, including over 600 speeding citations and 160 reckless driving citations. These numbers highlight the ongoing need for focused enforcement and driver accountability across Fairfax County.” [FCPD]

Trucks Get Warning to Prevent Crashes Into Dulles Toll Road — “Construction vehicles hitting bridges and overpasses has been such an issue that a new warning system was recently put in place to stop it.” A crash that damaged a bridge in Reston in 2023 affected traffic for months afterwards, and other highways have seen similar incidents. [NBC4]

Nonprofit Adds Pantry With Menstrual Products — “Elected officials and the Junior League of Northern Virginia recently celebrated the opening of the Britepaths SNAP Gap Pantry in Fairfax. The Period Pantry, which is located in Britepaths’ offices at 3959 Pender Drive, provides the central Fairfax community with consistent, dignified access to a range of women’s health and hygiene products.” [Patch]

Occoquan Boardwalk Project Funding Vetoed — “Plans to extend the popular Occoquan Riverwalk have hit a major roadblock after Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed $1.2 million in state funding that town leaders had counted on to move the project forward.” [Potomac Local News]

Reston Native Pursues Entrepreneurial Ventures at UVA — “[Rajan] Chidambaram, a Reston, Va. native, is known around Grounds for his viral fraternity and sorority house tours on Instagram. But behind the scenes, he has been building a unique real estate venture, combining his interests in business and property.” [Cavalier Daily]

It’s Monday — There’s a 90% chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm after 2pm, with patchy fog clearing by 10am and a high near 76°F. Tonight, anticipate a low around 62°F with showers and a potential thunderstorm before 2am. [NWS]

Man Sentenced for Shooting Ex-Girlfriend — Collins Agyei was sentenced to 23 years in prison yesterday (Thursday) after a jury convicted him last year of shooting his former girlfriend at her home in Mount Vernon. The 25-year-old woman was left with “life-changing injuries and a near inability to speak.” [NBC4]

Weapons Detectors to Stay Permanently at Two Schools — “New weapons screening systems will remain at West Potomac and Thomas Edison High Schools permanently, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) confirmed to 7News on Thursday.” FCPS began rolling out the devices for a pilot program in April, but a stabbing at West Potomac High School prompted new calls for safety measures. [ABC7]

Report Finds Teacher Pay in Virginia Still Lagging — “From last year to now, Virginia raised teacher pay by an average of $3,000. Still, the commonwealth’s average pay rate for educators remains stagnant compared to other states, according to the latest salary report published by the National Education Association.” [Virginia Mercury]

Dulles Has Country’s Most Expensive Domestic Flights — “Dulles International Airport ranks as the most expensive airport for average domestic airfare for the fourth consecutive year, according to annual data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. FinanceBuzz ranked airports based on 2024 fares, and included only roundtrip domestic fares.” [WTOP]

What to Expect From Upcoming WorldPride Festival — “WorldPride Festival kicks off May 17, and three weeks of parties, rallies, concerts and events will draw major star power and an expected 2-3 million revelers to D.C. … The city is prepping for crowds with a new parade route, a tap-and-pay Metro card system, and amped-up security.” [Axios DC]

McLean Sees Its Priciest Home Sale This Year — “A riverfront estate on McLean’s Gold Coast that’s been on the market for less than a year has set a sales record for most expensive home in the Virginia city this year. The eight-bedroom estate, on just over four acres, closed for $14.05 million in April.” [WTOP]

Thai Street Markets Coming to Annandale — “The NVA Thai Center is launching a monthly market featuring Thai food, crafts, and performances at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in the center of Annandale. The first one is scheduled for May 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.” [Annandale Today]

Local Restaurants Offer Cinco De Mayo Specials — Cinco de Mayo (May 5) “marks Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1962. In the U.S., the holiday is a time to celebrate Mexican culture with food and music — and plenty of spots in NoVA will be hosting festivities this year. Here’s where you can find special events and deals on tacos, margaritas, and more.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Friday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 2pm, with mostly sunny conditions, a high near 87, and a 40% chance of precipitation. The chance of showers and thunderstorms continues until 2am, followed by partly cloudy skies and a low of 66. [NWS]

Trump Administration Restores Student Visas — “President Donald Trump’s administration is reinstating international student visa records that it previously revoked. The announcement was made Friday, amid a slew of court cases filed by impacted students in recent weeks.” Records for 14 of 15 affected George Mason University students have been restored, a university spokesperson says, but eight students already left the country. [Virginia Public Media]

Deadline to Apply for Tax Relief Today — Seniors and people with disabilities who qualify for relief from Fairfax County’s real estate and vehicle taxes “must file their application no later than May 1, 2025.” Today is also the deadline to declare business furniture and fixtures, machinery and tools, and computer equipment on county tax forms. [Fairfax County Government]

Another Local CVS Store Set to Close — “The CVS store in the Heritage shopping center at 7859 Heritage Drive, Annandale, is closing. The store manager, known as JD, said the store’s last day will be June 5.”  The company also shuttered its longtime location at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna in April. [Annandale Today]

Job Fair for Cut Federal Workers Planned — “Alexandria is joining forces with Congressman Don Beyer and nearby communities to hold a job fair this Saturday (May 3) for federal workers and contractors affected by recent government workforce cuts … Alexandria is working alongside Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Falls Church to organize the fair.” [ALXnow]

Metrobus Changes Will Eliminate Dozens of N. Va. Stops — “Fifty-seven bus stops are set to be cut from Metrobus’ routes in Northern Virginia, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The changes have been scheduled to take effect June 29” as part of the system’s first major redesign of its bus network since the 1970s. [WUSA9]

Tysons Spring Bicycle Ride to Return — “Kick off Tysons Bike Month with a scenic spring ride during Pedal with Petals … Join us at Westbriar Elementary School for a FREE fun-filled day of biking with family and friends.” This year’s bicycle ride, organized by the Tysons Community Alliance, will take place on Saturday, May 10, with registration starting at 10 a.m. [Eventbrite]

Fairfax Students Plant Trees for Arbor Day — “On April 23, [Katherine Johnson Middle School] students planted three Eastern redbud trees to green the school grounds, and they learned about the benefits trees provide … The trees were provided by SPROUT, a new city initiative to encourage the community to plant, care for, and learn about the trees that make up our urban forest.” [City of Fairfax]

It’s Thursday — Expect a 20% chance of showers from 2-5pm, followed by possible thunderstorms after 5pm. The day will be partly sunny with a high around 80. On Thursday night, storms could occur before 11pm, possibly continuing until 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 66 and a 40% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

D.C. Sues Virginia Drivers Over Unpaid Traffic Fines — “D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Monday that the District of Columbia filed five lawsuits against drivers from Maryland and Virginia.” The prosecutor alleges that the drivers, including residents of Lorton and Herndon, collectively owe more than $400,000. [Washingtonian]

Fairfax County Spa Relocates to Alexandria — “Last month, King’s Beauty Center and Nail Bar/King’s Men Spa fully opened at 1102 King Street. Until the end of May, they’re offering 20% off all their services.” The owner previously “ran a smaller salon in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County for 13 years.” [ALXnow]

Reston School Celebrates 30th Anniversary — Aldrin Elementary School will celebrate 30 years today (Wednesday) with a school assembly at 3 p.m. followed by a community reception at 4:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue or spiritwear to show their pride, and firecracker ice pops will be handed out. [Aldrin Elementary School]

New Signage Planned for Bailey’s Crossroads Area — “Fairfax County is developing a gateway signage project for the Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners commercial revitalization districts.” A survey to solicit community input on the characteristics of both neighborhoods and they could be incorporated into the sign designs will launch next Monday (May 5). [Annandale Today]

Roofing Company to Leave Herndon After Merger — “Connecticut-based QXO Inc. closed its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. on Tuesday, just a month after inking a deal with the Herndon construction company.” The company, which employs 8,000 people, will be rebranded as QXO and consolidate “headquarter functions in Greenwich.” [Washington Business Journal]

County to Increase Zoning Fees — “Starting July 1, Fairfax County will implement the second phase of updated fee schedules for Land Development Services (LDS) and zoning applications. The adjustments are intended to reflect the increase in costs related to inflation and personnel over recent years while ensuring the continuation of high-quality county services.” [Fairfax County Government]

Shuttered Climate Program Funded Chesapeake Bay Conservation — “The U.S. Department of Agriculture in April announced the termination of its $3 billion ‘climate smart’ program, a grantmaking initiative that was supporting hundreds of millions of dollars in conservation work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.” [Bay Journal Media]

It’s Wednesday — There’s a 20% chance of showers after 2 pm, though mostly cloudy skies will eventually turn sunny, with temperatures reaching around 80. The night will be partly cloudy with lows near 60. [NWS]

Displaced Businesses Win Concessions — VHC Health “has agreed to assist the small businesses it’s displacing from” West Falls Church’s Graham Center to make way for an ER and urgent care facility. After a campaign led by the Viet Place Collective, “VHC extended the deadline to vacate the property from March 30 to May 15. VHC also promised to return tenants’ security deposits and fully cover the cost of junk removal.” [Annandale Today]

Retired Cop Intervened in Robbery Attempt in Huntington — “A retired D.C. police officer on his way to work Thursday says he stopped by his neighborhood store and walked right into a robbery in progress. He says he pulled his weapon, told the suspect to freeze and shared with police what he saw after the man ran.” [NBC4]

Reston Community Advocate Dies — “Community activist and attorney Barbara Cheryl Terio-Simon, the widow of Reston founder Robert E. Simon Jr., died peacefully on Friday, according to her daughter, Karen Terio.” In addition to serving Reston Association and other organizations, she “was instrumental” in getting Lake Anne Village Center designated as a national historic place. [Patch]

Multiple Failures Contributed to Fatal DCA Crash, Review Finds — “One error did not cause the worst domestic crash in the United States in nearly a quarter-century. Modern aviation is designed to have redundancies and safeguards that prevent a misstep, or even several missteps, from being catastrophic. On Jan. 29, that system collapsed.” [New York Times]

Federal Funding Cuts Could Affect Virginia Parks — “Virginia boasts several trails, parks and historic landmarks that fall under park service management which could be impacted. State officials hope park tourism stays strong because of the millions it generates, and park officials are trying to manage expectations with less resources.” [VCU Capital News Service/Inside NoVA]

FCPD Shares Drug Take Back Day Results — “On Saturday, our district stations partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other Fairfax County agencies to collect nearly 1,000 pounds of expired medications and prescription drugs from our community.” The haul was led by the Reston Police District Station, which collected 257 pounds of drugs. [FCPD]

GMU Receives $20 Million Donation — “A Fairfax County business woman has made a $20 million donation to George Mason University, the university announced Friday. The Kimmy Duong Foundation made the donation to support a department in the university’s College of Engineering and Computing; it will be renamed the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing.” [Virginia Business]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny weather and a high near 85 with a south wind at 9-14 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. At night, there’s a 20% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. Night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 67, and south winds similar to the daytime. [NWS]