morning notes

New Heat Records for April 15 — “Record highs were set across the region with many spots topping 90 [yesterday] afternoon. The new records include D.C. at 90, Dulles Airport with 91 and Baltimore at 91. It’s the fourth record high this year for Washington.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Man Arrested After Brandishing Machete — “City of Fairfax police arrested a 54-year-old man at Hilltop Shopping Center on Friday after officers responded to a reported weapons violation at the Main Street plaza.” Reportedly seen “waving a machete,” the man was charged with being drunk in public, disorderly conduct and obstructing justice. [Patch]

Fire Outside Herndon Apartment Under Investigation — Fairfax County firefighters responded around 12:42 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) to the 13400 block of Coppermine Road for an outside fire that was spreading to a ground-floor apartment. “One patient was evaluated on scene. No firefighter injuries. Fire investigators are on scene working to determine the cause.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Some Dems Frustrated by Amendments — “Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee meeting hammered Secretary of Finance Mark Sickles, a member of Spanberger’s cabinet, Tuesday morning over the governor’s veto of a bill that would have legalized skill games and an amendment to the cannabis retail framework bill that would push the start of recreational sale to July 2027.” [Cardinal News]

Va. Backs Shift to Popular Vote — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill Monday that adds the state to the National Popular Vote Compact, an agreement among states to award their presidential electoral votes to the nationwide popular vote winner.” The bill pushes supporters’ closer to the 270 electoral votes needed to elect a president. [NPR]

No More Tax Breaks for Confederate Groups — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has signed into law a bill to end tax exemptions for a slate of Confederacy-related organizations in the state … The new law’s most significant target is the United Daughters of the Confederacy, founded in 1894 for descendants of Confederates.” [New York Times]

Dessert Cafe Makes U.S. Debut — “Dessert 39, a new café in Annandale, has been busy since it had a soft opening earlier this month. Manager Sean Oh says the shop has drawn crowds of people curious to try the first Dessert 39 shop outside Korea. Dessert 39 is located at 7326A Little River Turnpike in the space formerly occupied by the Manoa bakery and café.” [Annandale Today]

Housing Authority Offers Loans to First-Time Buyers — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) announced [on Tuesday, April 14] that it is offering down payment loans to qualified individuals for first-time home purchases. These loans are made possible by a grant from Virginia Housing.” Eligibility requirements include a household income at or below 80% of the area median. [FCRHA]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 92°F and a light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 69°F. There’s a 30% chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. [NWS]

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License Plate Readers Added on Toll Road — “New cameras along the Dulles Toll Road are not for catching toll cheats, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The Flock cameras, as they are known, are being installed across Virginia to track license plates for things like stolen vehicles and in response to Amber Alerts, MWAA said.” [NBC4]

Two Dogs Die in House Fire — A person was hospitalized in life-threatening condition, and two dogs were found deceased after a house fire in Fort Hunt. Fairfax County firefighters were dispatched around 2:40 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday) to the 2100 block of Basset Street after receiving a report of smoke in the area. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. [FCFRD/Facebook]

Virginia Decriminalizes Suicide — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved a bill Monday night that decriminalizes suicide, abolishing the centuries-old common law crime status. The timing couldn’t be better for the sister and husband of Fairfax County firefighter Nicole Mittendorff, who took her own life a decade ago.” [WTOP]

Spanberger Amends Dozens of Bills — “In a glut of actions Monday night, Gov. Abigail Spanberger will have the General Assembly reconsider a more moderate posture on many of the Democratic majority’s priorities — setting up one of the first marked public breaks between Virginia’s Legislature and its executive.” [VPM News]

Potomac Tops Ranking of Endangered Rivers — “The Potomac River is the most endangered river in the country, according to a new ranking done by the nonprofit American Rivers. The organization cited two factors in its decision: January’s historic sewage spill that sent hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage flowing into the river, and the expanding footprint of data centers in the D.C. area.” [WTOP]

Reston Association Election Results Revealed — RA announced the winners of this year’s board of directors election at the annual members meeting last night. At-Large Director John Farrell and Apartment Owners’ Representative Margaret Perry were both reelected for three-year terms, while Georgina Cannan defeated two other candidates for her first two-year term as the Lake Anne/Tall Oaks director. [Reston Association]

Free Health Care Clinic Coming to Chantilly — Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit that runs pop-up health clinics around the U.S., is bringing one to the Mubarak Mosque (4555 Ahmadiyya Drive) in Chantilly this weekend (April 18-19). “This clinic will provide vision and medical care to those who might otherwise go without these essential services.” [Press release]

Where Homes are Most Expensive in McLean — “Long a home base for politicians, diplomats, business moguls and pro athletes, this northeast corner of Fairfax County is one of the more well-heeled suburbs outside of Washington, D.C. These are the McLean neighborhoods that commanded top dollar in 2025.” [Arlington Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny weather with a high near 93°F and southwest winds ranging from 3 to 8 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to about 71°F and southwest winds between 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Redistricting Opponents Fan ‘Fairfaxphobia’ — “Signs that say, ‘Don’t Fairfax Me’ and ‘Vote No’ started appearing in rural parts of Virginia, Cardinal News reported. And on social media, Del. Wren Williams, whose district includes several counties in the southwestern portion of the state, defined ‘Fairfaxphobia'” as fear that Democrats’ mid-decade redistricting plan will consolidate political power in Fairfax County, resulting in policies out of step with more rural communities. [WTOP]

Spanberger Corrects Record on Tax Bills — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced [yesterday] that she did not sign dozens of tax bills into law — because the General Assembly never passed them and they never reached her desk.” The unusual press release came out days after President Donald Trump accused her on social media “of imposing a wave of new taxes.” [ARLnow]

Child Predator Sting Leads to 10 Arrests — “A six-day proactive enforcement operation led by the Fairfax County Police Department’s Major Crimes Bureau’s Child Exploitation Unit (CEXU) resulted in the arrest of ten individuals, the majority of whom traveled to Fairfax County intending to engage in criminal encounters with minors.” [FCPD]

Skill Games Bill Vetoed — “On Friday, April 10, Spanberger vetoed Senate Bill 661, which would have legalized up to 25,000 skill game machines in Virginia. These machines resemble slot machines and require bets to play, but they incorporate elements of player skill.” [WRIC]

How N. Va. Schools Are Handling AI — “For school districts in NoVA, the technology is posing a big challenge: How do they incorporate AI in a way that embraces innovation but doesn’t compromise educational ethics and standards? Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid says the challenge is keeping a step ahead of an evolving AI landscape.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Name Approved for Manassas Airport — “The Manassas City Council voted unanimously Monday night to rename Manassas Regional Airport to Washington Manassas Airport, a move city leaders say will strengthen the airport’s regional identity as it prepares for future commercial airline service. The city will now seek formal Federal Aviation Administration approval to implement the name change.” [Inside NoVA]

Local Family Opens New Auto Repair Shop — “Frontline Auto Plus opened on April 8 in Annandale in the space formerly occupied by Ravensworth Automotive. The Cadima family, longtime Annandale residents, bought the service station, at 4321 Ravensworth Road, from the previous owner, who had retired.” [Annandale Today]

Chantilly Store Sells $1M Lottery Ticket — “Virginia Lottery officials announced [yesterday] that the golden ticket, purchased at the Giant Food store at 25050 South Riding Plaza, won the top prize in Saturday’s drawing. After taxes, the Bank a Million prize is estimated to put $1 million in the winner’s pocket, officials noted.” [DC News Now]

It’s Tuesday — It will be mostly sunny with a high of about 89°F, and a southwest wind will increase to 5 to 10 mph in the morning, with gusts potentially reaching 18 mph. Tuesday night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low of around 69°F, with southwest winds at 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]

Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.

Fairfax County Was Eyed for ‘Sphere’ — As suggested by state Sen. Scott Surovell in his response to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of his bill to allow a casino in Fairfax County, the Las Vegas concert venue reportedly “flirted with picking Fairfax County” for its second location before selecting Maryland’s National Harbor in January. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority declined to comment when asked by FFXnow if it was aware of those discussions. [Axios DC]

Renderings Released for Trump’s Proposed Arch — “The Trump administration has submitted detailed architectural plans for a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle, drawing strong pushback from Arlington’s congressman … The renderings show a massive neoclassical stone arch topped with a 60-foot gilded statue of a winged figure — which Trump has called Lady Liberty — flanked by two smaller golden eagles.” [ARLnow]

Longtime AP Reporter Dies in Reston — “Bill Mann, a reporter and editor who covered the Philippines, Cairo, India, Scandinavia and Washington, D.C., over a nearly 50-year career at The Associated Press, died Thursday in Reston, Va., his family said. He was 83.” [Associated Press]

Fees Drive Up Va. Electric Bills — “Virginians’ power bills have increased 14.5% since 2022 and doubled in 25 years. But Dominion Energy customers scrutinizing their bills to understand why are likely confused … The bill does not show charges for numerous power and clean-energy projects. Known as rate adjustment clauses, or ‘riders,’ these are the fastest growing part of the bill.” [Fauquier Times]

Herndon Satellite Provider to Go Public — “Fast-growing Herndon defense contractor HawkEye 360 Inc. filed plans for an initial public offering following a series of big capital raises over the past few years … It has yet to identify the number of shares it plans to issue, the price it will seek or a timeline for when it expects to go public,” but the company said Friday (April 10) that it will trade under the ticker name “HAWK” on the New York Stock Exchange. [Washington Business Journal]

Update on Regional Jobs Initiative — “D.C. Deputy Secretary for Education Paul Kihn said the creation of a job search board is helping make sure that area residents are prepared for shifts in the rapidly changing job market.” Talent Capital AI launched in October specifically to support “displaced federal workers,” Kihn told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and has drawn over 100,000 unique users so far. [WTOP]

Annandale Hosts First Asian Night Market — “A large crowd gathered in Annandale on April 11 for food and entertainment at an Asian Night Market presented by Neon District DMV. The event, on the parking lot at the ACCA Child Development Center on Columbia Pike, featured 32 food vendors – most of them offering Thai specialties – and 32 non-food vendors.” [Annandale Today]

Preview of D.C. Region’s 250th Anniversary Plans — “Organizers for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday bash discussed some of the plans for the national and local celebrations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.” Fairfax County 250th Commission chair Gretchen Bulova, now also a state delegate, said mobile museums and “events from Mount Vernon to Monticello” will lead up to July 4 in Virginia. [WTOP]

It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 83 degrees and a southwest wind at 14 mph, with gusts up to 26 mph. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 63 degrees and a southwest wind blowing at 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]

More Early Voting Sites to Open — “Starting this Saturday, April 11, early voting on the proposed [redistricting] constitutional amendment expands to 13 more locations around the county. Voting by mail? Application deadline is tomorrow, Friday, April 10.” [Fairfax County Votes/X]

Minimum Wage Increase Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation to gradually raise Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2028, delivering on a top Democratic priority and setting in motion a series of wage increases that will affect workers, businesses and the state budget for years to come.” [Virginia Mercury]

N. Va. Business Owners on Edge — “On Tuesday, the Northern Virginia Chamber (NVC) released a NVC and Pinkston Business Leader Survey showing most Virginia business owners are pessimistic about the economy, and they’re concerned about several bills that were introduced this year in Richmond.” [WJLA]

Warner Launches Reelection Bid in Tysons — “President Trump must be held accountable for the war in Iran, Sen. Mark Warner told the crowd at a re-election campaign event in Tysons on April 8, where he was joined by Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Rep. James Walkinshaw.” The three-term senator, who is facing three Democratic primary challengers, also shared his views on artificial intelligence. [Annandale Today]

Some 7th District Candidates Make Pitches — “J.P. Cooney, Dave Kennedy, Del. Adele McClure and State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim join a field of Democrats for the 7th District that includes State Sen. Dan Helmer, who spoke to [Arlington] Democrats in March, and former Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, who has yet to make an appearance. Another contender, Joe Schiarizzi, announced his candidacy today (Thursday).” [ARLnow]

State Education Leaders to Slow Changes — “Parents, teachers, administrators and school district leaders from across Northern Virginia gathered in Alexandria on Wednesday night, brainstorming ways schools can better support students and families and retain teachers.” Fairfax County School Board Chair Sandy Anderson attended the session, where the state superintendent acknowledged a need to be “thoughtful about change.” [WTOP]

Olympics Speedskaters Visited Local Kids — “Thank you to the US Speedskating team for stopping by Mount Vernon Rec Center as part of the Tour of Olympians! It was an honor to witness their skill, dedication, and love for the sport up close last weekend (3/27).” The visitors included Thomas Jefferson High School alum Brandon Kim. [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]

Tips for Protecting Dark Skies — “During International Dark Sky Week, April 13-20, the Fairfax County Park Authority invites the community to experience the beauty of dark skies and take simple steps to protect them.” Recommended actions include dimming lights at night to accommodate migrating birds, reducing glare in your neighborhood, and checking out “night-sky experiences at county parks.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — After some early morning fog, partly sunny skies turn fully sunny, with temperatures reaching a high near 75°F. A light south wind will pick up to 5 to 9 mph by morning. Night will see increasing clouds and a low around 56°F. [NWS]

Metro Seeks Funding for New Fare Machines — “Over the decades Metro’s fare vending machines have not changed very much, but this Thursday the transit agency’s board of directors will vote on a plan that would get rid of them. Metro wants to spend more than 93 million dollars to buy and install new machines” that could also be used to “plan trips and receive alerts.” [WJLA]

Dulles Toll Road Closures in Tysons This Weekend — “Beginning on or about Friday night, April 10, and continuing nightly through Sunday night, April 12, all lanes of eastbound Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) will be closed and detoured between Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and the I-495 (Capital Beltway) interchange … These closures are to accommodate overhead sign work as part of the 495 NEXT project.” [VDOT]

Spanberger Tries to Balance Governing and Campaigning — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday pushed back against criticism from some fellow Democrats who say she has not done enough publicly to rally support for Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum. Spanberger argued that she has been clear in her support while prioritizing governing in the early months of her administration.” [Virginia Mercury]

Great Falls Family Cheers on Tanking Wizards — “Erin-Michael Gill and his son Nicholas had tickets just behind the scorer’s table. Good ones. They got up Sunday morning in Great Falls, Va., went to Easter Mass at 7 a.m., and then drove four and a half hours from the D.C. area to get [to Barclays Center in New York City] for the 3:30 p.m. tipoff.” They were among the hundreds crowding the arena for a Kids’ Day game between the Wizards and Nets, despite the teams’ dire records. [The Athletic]

Park Service to Restore GW Parkway Vistas — “A major phase of the years-long repaving project on the George Washington Parkway is finally winding down. And now the National Park Service will focus on rehabbing the roadway’s trademark views,” considering several options for 15 locations along a 2.65-mile segment of the roadway. [Axios DC]

Annandale Cafe Eyes Second Location — “Underdog Coffee & Bread, the café that opened on Columbia Pike in Annandale a year ago, is opening a second location on Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads next to REI.” [Annandale Today]

Wonder Wagon Coming to Vienna — “Join us to explore with the Parks & Rec Department’s Wonder Wagon at Patrick Henry Library’s Temporary Location (Cedar Park Shopping Center)!” The mobile nature center will stop by the temporary library at 262 Cedar Lane from 10:30-11:30 a.m. tomorrow (Friday). [Fairfax County Public Library]

New Look for Falls Church Pottery Studio — “A paint-your-own-pottery studio in Falls Church has received a freshly glazed look under new ownership. Jessi Cash, who has worked at Clay Cafe Studios since 2019, took over the reins from retired owner Gayla Hassett in January.” [ARLnow]

New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks mixed beverage, wine and beer on/off-premises license. [Public Notices]

It’s Thursday — The day will be mostly sunny with a high of around 62°F. Winds will be calm initially, becoming southeast at about 6 mph in the afternoon. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 42°F and southeast winds between 3 and 6 mph. [NWS]

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Chantilly-Based Company Providing Tech to ICE — “Immigration and Customs Enforcement is using spyware tools that can intercept encrypted messages as part of the agency’s efforts to disrupt fentanyl traffickers, according to a letter sent last week by the agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons.” Last year, the Trump administration revived a $2 million contract with Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company with a U.S. branch in Chantilly, to use Graphite. [NPR/VPM News]

Opposition to Vienna Pool Surfaces — “Local officials said the community has been asking for a pool for decades, and the demand intensified when one wasn’t added during renovations to the Vienna Community Center … But critics of the project are frustrated about the cost, and have questioned whether a pool is needed. In some pockets of Vienna, lawn signs that say ‘small pool, BIG cost’ have gone up.” [WTOP]

Elections Could Make Case for Ranked Choice Voting — “Backers of ranked-choice voting (RCV) believe this fall’s congressional races may bolster their case for changing the format of statewide elections. If Virginia voters approve the congressional redistricting constitutional amendment on April 21, crowded ballots in many parts of the state” could expose flaws in the current winner-take-all approach, RCV supporters say. [ARLnow]

Va. HIV Health Clinics Strained — “People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus — and safety net clinics that serve them — have spent the past year on edge, squeezed by federal funding cuts and a state health department billing error that has made critical medication harder to access.” [Virginia Mercury]

ICE Arrests Up in Virginia — “Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made nearly 20,000 arrests in D.C., Maryland and Virginia from the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second administration last year through March 10, according to a Washington Post analysis of recent federal data. By comparison, in the last full year of President Joe Biden’s administration, ICE recorded nearly 3,800 arrests in the region.” [Washington Post]

Wexton Endorses Former Va. First Lady — “Former U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton has thrown her support behind former Virginia first lady Dorothy McAuliffe in the latter’s bid for Congress in the proposed 7th Congressional District under Democrats’ redistricting plan.” [Inside NoVA]

Annandale Chicken Restaurant Rebrands — “Restaurateur Eddie Ryu wants the public to know his restaurant has a new name, but the food has not changed. K Chicken, located at 6653-H Little River Turnpike in the Willow Run retail center in Annandale, was formerly known as Chi Mc.” [Annandale Today]

Sisters Thai to Pair Dining and Dancing — “Sisters Tysons will host a weekly Songkran dining event on Fridays in April, pairing a family-style Thai menu with live traditional dance performances at its Capital One Center restaurant … The event is tied to Songkran, the Thai New Year.” [Patch]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny weather with a high near 54°F and a northeast wind around 6 mph. Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with a low around 35°F and areas of frost developing after 3 a.m. The southeast wind will range from 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Parole Denied for Woman Involved in Killing — “Convicted murderer Erika Sifrit has been refused parole in connection with the killing of a Fairfax, Virginia, couple in Ocean City, Maryland, in 2002, WTOP has learned … Sifrit appeared in her first parole hearing since she was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for her role in the 2002 murders of Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley.” [WTOP]

Route 28 Widening to Be Considered — Today (Tuesday), the Prince William Board of County Supervisors “will discuss whether to move forward with plans to widen Route 28 from Liberia Avenue, in Manassas, to the Fairfax County line. Last year, the board voted to cancel the Route 28 bypass project” that had been in the works since 2019, frustrating some Fairfax County leaders. [WTOP]

Va. News Coverage Declining — “The number of ‘news deserts’ in Virginia more than doubled between 2023 and 2025, per Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism’s ongoing State of Local News project … As of last year, 16 Virginia counties didn’t have a local news source. Another eight were at high risk of losing theirs.” [Axios Richmond]

AI Already Shaping Virginia Job Market — “Virginia is quickly becoming a national hotspot for AI adoption — and disruption, according to a Virginia Chamber Foundation report released last year, looking at the effect of the technology on statewide jobs … The Virginia report estimates 1.5 million jobs statewide could be affected.” [Axios DC]

State to Rejoin RGGI — “Virginia is poised to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this summer, a move that could again add a monthly charge to electricity customers’ bills as utilities resume buying carbon credits.” The General Assembly passed legislation directing the Department of Environmental Quality and Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova to finalize regulations for participating in the program by May 21. [Virginia Mercury]

Springfield Library Reopens After Emergency Closure — “We are pleased to announce that Richard Byrd Library will reopen with normal operating hours beginning Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked to replace the branch’s heating system,” which forced the library to temporarily close in December. [Fairfax County Public Library]

FCDOT Seeks Input on Proposed Tysons Street — The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is gauging interest in a public hearing on the planned Lincoln Street that would connect Old Meadow Road and Magarity Road in Tysons. Requests for a hearing must be submitted via written letter to FCDOT project manager Sonia Shahnaj by the end of this Friday (April 10). [Patch]

Glass-Blowing Studio Planned in Lorton — “Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center is in the process of creating a new public glassblowing studio called the Hot Shop. This new studio will transform Workhouse’s Building W-7A into a space with specialized glass-working equipment and facilities.” Other upcoming additions to the former prison campus include a pizzeria partnered with Bunnyman Brewing. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 53°F and northwest winds blowing at 10 to 14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. Tonight will be clear, with temperatures dropping to about 33°F and a north wind at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]

Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.

Va. Sees Big ACA Enrollment Drop — “A new federal report indicates 1.2 million fewer Americans signed up for ACA insurance during the most recent open enrollment period nationwide. In Virginia, about 33,000 people have dropped off, State Health Exchange Director Keven Patchett said at a forum with the State Corporation Commission.” [Virginia Mercury]

Herndon Deck Fire Under Investigation — Fairfax County firefighters responded around 3:51 p.m. on Saturday (April 4) “to the 2600 block of Jetstream Road in Herndon for multiple calls of a deck fire that was rapidly spreading. Units arrived to find a middle unit townhouse with fire and smoke showing from the rear … There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Voters Mixed on Redistricting Proposal — “A slim majority of Virginia voters favors a redistricting measure to give Democrats as many as four extra seats in Congress this November, with 52 percent of likely voters saying they support redrawing state political maps and 47 percent opposed, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll.” [Washington Post]

Route 29 Lane Closures in Centreville — “Weather permitting, Route 29 between Union Mill Road/Centreville Farms Drive (Route 8285) and Summit Drive/Buckleys Gate Drive (Route 1257) will have lane closures on weekdays from Tuesday, April 7, through Friday, April 17, for Route 29 widening project work … Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes.” [VDOT]

Martial Arts Studio Reopens After Fire — “After UMS Martial Arts was destroyed by a fire on New Year’s Day, the studio has been operating in a temporary space at the same Barcroft Plaza shopping Center … The martial arts studio’s temporary location is a vacant storefront formerly occupied by Pearle Vision at 6343 Columbia Pike.” [Annandale Today]

Assistant Police Chief Leaving — “Assistant Chief Robert A. Blakley will retire from the Fairfax County Police Department after more than two decades of dedicated service.” Nearing five years as the assistant chief of operations for the Fairfax County Police Department, he will begin a new job as a deputy county executive position for Prince William County on April 13. [FCPD]

Textile Recycling Pilot Expands Again — “Fairfax County has expanded its textile recycling program to three new locations, including the West Springfield Government Center, at 6140 Rolling Road. Residents can drop off clothing, shoes, and household textiles in blue Helpsy bins,” which can also be found at the I-66 Transfer Station, I-95 Landfill Complex, Jim Scott Community Center and Sully Government Center. [Annandale Today]

Vienna Community Potluck Returning — “After a successful debut last year, The Longest Table Vienna is returning for its second annual potluck. On Saturday, May 9, 500 community members will gather along the Vienna Town Green on Mill Street SE to share a meal. The free, public event will be held from noon to 2 p.m.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Legal Notice — ABC permit sought: restaurant/caterer, beer, wine, mixed beverages, on/off-premise. [Public Notices]

New Legal Notice — Applying for off-premises beer-wine license; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — Expect increasing clouds today with a high of 62°F and west winds at 10 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with a low of 42°F and northwest winds at around 7 mph. [NWS]

Potomac Interceptor Upgrades Backlogged — “The D.C.-area utility responsible for a massive sewer line that failed catastrophically in January had planned to reinforce the aging section years ago but repeatedly delayed construction as federal officials studied potential environmental impacts.” [Washington Post]

School Safety Legislation Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed a new batch of legislation centered on school safety, student well-being and expanded support systems in Virginia’s public schools, alongside measures addressing public health protections and food insecurity among children.” [Virginia Mercury]

Data Vague on Police Use of License Plate Readers — More than six months after Virginia adopted a law requiring law enforcement agencies to report “specific purposes” for their use of automated license plate readers, a “VCIJ at WHRO analysis of 200,000 search logs from Flock Safety data … shows that officers across the Commonwealth frequently relied on broad or vague justifications when searching the systems.” [VCIJ at WHRO]

McKay Outlines County’s Top Priorities — In a March 31 episode of the Connect With County Leaders podcast, “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said affordable housing, economic development, public safety and school funding remain among the county’s top priorities, while county leaders continue to focus on transportation investment and a broader tax base.” [Patch]

Free Film Festival in Tysons — “The 12th annual Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival will take place April 9 and 10 in Tysons. Screenings are free to the public, but registration is required. LOOK Dine-in Cinemas at the Boro in Tysons will host the event.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Szechuan Restaurant Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “Yeshi Kitfo, the Ethiopian restaurant at 3400 Washington Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads, has permanently closed. The restaurant is undergoing a complete renovation.” Comments from a construction worker and a building permit indicate that the space will be filled by Chili Wok, which has a location in Vienna. [Annandale Today]

Park Authority Intern Program Lauded — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that we have been recognized for the second year in a row as a 2026 Top Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. This recognition highlights FCPA’s dedication to providing meaningful work-based learning experiences that empower the next generation of leaders.” [FCPA]

Nominations Open for Park Volunteers Award — “The Park Authority is now accepting nominations for the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Program, recognizing the outstanding contributions of volunteers … Nominations are due by Friday, May 22, 2026.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Expect fog in the morning before 10 a.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 82°F. Winds from the south will range from 7 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Overnight, there is a 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F. [NWS]