morning notes

Strong Winds Affect Power in N. Va. — The D.C. area was “hit with winds as high as 60 mph Sunday night … as energy companies in the area reported thousands of customers were in the dark.” More than 20,000 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County lost power on Sunday (Feb. 16), and “Fairfax County Fire and Rescue reported that seven houses had been hit by falling trees and nine downed wires.” [WUSA9]

Witnesses Describe Reston Gym Shooting — “The case against a man accused of killing another man inside a gym in Reston, Virginia last summer is moving forward. Steve Ha, 43, of Chantilly, is suspected of killing Hyungjoon Choi, of Reston, in a Gold’s Gym in August. Choi was 31.” Witnesses, including Gold’s Gym trainer, testified in court last Thursday (Feb. 13). [NBC4]

Bill to Expand Traffic Enforcement on GW Parkway Dies — “A bill in Virginia that would allow state and local police departments to enforce traffic laws on the federally owned George Washington Memorial Parkway failed to advance in Richmond. Senate Bill 776, introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax County) passed the Senate … However, in a House transportation committee, the bill was defeated.” [WUSA9]

Flight Honors Springfield Pilot Killed in Crash — “Twenty-two homeless dogs and eight cats boarded a flight toward freedom Feb. 2 at Culpeper Regional Airport — a mission in memory of volunteer pilot Seuk Kim, a Springfield resident and former financier who died in a plane crash last year saving dogs from kill shelters.” [Inside NoVA]

Falls Church Library Reviewing Palestinian Book — “A children’s book about Palestine is under review at a Falls Church library following a complaint alleging antisemitic language. ‘P is for Palestine: A Palestine Alphabet Book’ is the work in question. Library Director Megan Dotzler said at a Feb. 5 meeting that a complaint had been lodged, leading to the review.” [ARLnow]

Taiyaki Shop Opens Chantilly Location — “Rice Culture — the new eatery specializing in sweet fish-shaped Asian desserts — started a soft opening over the weekend at its newest location in Chantilly off Route 50 … Rice Culture has taken a small space in the Chantilly Crossing shopping center.” [The Burn]

Sen. Kaine Jams With GMU Pep Band — “Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (D) accompanied George Mason University’s Green Machine pep band during the men’s basketball game against St. John’s College … The Patriots squeaked by the visiting St. John’s College Hawks, overcoming a 16-point deficit to win 58-57 at Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax.” [Patch]

Budget Airline to Serve Dulles Starting in Spring — “Low-cost carrier Contour Airlines is set to launch service at Dulles International Airport starting May 1, the airline announced. The Tennessee-based carrier will begin nonstop flights to Dulles from Macon, Georgia, and Plattsburgh, New York. Fares will start at $94 one-way, Contour said in a Facebook post.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 36 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 11 to 15 mph with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. As Tuesday night arrives, anticipate increasing clouds and a low temperature around 20 degrees, along with a north wind blowing at 8 to 10 mph. [NWS]

Metro Work to Affect Service This Weekend — “Metro has trackwork on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and adjusted service hours on Monday due to the Presidents’ Day holiday.” The Blue Line will operate only from Franconia-Springfield to Greenbelt, while the Orange and Silver lines will be split into two segments, with shuttle buses replacing trains from Foggy Bottom to the Pentagon and Clarendon. [WMATA]

Federal Workers Get Layoff Notices — “Federal workers have begun receiving layoff notices as the Trump administration moves ahead with plans to drastically downsize the government. While the full scale of layoffs isn’t yet clear, the first round of cuts appeared to target employees who were recently hired and still on probationary status.” [NPR]

Beer Garden Replacing Falls Church Motel — “Demolition has begun at the vacant Stratford Motor Lodge in Falls Church, where a local business owner plans to construct a restaurant and beer garden. Under new ownership, the site at 300 W. Broad Street is slated to become Stratford Gardens, the latest project by Arash Tafakor.” [ARLnow]

Statewide Spring Burn Ban to Take Effect — “Virginia’s statewide burning law, which prohibits outdoor burning between midnight and 4 p.m., is in effect from Saturday, Feb. 15 through April 30. Violation of the burning law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable with a fine of up to $500.” [Inside NoVA]

Fabric Store to Close Fairfax Locations — “Joann announced yesterday that it plans to close approximately 500 of its U.S. stores. Thirteen of the stores are in Virginia; five are in Northern Virginia.” Out-of-business sales at the closing stores, including ones at Fairfax Towne Center and in Seven Corners, are expected to begin tomorrow (Saturday). [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Revisions to Fairfax Connector Routes Proposed — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host two virtual public meetings, on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Join Fairfax Connector for a lunch and learn session that will begin at 12 p.m. followed by an evening meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed service adjustments and realignments to several routes.” [FCDOT]

Vienna Tech Startup Raises $30M — “Antithesis Operations LLC, a Vienna software testing startup whose tools find bugs in computer programming code, has raised $30 million in new funding.” Founded by two former Apple engineers in 2018, the company hopes to double its workforce to “about 140 employees over the next year, primarily by adding marketing and product development teams in San Francisco, where it recently added an office.” [DC Inno]

Riverside McLean Mansion Lands Buyer — “A seven-bedroom home along the banks of the Potomac River has found a buyer, and the listing’s land may have been the driving factor. 1260 Crest Lane (map), on the market for $15.5 million with Piper Yerks and Ben Roth of Washington Fine Properties, went under contract with contingencies earlier this week.” [DC UrbanTurf]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 38 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind ranging from 8 to 13 mph, and gusts reaching up to 21 mph. At night, clouds will increase as temperatures drop to around 27 degrees. [NWS]

FCPS Reopens After Snow Day — After earlier snow, warmer temperatures yesterday (Wednesday) “have been good for area road conditions and for the clearing of sidewalks. With that in mind, all Fairfax County public schools and offices will open on time tomorrow, Thursday, February 13, 2025. We look forward to seeing everyone at school.” [FCPS]

Metrobus Resumes Regular Service — “Metro plans to resume normal Metrobus service starting at 4 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. All 193 routes will operate on a regular schedule, reflecting improvements in road conditions across the region. In addition, Metrorail and MetroAccess will be running normal service.” [WMATA]

Bodies of DCA Crash Victims Illegally Filmed — “An airport dispatcher admitted to illegally recording surveillance footage showing deceased victims after last month’s fatal midair crash, police say.” The Maryland man allegedly took “photos and videos of crash victims being transferred from a first-responder boat to a staging area at Reagan National Airport,” according to a criminal complaint. [ARLnow]

Reston Man Convicted in Sex Crimes Cases — “A Reston man has been sentenced to at least seven years in prison for multiple sex crimes in Arlington. Matthew Coble’s sentencing, handed down Friday by Circuit Court Judge Daniel S. Fiore II, follows his convictions for aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a minor.” [ARLnow]

Cyberattack on Va. Attorney General’s Office — “A ‘sophisticated cyberattack’ struck the offices of Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares on Wednesday, forcing the agency to shut down computer systems and resort to paper court filings as Virginia State Police and the FBI investigate.” [Washington Post]

Taste of Annandale Planning to Begin — “The community is invited to a meeting on March 5 to help plan the next Taste of Annandale. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Mason Government Center. The 2025 Taste of Annandale is scheduled for Sept. 20 at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space at 7200 Columbia Pike.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons Couple Celebrates 65th Anniversary — “Like something out of a romance novel, Ed, 80, and Helen Okunak, 81, have been going strong since 1960. The Tysons residents first dated as juniors at Lyndhurst High School in New Jersey.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect rain to subside before 10am, followed by increasingly sunny skies and a high of 52. A south wind will shift northwest at 6-13 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. 60% chance of precipitation. Thursday night will be mostly clear with lows around 26. [NWS]

National Airport Runways Reopen — “Two runways were reopened at Reagan National Airport and a section of the Potomac River was restored Tuesday following a deadly midair collision last month, according to officials … In addition to the reopening of Runways 4/22 and 15/33, the Federal Aviation Administration has increased the hourly arrival rate to 28 aircraft for DCA.” [WTOP]

VHSL to Ban Transgender Female Athletes — “The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has announced that it will comply with the executive order banning transgender athletes assigned male at birth from competing in girls’ sports … This announcement comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin posted on Facebook urging the league to comply” with the order signed by President Donald Trump on Feb. 5. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Bird Flu Spiking in Virginia — “Virginia is facing the worst bird flu spike since the nationwide outbreak started in 2022, USDA data shows … The Commonwealth has the seventh highest number of birds in the U.S. affected by avian influenza, per confirmed reports from Jan. 4 to Feb. 3.” [Axios Richmond]

Carjacking Attempted Near Huntington Metro Station — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau have charged a 30-year-old man with carjacking in Huntington. On February 9, at 10:45 p.m., officers responded to the 5700 block of Metroview Parkway in Huntington for a robbery. The victim reported that a man assaulted him and attempted to take his vehicle.” [FCPD]

Fresh World Supermarket Nears Opening — “The much-anticipated international supermarket at the Mount Vernon Square retail center is officially slated to open the second week of March, said Joshua Kim, property manager of Mount Vernon Square … More details on the grand opening will be forthcoming.” [On the MoVe]

County Offers Free Tax-Prep Resources — “Eligible residents and their families can get free assistance filing their federal and state income taxes at locations around the county through the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.” [Fairfax County Government]

Environmental Improvements Recommended for Mason District — A Greener Mason Advisory Committee convened last April presented a final report at a community meeting on Monday (Feb. 10). “The committee was charged with proposing both long-term and short-term actions for making the environment in Mason District more sustainable, greener, healthier, and more attractive.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Snow, freezing rain, and sleet are expected, with rain becoming likely after 4pm. The day will be cloudy with a high near 36. Precipitation probability is 70%. For Wednesday night, rain will persist mainly before 4am, with a low around 34 and a 100% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Franconia Supervisor Announces Opposition to Casino — “During an open house in the Franconia District on Saturday, Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia) told attendees he had contacted Speaker of the House Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) to express his opposition to the Tysons casino referendum bill currently making its way through the Virginia General Assembly.” [Patch]

Delegate Sues Over Sexual Assault Allegations — “Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, is hitting back. Months after facing sexual assault allegations that surfaced just days before his congressional primary, Helmer has filed a $15 million defamation lawsuit, claiming the accusations were politically motivated and knowingly false.” [Virginia Mercury]

Elected Officials Address Federal Government Concerns — “Several public officeholders hailing from or representing the Mount Vernon area devoted their presentations at the 38th Annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting to defending constituent groups that have been impacted by current White House policies, and pledged support to protect the affected groups.” [On the MoVe]

Tysons Consultant Pulls Out of Pride Event — “Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) has withdrawn as a sponsor for WorldPride 2025, to be held this spring in D.C. for the first time.” The company said it dropped out of the LGBTQ Pride celebration in response to the Trump administration’s recent executive order threatening to withhold contracts from firms that promote diversity. [Washington Business Journal]

UVA Begins Classes at Merrifield Campus — “Workers are making some final tweaks, but classes have begun at the Fairfax campus of the University of Virginia. The new campus covers two floors in the Inova Center for Personalized Health complex … The campus will hold its grand opening on February 28.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Future of Helicopter Flights at DCA Still Unclear — “As safety restrictions tighten around Reagan National Airport, Arlington’s congressman is pushing to ensure this doesn’t mean more aircraft noise over residential areas … The FAA has stopped almost all helicopter traffic over the Potomac River near DCA, pending the results of an investigation into the crash that killed 67 people.” [ARLnow]

Falls Church Theater Group to Open New Venue — “Creative Cauldron has announced that it will officially open the doors to a brand-new theater in the Broad and Washington Development on February 13, 2025. A ribbon cutting and reception will take place Thursday February 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the new theater [at] 127 East Broad Street.” [Tysons Today]

McLean Community Center Seeks Board Members — “The McLean Community Center is looking for district residents to serve on its Governing Board.” Three adult seats and two youth seats will be open in this year’s election, which will start absentee voting on April 2 and conclude after McLean Day in mid-May. [MCC]

It’s Tuesday — Snow is expected, mainly after 1pm, with a high near 34. Precipitation chances are at 90% with a potential 1-3 inches of new snow. At night, the low will be around 31, and there’s a 100% chance of precipitation with an additional 2-4 inches of snow accumulation possible. [NWS]

Family Mourns Hit-and-Run Victim — “Erica Tibbs; her partner, Christian Saidi; and their son, Hezekiah, had just stepped off a bus after dinner at McDonald’s Jan. 29” when an SUV driver struck the woman and boy on Richmond Highway. Tibbs, who died at the hospital, “was loved, valued and respected in the community,” according to her aunt. [NBC4]

Advocates Propose W&OD Trail Rail Line — A new coalition of businesses, nonprofits and transit supporters called NOVA-TRAC is advocating for a commuter rail line alongside the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. “By building a consensus town by town, we hope to gain momentum to get an official feasibility study commissioned by Loudoun and Fairfax counties in partnership with state and regional agencies.” [Greater Greater Washington]

Governor Candidates React to Federal Worker Cuts — “The Trump administration’s aggressive push to cut government jobs is reverberating in the early stages of this year’s race for governor in Virginia.” Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the top Republican contender, said she “backed Trump’s effort to take inventory of federal spending,” while former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger said the gutting “will cause damage across the state.” [Associated Press]

Annandale Student Leads Anti-Trump Protest — “Hundreds of people chanted ‘stop the coup’ along with other sentiments, at a rally organized by a motivated student from Annandale. Those in attendance at the Virginia Capitol on Feb. 5 protested President Donald Trump’s recent flurry of executive orders, as well as Elon Musk’s unprecedented access to federal government systems.” [VCU Capital News Service/Annandale Today]

Whole Foods Opens in Falls Church — “Over 100 shoppers flocked to 103 E. Broad Street this morning (Friday) to see the new 45,000-square-foot grocery store … The new store replaces a previous Whole Foods at the Idylwood Plaza, which closed permanently Monday, Feb. 3.” [ARLnow]

Insurance Company Leases Reston Station Office — Comstock Holding Companies announced on Friday (Feb. 7) that FM Global, a commercial property insurance and loss prevention company, has signed a lease for 32,000 square feet at 1906 Reston Metro Plaza. The company serves “businesses in over 130 countries that span across a variety of industries.” [BusinessWire]

County Sells $400M in Bonds — “Fairfax County successfully held a $400 million general obligation bond sale on Jan. 22, securing a competitive interest rate of 3.57%.” The money will fund schools, public safety, parks, transportation, library and human services capital projects. [Fairfax County Government]

Park Authority Hiring for New Mount Vernon Rec Center — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is excited to announce open hire events for the newly renovated Mount Vernon Rec Center, which is reopening in May 2025 and looking to fill over 290 part-time positions across multiple departments.” [FCPA]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 44, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 5 to 7 mph. As night falls, the sky will become mostly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 30 and a calm wind. [NWS]

Fewer Flights Will Be Allowed at National Airport — “The Federal Aviation Administration plans to announce it is reducing flight arrivals at Washington Reagan National Airport to address safety concerns, after a deadly collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet killed 67 people, according to an email seen by Reuters.” [Reuters]

Man Injured in Richmond Highway Crash — Officers responded last night (Thursday) to “a two-vehicle crash at Route 1 and Dawn Dr. in Groveton. One of the drivers, an adult male, was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition.” The crash closed northbound Route 1 between Beddoo Street and Fairview Drive. [FCPD]

Judge Halts Deadline for Federal Worker Resignations — “A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s ‘deferred resignation’ program, which is part of a sweeping effort to eliminate government jobs … The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for workers to apply for the deferred resignation program, which the administration promoted as a buyout.” [NBC4]

Three-Alarm Fire at Lorton Warehouse — “Fire crews in Fairfax County [were] working to extinguish a large commercial fire in Lorton early Thursday morning. The fire was first reported just after 5 a.m. in the 8100 block of Terminal Road, near the Sharpshooters Indoor Range and Pro Shop.” [WUSA9]

Gas Station Makeover Gets Support — “The owner of a Shell gas station and auto repair shop on the corner of Backlick Road and Industrial Road in the Springfield area of Mason District is planning to replace them with a new gas station and convenience store. The Fairfax County Planning Commission endorsed the project on Feb. 5.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons Company Renamed to Reflect Bitcoin Focus — “MicroStrategy, one of Northern Virginia’s oldest technology companies, has a new corporate name that it said reflects its new focus on Bitcoin. Tysons-based MicroStrategy is now Strategy. Its new logo follows the name with a stylized Bitcoin ‘B.'” [WTOP]

Popeyes Reopens in Hybla Valley — “The Popeyes restaurant at Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping plaza officially reopened Feb. 5. The New Orleans-style chicken restaurant, located at 7832 Richmond Highway, had been closed since Nov. 23 due to a kitchen fire.” The Cut Butchery and F45 Training will also open in the corridor in the coming weeks. [On the MoVe]

High School Athlete Recruitment Bill Stalls — “Legislation aimed at cracking down on high school athletic recruitment tactics — specifically barring officials from using the ‘homeless’ designation to lure student athletes — hit a roadblock Tuesday, failing to advance at the session’s midpoint. Despite the setback, the fight isn’t over, according to Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, who sponsored House Bill 1656.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 47 degrees, accompanied by northwest winds between 8 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 20 mph. On Friday night, the sky will turn mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 31 degrees. The north wind will blow at 5 to 7 mph, eventually calming as the evening progresses. [NWS]

ICE Arrests Annandale Residents — “ICE agents arrested six men outside Fairmont Gardens in Annandale [Wednesday] morning. The men were spotted walking down Little River Turnpike in handcuffs. The men were waiting for jobs. One was released because he had a work permit, says Nayely Lopez of FACETS.” [Annandale Today]

Driver Killed in I-95 Crash — “Virginia State Police are investigating a crash that happened just after 2:30 p.m. on [Tuesday, Feb. 4 in] the southbound 95 Express Lanes at the 151 mile marker in Prince William County,” creating traffic delays from Dumfries to Lorton. A Lexus driver died at the scene, and a passenger in the vehicle was taken to a hospital. [WTOP]

Health Centers Closing Due to Funding Freeze — “Half of Virginia’s community health centers have been cut off from federal grant money, forcing some to stop providing certain services and others to close branches.” Even though a judge stayed the Trump administration’s funding freeze last week, 16 of the state’s 31 Federally Qualified Health Centers have been unable to access funds used to pay their employees. [VPM]

Arrest Made in Chantilly School and Church Thefts — A Chantilly man has been charged with burglary, property destruction and petit larceny after he allegedly stole from a church donation box and burglarized a school. “The two separate incidents happened at the end of January 2024, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.” [DC News Now]

Police Investigate Vehicle Part Thefts — Fairfax County police are looking for an Ohio man who they say was involved in catalytic converter thefts in Woodlawn on Jan. 5. “The complainant reported seeing two men carrying tools and attempting to break into vehicles. Officers located several catalytic converters, the suspects’ vehicle, and tools nearby.” [FCPD]

Lincolnia Credit Union Robbed — The Navy Federal Credit Union in Barcroft Plaza was robbed yesterday (Wednesday) shortly before 11:30 a.m. “The suspect entered the bank, at 6343 Columbia Pike in Lincolnia, and demanded money, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The suspect did not display a weapon. No one was injured.” [Annandale Today]

Falls Church to Wait and See on Deer Management — “Deer culling efforts are unlikely to get off the ground in Falls Church any time soon, city leaders indicated this week.” At a Monday (Feb. 3) night work session, the city’s animal control officer said complaints about deer have been minimal, but city council members suggested keeping an eye on local populations. [ARLnow]

Murals Could Beautify Route 1 Construction — “As more and more buildings along Richmond Highway are demolished in preparation for construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) is hoping to improve the appearance of the corridor with more artwork.” [On the MoVe]

It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 1pm, with a high temperature near 49°F. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. For Thursday night, it’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 40°F. [NWS]

Candlelight Vigil Tonight for DCA Crash Victims — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) invites the community to a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the 67 lives lost in the tragic American Airlines crash at National Airport last week. The gathering will take place Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m., at Rivergate City Park, 2 Montgomery St., on the Alexandria waterfront.” [Annandale Today]

Concerns About Crowded Airspace Have History — “With a preliminary NTSB report not expected for several weeks, Arlington’s federal representatives have ventured few opinions on what factors may have contributed to last week’s crash. However, local advocates’ concerns about the number of flights at DCA stretch back years.” [ARLnow]

Route 28 Bypass Project Officially Dead — The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 5-3 yesterday (Tuesday) to cancel a planned road extension that would’ve diverted traffic off of Route 28 (Centreville Road) before reconnecting north of Bull Run Stream in Fairfax County. Approved in 2020, the bypass proposal faced various challenges, including a “lack of buy-in from Fairfax County.” [WTOP]

Lawmakers Could Regulate License Plate Readers — “Virginia lawmakers are moving to regulate automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) for the first time, but privacy advocates warn that the legislation could expand surveillance rather than rein it in.” The House of Delegates passed a bill yesterday that would limit police data storage and authorize VDOT to issue permits for the devices’ installation. [Virginia Mercury]

Loudoun to Consider Dulles Airport Noise Mitigation — “As residents near Dulles International Airport continue to voice concerns over noise from aircraft flying over their homes, a community-involved process to consider mitigation methods will kick off this spring … A virtual community kick-off meeting is envisioned for April to provide an overview of the project.” [Loudoun Now]

Update on FCPS Athletics Policy Review — “Months after Hayfield Secondary School’s football team withdrew from the playoffs, Fairfax County Public Schools is crafting a plan that it hopes will improve its athletic processes and transparency ahead of the next school year.” The plan is being developed by a working group in collaboration with the Virginia High School League. [WTOP]

Secret Service Cracks Down on ‘Card Skimmers’ — “A U.S. Secret Service task force cracked down on a card-skimming scheme that targeted people who rely on government assistance … The unit visited 879 businesses in the D.C. area, inspected 6,561 devices and found 24 skimmers.” [NBC4]

Hunter Mill District Invited to Town Hall — “Do you want to know more about the proposed casino or have other questions or issues you want to discuss with me? Let’s talk!” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn will host a town hall tomorrow (Thursday) from 7-8:30 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive) in Reston. [Walter Alcorn/Instagram]

It’s Wednesday — There’s a 30% chance of precipitation during the day, with an increased likelihood of combined snow and sleet after 1 p.m. At night, though, the chance of preciptation is 100%, with sleet transitioning to freezing rain and sleet from 1-4 a.m. The high temperature will be around 37 and the low near 32. [NWS]

Democrats Counter Youngkin Budget Proposal — “Virginia Democrats have slammed the brakes on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s push for tax cuts, rejecting most of his budget proposals — including a car tax credit that would have phased out the widely unpopular levy. Instead, House and Senate budget plans unveiled Sunday take a different route, prioritizing faster, more targeted tax relief while pumping funds into education, housing, and healthcare.” [Virginia Mercury]

Police Help Catch Escaped Horses — “Alexandria and some neighboring jurisdictions had to hoof it to catch some escaped horses on Telegraph Road [on Sunday]. Fairfax County Police Department helped the Alexandria Police Department secure the horses. Both horses were safely returned to custody in ‘stable’ condition.” [ALXnow]

Inova Launches Mobile Cancer Screening Clinic — “Early detection of cancer saves lives — this week, the Inova Schar Cancer Institute is launching a mobile cancer screening clinic to reduce health care barriers in underserved communities.” The clinic will work with partner community organizations to bring its services to their clients. [WTOP]

Route 29 Construction to Block Road — “Willowmeade Drive (Route 5407) between Route 29 and Knight Arch Road (Route 7699) will be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 until 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 to install a water main as part of the Route 29 widening project … Traffic will be detoured via Route 29, Meadow Estates Drive (Route 7885) and Knight Arch Road back to Willowmeade Drive.” [VDOT]

Reactions Mixed to Honorary Annandale Street Name — “About 70 people came to a community meeting at the Mason Government Center on Jan. 30 to learn about and express their opinions on a proposal to rename a portion of Little River Turnpike to honor the contributions of Korean Americans. Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stressed that the name change would be totally honorary.” [Annandale Today]

Va. Senate Passes Bill to Help CBD Retailers — “A bill that would help CBD retailers sell their goods at farmers markets and community events around the state passed the Virginia Senate on a 39-9 vote on Monday afternoon.” The bill from local state Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Saddam Salim will eliminate a $1,000 registration fee currently required to sell CBD products at temporary locations. [Patch]

Black History Month Events in Fairfax County — “This February, we’re proud to host a variety of events in honor of Black History Month, offering you a chance to engage with the rich and diverse threads of African American history and culture.” Options include a celebration at the Fairfax County Government Center, an interpretive sign unveiling, musical performances and more. [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching around 53°F accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. At night, cloud coverage will increase, and temperatures will drop to about 31°F. The north wind will maintain a gentle 5 to 8 mph breeze. [NWS]